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Proverbs 17:21-23
Lexham English Bible
Proverbs 17:21-23
Lexham English Bible
21 He who begets a fool, there is trouble for him;
the father of a fool will not rejoice.
22 A cheerful heart is good medicine,
but a downcast spirit will dry out bones.
23 The wicked will accept a bribe from the lap,
in order to pervert the ways of justice.
Proverbs 17:21-23
New International Version
Proverbs 17:21-23
New International Version
Proverbs 17:21-23
New King James Version
Proverbs 17:21-23
New King James Version
21 He who begets a scoffer does so to his sorrow,
And the father of a fool has no joy.
23 A wicked man accepts a bribe [b]behind the back
To pervert the ways of justice.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 17:22 Or makes medicine even better
- Proverbs 17:23 Under cover, lit. from the bosom
Proverbs 17:21-23
English Standard Version
Proverbs 17:21-23
English Standard Version
21 He who (A)sires a fool gets himself sorrow,
and the father of a fool has no joy.
22 (B)A joyful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit (C)dries up the bones.
23 The wicked accepts (D)a bribe in secret[a]
to (E)pervert the ways of justice.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 17:23 Hebrew a bribe from the bosom
Lexham English Bible (LEB)
2012 by Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.