Proverbs 17 Parallel Bible Translations

Proverbs 17 ▼
swipe to see more →
YLT
Young's Literal Translation
ESV
English Standard Version
NIV
New International Version
+Add
1 Better is a dry morsel, and rest with it, Than a house full of the sacrifices of 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 ruleth over a son causing shame, And in the midst of brethren He apportioneth 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 A refining pot is for silver, and a furnace for gold, And the trier of hearts is Jehovah. 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 An evil doer is attentive to lips of vanity, Falsehood is giving 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 is mocking at the poor Hath reproached his Maker, Whoso is rejoicing at calamity is not 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 Sons' sons are the crown of old men, 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 Not comely for a fool is a lip of excellency, Much less for a noble 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 grace is the bribe in the eyes of its possessors, 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 Whoso is covering transgression is seeking love, And whoso is repeating a matter Is separating a familiar 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 Rebuke cometh down on the intelligent More than a hundred stripes on 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, And a fierce messenger is 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 The meeting of a bereaved bear by 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 Whoso is returning evil for good, Evil moveth not 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 a letting out of waters, And before it is meddled with leave the strife. 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 Whoso is justifying the wicked, And condemning the righteous, Even both of these are an 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 Why is this -- a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, And a heart there is none? 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 all times is the friend loving, And a brother for adversity is born. 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 striking hands, A surety he becometh before 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 Whoso is loving transgression is loving debate, Whoso is 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 perverse of heart findeth not good, And the turned in 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 Whoso is begetting a fool hath affliction for it, Yea, the father of a fool rejoiceth not. 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 rejoicing heart doth good to the body, And a smitten spirit drieth the bone. 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 bribe from the bosom the wicked taketh, To turn aside 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 The face of the intelligent is to wisdom, And the eyes of a fool -- 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 provocation to his father is a foolish son, And bitterness to her that bare 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 Also, to fine the righteous is not good, To smite 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 One acquainted with knowledge is sparing his words, And the cool of temper 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 silence is reckoned wise, He who is shutting 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.
Previous chapter
Top of Page
Top of Page