Proverbs 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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GOD'S WORD® Translation ©1995, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020 by God's Word to the Nations Mission Society. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 17
17
1 Better a dry morsel and quiet with it
than a house filled with feasts of strife.
2A slave who deals wisely will rule over a child who acts shamefully,
and in the midst of brothers he will share his inheritance.
3A crucible is for the silver, and a furnace is for the gold,
but Yahweh will test hearts.
4He who does evil listens to lips of wickedness,
and the liar gives heed to the tongue of mischief.
5He who mocks the poor insults him who made him;
he who rejoices at calamity will not go unpunished.
6The crown of the elderly are grandchildren,#Literally “sons of sons”
and the glory of children is their fathers.
7Fine speech#Literally “A lip of fineness” is not becoming a fool,
still less#Literally “only for” is false speech#Literally “lip of deceit” for a ruler.
8The bribe is a stone of magic in the eyes of its owner;#Or “master”
everywhere#Literally “to all which” he will turn, he will prosper.
9He who forgives an affront fosters love,
but he who waits on a matter will alienate a friend.
10A rebuke strikes him who understands
deeper than one hundred blows to a fool.
11An evil person will seek only rebellion,
and a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
12May a man meet a she-bear robbed of offspring
and not a fool in his folly.
13For he who returns evil for good,
evil will not depart from his house.
14Like the release of water is the beginning of strife;
before it breaks out, stop the quarrel.
15He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous,
the two of them are both abominations of Yahweh.
16Why is this? A price in the hand of a fool,
in order to buy wisdom where#Hebrew “and” there is no sense.#Literally “heart”
17The friend loves at all times#Hebrew “time”,
but a brother is born for adversity.
18A person who lacks sense#Literally “heart” pledges;#Literally “pledges a hand”
he becomes security before his neighbor.
19He who loves transgression loves strife;
he who builds his high thresholds seeks destruction.
20He who is crooked of heart#Or “mind” will not find goodness,
and he who is perverse, by his tongue he will fall into calamity.
21He who begets a fool, there is trouble for him;
the father of a fool will not rejoice.
22A cheerful heart is good medicine,
but a downcast spirit will dry out bones.
23The wicked will accept a bribe from the lap,
in order to pervert the ways of justice.
24He who understands sets his face toward wisdom,
but the eyes of a fool, to the end of the earth.#Or “land”
25A grief to his father is the child of a fool,
and bitterness to her who bore him.
26Also, imposing a fine on the righteous is not good,
nor to flog nobles for uprightness.
27He who spares his sayings knows knowledge,
and a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
28Even a fool who keeps silent shall be considered wise;#Literally “wise, he shall be considered”
he who closes his lips is intelligent.
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