Proverbs 17
Revised Standard Version
17 Better is a dry morsel with quiet
than a house full of feasting with strife.
2 A slave who deals wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully,
and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.
3 The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold,
and the Lord tries hearts.
4 An evildoer listens to wicked lips;
and a liar gives heed to a mischievous tongue.
5 He who mocks the poor insults his Maker;
he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.
6 Grandchildren are the crown of the aged,
and the glory of sons is their fathers.
7 Fine speech is not becoming to a fool;
still less is false speech to a prince.
8 A bribe is like a magic stone in the eyes of him who gives it;
wherever he turns he prospers.
9 He who forgives an offense seeks love,
but he who repeats a matter alienates a friend.
10 A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding
than a hundred blows into a fool.
11 An evil man seeks only rebellion,
and a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
12 Let a man meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs,
rather than a fool in his folly.
13 If a man returns evil for good,
evil will not depart from his house.
14 The beginning of strife is like letting out water;
so quit before the quarrel breaks out.
15 He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous
are both alike an abomination to the Lord.
16 Why should a fool have a price in his hand to buy wisdom,
when he has no mind?
17 A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for adversity.
18 A man without sense gives a pledge,
and becomes surety in the presence of his neighbor.
19 He who loves transgression loves strife;
he who makes his door high seeks destruction.
20 A man of crooked mind does not prosper,
and one with a perverse tongue falls into calamity.
21 A stupid son is a grief to a father;
and the father of a fool has no joy.
22 A cheerful heart is a good medicine,
but a downcast spirit dries up the bones.
23 A wicked man accepts a bribe from the bosom
to pervert the ways of justice.
24 A man of understanding sets his face toward wisdom,
but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
25 A foolish son is a grief to his father
and bitterness to her who bore him.
26 To impose a fine on a righteous man is not good;
to flog noble men is wrong.
27 He who restrains his words has knowledge,
and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
28 Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise;
when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.
Proverbs 17
American Standard Version
17 Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith,
Than a house full of [a]feasting with strife.
2 A servant that dealeth wisely shall have rule over a son that [b]causeth shame,
And shall have part in the inheritance among the brethren.
3 The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold;
But Jehovah trieth the hearts.
4 An evil-doer giveth heed to wicked lips;
And [c]a liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue.
5 Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker;
And he that is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.
6 Children’s children are the crown of old men;
And the glory of children are their fathers.
7 [d]Excellent speech becometh not a fool;
Much less do lying lips a prince.
8 A bribe is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it;
Whithersoever [e]it turneth, [f]it [g]prospereth.
9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love;
But he that harpeth on a matter separateth chief friends.
10 A rebuke entereth deeper into one that hath understanding
Than a hundred stripes into a fool.
11 [h]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 there is quarrelling.
15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the righteous,
Both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah.
16 Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom,
Seeing he hath no [i]understanding?
17 A friend loveth at all times;
And [j]a brother is born for adversity.
18 A man void of [k]understanding striketh hands,
And becometh surety in the presence of his neighbor.
19 [l]He loveth transgression that loveth strife:
He that raiseth high his gate seeketh destruction.
20 He that hath a wayward heart findeth no good;
And he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into [m]mischief.
21 He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow;
And the father of a fool hath no joy.
22 A cheerful heart [n]is a good medicine;
But a broken spirit drieth up the bones.
23 A wicked man receiveth a bribe out of the bosom,
To pervert the ways of justice.
24 Wisdom is before the face of 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 [o]punish the righteous is not good,
Nor to smite the noble for their uprightness.
27 He [p]that spareth his words hath knowledge;
And he that is of a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise;
[q]When he shutteth his lips, he is esteemed as prudent.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 17:1 Hebrew the sacrifices of strife.
- Proverbs 17:2 Or, doeth shamefully
- Proverbs 17:4 Hebrew falsehood.
- Proverbs 17:7 Or, Arrogant
- Proverbs 17:8 Or, he
- Proverbs 17:8 Or, he
- Proverbs 17:8 Or, dealeth wisely
- Proverbs 17:11 Or, A rebellious man (Hebrew Rebellion) seeketh only evil
- Proverbs 17:16 Hebrew heart.
- Proverbs 17:17 Or, is born as a brother
- Proverbs 17:18 Hebrew heart.
- Proverbs 17:19 Or, He that loveth transgression loveth strife
- Proverbs 17:20 Or, calamity
- Proverbs 17:22 Hebrew causeth good healing.
- Proverbs 17:26 Or, fine
- Proverbs 17:27 Or, that hath knowledge spareth his words; And a man of understanding is of a cool spirit
- Proverbs 17:28 Or, He that shutteth his lips is etc.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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