Proverbs 17 Parallel Bible Translations

Proverbs 17 ▼
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1 Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, 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 shall rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part in the inheritance among the brethren. 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 fining-pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but Jehovah trieth the hearts. 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 The evil-doer giveth heed to iniquitous lips; the liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue. 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 Whoso mocketh a poor [man] reproacheth his Maker; he that is glad at calamity shall not be held innocent. 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 Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children 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 Excellent speech becometh not a vile [man]; how much less do lying lips a noble! 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 gift is a precious stone in the eyes of the possessor: whithersoever it turneth it prospereth. 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 He that covereth transgression seeketh love; but he that bringeth a matter up again separateth very friends. 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 reproof entereth more deeply into him that hath understanding 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 [man] seeketh only rebellion; but a cruel messenger shall 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 a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man rather than 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 Whoso rewardeth evil 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 contention is [as] when one letteth out water; therefore leave off strife before it become vehement. 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 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the righteous, even they both are abomination to Jehovah. 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 To what purpose is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing [he] hath no sense? 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 The friend loveth 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 loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.
18 A senseless man striketh hands, becoming surety for his neighbour. 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 He loveth transgression that loveth a quarrel; he that maketh high his gate seeketh 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 He that hath a perverse heart findeth no good; and he that shifteth about with his tongue falleth 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 He that begetteth a fool [doeth it] to his sorrow, and the father of a vile [man] hath no joy. 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 promoteth healing; but a broken spirit drieth 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 [man] taketh a gift out of the bosom, to pervert the paths of judgment. 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 Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in 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. 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 that 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 To punish a righteous [man] is not good, nor to strike nobles because of [their] 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 He that hath knowledge spareth his words; and a man of understanding is of a cool spirit. 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 when he holdeth his peace is reckoned wise, [and] he that shutteth his lips, intelligent. 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.
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