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17 Better is a dry morsel with quietness,
    than a house full of feasting with strife.
A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who causes shame,
    and shall have a part in the inheritance among the brothers.
The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold,
    but Yahweh tests the hearts.
An evildoer heeds wicked lips.
    A liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker.
    He who is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.
Children’s children are the crown of old men;
    the glory of children are their parents.
Excellent speech isn’t fitting for a fool,
    much less do lying lips fit a prince.
A bribe is a precious stone in the eyes of him who gives it;
    wherever he turns, he prospers.
He who covers an offense promotes love;
    but he who repeats a matter separates best friends.
10 A rebuke enters deeper into one who has understanding
    than a hundred lashes into a fool.
11 An evil man seeks only rebellion;
    therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
12 Let a bear robbed of her cubs meet a man,
    rather than a fool in his folly.
13 Whoever rewards evil for good,
    evil shall not depart from his house.
14 The beginning of strife is like breaching a dam,
    therefore stop contention before quarreling breaks out.
15 He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous,
    both of them alike are an abomination to Yahweh.
16 Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom,
    since he has no understanding?
17 A friend loves at all times;
    and a brother is born for adversity.
18 A man void of understanding strikes hands,
    and becomes collateral in the presence of his neighbor.
19 He who loves disobedience loves strife.
    One who builds a high gate seeks destruction.
20 One who has a perverse heart doesn’t find prosperity,
    and one who has a deceitful tongue falls into trouble.
21 He who becomes the father of a fool grieves.
    The father of a fool has no joy.
22 A cheerful heart makes good medicine,
    but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
23 A wicked man receives a bribe in secret,
    to pervert the ways of justice.
24 Wisdom is before the face of one who has understanding,
    but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.
25 A foolish son brings grief to his father,
    and bitterness to her who bore him.
26 Also to punish the righteous is not good,
    nor to flog officials for their integrity.
27 He who spares his words has knowledge.
    He who is even tempered is a man of understanding.
28 Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is counted wise.
    When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning.

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.
A servant who acts wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully,
And will share in the inheritance among brothers.
The (B)refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold,
But (C)the Lord tests hearts.
An (D)evildoer listens to wicked lips;
A [b]liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.
One who mocks the (E)poor taunts his Maker;
One who (F)rejoices at disaster will not go unpunished.
(G)Grandchildren are the crown of the old,
And the (H)glory of sons is their fathers.
[c](I)Excellent speech is not fitting for a fool,
Much less are (J)lying lips to a prince.
A (K)bribe is a [d]charm in the sight of its owner;
Wherever he turns, he prospers.
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

  1. Proverbs 17:1 Lit sacrifices of strife
  2. Proverbs 17:4 Lit falsehood
  3. Proverbs 17:7 Lit A lip of abundance
  4. Proverbs 17:8 Lit stone of favor
  5. Proverbs 17:16 Lit there is no heart
  6. Proverbs 17:18 Lit heart
  7. Proverbs 17:20 Lit heart
  8. Proverbs 17:20 Lit altered in his tongue
  9. Proverbs 17:22 Lit causes good healing
  10. Proverbs 17:23 Lit a fold in a robe; i.e., secretly
  11. Proverbs 17:27 Lit knows