Mishle 17
Orthodox Jewish Bible
17 Better is a dry crust, and quietness therewith, than a bais full of zevakhim (sacrificial religious meals) with strife.
2 An eved maskil (wise servant) shall have rule over a ben that causeth shame, and shall have a share of the nachalah among the achim.
3 The crucible is for kesef, and the furnace for zahav, but Hashem is the testor of hearts.
4 An evildoer giveth heed to false sfatayim (lips), and a sheker (liar) giveth ear to a spiteful lashon.
5 He who mocketh the poor showeth contempt for his Oseh (Maker), and he that gloats at calamities shall not go unpunished.
6 Bnei banim are the ateret of zekenim; and the tiferet of banim are their avot.
7 Eloquent speech becometh not a naval (fool), much less do lying sfatayim (lips) a ruler.
8 A shochad (gift, bribe) is like a charm in the eynayim of him that hath it: wherever he turneth, he prospereth.
9 He that covereth a peysha (transgression) seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth the best of friends.
10 Ge’arah (scolding) goeth deeper into a meiven than a hundred blows into a kesil (fool).
11 A rah seeketh only rebellion; therefore a merciless malach shall be sent to him.
12 Let an ish meet a dov robbed of her cubs rather than a kesil in his folly.
13 He who rewardeth ra’ah for tovah, ra’ah shall not depart from his bais.
14 The beginning of madon (strife) is like releasing mayim, therefore stop contention before a quarrel begins.
15 He that justifieth the rashah, and he that condemneth the tzaddik, even they both are to’evah to Hashem.
16 Why is there the purchase price in the yad of a kesil (fool) to acquire chochmah, seeing he hath no lev for it?
17 The re’a (friend) loveth at all times, and a brother is born for tzarah (adversity).
18 Adam devoid of lev [of understanding] shaketh hands in pledge, and becometh the security deposit for his neighbor.
19 He loveth peysha (transgression, sin) that loveth strife, and he that maketh his threshold high seeketh shever (fracture).
20 He that hath a crooked mind findeth no tov, and he that hath a deceitful lashon falleth into ra’ah.
21 He that begetteth a kesil doeth it to his sorrow, and the avi naval hath no simchah.
22 A lev same’ach doeth tov like a medicine, but a downcast ruach drieth up the bones.
23 A rasha accepts a shochad (bribe) out of the kheyk (bosom, i.e., secretly) to pervert the orkhot mishpat (paths of justice).
24 Chochmah is before the meiven (discerning one); but the eynayim of a kesil are on the ends of ha’aretz.
25 A ben kesil is a ka’as (grief) to aviv (his father), and bitterness to her that bore him.
26 Also to punish the tzaddik is not tov, nor to flog officials for their yashar (uprightness, integrity).
27 He that hath da’as spareth his words, and an ish tevunah (man of understanding) is of a calm ruach.
28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted chacham, and he that shutteth his sfatayim (lips) is esteemed a man of understanding.
Proverbs 17
King James Version
17 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.
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