Proverbs 17

1 Better a dry morsel in quietness than a house full of feasting with strife.

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

2 A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful son and share his inheritance as one of the brothers.

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

3 A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but the LORD is the tester of hearts.

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

4 A wicked man listens to evil lips; a liar gives ear to a destructive tongue.

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

5 He who mocks the poor insults their Maker; whoever gloats over calamity will not go unpunished.

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

6 Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of a son is his father.

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

7 Eloquent words are unfit for a fool; how much worse are lying lips to a ruler!

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

8 A bribe is a charm to its giver; wherever he turns, he succeeds.

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

9 Whoever conceals an offense promotes love, but he who brings it up separates friends.

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

10 A rebuke cuts into a man of discernment deeper than a hundred lashes cut into a fool.

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

11 An evil man seeks only rebellion; a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

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

12 It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly.

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

13 If anyone returns evil for good, evil will never leave his house.

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

14 To start a quarrel is to release a flood; so abandon the dispute before it breaks out.

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

15 Acquitting the guilty and condemning the righteous—both are detestable to the LORD.

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

16 Why should the fool have money in his hand with no intention of buying wisdom?

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

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

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

18 A man lacking judgment strikes hands in pledge and puts up security for his neighbor.

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

19 He who loves transgression loves strife; he who builds his gate high invites destruction.

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

20 The one with a perverse heart finds no good, and he whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble.

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

21 A man fathers a fool to his own grief; the father of a fool has no joy.

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

22 A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.

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

23 A wicked man takes a covert bribe to subvert the course of justice.

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

24 Wisdom is the focus of the discerning, but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.

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

25 A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him.

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

26 It is surely not good to punish the innocent or to flog a noble for his honesty.

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

27 A man of knowledge restrains his words, and a man of understanding maintains a calm spirit.

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

28 Even a fool is considered wise if he keeps silent, and discerning when he holds his tongue.

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