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Proverbs 17

Better a dry crust with quietness than a house full of sacrifices and conflict. A wise servant will rule over a son who brings shame, and will share the inheritance among the brothers. The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests hearts. A wicked person listens to false lips, and a liar pays attention to a m

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Better a dry crust

Better a dry crust with quietness than a house full of sacrifices and conflict. A wise servant will rule over a son who brings shame, and will share the inheritance among the brothers. The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests hearts. A wicked person listens to false lips, and a liar pays attention to a malicious tongue. Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker, and whoever is glad at calamity won't escape punishment. Children's children are the crown of old men, and the glory of children is their fathers. Excellent speech doesn't suit a fool; much less do lying lips suit a prince. A gift seems like a precious stone to the one who has it; wherever he turns, he prospers. Whoever covers a wrongdoing seeks love, but whoever keeps bringing it up separates close friends. A rebuke sinks deeper into a wise man than a hundred blows into a fool. An evil man seeks only rebellion, so a cruel messenger will be sent against him. Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly. Whoever repays evil for good will have evil remain in his house. The beginning of conflict is like letting water loose, so leave off arguing before it breaks out.

Better a dry crust with quiet, than a house full of feasting with fighting. A wise servant will rule over a son who brings shame, and will have a share of the inheritance among the brothers. The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the hearts. A wicked doer pays attention to false lips, and a liar turns his ear to a wicked tongue. Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker, and the one who's glad at disasters won't go unpunished. Children's children are the crown of old men, and the glory of children is their fathers. Excellent speech doesn't fit a fool — much less do lying lips fit a leader. A gift is like a precious stone in the eyes of the one who has it. Wherever it turns, it does well. The one who covers a wrong looks for love, but the one who keeps repeating a matter separates close mates. A telling-off goes deeper into a wise man than a hundred blows into a fool. An evil man only looks for rebellion. So a cruel messenger will be sent against him. Let a bear robbed of her cubs meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly. Whoever pays back evil for good — evil won't leave his house. The start of fighting is like letting out water. So leave off arguing before it breaks out.

Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife. A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren. The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts. A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue. Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished. Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers. Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince. A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth. He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends. 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.

1

Better a dry crust with quietness than a house full of sacrifices and conflict.

Plain English

Better a dry crust with quiet, than a house full of feasting with fighting.

King James Version, 1611

Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.

2

A wise servant will rule over a son who brings shame, and will share the inheritance among the brothers.

Plain English

A wise servant will rule over a son who brings shame, and will have a share of the inheritance among the brothers.

King James Version, 1611

A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.

3

The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests hearts.

Plain English

The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the hearts.

King James Version, 1611

The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.

4

A wicked person listens to false lips, and a liar pays attention to a malicious tongue.

Plain English

A wicked doer pays attention to false lips, and a liar turns his ear to a wicked tongue.

King James Version, 1611

A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.

5

Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker, and whoever is glad at calamity won't escape punishment.

Plain English

Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker, and the one who's glad at disasters won't go unpunished.

King James Version, 1611

Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.

6

Children's children are the crown of old men, and the glory of children is their fathers.

King James Version, 1611

Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.

7

Excellent speech doesn't suit a fool; much less do lying lips suit a prince.

Plain English

Excellent speech doesn't fit a fool — much less do lying lips fit a leader.

King James Version, 1611

Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.

8

A gift seems like a precious stone to the one who has it; wherever he turns, he prospers.

Plain English

A gift is like a precious stone in the eyes of the one who has it. Wherever it turns, it does well.

King James Version, 1611

A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.

9

Whoever covers a wrongdoing seeks love, but whoever keeps bringing it up separates close friends.

Plain English

The one who covers a wrong looks for love, but the one who keeps repeating a matter separates close mates.

King James Version, 1611

He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.

10

A rebuke sinks deeper into a wise man than a hundred blows into a fool.

Plain English

A telling-off goes deeper into a wise man than a hundred blows into a fool.

King James Version, 1611

A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.

11

An evil man seeks only rebellion, so a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

Plain English

An evil man only looks for rebellion. So a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

King James Version, 1611

An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

12

Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly.

Plain English

Let a bear robbed of her cubs meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.

King James Version, 1611

Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.

13

Whoever repays evil for good will have evil remain in his house.

Plain English

Whoever pays back evil for good — evil won't leave his house.

King James Version, 1611

Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

14

The beginning of conflict is like letting water loose, so leave off arguing before it breaks out.

Plain English

The start of fighting is like letting out water. So leave off arguing before it breaks out.

King James Version, 1611

The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.

A merry heart

Whoever justifies the wicked and whoever condemns the righteous are both disgusting to the LORD. Why is there money in a fool's hand to buy wisdom when he has no heart for it? A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. A man without understanding shakes hands on a pledge and guarantees another person's debt in front of his friend. Whoever loves wrongdoing loves conflict; whoever exalts his gate seeks destruction. A perverse heart finds no good, and a perverse tongue falls into trouble. Whoever fathers a fool does so to his sorrow, and the father of a fool has no joy. A merry heart does good like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones. A wicked man accepts a gift from under the cloak to pervert the ways of judgment. Wisdom is before the face of a person of understanding, but a fool's eyes wander to the ends of the earth. A foolish son is grief to his father and bitterness to the woman who bore him. It isn't good to punish the righteous, nor to strike princes for uprightness. Whoever has knowledge uses few words, and a person of understanding has an excellent spirit. Even a fool is counted wise when he keeps quiet; when he shuts his lips, he seems understanding.

The one who counts the wicked right and the one who condemns the righteous — both of them are disgusting to the Lord. Why is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he's got no heart for it? A mate loves at all times, and a brother is born for hard times. A man with no sense strikes hands and goes surety in front of his mate. The one who loves stepping over the line loves fighting, and the one who lifts up his gate looks for ruin. The one with a twisted heart finds no good, and the one with a crooked tongue falls into trouble. Whoever fathers a fool does it to his own grief, and the father of a fool has no joy. A merry heart does good like a medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones. A wicked man takes a gift out of the fold of his coat, to twist the ways of judgment. Wisdom is in front of the one who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool are at the ends of the earth. A foolish son is a grief to his father and bitterness to the one who had him. It isn't good to fine the righteous, or to strike leaders for being upright. The one who has knowledge holds back his words, and a man of understanding is of a cool spirit. Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace, and the one who shuts his lips is counted a man of understanding.

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. He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief. He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy. A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones. A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment. Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth. A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him. Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity. He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit. Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

15

Whoever justifies the wicked and whoever condemns the righteous are both disgusting to the LORD.

Plain English

The one who counts the wicked right and the one who condemns the righteous — both of them are disgusting to the Lord.

King James Version, 1611

He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.

16

Why is there money in a fool's hand to buy wisdom when he has no heart for it?

Plain English

Why is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he's got no heart for it?

King James Version, 1611

Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?

17

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

Plain English

A mate loves at all times, and a brother is born for hard times.

King James Version, 1611

A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

18

A man without understanding shakes hands on a pledge and guarantees another person's debt in front of his friend.

Plain English

A man with no sense strikes hands and goes surety in front of his mate.

King James Version, 1611

A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.

19

Whoever loves wrongdoing loves conflict; whoever exalts his gate seeks destruction.

Plain English

The one who loves stepping over the line loves fighting, and the one who lifts up his gate looks for ruin.

King James Version, 1611

He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.

20

A perverse heart finds no good, and a perverse tongue falls into trouble.

Plain English

The one with a twisted heart finds no good, and the one with a crooked tongue falls into trouble.

King James Version, 1611

He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.

21

Whoever fathers a fool does so to his sorrow, and the father of a fool has no joy.

Plain English

Whoever fathers a fool does it to his own grief, and the father of a fool has no joy.

King James Version, 1611

He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.

22

A merry heart does good like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones.

Plain English

A merry heart does good like a medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones.

King James Version, 1611

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

23

A wicked man accepts a gift from under the cloak to pervert the ways of judgment.

Plain English

A wicked man takes a gift out of the fold of his coat, to twist the ways of judgment.

King James Version, 1611

A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.

24

Wisdom is before the face of a person of understanding, but a fool's eyes wander to the ends of the earth.

Plain English

Wisdom is in front of the one who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool are at the ends of the earth.

King James Version, 1611

Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.

25

A foolish son is grief to his father and bitterness to the woman who bore him.

Plain English

A foolish son is a grief to his father and bitterness to the one who had him.

King James Version, 1611

A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.

26

It isn't good to punish the righteous, nor to strike princes for uprightness.

Plain English

It isn't good to fine the righteous, or to strike leaders for being upright.

King James Version, 1611

Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.

27

Whoever has knowledge uses few words, and a person of understanding has an excellent spirit.

Plain English

The one who has knowledge holds back his words, and a man of understanding is of a cool spirit.

King James Version, 1611

He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.

28

Even a fool is counted wise when he keeps quiet; when he shuts his lips, he seems understanding.

Plain English

Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace, and the one who shuts his lips is counted a man of understanding.

King James Version, 1611

Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.