Proverbs 17
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1Better a dry morsel in quietness than a house full of feasting with strife.1Better a dry crust eaten in peace than a house filled with feasting—and conflict.
2A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful son and share his inheritance as one of the brothers.2A wise servant will rule over the master’s disgraceful son and will share the inheritance of the master’s children.
3A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but the LORD is the tester of hearts.3Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but the LORD tests the heart.
4A wicked man listens to evil lips; a liar gives ear to a destructive tongue.4Wrongdoers eagerly listen to gossip; liars pay close attention to slander.
5He who mocks the poor insults their Maker; whoever gloats over calamity will not go unpunished.5Those who mock the poor insult their Maker; those who rejoice at the misfortune of others will be punished.
6Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of a son is his father.6Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged; parents are the pride of their children.
7Eloquent words are unfit for a fool; how much worse are lying lips to a ruler!7Eloquent words are not fitting for a fool; even less are lies fitting for a ruler.
8A bribe is a charm to its giver; wherever he turns, he succeeds.8A bribe is like a lucky charm; whoever gives one will prosper!
9Whoever conceals an offense promotes love, but he who brings it up separates friends.9Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends.
10A rebuke cuts into a man of discernment deeper than a hundred lashes cut into a fool.10A single rebuke does more for a person of understanding than a hundred lashes on the back of a fool.
11An evil man seeks only rebellion; a cruel messenger will be sent against him.11Evil people are eager for rebellion, but they will be severely punished.
12It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly.12It is safer to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than to confront a fool caught in foolishness.
13If anyone returns evil for good, evil will never leave his house.13If you repay good with evil, evil will never leave your house.
14To start a quarrel is to release a flood; so abandon the dispute before it breaks out.14Starting a quarrel is like opening a floodgate, so stop before a dispute breaks out.
15Acquitting the guilty and condemning the righteous—both are detestable to the LORD.15Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent— both are detestable to the LORD.
16Why should the fool have money in his hand with no intention of buying wisdom?16It is senseless to pay to educate a fool, since he has no heart for learning.
17A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.17A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.
18A man lacking judgment strikes hands in pledge and puts up security for his neighbor.18It’s poor judgment to guarantee another person’s debt or put up security for a friend.
19He who loves transgression loves strife; he who builds his gate high invites destruction.19Anyone who loves to quarrel loves sin; anyone who trusts in high walls invites disaster.
20The one with a perverse heart finds no good, and he whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble.20The crooked heart will not prosper; the lying tongue tumbles into trouble.
21A man fathers a fool to his own grief; the father of a fool has no joy.21It is painful to be the parent of a fool; there is no joy for the father of a rebel.
22A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.22A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.
23A wicked man takes a covert bribe to subvert the course of justice.23The wicked take secret bribes to pervert the course of justice.
24Wisdom is the focus of the discerning, but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.24Sensible people keep their eyes glued on wisdom, but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth.
25A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him.25Foolish children bring grief to their father and bitterness to the one who gave them birth.
26It is surely not good to punish the innocent or to flog a noble for his honesty.26It is wrong to punish the godly for being good or to flog leaders for being honest.
27A man of knowledge restrains his words, and a man of understanding maintains a calm spirit.27A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered.
28Even a fool is considered wise if he keeps silent, and discerning when he holds his tongue.28Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent.
The Berean Bible (Berean Study Bible (BSB) © 2016, 2018 by Bible Hub and Berean.Bible. Used by Permission. All rights Reserved.Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 16
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