Proverbs 17 Parallel Bible Translations

Proverbs 17 ▼
swipe to see more →
BLB
Berean Literal Bible
ESV
English Standard Version
NIV
New International Version
+Add
1 Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it, than a house full of feasting with strife. Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife. Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife.
2 A wise servant rules over a son who acts shamefully, and in the midst of brothers he will share an inheritance. A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers. A prudent servant will rule over a disgraceful son and will share the inheritance as one of the family.
3 The crucible is for silver and the furnace for gold, and the One testing hearts is YHWH. The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the LORD tests hearts. The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the heart.
4 One doing evil pays attention to lips of iniquity; a liar gives ear to a tongue of evil desires. An evildoer listens to wicked lips, and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue. A wicked person listens to deceitful lips; a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.
5 One mocking the poor scorns his Maker; one glad at calamity will not be acquitted. Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker; he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished. Whoever mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker; whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished.
6 The crown of old men are the sons of sons, and the glory of sons are their fathers. Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers. Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.
7 A lip of excellence is not lovely to a fool, even less to a prince is a lip of falsehood. Fine speech is not becoming to a fool; still less is false speech to a prince. Eloquent lips are unsuited to a godless fool— how much worse lying lips to a ruler!
8 A stone of favor is a bribe in the eyes of its owners—to all that he turns, he prospers. A bribe is like a magic stone in the eyes of the one who gives it; wherever he turns he prospers. A bribe is seen as a charm by the one who gives it; they think success will come at every turn.
9 The one covering a transgression is seeking love, and one repeating a word is separating a close friend. Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends. Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.
10 A rebuke goes down into an understanding one, more than a hundred stripes into a fool. A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred blows into a fool. A rebuke impresses a discerning person more than a hundred lashes a fool.
11 An evil one seeks only rebellion, and a cruel messenger will be sent against him. An evil man seeks only rebellion, and a cruel messenger will be sent against him. Evildoers foster rebellion against God; the messenger of death will be sent against them.
12 Let meet a bear robbed of her cubs with a man, and not a fool in his folly. Let a man meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs rather than a fool in his folly. Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool bent on folly.
13 One returning evil in exchange for good—evil shall not depart from his house. If anyone returns evil for good, evil will not depart from his house. Evil will never leave the house of one who pays back evil for good.
14 The beginning of strife is a letting out of waters, and before it breaks out, abandon the dispute. The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks out. Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.
15 One justifying the wicked, and condemning the just—even the two of them are an abomination to YHWH. He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the LORD. Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent— the LORD detests them both.
16 Why is is this a payment in the hand of a fool, to buy wisdom without a heart? Why should a fool have money in his hand to buy wisdom when he has no sense? Why should fools have money in hand to buy wisdom, when they are not able to understand it?
17 At every time a friend is loving, and a brother is born for distress. A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.
18 A man lacking heart is one striking hands, pledging a pledge before the face of his friend. One who lacks sense gives a pledge and puts up security in the presence of his neighbor. One who has no sense shakes hands in pledge and puts up security for a neighbor.
19 The one loving transgression loves strife; the one making high his entrance is seeking destruction. Whoever loves transgression loves strife; he who makes his door high seeks destruction. Whoever loves a quarrel loves sin; whoever builds a high gate invites destruction.
20 The twisted of heart shall not find good, and the turned in his tongue falls into evil. A man of crooked heart does not discover good, and one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity. One whose heart is corrupt does not prosper; one whose tongue is perverse falls into trouble.
21 The one begetting a fool, grief is unto him, and the father of a fool is not glad. He who sires a fool gets himself sorrow, and the father of a fool has no joy. To have a fool for a child brings grief; there is no joy for the parent of a godless fool.
22 A joyful heart is good healing, and a spirit stricken dries up the bones. A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
23 A wicked one takes a bribe from the bosom to stretch aside the paths of justice. The wicked accepts a bribe in secret to pervert the ways of justice. The wicked accept bribes in secret to pervert the course of justice.
24 With the face of a discerning one is wisdom and the eyes of a fool are at the end of the earth. The discerning sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth. A discerning person keeps wisdom in view, but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth.
25 A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her who bore him. A foolish son is a grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him. A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to the mother who bore him.
26 Surely to fine the righteous is not good, to strike nobles for uprightness. To impose a fine on a righteous man is not good, nor to strike the noble for their uprightness. If imposing a fine on the innocent is not good, surely to flog honest officials is not right.
27 The one restraining his words is one knowing knowledge, and calm of spirit is a man of understanding. Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.
28 Even a fool keeping silent is considered wise, one shutting his lips discerning. Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent. Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues.
Previous chapter
Top of Page
Top of Page