Proverbs 17
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New American Standard Bible 1995New Living Translation
1Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it Than a house full of feasting with strife.1Better a dry crust eaten in peace than a house filled with feasting—and conflict.
2A servant who acts wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully, And will share in the inheritance among brothers.2A wise servant will rule over the master’s disgraceful son and will share the inheritance of the master’s children.
3The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the LORD tests hearts.3Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but the LORD tests the heart.
4An evildoer listens to wicked lips; A liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.4Wrongdoers eagerly listen to gossip; liars pay close attention to slander.
5He who mocks the poor taunts his Maker; He who rejoices at 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 old men, And the glory of sons is their fathers.6Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged; parents are the pride of their children.
7Excellent speech is not fitting for a fool, Much less are lying lips to a prince.7Eloquent words are not fitting for a fool; even less are lies fitting for a ruler.
8A bribe is a charm in the sight of its owner; Wherever he turns, he prospers.8A bribe is like a lucky charm; whoever gives one will prosper!
9He who conceals a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates intimate friends.9Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends.
10A rebuke goes deeper into one who has understanding Than a hundred blows into a fool.10A single rebuke does more for a person of understanding than a hundred lashes on the back of a fool.
11A rebellious man seeks only evil, So a cruel messenger will be sent against him.11Evil people are eager for rebellion, but they will be severely punished.
12Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, Rather 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.
13He who returns evil for good, Evil will not depart from his house.13If you repay good with evil, evil will never leave your house.
14The beginning of strife is like letting out water, So abandon the quarrel before it breaks out.14Starting a quarrel is like opening a floodgate, so stop before a dispute breaks out.
15He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous, Both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.15Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent— both are detestable to the LORD.
16Why is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, When he has no sense?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 in sense pledges And becomes guarantor in the presence of 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 raises his door seeks destruction.19Anyone who loves to quarrel loves sin; anyone who trusts in high walls invites disaster.
20He who has a crooked mind finds no good, And he who is perverted in his language falls into evil.20The crooked heart will not prosper; the lying tongue tumbles into trouble.
21He who sires a fool does so to his sorrow, And 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 receives a bribe from the bosom To pervert the ways of justice.23The wicked take secret bribes to pervert the course of justice.
24Wisdom is in the presence of the one who has understanding, But the eyes of a fool are on 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 is a 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 also not good to fine the righteous, Nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.26It is wrong to punish the godly for being good or to flog leaders for being honest.
27He who restrains his words has knowledge, And he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.27A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered.
28Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.28Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent.
New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.orgHoly 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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