Proverbs 17 | English Standard Version

English Standard Version

1 Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting^[1] with strife. (Pr 15:17) 2 A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers. (2Sa 16:4; Pr 10:5; Pr 17:21; Pr 17:25; Pr 19:26)

2Sa 16:4Pr 10:5Pr 17:21Pr 17:25Pr 19:26

3 The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tests hearts. (1Ch 29:17; Ps 26:2; Pr 27:21; Jer 17:10; Mal 3:3)

1Ch 29:17Ps 26:2Pr 27:21Jer 17:10Mal 3:3

4 An evildoer listens to wicked lips, and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue. 5 Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker; he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished. (Job 31:29; Pr 14:31; Pr 16:5; Pr 24:17; Ob 1:12; Mt 25:40; Mt 25:45)

Job 31:29Pr 14:31Pr 16:5Pr 24:17Ob 1:12Mt 25:40Mt 25:45

6 Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers. (Ps 127:3; Ps 128:6; Pr 16:31) 7 Fine speech is not becoming to a fool; still less is false speech to a prince. (Pr 6:17; Pr 19:10; Pr 26:1) 8 A bribe is like a magic^[2] stone in the eyes of the one who gives it; wherever he turns he prospers. (Ex 23:8; Pr 17:23; Pr 18:16; Pr 19:6; Pr 21:14; Isa 1:23; Am 5:12)

Ex 23:8Pr 17:23Pr 18:16Pr 19:6Pr 21:14Isa 1:23Am 5:12

9 Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends. (Pr 10:12; Pr 16:28) 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 a cruel messenger will be sent against him. (1Ki 2:29) 12 Let a man meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs rather than a fool in his folly. (2Sa 17:8; Pr 27:3; Ho 13:8) 13 If anyone returns evil for good, evil will not depart from his house. (2Sa 12:10; Ps 35:12; Ps 109:4; Pr 20:22; Mt 5:39)

2Sa 12:10Ps 35:12Ps 109:4Pr 20:22Mt 5:39

14 The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks out. (Pr 20:3; Pr 25:8) 15 He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the Lord. (Ex 23:7; Job 34:17; Ps 94:21; Pr 17:26; Pr 18:5; Pr 24:24; Isa 5:23)

Ex 23:7Job 34:17Ps 94:21Pr 17:26Pr 18:5Pr 24:24Isa 5:23

16 Why should a fool have money in his hand to buy wisdom when he has no sense? (Pr 23:23) 17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. (Ru 1:16; Job 6:14; Pr 18:24; Pr 27:10)

Ru 1:16Job 6:14Pr 18:24Pr 27:10

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 makes his door high seeks destruction. (Pr 11:2; Pr 29:23) 20 A man of crooked heart does not discover good, and one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity. (Pr 11:20) 21 He who sires a fool gets himself sorrow, and the father of a fool has no joy. (Pr 10:1; Pr 19:13) 22 A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. (Ps 22:15; Pr 12:25; Pr 15:13) 23 The wicked accepts a bribe in secret^[3] to pervert the ways of justice. (Pr 17:8; Mic 3:11; Mic 7:3) 24 The discerning sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth. (De 30:11; Pr 14:6; Pr 15:14; Ec 2:14)

De 30:11Pr 14:6Pr 15:14Ec 2:14

25 A foolish son is a grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him. (Pr 10:1; Pr 17:21; Pr 23:25) 26 To impose a fine on a righteous man is not good, nor to strike the noble for their uprightness. (Pr 17:15) 27 Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. (Pr 10:19; Jas 1:19) 28 Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent. (Job 13:5)

New International Version

from Biblica

1 Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife. 2 A prudent servant will rule over a disgraceful son and will share the inheritance as one of the family. 3 The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the heart. 4 A wicked person listens to deceitful lips; a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue. 5 Whoever mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker; whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished. 6 Children’s children 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! 8 A bribe is seen as a charm by the one who gives it; they think success will come at every turn. 9 Whoever would foster love covers over an offence, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends. 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. 13 Evil will never leave the house of one who pays back evil for good. 14 Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out. 15 Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent – the Lord detests them both. 16 Why should fools have money in hand to buy wisdom, when they are not able to understand it? 17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. 18 One who has no sense shakes hands in pledge and puts up security for a neighbour. 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. 22 A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. 23 The wicked accept bribes in secret to pervert the course of justice. 24 A discerning person keeps wisdom in view, but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth. 25 A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to the mother who bore him. 26 If imposing a fine on the innocent is not good, surely to flog honest officials is not right. 27 The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered. 28 Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues.

New International Reader’s Version

from Biblica

1 It is better to eat a dry crust of bread in peace and quiet than to eat a big dinner in a house full of fighting. 2 A wise servant will rule over a shameful child. He will be given part of the property as if he were a family member. 3 Fire tests silver, and heat tests gold. But the LORD tests our hearts. 4 Evil people listen to lies. Lying people listen to evil. 5 Anyone who laughs at those who are poor makes fun of their Maker. Anyone who is happy when others suffer will be punished. 6 Grandchildren are like a crown to older people. And children are proud of their parents. 7 Fancy words don’t belong in the mouths of ungodly fools. And lies certainly don’t belong in the mouths of rulers! 8 Those who give money think it will buy them favours. They think that no matter where they turn, they will succeed. 9 Whoever wants to show love forgives a wrong. But those who talk about it separate close friends. 10 A person who understands what is right learns more from just a warning than a foolish person learns from 100 strokes with a whip. 11 An evil person tries to keep others from obeying God. The messenger of death will be sent against them. 12 It is better to meet a bear whose cubs have been stolen than to meet a foolish person who is acting foolishly. 13 Evil will never leave the house of anyone who pays back evil for good. 14 Starting to argue is like making a crack in a dam. So drop the matter before a fight breaks out. 15 The LORD hates two things. He hates it when the guilty are set free. He also hates it when those who aren’t guilty are punished. 16 Why should a foolish person try to buy wisdom? They are not even able to understand it. 17 A friend loves at all times. They are there to help when trouble comes. 18 A person who has no sense agrees to pay what other people owe. It isn’t wise to promise to pay other people’s bills. 19 The one who loves to argue loves to sin. The one who builds a high gate is just asking to be destroyed. 20 If your heart is twisted, you won’t succeed. If your tongue tells lies, you will get into trouble. 21 It is sad to have a foolish child. The parents of a godless fool have no joy. 22 A cheerful heart makes you healthy. But a broken spirit dries you up. 23 Anyone who does wrong accepts favours in secret. Then they turn what is right into what is wrong. 24 Anyone who understands what is right keeps wisdom in view. But the eyes of a foolish person look everywhere else. 25 A foolish child makes his father sad and his mother sorry. 26 It isn’t good to fine those who aren’t guilty. So it certainly isn’t good to whip officials just because they are honest. 27 Anyone who has knowledge controls their words. Anyone who has understanding is not easily upset. 28 We think even foolish people are wise if they keep silent. We think they understand what is right if they control their tongues.