Proverbs

The Proverbs, chapter 17, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 17 New English Translation

   1 Better is a dry crust of bread where there is quietness than a house full of feasting with strife.
   2 A servant who acts wisely will rule over an heir who behaves shamefully, and will share the inheritance along with the relatives.
   3 The crucible is for refining silver and the furnace is for gold, likewise the LORD tests hearts.
   4 One who acts wickedly pays attention to evil counsel; a liar listens to a malicious tongue.
   5 The one who mocks the poor insults his Creator; whoever rejoices over disaster will not go unpunished.
   6 Grandchildren are like a crown to the elderly, and the glory of children is their parents.
   7 Excessive speech is not becoming for a fool; how much less are lies for a ruler!
   8 A bribe works like a charm for the one who offers it; in whatever he does he succeeds.
   9 The one who forgives an offense seeks love, but whoever repeats a matter separates close friends.
   10 A rebuke makes a greater impression on a discerning person than a hundred blows on a fool.
   11 An evil person seeks only rebellion, and so a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
   12 It is better for a person to meet a mother bear being robbed of her cubs, than to encounter a fool in his folly.
   13 As for the one who repays evil for good, evil will not leave his house.
   14 Starting a quarrel is like letting out water; stop it before strife breaks out!
   15 The one who acquits the guilty and the one who condemns the innocent - both of them are an abomination to the LORD.
   16 Of what use is money in the hand of a fool, since he has no intention of acquiring wisdom?
   17 A friend loves at all times, and a relative is born to help in adversity.
   18 The one who lacks wisdom strikes hands in pledge, and puts up financial security for his neighbor.
   19 The one who loves a quarrel loves transgression; whoever builds his gate high seeks destruction.
   20 The one who has a perverse heart does not find good, and the one who is deceitful in speech falls into trouble.
   21 Whoever brings a fool into the world does so to his grief, and the father of a fool has no joy.
   22 A cheerful heart brings good healing, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
   23 A wicked person receives a bribe secretly to pervert the ways of justice.
   24 Wisdom is directly in front of the discerning person, but the eyes of a fool run to the ends of the earth.
   25 A foolish child is a grief to his father, and bitterness to the mother who bore him.
   26 It is terrible to punish a righteous person, and to flog honorable men is wrong.
   27 The truly wise person restrains his words, and the one who stays calm is discerning.
   28 Even a fool who remains silent is considered wise, and the one who holds his tongue is deemed discerning.

King James Version

   1 Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.
   2 A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.
   3 The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.
   4 A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
   5 Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.
   6 Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.
   7 Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
   8 A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
   9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.
   10 A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.
   11 An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
   12 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
   13 Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
   14 The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.
   15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.
   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 loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
   18 A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.
   19 He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.
   20 He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
   21 He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.
   22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
   23 A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.
   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 is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.
   26 Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.
   27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
   28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.