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Proverbs 17
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Proverbs 17
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Chapter 17
1 Better a dry crust with quiet
than a house full of feasting with strife.[a]
2 A wise servant will rule over an unworthy son,
and will share the inheritance of the children.[b]
3 The crucible for silver, and the furnace for gold,
but the tester of hearts is the Lord.
4 The evildoer gives heed to wicked lips,
the liar, to a mischievous tongue.
5 Whoever mocks the poor reviles their Maker;
whoever rejoices in their misfortune will not go unpunished.(A)
6 Children’s children are the crown of the elderly,
and the glory of children is their parentage.
7 Fine words ill fit a fool;
how much more lying lips, a noble!
8 A bribe seems a charm to its user;
at every turn it brings success.[c]
9 Whoever overlooks an offense fosters friendship,
but whoever gossips about it separates friends.[d]
10 A single reprimand does more for a discerning person
than a hundred lashes for a fool.[e]
11 The wicked pursue only rebellion,
and a merciless messenger is sent against them.[f]
12 Face a bear robbed of her cubs,
but never fools in their folly![g]
13 If you return evil for good,
evil will not depart from your house.[h](B)
14 The start of strife is like the opening of a dam;
check a quarrel before it bursts forth!
15 Whoever acquits the wicked,(C) whoever condemns the just—
both are an abomination to the Lord.
16 Of what use is money in the hands of fools
when they have no heart to acquire wisdom?[i]
17 A friend is a friend at all times,
and a brother is born for the time of adversity.(D)
18 Those without sense give their hands in pledge,
becoming surety for their neighbors.(E)
19 Those who love an offense love a fight;(F)
those who build their gate high[j] court disaster.
20 The perverse in heart come to no good,
and the double-tongued fall into trouble.[k]
21 Whoever conceives a fool has grief;
the father of a numskull has no joy.
22 A joyful heart is the health of the body,
but a depressed spirit dries up the bones.(G)
23 A guilty person takes out a bribe from the pocket,
thus perverting the course of justice.[l]
24 On the countenance of a discerning person is wisdom,(H)
but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.[m]
25 A foolish son is vexation to his father,
and bitter sorrow to her who bore him.(I)
26 It is wrong to fine an innocent person,
but beyond reason to scourge nobles.
27 Those who spare their words are truly knowledgeable,
and those who are discreet are intelligent.(J)
28 Even fools, keeping silent, are considered wise;
if they keep their lips closed, intelligent.[n]
Footnotes
- 17:1 A “better than” saying, stating the circumstances when a dry crust is better than a banquet. Peace and fellowship give joy to a meal, not the richness of the food. For a similar thought, see 15:16 and 16:8.
- 17:2 Ability is esteemed more highly than ties of blood.
- 17:8 An observation on the effect of the bribe upon the bribe-giver: it gives an intoxicating feeling of power (“seems”). In v. 23 the evil effects of a bribe are noted.
- 17:9 A paradox. One finds (love, friend) by concealing (an offense), one loses (a friend) by revealing (a secret). In 10:12 love also covers over a multitude of offenses.
- 17:10 A wonderful comment on the openness and sensitivity of the wise and the foolish. One type learns from a single word and for the other one hundred blows are not enough.
- 17:11 The irony is that such people will meet up with what they so energetically pursue—in the form of an unrelenting emissary sent to them.
- 17:12 Humorous hyperbole. An outraged dangerous beast poses less danger than a fool.
- 17:13 The paradox is that to pay out evil for good means that the evil will never leave one’s own house.
- 17:16 The exhortation to acquire or purchase wisdom is common in Proverbs. Fools misunderstand the metaphor, assuming they can buy it with money. Their very misunderstanding shows they have no “heart” = mind, understanding. Money in the hand is no good without such a “heart” to store it in.
- 17:19 Build their gate high: a symbol of arrogance.
- 17:20 The saying employs the familiar metaphors of walking = conducting oneself (“fall into trouble”), and of straight and crooked = right and wrong (“perverse,” “double-tongued”).
- 17:23 A sharp look at the sly withdrawing of a bribe from the pocket and a blunt judgment on its significance.
- 17:24 Wisdom is visible on the countenance (i.e., mouth, lips, tongue) of the wise person; its ultimate source is the heart. Fools have no such source of wisdom within them, a point that is nicely made by referring to the eye of the fool, roving over the landscape.
- 17:28 Related to v. 27. Words provide a glimpse into the heart. In the unlikely event that fools, who usually pour out words (15:2), were to say nothing, people would not be able to see their folly and would presume them intelligent. Alas, the saying is contrary to fact.
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
American Standard Version
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.
New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
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