Proverbs 17
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1Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife.1Better a dry crust eaten in peace than a house filled with feasting—and conflict.
2A prudent servant will rule over a disgraceful son and will share the inheritance as one of the family.2A wise servant will rule over the master’s disgraceful son and will share the inheritance of the master’s children.
3The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the heart.3Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but the LORD tests the heart.
4A wicked person listens to deceitful lips; a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.4Wrongdoers eagerly listen to gossip; liars pay close attention to slander.
5Whoever mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker; whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished.5Those who mock the poor insult their Maker; those who rejoice at the misfortune of others will be punished.
6Children's children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.6Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged; parents are the pride of their children.
7Eloquent lips are unsuited to a godless fool-- how much worse lying lips to a ruler!7Eloquent words are not fitting for a fool; even less are lies fitting for a ruler.
8A bribe is seen as a charm by the one who gives it; they think success will come at every turn.8A bribe is like a lucky charm; whoever gives one will prosper!
9Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.9Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends.
10A rebuke impresses a discerning person more than a hundred lashes a fool.10A single rebuke does more for a person of understanding than a hundred lashes on the back of a fool.
11Evildoers foster rebellion against God; the messenger of death will be sent against them.11Evil people are eager for rebellion, but they will be severely punished.
12Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool bent on folly.12It is safer to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than to confront a fool caught in foolishness.
13Evil will never leave the house of one who pays back evil for good.13If you repay good with evil, evil will never leave your house.
14Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.14Starting a quarrel is like opening a floodgate, so stop before a dispute breaks out.
15Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent-- the LORD detests them both.15Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent— both are detestable to the LORD.
16Why should fools have money in hand to buy wisdom, when they are not able to understand it?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 a time of adversity.17A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.
18One who has no sense shakes hands in pledge and puts up security for a neighbor.18It’s poor judgment to guarantee another person’s debt or put up security for a friend.
19Whoever loves a quarrel loves sin; whoever builds a high gate invites destruction.19Anyone who loves to quarrel loves sin; anyone who trusts in high walls invites disaster.
20One whose heart is corrupt does not prosper; one whose tongue is perverse falls into trouble.20The crooked heart will not prosper; the lying tongue tumbles into trouble.
21To have a fool for a child brings grief; there is no joy for the parent of a godless fool.21It is painful to be the parent of a fool; there is no joy for the father of a rebel.
22A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.22A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.
23The wicked accept bribes in secret to pervert the course of justice.23The wicked take secret bribes to pervert the course of justice.
24A discerning person keeps wisdom in view, but a fool's eyes 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 the mother who bore him.25Foolish children bring grief to their father and bitterness to the one who gave them birth.
26If imposing a fine on the innocent is not good, surely to flog honest officials is not right.26It is wrong to punish the godly for being good or to flog leaders for being honest.
27The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.27A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered.
28Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues.28Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent.
New International Version (NIV)

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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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