Font Size
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
Jubilee Bible 2000
Proverbs 17
Jubilee Bible 2000
17 ¶ Better is a dry morsel in peace than the house of contention full of sacrifices for a feast.
2 ¶ A prudent slave shall have rule over a son that causes shame and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.
3 ¶ The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tries the hearts.
4 ¶ An evil doer gives heed to false lips, and a liar gives ear to the tongue which curses.
5 ¶ Whosoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker, and he that is glad regarding the calamity of someone else shall not go unpunished.
6 ¶ Children’s children are the crown of old men, and the honour of the children are their fathers.
7 ¶ Excellent speech is not suitable for a fool: much less lying lips for a prince!
8 ¶ A bribe is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that has it; wherever it turns, it prospers.
9 ¶ He that covers a transgression seeks love, but he that repeats a matter separates very friends.
10 ¶ Reproof is of more benefit to a wise man than a hundred stripes to a fool.
11 ¶ The rebellious man seeks only evil; therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
12 ¶ It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly.
13 ¶ Whosoever rewards evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
14 ¶ To release the waters (to speak rashly) is the beginning of contention; therefore, leave off strife before it gets started.
15 ¶ He that justifies the wicked and he that condemns the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.
16 ¶ Of what good is the price to buy wisdom in the hand of the fool, seeing he has no heart to understand?
17 ¶ A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
18 ¶ A man void of understanding strikes hands and becomes surety in the presence of his friend.
19 ¶ Transgression loves him that loves strife, and he that exalts his gate seeks destruction.
20 ¶ He that has a perverse heart shall never find good, and he that stirs up trouble with his tongue shall fall into evil.
21 ¶ He that begets a fool does it to his sorrow, and the father of a fool shall have no joy.
22 ¶ A joyful heart shall do good like a medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones.
23 ¶ A wicked man takes a gift in secret to pervert the paths of judgment.
24 ¶ Wisdom appears upon the countenance of him that has understanding, but the eyes of a fool manifest his folly unto the ends of the earth.
25 ¶ The foolish son is a grief to his father and bitterness to her that bore him.
26 ¶ It is certainly not good to condemn the just, nor to smite princes for doing that which is upright.
27 ¶ He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
28 Even a fool, when he is silent is counted wise, and he that shuts his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.
Proverbs 17
New King James Version
Proverbs 17
New King James Version
The Lord Tests Hearts
2 A wise servant will rule over (B)a son who causes shame,
And will share an inheritance among the brothers.
3 The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold,
(C)But the Lord tests the hearts.
4 An evildoer gives heed to false lips;
A liar listens eagerly to a [b]spiteful tongue.
5 (D)He who mocks the poor reproaches his Maker;
(E)He who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.
6 (F)Children’s children are the crown of old men,
And the glory of children is their father.
7 Excellent speech is not becoming to a fool,
Much less lying lips to a prince.
8 A present is a precious stone in the eyes of its possessor;
Wherever he turns, he prospers.
10 (I)Rebuke is more effective for a wise man
Than a hundred blows on a fool.
11 An evil man seeks only rebellion;
Therefore a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
12 Let a man meet (J)a bear robbed of her cubs,
Rather than a fool in his folly.
13 Whoever (K)rewards evil for good,
Evil will not depart from his house.
14 The beginning of strife is like releasing water;
Therefore (L)stop contention before a quarrel starts.
15 (M)He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just,
Both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord.
16 Why is there in the hand of a fool the purchase price of wisdom,
Since he has no heart for it?
17 (N)A friend loves at all times,
And a brother is born for adversity.
18 (O)A man devoid of [c]understanding [d]shakes hands in a pledge,
And becomes [e]surety for his friend.
19 He who loves transgression loves strife,
And (P)he who exalts his gate seeks destruction.
20 He who has a [f]deceitful heart finds no good,
And he who has (Q)a perverse tongue falls into evil.
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 [h]behind the back
To pervert the ways of justice.
24 (S)Wisdom is in the sight of him who has understanding,
But the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
25 A (T)foolish son is a grief to his father,
And bitterness to her who bore him.
26 Also, to punish the righteous is not good,
Nor to strike princes for their uprightness.
27 (U)He who has knowledge spares his words,
And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.
28 (V)Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace;
When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 17:1 Or sacrificial meals
- Proverbs 17:4 Lit. destructive
- Proverbs 17:18 Lit. heart
- Proverbs 17:18 Lit. strikes the hands
- Proverbs 17:18 guaranty or collateral
- Proverbs 17:20 crooked
- Proverbs 17:22 Or makes medicine even better
- Proverbs 17:23 Under cover, lit. from the bosom
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.
Jubilee Bible 2000 (JUB)
Copyright © 2013, 2020 by Ransom Press International
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.