Proverbs 17
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1Better is a dry morsel with quietness, Than a house full of feasting with strife.1Better a dry crust with peace than a house full of feasting with strife.
2A wise servant will rule over a son who causes shame, And will share an inheritance among the brothers.2A prudent servant will rule over a disgraceful son and share an inheritance among brothers.
3The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the LORD tests the hearts.3A crucible for silver, and a smelter for gold, and the LORD is the tester of hearts.
4An evildoer gives heed to false lips; A liar listens eagerly to a spiteful tongue.4A wicked person listens to malicious talk; a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.
5He who mocks the poor reproaches his Maker; He who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.5The one who mocks the poor insults his Maker, and one who rejoices over calamity will not go unpunished.
6Children’s children are the crown of old men, And the glory of children is their father.6Grandchildren are the crown of the elderly, and the pride of children is their fathers.
7Excellent speech is not becoming to a fool, Much less lying lips to a prince.7Eloquent words are not appropriate on a fool's lips; how much worse are lies for a ruler.
8A present is a precious stone in the eyes of its possessor; Wherever he turns, he prospers.8A bribe seems like a magic stone to its owner; wherever he turns, he succeeds.
9He who covers a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates friends.9Whoever conceals an offense promotes love, but whoever gossips about it separates friends.
10Rebuke is more effective for a wise man Than a hundred blows on a fool.10A rebuke cuts into a perceptive person more than a hundred lashes into a fool.
11An evil man seeks only rebellion; Therefore a cruel messenger will be sent against him.11An evil person desires only rebellion; a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
12Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, Rather than a fool in his folly.12Better for a person to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his foolishness.
13Whoever rewards evil for good, Evil will not depart from his house.13If anyone returns evil for good, evil will never depart from his house.
14The beginning of strife is like releasing water; Therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts.14To start a conflict is to release a flood; stop the dispute before it breaks out.
15He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, Both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.15Acquitting the guilty and condemning the just--both are detestable to the LORD.
16Why is there in the hand of a fool the purchase price of wisdom, Since he has no heart for it?16Why does a fool have money in his hand with no intention of buying wisdom?
17A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.17A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a difficult time.
18A man devoid of understanding shakes hands in a pledge, And becomes surety for his friend.18One without sense enters an agreement and puts up security for his friend.
19He who loves transgression loves strife, And he who exalts his gate seeks destruction.19One who loves to offend loves strife; one who builds a high threshold invites injury.
20He who has a deceitful heart finds no good, And he who has a perverse tongue falls into evil.20One with a twisted mind will not succeed, and one with deceitful speech will fall into ruin.
21He who begets a scoffer does so to his sorrow, And the father of a fool has no joy.21A man fathers a fool to his own sorrow; the father of a fool has no joy.
22A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.22A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
23A wicked man accepts a bribe behind the back To pervert the ways of justice.23A wicked person secretly takes a bribe to subvert the course of justice.
24Wisdom is in the sight of him who has understanding, But the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.24Wisdom is the focus of the perceptive, but a fool's eyes roam to the ends of the earth.
25A foolish son is a grief to his father, And bitterness to her who bore him.25A foolish son is grief to his father and bitterness to the one who bore him.
26Also, to punish the righteous is not good, Nor to strike princes for their uprightness.26It is certainly not good to fine an innocent person or to beat a noble for his honesty.
27He who has knowledge spares his words, And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.27The one who has knowledge restrains his words, and one who keeps a cool head is a person of understanding.
28Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.28Even a fool is considered wise when he keeps silent--discerning, when he seals his lips.
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.
Proverbs 16
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