Mishlei (Pro) 17
17
1Better a dry piece of bread with calm
than a house full of food but also full of strife.
2An intelligent slave will rule a shameful son
and share the inheritance with the brothers.
3The crucible [tests] silver, and the furnace [tests] gold,
but the one who tests hearts is Adonai.
4An evildoer heeds wicked lips;
a liar listens to destructive talk.
5He who mocks the poor insults his maker;
he who rejoices at calamity will not go unpunished.
6Grandchildren are the crown of the aged,
while the glory of children is their ancestors.
7Fine speech is unbecoming to a boor,
and even less lying lips to a leader.
8A bribe works like a charm, in the view of him who gives it —
wherever it turns, it succeeds.
9He who conceals an offense promotes love,
but he who harps on it can separate even close friends.
10A rebuke makes more impression on a person of understanding
than a hundred blows on a fool.
11An evil person seeks only rebellion,
but a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
12Rather meet a bear robbed of its cubs
than encounter a fool in his folly.
13Evil will not depart from the house
of him who returns evil for good.
14Starting a fight is like letting water through [a dike] —
better stop the quarrel before it gets worse.
15He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous —
both alike are an abomination to Adonai.
16Why would a fool wish to pay for wisdom
when he has no desire to learn?
17A friend shows his friendship at all times —
it is for adversity that [such] a brother is born.
18He who gives his hand to guarantee a loan
for his neighbor lacks good sense.
19Those who love quarreling love giving offense;
those who make their gates tall are courting disaster.
20A crooked-hearted person will find nothing good,
and the perverse of speech will end in calamity.
21He who fathers a fool does so to his sorrow,
and the father of a boor has no joy.
22A happy heart is good medicine,
but low spirits sap one’s strength.
23From under a cloak a bad man takes a bribe
to pervert the course of justice.
24The discerning person focuses on wisdom there before him,
but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth.
25A son who is a fool means anger for his father
and bitterness for the mother who gave him birth.
26To punish the innocent is not right,
likewise to flog noble people for their uprightness.
27A knowledgeable person controls his tongue;
a discerning person controls his temper.
28Even a fool, if he stays silent, is thought wise;
he who keeps his mouth shut can pass for smart.
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Mishlei (Pro) 17: CJB
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Learn More About Complete Jewish BibleProverbs 17
17
1Better a bite of dry bread ⌞eaten⌟ in peace
than a family feast filled with strife.
2A wise slave will become master over a son who acts shamefully,
and he will share the inheritance with the brothers.
3The crucible is for refining silver and the smelter for gold,
but the one who purifies hearts ⌞by fire⌟ is the Lord.
4An evildoer pays attention to wicked lips.
A liar opens his ears to a slanderous tongue.
5Whoever makes fun of a poor person insults his maker.
Whoever is happy ⌞to see someone’s⌟ distress will not escape punishment.
6Grandchildren are the crown of grandparents,
and parents are the glory of their children.
The Consequences of Being a Fool
7Refined speech is not fitting for a godless fool.
How much less does lying fit a noble person!
8A bribe seems ⌞like⌟ a jewel to the one who gives it.#17:8 Or “who receives it.”
Wherever he turns, he prospers.
9Whoever forgives an offense seeks love,
but whoever keeps bringing up the issue separates the closest of friends.
10A reprimand impresses a person who has understanding
more than a hundred lashes impress a fool.
11A rebel looks for nothing but evil.
Therefore, a cruel messenger will be sent ⌞to punish⌟ him.
12Better to meet a bear robbed of its cubs
than a fool ⌞carried away⌟ with his stupidity.
13Whoever pays back evil for good—
evil will never leave his home.
14Starting a quarrel is ⌞like⌟ opening a floodgate,
so stop before the argument gets out of control.
15Whoever approves of wicked people
and whoever condemns righteous people
is disgusting to the Lord.
16Why should a fool have money in his hand to buy wisdom
when he doesn’t have a mind to grasp anything?
17A friend always loves,
and a brother is born to share trouble.
18A person without good sense closes a deal with a handshake.
He guarantees a loan in the presence of his friend.
19Whoever loves sin loves a quarrel.
Whoever builds his city gate high invites destruction.
20A twisted mind never finds happiness,
and one with a devious tongue ⌞repeatedly⌟ gets into trouble.
21The parent of a fool has grief,
and the father of a godless fool has no joy.
22A joyful heart is good medicine,
but depression drains one’s strength.
23A wicked person secretly accepts a bribe to corrupt the ways of justice.
24Wisdom is directly in front of an understanding person,
but the eyes of a fool ⌞are looking around⌟ all over the world.
How Fools Live
25A foolish son is a heartache to his father
and bitter grief to his mother.
26To punish an innocent person is not good.
To strike down noble people is not right.
27Whoever has knowledge controls his words,
and a person who has understanding is even-tempered.
28Even a stubborn fool is thought to be wise if he keeps silent.
He is considered intelligent if he keeps his lips sealed.
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