Proverbs 17:10-19 - Compare All Versions
Proverbs 17:10-19 MSG (The Message)
A quiet rebuke to a person of good sense does more than a whack on the head of a fool. Criminals out looking for nothing but trouble won’t have to wait long—they’ll meet it coming and going! Better to meet a grizzly robbed of her cubs than a fool hellbent on folly. Those who return evil for good will meet their own evil returning. The start of a quarrel is like a leak in a dam, so stop it before it bursts. Whitewashing bad people and throwing mud on good people are equally abhorrent to GOD. What’s this? Fools out shopping for wisdom! They wouldn’t recognize it if they saw it! Friends love through all kinds of weather, and families stick together in all kinds of trouble. It’s stupid to try to get something for nothing, or run up huge bills you can never pay. The person who courts sin marries trouble; build a wall, invite a burglar.
Proverbs 17:10-19 KJV (King James Version)
A reproof entereth more into a wise man Than an hundred stripes into a fool. An evil man seeketh only rebellion: Therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him. Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, Rather than a fool in his folly. Whoso rewardeth evil for good, Evil shall not depart from his house. The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: Therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with. He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, Even they both are abomination to the LORD. Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, Seeing he hath no heart to it? A friend loveth at all times, And a brother is born for adversity. A man void of understanding striketh hands, And becometh surety in the presence of his friend. He loveth transgression that loveth strife: And he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.
Proverbs 17:10-19 NASB1995 (New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995)
A rebuke goes deeper into one who has understanding Than a hundred blows into a fool. A rebellious man seeks only evil, So a cruel messenger will be sent against him. Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, Rather than a fool in his folly. He who returns evil for good, Evil will not depart from his house. The beginning of strife is like letting out water, So abandon the quarrel before it breaks out. He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous, Both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD. Why is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, When he has no sense? A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity. A man lacking in sense pledges And becomes guarantor in the presence of his neighbor. He who loves transgression loves strife; He who raises his door seeks destruction.
Proverbs 17:10-19 NCV (New Century Version)
A wise person will learn more from a warning than a fool will learn from a hundred lashings. Disobedient people look only for trouble, so a cruel messenger will be sent against them. It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than to meet a fool doing foolish things. Whoever gives evil in return for good will always have trouble at home. Starting a quarrel is like a leak in a dam, so stop it before a fight breaks out. The LORD hates both of these things: freeing the guilty and punishing the innocent. It won’t do a fool any good to try to buy wisdom, because he doesn’t have the ability to be wise. A friend loves you all the time, and a brother helps in time of trouble. It is not wise to promise to pay what your neighbor owes. Whoever loves to argue loves to sin. Whoever brags a lot is asking for trouble.
Proverbs 17:10-19 ASV (American Standard Version)
A rebuke entereth deeper into one that hath understanding Than a hundred stripes into a fool. An evil man seeketh only rebellion; Therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him. Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, Rather than a fool in his folly. Whoso rewardeth evil for good, Evil shall not depart from his house. The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: Therefore leave off contention, before there is quarrelling. He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the righteous, Both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah. Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, Seeing he hath no understanding? A friend loveth at all times; And a brother is born for adversity. A man void of understanding striketh hands, And becometh surety in the presence of his neighbor. He loveth transgression that loveth strife: He that raiseth high his gate seeketh destruction.
Proverbs 17:10-19 NIV (New International Version)
A rebuke impresses a discerning person more than a hundred lashes a fool. Evildoers foster rebellion against God; the messenger of death will be sent against them. Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool bent on folly. Evil will never leave the house of one who pays back evil for good. Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out. Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent— the LORD detests them both. Why should fools have money in hand to buy wisdom, when they are not able to understand it? A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. One who has no sense shakes hands in pledge and puts up security for a neighbor. Whoever loves a quarrel loves sin; whoever builds a high gate invites destruction.
Proverbs 17:10-19 NKJV (New King James Version)
Rebuke is more effective for a wise man Than a hundred blows on a fool. An evil man seeks only rebellion; Therefore a cruel messenger will be sent against him. Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, Rather than a fool in his folly. Whoever rewards evil for good, Evil will not depart from his house. The beginning of strife is like releasing water; Therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts. He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, Both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD. Why is there in the hand of a fool the purchase price of wisdom, Since he has no heart for it? A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity. A man devoid of understanding shakes hands in a pledge, And becomes surety for his friend. He who loves transgression loves strife, And he who exalts his gate seeks destruction.
Proverbs 17:10-19 AMP (Amplified Bible)
A reprimand goes deeper into one who has understanding and a teachable spirit Than a hundred lashes into a fool. [Is 32:6] A rebellious man seeks only evil; Therefore a cruel messenger will be sent against him. Let a man meet a [ferocious] bear robbed of her cubs Rather than the [angry, narcissistic] fool in his folly. [Hos 13:8] Whoever returns evil for good, Evil will not depart from his house. [Ps 109:4, 5; Jer 18:20] The beginning of strife is like letting out water [as from a small break in a dam; first it trickles and then it gushes]; Therefore abandon the quarrel before it breaks out and tempers explode. He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous Are both repulsive to the LORD. [Ex 23:7; Prov 24:24; Is 5:23] Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, When he has no common sense or even a heart for it? A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity. A man lacking common sense gives a pledge And becomes guarantor [for the debt of another] in the presence of his neighbor. He who loves transgression loves strife and is quarrelsome; He who [proudly] raises his gate seeks destruction [because of his arrogant pride].
Proverbs 17:10-19 NLT (New Living Translation)
A single rebuke does more for a person of understanding than a hundred lashes on the back of a fool. Evil people are eager for rebellion, but they will be severely punished. It is safer to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than to confront a fool caught in foolishness. If you repay good with evil, evil will never leave your house. Starting a quarrel is like opening a floodgate, so stop before a dispute breaks out. Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent— both are detestable to the LORD. It is senseless to pay to educate a fool, since he has no heart for learning. A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need. It’s poor judgment to guarantee another person’s debt or put up security for a friend. Anyone who loves to quarrel loves sin; anyone who trusts in high walls invites disaster.
Proverbs 17:10-19 TPT (The Passion Translation)
One word of correction breaks open a teachable heart, but a fool can be corrected a hundred times and still not know what hit him. Rebellion thrives in an evil man, so a messenger of vengeance will be sent to punish him. It’s safer to meet a grizzly bear robbed of her cubs than to confront a reckless fool. The one who returns evil for good can expect to be treated the same way for the rest of his life. Don’t be one who is quick to quarrel, for an argument is hard to stop, and you never know how it will end, so don’t even start down that road! There is nothing God hates more than condemning the one who is innocent and acquitting the one who is guilty. Why pay tuition to educate a fool? For he has no intention of acquiring true wisdom. A dear friend will love you no matter what, and a family sticks together through all kinds of trouble. It’s stupid to run up bills you’ll never be able to pay or to cosign for the loan of your friend. Save yourself the trouble and don’t do either one. If you love to argue, then you must be in love with sin. For the one who loves to boast is only asking for trouble.
Proverbs 17:10-19 ESV (English Standard Version 2025)
A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred blows into a fool. An evil man seeks only rebellion, and a cruel messenger will be sent against him. Let a man meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs rather than a fool in his folly. If anyone returns evil for good, evil will not depart from his house. The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks out. He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the LORD. Why should a fool have money in his hand to buy wisdom when he has no sense? A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. One who lacks sense gives a pledge and puts up security in the presence of his neighbor. Whoever loves transgression loves strife; he who makes his door high seeks destruction.