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 Catholic Bible
Chapter 17
1 It is better to have a dry crust to eat in peace
than to feast in a house that is filled with strife.
2 A wise servant will rule over an unworthy son
and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.
3 The crucible is for silver and the furnace is for gold,
but it is the Lord who tests the heart.
4 An evildoer listens eagerly to wicked lips,
and a liar pays heed to a slanderous tongue.
5 Anyone who mocks the poor insults their Creator;[a]
whoever gloats at another’s distress will not go unpunished.
6 Grandchildren are the crown of the aged,
and the glory of children is their parents.
7 Fine words are not becoming to a fool,
and much less are false words to a noble.
8 A bribe is like a magic stone to one who offers it;
wherever he turns, he meets with success.[b]
9 One who forgives a misdeed fosters friendship,
but he who divulges it separates good friends.
10 A reproof makes a far greater impression upon a discerning person
than a hundred blows will upon a fool.
11 A wicked man is only interested in fomenting rebellion;
hence a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
12 It is better to come upon a bear robbed of her cubs
rather than confronting a fool in his folly.
13 One who returns evil for good
will forever have misfortune in his house.
14 To begin a quarrel is like unleashing a flood;
so desist before the quarreling begins.
15 Absolving the wicked and condemning the innocent
are both equally abominable to the Lord.
16 Of what advantage is money in the hands of a fool?
Can he purchase wisdom if he has no desire to learn?
17 A true friend is one at all times,
and a brother is born to render help in time of need.
18 A man without sense gives a pledge
to become surety for a neighbor.[c]
19 One who sows discord enjoys strife,
and one who constructs a high threshold invites disaster.
20 One whose heart is perverse will never prosper,
and one whose tongue is evil will come to trouble.
21 The father of a fool endures endless sorrow
and receives no joy from having begotten him.
22 A cheerful heart[d] is excellent medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
23 A wicked man conceals a bribe[e] under his cloak
to divert the course of justice.
24 A discerning man sets his face toward wisdom,
but the eyes of a fool range to the ends of the earth.[f]
25 A foolish son causes grief to his father
and brings sorrow to the mother who bore him.
26 It is not right to fine the innocent
or to flog princes for their integrity.
27 One who uses words sparingly is truly wise;
a man of discernment keeps his tongue under control.
28 Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise;
if he closes his lips, he is regarded as intelligent.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 17:5 Anyone who mocks the poor insults their Creator: see note on Prov 14:31.
- Proverbs 17:8 Such is human behavior that bribes open doors (see v. 23; 18:16; 21:14), but both bribe-giving and bribe-taking are evil acts that corrupt the human heart and are abhorrent to the Lord (see Deut 10:17) who condemns them (see Prov 15:27; Deut 16:19; 1 Sam 12:3; Ps 26:10; Eccl 7:7; Isa 1:23; 33:15; Am 5:12; 1 Tim 6:10).
- Proverbs 17:18 See note on Prov 6:1-5.
- Proverbs 17:22 Cheerful heart: see Prov 14:30; 15:13, 30; 16:15.
- Proverbs 17:23 Bribe: see note on v. 8.
- Proverbs 17:24 The prudent look directly in front of them; fools go astray.
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