Font Size
Proverbs 17
1599 Geneva Bible
Proverbs 17
1599 Geneva Bible
17 1 Better is a dry morsel, if peace be with it, than an house full of [a]sacrifices with strife.
2 A discrete servant shall have rule over a lewd son, and he shall divide the [b]heritage among the brethren.
3 As is the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold, so the Lord trieth the hearts.
4 The wicked giveth heed to false lips, and a liar hearkeneth to the naughty tongue.
5 (A)He that mocketh the poor, reproacheth him that made him: and he that rejoiceth at destruction, shall not be unpunished.
6 Children’s children are the crown of the elders: and the glory of the children are their fathers.
7 [c]High talk becometh not a fool, much less a lying talk a prince.
8 A reward is as a stone pleasant in the eyes of them that have it: it prospereth, whithersoever it [d]turneth.
9 He that covereth a transgression, seeketh love: but he that repeateth a matter, separateth the [e]prince.
10 A reproof entereth more into him that hath understanding, than an hundred stripes into a fool.
11 A seditious person seeketh only evil, and a cruel [f]messenger shall be sent against him.
12 It is better for a man to meet a bear robbed of her whelps, than [g]a fool in his folly.
13 (B)He that rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
14 The beginning of strife is as one that openeth the waters: therefore, or the contention be meddled with, leave off.
15 (C)He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the Lord.
16 Wherefore is there a [h]price in the hand of the fool to get wisdom, and he hath none heart?
17 A friend loveth at all times; and a [i]brother is born for adversity.
18 A man destitute of understanding, [j]toucheth the hand, and becometh surety for his neighbor.
19 He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his [k]gate, seeketh destruction.
20 The froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a naughty tongue, shall fall into evil.
21 He that begetteth a fool, getteth himself sorrow, and the father of a fool can have no joy.
22 (D)A joyful heart causeth good health: but a sorrowful mind drieth the bones.
23 A wicked man taketh a gift out of the [l]bosom to wrest the ways of judgment.
24 (E)Wisdom is in the face of him that hath understanding: but the eyes of a fool are in the [m]corners of the world.
25 A foolish son is a grief unto his father, and a (F)heaviness to her that bare him.
26 Surely it is not good to condemn the just, nor that the princes should smite such [n]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 stoppeth his lips, prudent.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 17:1 For whereas were many sacrifices, there were many portions given to the people, wherewith they feasted.
- Proverbs 17:2 That is, shall be made governor over the children.
- Proverbs 17:7 Hebrew, the lip of excellency.
- Proverbs 17:8 The reward hath great force to gain the hearts of men.
- Proverbs 17:9 He that admonisheth the prince of his fault, maketh him his enemy.
- Proverbs 17:11 By the messenger is meant such means as God useth to punish the rebels.
- Proverbs 17:12 Whereby he meaneth the wicked in his rage, who hath no fear of God.
- Proverbs 17:16 What availeth it the wicked to be rich, seeing he setteth not his mind to wisdom?
- Proverbs 17:17 So that he is more than a friend, even a brother that helpeth in time of adversity.
- Proverbs 17:18 Read Prov. 6:1.
- Proverbs 17:19 Lifteth up himself above his degree.
- Proverbs 17:23 That is, secretly and out of the bosom of the rich.
- Proverbs 17:24 That is, wander to and fro, and seek not after wisdom.
- Proverbs 17:26 For their well doing.
Proverbs 17
New International Version
Proverbs 17
New International Version
17 Better a dry crust with peace and quiet
than a house full of feasting, with strife.(A)
2 A prudent servant will rule over a disgraceful son
and will share the inheritance as one of the family.
4 A wicked person listens to deceitful lips;
a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.
5 Whoever mocks the poor(D) shows contempt for their Maker;(E)
whoever gloats over disaster(F) will not go unpunished.(G)
6 Children’s children(H) are a crown to the aged,
and parents are the pride of their children.
7 Eloquent lips are unsuited to a godless fool—
how much worse lying lips to a ruler!(I)
8 A bribe is seen as a charm by the one who gives it;
they think success will come at every turn.(J)
9 Whoever would foster love covers over an offense,(K)
but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.(L)
10 A rebuke impresses a discerning person
more than a hundred lashes a fool.
11 Evildoers foster rebellion against God;
the messenger of death will be sent against them.
12 Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs
than a fool bent on folly.(M)
14 Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam;
so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.(P)
16 Why should fools have money in hand to buy wisdom,
when they are not able to understand it?(S)
17 A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for a time of adversity.(T)
18 One who has no sense shakes hands in pledge
and puts up security for a neighbor.(U)
19 Whoever loves a quarrel loves sin;
whoever builds a high gate invites destruction.
20 One whose heart is corrupt does not prosper;
one whose tongue is perverse falls into trouble.
21 To have a fool for a child brings grief;
there is no joy for the parent of a godless fool.(V)
24 A discerning person keeps wisdom in view,
but a fool’s eyes(AA) wander to the ends of the earth.
25 A foolish son brings grief to his father
and bitterness to the mother who bore him.(AB)
26 If imposing a fine on the innocent is not good,(AC)
surely to flog honest officials is not right.
27 The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint,(AD)
and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.(AE)
28 Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent,
and discerning if they hold their tongues.(AF)
Proverbs 17
English Standard Version
Proverbs 17
English Standard Version
17 (A)Better is a dry morsel with quiet
than a house full of feasting[a] with strife.
2 A servant who deals wisely will rule over (B)a son who acts shamefully
and (C)will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.
3 (D)The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold,
(E)and the Lord tests hearts.
4 An evildoer listens to wicked lips,
and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
5 Whoever mocks the poor (F)insults his Maker;
he who is (G)glad at calamity will not go (H)unpunished.
6 (I)Grandchildren are (J)the crown of the aged,
and the glory of children is their fathers.
7 Fine speech is not (K)becoming to a fool;
still less is (L)false speech to a prince.
8 (M)A bribe is like a magic[b] stone in the eyes of the one who gives it;
wherever he turns he prospers.
9 Whoever (N)covers an offense seeks love,
but he who repeats a matter (O)separates close friends.
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 (P)a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
12 Let a man meet (Q)a she-bear robbed of her cubs
(R)rather than a fool in his folly.
13 If anyone (S)returns evil for good,
(T)evil will not depart from his house.
14 The beginning of strife is like letting out water,
so (U)quit before the quarrel breaks out.
15 He who (V)justifies the wicked and he who (W)condemns the righteous
are both alike an abomination to the Lord.
16 Why should a fool have money in his hand (X)to buy wisdom
when he has no sense?
17 (Y)A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for adversity.
18 One who lacks sense gives a pledge
and puts up security in the presence of his neighbor.
19 Whoever loves transgression loves strife;
he who (Z)makes his door high seeks destruction.
20 (AA)A man of crooked heart does not discover good,
and one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity.
21 He who (AB)sires a fool gets himself sorrow,
and the father of a fool has no joy.
22 (AC)A joyful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit (AD)dries up the bones.
23 The wicked accepts (AE)a bribe in secret[c]
to (AF)pervert the ways of justice.
24 (AG)The discerning sets his face toward wisdom,
but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
25 (AH)A foolish son is a grief to his father
(AI)and bitterness to (AJ)her who bore him.
26 (AK)To impose a fine on a righteous man is not good,
nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.
27 Whoever (AL)restrains his words has knowledge,
and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
28 Even a fool (AM)who keeps silent is considered wise;
when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 17:1 Hebrew sacrifices
- Proverbs 17:8 Or precious
- Proverbs 17:23 Hebrew a bribe from the bosom
Proverbia 17
Biblia Sacra Vulgata
Proverbia 17
Biblia Sacra Vulgata
17 Melior est buccella sicca cum gaudio quam domus plena victimis cum jurgio.
2 Servus sapiens dominabitur filiis stultis, et inter fratres haereditatem dividet.
3 Sicut igne probatur argentum et aurum camino, ita corda probat Dominus.
4 Malus obedit linguae iniquae, et fallax obtemperat labiis mendacibus.
5 Qui despicit pauperem exprobrat factori ejus, et qui ruina laetatur alterius non erit impunitus.
6 Corona senum filii filiorum, et gloria filiorum patres eorum.
7 Non decent stultum verba composita, nec principem labium mentiens.
8 Gemma gratissima exspectatio praestolantis; quocumque se vertit, prudenter intelligit.
9 Qui celat delictum quaerit amicitias; qui altero sermone repetit, separat foederatos.
10 Plus proficit correptio apud prudentem, quam centum plagae apud stultum.
11 Semper jurgia quaerit malus: angelus autem crudelis mittetur contra eum.
12 Expedit magis ursae occurrere raptis foetibus, quam fatuo confidenti in stultitia sua.
13 Qui reddit mala pro bonis, non recedet malum de domo ejus.
14 Qui dimittit aquam caput est jurgiorum, et antequam patiatur contumeliam judicium deserit.
15 Qui justificat impium, et qui condemnat justum, abominabilis est uterque apud Deum.
16 Quid prodest stulto habere divitias, cum sapientiam emere non possit? Qui altum facit domum suam quaerit ruinam, et qui evitat discere incidet in mala.
17 Omni tempore diligit qui amicus est, et frater in angustiis comprobatur.
18 Stultus homo plaudet manibus, cum spoponderit pro amico suo.
19 Qui meditatur discordias diligit rixas, et qui exaltat ostium quaerit ruinam.
20 Qui perversi cordis est non inveniet bonum, et qui vertit linguam incidet in malum.
21 Natus est stultus in ignominiam suam; sed nec pater in fatuo laetabitur.
22 Animus gaudens aetatem floridam facit; spiritus tristis exsiccat ossa.
23 Munera de sinu impius accipit, ut pervertat semitas judicii.
24 In facie prudentis lucet sapientia; oculi stultorum in finibus terrae.
25 Ira patris filius stultus, et dolor matris quae genuit eum.
26 Non est bonum damnum inferre justo, nec percutere principem qui recta judicat.
27 Qui moderatur sermones suos doctus et prudens est, et pretiosi spiritus vir eruditus.
28 Stultus quoque, si tacuerit, sapiens reputabitur, et si compresserit labia sua, intelligens.
1599 Geneva Bible (GNV) 
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
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.
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.
Biblia Sacra Vulgata (VULGATE)