Proverbs 17
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
17 Better is a dry morsel with quiet
than a house full of feasting with strife.(A)
2 A slave who deals wisely will rule over a child who acts shamefully
and will share the inheritance as one of the family.(B)
3 The crucible is for silver and the furnace for gold,
but the Lord tests the heart.(C)
4 An evildoer listens to wicked lips,
and a liar gives heed to a mischievous tongue.
5 Those who mock the poor insult their Maker;
those who are glad at calamity will not go unpunished.(D)
6 Grandchildren are the crown of the aged,
and the glory of children is their parents.(E)
7 Excess speech is not becoming to a fool;
still less is false speech to a ruler.[a]
8 A bribe is like a magic stone in the eyes of those who give it;
wherever they turn they prosper.(F)
9 One who forgives an affront fosters friendship,
but one who dwells on disputes will alienate a friend.(G)
10 A rebuke strikes deeper into a discerning person
than a hundred blows into a fool.
11 Evil people seek only rebellion,
but a cruel messenger will be sent against them.
12 Better to meet a she-bear robbed of its cubs
than to confront a fool immersed in folly.(H)
13 Evil will not depart from the house
of one who returns evil for good.(I)
14 The beginning of strife is like letting out water,
so stop before the quarrel breaks out.(J)
15 One who justifies the wicked and one who condemns the righteous
are both alike an abomination to the Lord.(K)
16 Why should fools have a price in hand
to buy wisdom when they have no mind to learn?
17 A friend loves at all times,
and kinsfolk are born to share adversity.(L)
18 It is senseless to give a pledge,
to become surety for a neighbor.(M)
19 One who loves transgression loves strife;
one who builds a high threshold invites broken bones.(N)
20 The crooked of mind do not prosper,
and the perverse of tongue fall into calamity.(O)
21 The one who fathers a fool gets trouble;
the parent of a fool has no joy.(P)
22 A cheerful heart is a good medicine,
but a downcast spirit dries up the bones.(Q)
23 The wicked accept a concealed bribe
to pervert the ways of justice.(R)
24 The discerning person looks to wisdom,
but the eyes of a fool to the ends of the earth.(S)
25 Foolish children are a grief to their father
and bitterness to her who bore them.(T)
26 To impose a fine on the innocent is not right
or to flog the noble for their integrity.(U)
27 One who spares words is knowledgeable;
one who is cool in spirit has understanding.(V)
28 Even fools who keep silent are considered wise;
when they close their lips, they are deemed intelligent.(W)
Footnotes
- 17.7 Or a noble
Proverbs 17
New American Standard Bible
Contrast of the Upright and the Wicked
17 (A)Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it
Than a house full of [a]feasting with strife.
2 A servant who acts wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully,
And will share in the inheritance among brothers.
3 The (B)refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold,
But (C)the Lord tests hearts.
4 An (D)evildoer listens to wicked lips;
A [b]liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.
5 One who mocks the (E)poor taunts his Maker;
One who (F)rejoices at disaster will not go unpunished.
6 (G)Grandchildren are the crown of the old,
And the (H)glory of sons is their fathers.
7 [c](I)Excellent speech is not fitting for a fool,
Much less are (J)lying lips to a prince.
8 A (K)bribe is a [d]charm in the sight of its owner;
Wherever he turns, he prospers.
9 One who (L)conceals an offense seeks love,
But one who repeats a matter (M)separates close friends.
10 A rebuke goes deeper into one who has understanding
Than a hundred blows into a fool.
11 A rebellious person seeks only evil,
So a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
12 Let a (N)person meet a (O)bear robbed of her cubs,
Rather than a fool in his foolishness.
13 One who (P)returns evil for good,
(Q)Evil will not depart from his house.
14 The beginning of strife is like letting out water,
So (R)abandon the quarrel before it breaks out.
15 One who (S)justifies the wicked and one who condemns the righteous,
Both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord.
16 Why is there money in the hand of a fool to (T)buy wisdom,
When [e]he has no sense?
17 A (U)friend loves at all times,
And a brother is born for adversity.
18 A person lacking in [f]sense (V)shakes hands
And becomes guarantor in the presence of his neighbor.
19 One who (W)loves wrongdoing loves strife;
One who (X)makes his doorway high seeks destruction.
20 One who has a crooked [g]mind (Y)finds nothing good,
And one who is [h](Z)corrupted in his language falls into evil.
21 He who (AA)fathers a fool does so to his sorrow,
And the father of a fool has no joy.
22 A (AB)joyful heart [i]is good medicine,
But a broken spirit (AC)dries up the bones.
23 A wicked person accepts a (AD)bribe [j]from an inside pocket
To (AE)pervert the ways of justice.
24 Wisdom is in the presence of one who has understanding,
But the (AF)eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
25 A (AG)foolish son is a grief to his father,
And (AH)bitterness to her who gave birth to him.
26 It is also not good to (AI)fine the righteous,
Nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.
27 One who (AJ)withholds his words [k]has knowledge,
And one who has a (AK)cool spirit is a person of understanding.
28 Even a fool, when he (AL)keeps silent, is considered wise;
When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 17:1 Lit sacrifices of strife
- Proverbs 17:4 Lit falsehood
- Proverbs 17:7 Lit A lip of abundance
- Proverbs 17:8 Lit stone of favor
- Proverbs 17:16 Lit there is no heart
- Proverbs 17:18 Lit heart
- Proverbs 17:20 Lit heart
- Proverbs 17:20 Lit altered in his tongue
- Proverbs 17:22 Lit causes good healing
- Proverbs 17:23 Lit a fold in a robe; i.e., secretly
- Proverbs 17:27 Lit knows
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
