Proverbs 17 Parallel Bible Translations

Proverbs 17 ▼
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BSB
Berean Standard Bible
ESV
English Standard Version
KJV
King James Version
NIV
New International Version
NLT
New Living Translation
1 Better a dry morsel in quietness than a house full of feasting with strife. Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife. Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife. Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife. Better a dry crust eaten in peace than a house filled with feasting—and conflict.
2 A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful son and share his inheritance as one of the brothers. A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers. A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren. A prudent servant will rule over a disgraceful son and will share the inheritance as one of the family. A wise servant will rule over the master’s disgraceful son and will share the inheritance of the master’s children.
3 A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but the LORD is the tester of hearts. The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the LORD tests hearts. The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts. The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the heart. Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but the LORD tests the heart.
4 A wicked man listens to evil lips; a liar gives ear to a destructive tongue. An evildoer listens to wicked lips, and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue. A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue. A wicked person listens to deceitful lips; a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue. Wrongdoers eagerly listen to gossip; liars pay close attention to slander.
5 He who mocks the poor insults their Maker; whoever gloats over calamity will not go unpunished. Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker; he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished. Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished. Whoever mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker; whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished. Those who mock the poor insult their Maker; those who rejoice at the misfortune of others will be punished.
6 Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of a son is his father. Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers. Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers. Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children. Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged; parents are the pride of their children.
7 Eloquent words are unfit for a fool; how much worse are lying lips to a ruler! Fine speech is not becoming to a fool; still less is false speech to a prince. Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince. Eloquent lips are unsuited to a godless fool— how much worse lying lips to a ruler! Eloquent words are not fitting for a fool; even less are lies fitting for a ruler.
8 A bribe is a charm to its giver; wherever he turns, he succeeds. A bribe is like a magic stone in the eyes of the one who gives it; wherever he turns he prospers. A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth. A bribe is seen as a charm by the one who gives it; they think success will come at every turn. A bribe is like a lucky charm; whoever gives one will prosper!
9 Whoever conceals an offense promotes love, but he who brings it up separates friends. Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends. He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends. Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends. Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends.
10 A rebuke cuts into a man of discernment deeper than a hundred lashes cut into a fool. A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred blows into a fool. A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool. A rebuke impresses a discerning person more than a hundred lashes a fool. A single rebuke does more for a person of understanding than a hundred lashes on the back of a fool.
11 An evil man seeks only rebellion; a cruel messenger will be sent against him. An evil man seeks only rebellion, and a cruel messenger will be sent against him. An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him. Evildoers foster rebellion against God; the messenger of death will be sent against them. Evil people are eager for rebellion, but they will be severely punished.
12 It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly. Let a man meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs rather than a fool in his folly. Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly. Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool bent on folly. It is safer to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than to confront a fool caught in foolishness.
13 If anyone returns evil for good, evil will never leave his house. If anyone returns evil for good, evil will not depart from his house. Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house. Evil will never leave the house of one who pays back evil for good. If you repay good with evil, evil will never leave your house.
14 To start a quarrel is to release a flood; so abandon the dispute before it breaks out. The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks out. The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with. Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out. Starting a quarrel is like opening a floodgate, so stop before a dispute breaks out.
15 Acquitting the guilty and condemning the righteous—both are detestable to the LORD. He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the LORD. He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD. Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent— the LORD detests them both. Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent— both are detestable to the LORD.
16 Why should the fool have money in his hand with no intention of buying wisdom? Why should a fool have money in his hand to buy wisdom when he has no sense? Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it? Why should fools have money in hand to buy wisdom, when they are not able to understand it? It is senseless to pay to educate a fool, since he has no heart for learning.
17 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 adversity. A friend loveth 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. A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.
18 A man lacking judgment strikes hands in pledge and puts up security for his neighbor. One who lacks sense gives a pledge and puts up security in the presence of his neighbor. A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend. One who has no sense shakes hands in pledge and puts up security for a neighbor. It’s poor judgment to guarantee another person’s debt or put up security for a friend.
19 He who loves transgression loves strife; he who builds his gate high invites destruction. Whoever loves transgression loves strife; he who makes his door high seeks destruction. He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction. Whoever loves a quarrel loves sin; whoever builds a high gate invites destruction. Anyone who loves to quarrel loves sin; anyone who trusts in high walls invites disaster.
20 The one with a perverse heart finds no good, and he whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble. A man of crooked heart does not discover good, and one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity. He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief. One whose heart is corrupt does not prosper; one whose tongue is perverse falls into trouble. The crooked heart will not prosper; the lying tongue tumbles into trouble.
21 A man fathers a fool to his own grief; the father of a fool has no joy. He who sires a fool gets himself sorrow, and the father of a fool has no joy. He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy. To have a fool for a child brings grief; there is no joy for the parent of a godless fool. It is painful to be the parent of a fool; there is no joy for the father of a rebel.
22 A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones. A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones. A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.
23 A wicked man takes a covert bribe to subvert the course of justice. The wicked accepts a bribe in secret to pervert the ways of justice. A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment. The wicked accept bribes in secret to pervert the course of justice. The wicked take secret bribes to pervert the course of justice.
24 Wisdom is the focus of the discerning, but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth. The discerning sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth. Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth. A discerning person keeps wisdom in view, but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth. Sensible people keep their eyes glued on wisdom, but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth.
25 A foolish son brings 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 is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him. A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to the mother who bore him. Foolish children bring grief to their father and bitterness to the one who gave them birth.
26 It is surely not good to punish the innocent or to flog a noble for his honesty. To impose a fine on a righteous man is not good, nor to strike the noble for their uprightness. Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity. If imposing a fine on the innocent is not good, surely to flog honest officials is not right. It is wrong to punish the godly for being good or to flog leaders for being honest.
27 A man of knowledge restrains his words, and a man of understanding maintains a calm spirit. Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit. The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered. A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered.
28 Even a fool is considered wise if he keeps silent, and discerning when he holds his tongue. Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent. Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding. Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues. Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent.
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