Proverbs 17:1-28
17 Better is a dry piece of bread with which there is quietness+ than a house full of the sacrifices of quarreling.+
2 A servant that is showing insight will rule over the son who is acting shamefully,+ and in among the brothers he will have a share of the inheritance.+
3 The refining* pot is for silver and the furnace for gold,+ but Jehovah is the examiner of hearts.+
4 The evildoer is paying attention to the lip of hurtfulness.+ A falsifier* is giving ear to the tongue causing adversities.+
5 He that is holding the one of little means in derision has reproached his Maker.+ He that is joyful at [another’s] disaster will not be free from punishment.+
6 The crown of old men is the grandsons,+ and the beauty of sons is their fathers.+
7 For anyone senseless the lip of uprightness is not fitting.+ How much less so for a noble the lip of falsehood!+
8 The gift is a stone winning favor in the eyes of its grand owner.*+ Everywhere that he turns he has success.+
9 The one covering over transgression is seeking love,+ and he that keeps talking about a matter is separating those familiar with one another.+
10 A rebuke works deeper in one having understanding+ than striking a stupid one a hundred times.+
11 Only rebellion is what the bad one keeps seeking,+ and cruel is the messenger that is sent against him.+
12 Let there be an encountering by a man of a bear bereaved of its cubs+ rather than anyone stupid in his foolishness.+
13 As for anyone repaying bad for good,+ bad will not move away from his house.+
14 The beginning of contention is as one letting out waters;+ so before the quarrel has burst forth, take your leave.+
15 Anyone pronouncing the wicked one righteous+ and anyone pronouncing the righteous one wicked+—even both of them are something detestable to Jehovah.+
16 Why is it that there is in the hand of a stupid one the price to acquire wisdom,+ when he has no heart?*+
17 A true companion is loving all the time,+ and is a brother that is born for when there is distress.*+
18 A man that is wanting in heart* shakes hands,*+ going full surety before his companion.+
19 Anyone loving transgression is loving a struggle.+ Anyone making his entryway high is seeking a crash.+
20 He that is crooked at heart will not find good,+ and he that is turned around in his tongue will fall into calamity.+
21 Anyone becoming father to a stupid child—it is a grief to him;+ and the father of a senseless child does not rejoice.+
22 A heart that is joyful does good as a curer,*+ but a spirit that is stricken makes the bones dry.+
23 One who is wicked will take even a bribe from the bosom+ to bend the paths of judgment.+
24 Wisdom is before the face of the understanding one,+ but the eyes of the stupid one are at the extremity of the earth.+
25 A stupid son is a vexation to his father+ and a bitterness to her that gave him birth.+
26 Furthermore, the laying of a fine upon the righteous one is not good.+ To strike nobles is against what is upright.+
27 Anyone holding back his sayings is possessed of knowledge,+ and a man of discernment is cool of spirit.+
28 Even anyone foolish, when keeping silent, will be regarded as wise;+ anyone closing up his own lips, as having understanding.
Footnotes
^ Lit., “melting.”
^ Lit., “Falsehood.”
^ “Grand owner.” Lit., “owners,” pl. to denote grandeur. See GK, § 124 i.
^ Or, “when he has no good motive.” Heb., welev-ʼaʹyin.
^ Or, “and a brother himself is born even for when there is distress.”
^ Or, “that is lacking good motive.” Heb., chasar-levʹ.
^ Lit., “is striking the palm (hand).” Heb., toh·qeʹaʽ kaph.
^ “Does good to the body,” by a correction of M.
