Proverbs 17

¹Better is a dry morsell, if peace be with it, then an house full of sacrifices with strife.

²A discrete seruant shall haue rule ouer a lewde sonne, and hee shall deuide the heritage among the brethren.

³As is the fining pot for siluer, and the fornace for golde, so the Lord trieth the heartes.

⁴The wicked giueth heed to false lippes, and a lyer hearkeneth to the naughtie tongue.

⁵Hee that mocketh the poore, reprocheth him, that made him: and he that reioyceth at destruction, shall not be vnpunished.

⁶Childres children are the crowne of the elders: and the glory of ye children are their fathers.

⁷Hie talke becommeth not a foole, much lesse a lying talke a prince.

⁸A rewarde is as a stone pleasant in the eyes of them that haue it: it prospereth, whithersoeuer it turneth.

⁹Hee that couereth a transgression, seeketh loue: but hee that repeateth a matter, separateth the prince.

¹⁰A reproofe entereth more into him that hath vnderstanding, then an hundreth stripes into a foole.

¹¹A sedicious person seeketh onely euill, and a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

¹²It is better for a man to meete a beare robbed of her whelpes, then a foole in his follie.

¹³He that rewardeth euil for good, euil shall not depart from his house.

¹⁴The beginning of strife is as one that openeth the waters: therefore or the contention be medled with, leaue off.

¹⁵He that iustifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the iust, euen they both are abomination to the Lord.

¹⁶Wherefore is there a price in the hand of the foole to get wisdome, and he hath none heart?

¹⁷A friende loueth at all times: and a brother is borne for aduersitie.

¹⁸A man destitute of vnderstanding, toucheth the hande, and becommeth suretie for his neighbour.

¹⁹He loueth transgression, that loueth strife: and he that exalteth his gate, seeketh destruction.

²⁰The froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a naughtie tongue, shall fall into euill.

²¹He that begetteth a foole, getteth himselfe sorow, and the father of a foole can haue no ioy.

²²A ioyfull heart causeth good health: but a sorowfull minde dryeth the bones.

²³A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosome to wrest the wayes of iudgement.

²⁴Wisdome is in the face of him that hath vnderstanding: but the eyes of a foole are in the corners of the world.

²⁵A foolish sonne is a griefe vnto his father, and a heauines to her that bare him.

²⁶Surely it is not good to condemne the iust, nor that ye princes should smite such for equitie.

²⁷Hee that hath knowledge, spareth his wordes, and a man of vnderstanding is of an excellent spirit.

²⁸Euen a foole (when he holdeth his peace) is counted wise, and hee that stoppeth his lips, prudent.

Proverbs 17

¹Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.

²A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.

³The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the Lord trieth the hearts.

⁴A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.

⁵Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.

⁶Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.

⁷Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.

⁸A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.

⁹He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.

¹⁰A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.

¹¹An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

¹²Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.

¹³Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

¹⁴The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.

¹⁵He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the Lord.

¹⁶Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?

¹⁷A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

¹⁸A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.

¹⁹He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.

²⁰He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.

²¹He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.

²²A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

²³A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.

²⁴Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.

²⁵A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.

²⁶Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.

²⁷He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.

²⁸Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.