Proverbs 17 – search, read, and compare multiple versions of the Bible
World English Bible Classic
[1] Better is a dry morsel with quietness,
than a house full of feasting with strife.
[2] A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who causes shame,
and shall have a part in the inheritance among the brothers.
[3] The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold,
but Yahweh tests the hearts.
[4] An evildoer heeds wicked lips.
A liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
[5] Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker.
He who is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.
[6] Children’s children are the crown of old men;
the glory of children is their parents.
[7] Excellent speech isn’t fitting for a fool,
much less do lying lips fit a prince.
[8] A bribe is a precious stone in the eyes of him who gives it;
wherever he turns, he prospers.
[9] He who covers an offense promotes love;
but he who repeats a matter separates best friends.
[10] A rebuke enters deeper into one who has understanding
than a hundred lashes into a fool.
[11] An evil man seeks only rebellion;
therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
[12] Let a bear robbed of her cubs meet a man,
rather than a fool in his folly.
[13] Whoever rewards evil for good,
evil shall not depart from his house.
[14] The beginning of strife is like breaching a dam,
therefore stop contention before quarreling breaks out.
[15] He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous,
both of them alike are an abomination to Yahweh.
[16] Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom,
since he has no understanding?
[17] A friend loves at all times;
and a brother is born for adversity.
[18] A man void of understanding strikes hands,
and becomes collateral in the presence of his neighbor.
[19] He who loves disobedience loves strife.
One who builds a high gate seeks destruction.
[20] One who has a perverse heart doesn’t find prosperity,
and one who has a deceitful tongue falls into trouble.
[21] He who becomes the father of a fool grieves.
The father of a fool has no joy.
[22] A cheerful heart makes good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
[23] A wicked man receives a bribe in secret,
to pervert the ways of justice.
[24] Wisdom is before the face of one who has understanding,
but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.
[25] A foolish son brings grief to his father,
and bitterness to her who bore him.
[26] Also to punish the righteous is not good,
nor to flog officials for their integrity.
[27] He who spares his words has knowledge.
He who is even tempered is a man of understanding.
[28] Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is counted wise.
When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning.
than a house full of feasting with strife.
[2] A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who causes shame,
and shall have a part in the inheritance among the brothers.
[3] The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold,
but Yahweh tests the hearts.
[4] An evildoer heeds wicked lips.
A liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
[5] Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker.
He who is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.
[6] Children’s children are the crown of old men;
the glory of children is their parents.
[7] Excellent speech isn’t fitting for a fool,
much less do lying lips fit a prince.
[8] A bribe is a precious stone in the eyes of him who gives it;
wherever he turns, he prospers.
[9] He who covers an offense promotes love;
but he who repeats a matter separates best friends.
[10] A rebuke enters deeper into one who has understanding
than a hundred lashes into a fool.
[11] An evil man seeks only rebellion;
therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
[12] Let a bear robbed of her cubs meet a man,
rather than a fool in his folly.
[13] Whoever rewards evil for good,
evil shall not depart from his house.
[14] The beginning of strife is like breaching a dam,
therefore stop contention before quarreling breaks out.
[15] He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous,
both of them alike are an abomination to Yahweh.
[16] Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom,
since he has no understanding?
[17] A friend loves at all times;
and a brother is born for adversity.
[18] A man void of understanding strikes hands,
and becomes collateral in the presence of his neighbor.
[19] He who loves disobedience loves strife.
One who builds a high gate seeks destruction.
[20] One who has a perverse heart doesn’t find prosperity,
and one who has a deceitful tongue falls into trouble.
[21] He who becomes the father of a fool grieves.
The father of a fool has no joy.
[22] A cheerful heart makes good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
[23] A wicked man receives a bribe in secret,
to pervert the ways of justice.
[24] Wisdom is before the face of one who has understanding,
but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.
[25] A foolish son brings grief to his father,
and bitterness to her who bore him.
[26] Also to punish the righteous is not good,
nor to flog officials for their integrity.
[27] He who spares his words has knowledge.
He who is even tempered is a man of understanding.
[28] Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is counted wise.
When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning.
King James Version
[1] Better H2896 is a dry H2720 morsel, H6595 and quietness H7962 therewith,
Than an house H1004 full H4392 of sacrifices H2077§ with strife. H7379
[2] A wise H7919 (HiphPtc) servant H5650 shall have rule H4910 (QalImpf) over a son H1121 that causeth shame, H954 (HiphPtc)
And shall have part H2505 (QalImpf) of the inheritance H5159 among H8432 the brethren. H251
[3] The fining pot H4715 is for silver, H3701 and the furnace H3564 for gold: H2091
But the Lord H3068 trieth H974 (QalActPtc) the hearts. H3826
[4] A wicked doer H7489 (HiphPtc) giveth heed H7181 (HiphPtc) to false H205 lips; H8193
And a liar H8267 giveth ear H238 (HiphPtc) to a naughty H1942 tongue. H3956
[5] Whoso mocketh H3932 (QalActPtc) the poor H7326 (QalActPtc) reproacheth H2778 (PielPerf) his Maker: H6213 (QalActPtc)
And he that is glad H8056 at calamities H343 shall not be unpunished. H5352 (NiphImpf)§
[6] Children’s H1121 children H1121 are the crown H5850 of old men; H2205
And the glory H8597 of children H1121 are their fathers. H1
[7] Excellent H3499 speech H8193§ becometh H5000 not a fool: H5036
Much less do lying H8267 lips H8193§ a prince. H5081
[8] A gift H7810 is as a precious H2580 stone H68§ in the eyes H5869 of him that hath H1167 it:
Whithersoever it turneth, H6437 (QalImpf) it prospereth. H7919 (HiphImpf)
[9] He that covereth H3680 (PielPtc) a transgression H6588 seeketh H1245 (PielPtc)§ love; H160
But he that repeateth H8138 (QalActPtc) a matter H1697 separateth H6504 (HiphPtc) very friends. H441
[10] A reproof H1606 entereth H5181 (QalImpf) more into a wise man H995 (HiphPtc)
Than an hundred H3967 stripes H5221 (HiphInf) into a fool. H3684
[11] An evil H7451 man seeketh H1245 (PielImpf) only rebellion: H4805
Therefore a cruel H394 messenger H4397 shall be sent H7971 (PualImpf) against him.
[12] Let a bear H1677 robbed H7909 of her whelps meet H6298 (QalInf) a man, H376
Rather than H408 a fool H3684 in his folly. H200
[13] Whoso rewardeth H7725 (HiphPtc) evil H7451 for good, H2896
Evil H7451 shall not depart H4185 (QalImpf/Qere) from his house. H1004
[14] The beginning H7225 of strife H4066 is as when one letteth out H6362 (QalActPtc) water: H4325
Therefore leave off H5203 (QalInf) contention, H7379 before H6440 it be meddled H1566 (HithPerf) with.
[15] He that justifieth H6663 (HiphPtc) the wicked, H7563 and he that condemneth H7561 (HiphPtc) the just, H6662
Even they both H8147 are abomination H8441 to the Lord. H3068
[16] Wherefore is there a price H4242 in the hand H3027 of a fool H3684 to get H7069 (QalInf) wisdom, H2451
Seeing he hath no heart H3820 to it?
[17] A friend H7453 loveth H157 (QalActPtc) at all times, H6256
And a brother H251 is born H3205 (NiphImpf) for adversity. H6869
[18] A man H120 void H2638 of understanding H3820§ striketh H8628 (QalActPtc) hands, H3709
And becometh H6148 (QalActPtc) surety H6161 in the presence H6440 of his friend. H7453
[19] He loveth H157 (QalActPtc) transgression H6588 that loveth H157 (QalActPtc) strife: H4683
And he that exalteth H1361 (HiphPtc) his gate H6607 seeketh H1245 (PielPtc) destruction. H7667
[20] He that hath a froward H6141 heart H3820§ findeth H4672 (QalImpf) no good: H2896
And he that hath a perverse H2015 (NiphPerf) tongue H3956 falleth H5307 (QalImpf) into mischief. H7451
[21] He that begetteth H3205 (QalActPtc) a fool H3684 doeth it to his sorrow: H8424
And the father H1 of a fool H5036 hath no joy. H8055 (QalImpf)
[22] A merry H8056 heart H3820 doeth good H3190 (HiphImpf) like a medicine:§ H1456
But a broken H5218 spirit H7307 drieth H3001 (PielImpf) the bones. H1634
[23] A wicked H7563 man taketh H3947 (QalImpf) a gift H7810 out of the bosom H2436
To pervert H5186 (HiphInf) the ways H734 of judgment. H4941
[24] Wisdom H2451 is before him that hath understanding; H6440
But the eyes H5869 of a fool H3684 are in the ends H7097 of the earth. H776
[25] A foolish H3684 son H1121 is a grief H3708 to his father, H1
And bitterness H4470 to her that bare H3205 (QalActPtc) him.
[26] Also to punish H6064 (QalInf) the just H6662 is not good, H2896
Nor to strike H5221 (HiphInf) princes H5081 for equity. H3476
[27] He that hath H3045 (QalActPtc) knowledge H1847 spareth H2820 (QalActPtc) his words: H561
And a man H376 of understanding H8394 is of an excellent H3368 (Qere) spirit. H7307§
[28] Even a fool, H191 when he holdeth his peace, H2790 (HiphPtc) is counted H2803 (NiphImpf) wise: H2450
And he that shutteth H331 (QalPtc) his lips H8193 is esteemed a man of understanding. H995 (NiphPtc)
Than an house H1004 full H4392 of sacrifices H2077§ with strife. H7379
[2] A wise H7919 (HiphPtc) servant H5650 shall have rule H4910 (QalImpf) over a son H1121 that causeth shame, H954 (HiphPtc)
And shall have part H2505 (QalImpf) of the inheritance H5159 among H8432 the brethren. H251
[3] The fining pot H4715 is for silver, H3701 and the furnace H3564 for gold: H2091
But the Lord H3068 trieth H974 (QalActPtc) the hearts. H3826
[4] A wicked doer H7489 (HiphPtc) giveth heed H7181 (HiphPtc) to false H205 lips; H8193
And a liar H8267 giveth ear H238 (HiphPtc) to a naughty H1942 tongue. H3956
[5] Whoso mocketh H3932 (QalActPtc) the poor H7326 (QalActPtc) reproacheth H2778 (PielPerf) his Maker: H6213 (QalActPtc)
And he that is glad H8056 at calamities H343 shall not be unpunished. H5352 (NiphImpf)§
[6] Children’s H1121 children H1121 are the crown H5850 of old men; H2205
And the glory H8597 of children H1121 are their fathers. H1
[7] Excellent H3499 speech H8193§ becometh H5000 not a fool: H5036
Much less do lying H8267 lips H8193§ a prince. H5081
[8] A gift H7810 is as a precious H2580 stone H68§ in the eyes H5869 of him that hath H1167 it:
Whithersoever it turneth, H6437 (QalImpf) it prospereth. H7919 (HiphImpf)
[9] He that covereth H3680 (PielPtc) a transgression H6588 seeketh H1245 (PielPtc)§ love; H160
But he that repeateth H8138 (QalActPtc) a matter H1697 separateth H6504 (HiphPtc) very friends. H441
[10] A reproof H1606 entereth H5181 (QalImpf) more into a wise man H995 (HiphPtc)
Than an hundred H3967 stripes H5221 (HiphInf) into a fool. H3684
[11] An evil H7451 man seeketh H1245 (PielImpf) only rebellion: H4805
Therefore a cruel H394 messenger H4397 shall be sent H7971 (PualImpf) against him.
[12] Let a bear H1677 robbed H7909 of her whelps meet H6298 (QalInf) a man, H376
Rather than H408 a fool H3684 in his folly. H200
[13] Whoso rewardeth H7725 (HiphPtc) evil H7451 for good, H2896
Evil H7451 shall not depart H4185 (QalImpf/Qere) from his house. H1004
[14] The beginning H7225 of strife H4066 is as when one letteth out H6362 (QalActPtc) water: H4325
Therefore leave off H5203 (QalInf) contention, H7379 before H6440 it be meddled H1566 (HithPerf) with.
[15] He that justifieth H6663 (HiphPtc) the wicked, H7563 and he that condemneth H7561 (HiphPtc) the just, H6662
Even they both H8147 are abomination H8441 to the Lord. H3068
[16] Wherefore is there a price H4242 in the hand H3027 of a fool H3684 to get H7069 (QalInf) wisdom, H2451
Seeing he hath no heart H3820 to it?
[17] A friend H7453 loveth H157 (QalActPtc) at all times, H6256
And a brother H251 is born H3205 (NiphImpf) for adversity. H6869
[18] A man H120 void H2638 of understanding H3820§ striketh H8628 (QalActPtc) hands, H3709
And becometh H6148 (QalActPtc) surety H6161 in the presence H6440 of his friend. H7453
[19] He loveth H157 (QalActPtc) transgression H6588 that loveth H157 (QalActPtc) strife: H4683
And he that exalteth H1361 (HiphPtc) his gate H6607 seeketh H1245 (PielPtc) destruction. H7667
[20] He that hath a froward H6141 heart H3820§ findeth H4672 (QalImpf) no good: H2896
And he that hath a perverse H2015 (NiphPerf) tongue H3956 falleth H5307 (QalImpf) into mischief. H7451
[21] He that begetteth H3205 (QalActPtc) a fool H3684 doeth it to his sorrow: H8424
And the father H1 of a fool H5036 hath no joy. H8055 (QalImpf)
[22] A merry H8056 heart H3820 doeth good H3190 (HiphImpf) like a medicine:§ H1456
But a broken H5218 spirit H7307 drieth H3001 (PielImpf) the bones. H1634
[23] A wicked H7563 man taketh H3947 (QalImpf) a gift H7810 out of the bosom H2436
To pervert H5186 (HiphInf) the ways H734 of judgment. H4941
[24] Wisdom H2451 is before him that hath understanding; H6440
But the eyes H5869 of a fool H3684 are in the ends H7097 of the earth. H776
[25] A foolish H3684 son H1121 is a grief H3708 to his father, H1
And bitterness H4470 to her that bare H3205 (QalActPtc) him.
[26] Also to punish H6064 (QalInf) the just H6662 is not good, H2896
Nor to strike H5221 (HiphInf) princes H5081 for equity. H3476
[27] He that hath H3045 (QalActPtc) knowledge H1847 spareth H2820 (QalActPtc) his words: H561
And a man H376 of understanding H8394 is of an excellent H3368 (Qere) spirit. H7307§
[28] Even a fool, H191 when he holdeth his peace, H2790 (HiphPtc) is counted H2803 (NiphImpf) wise: H2450
And he that shutteth H331 (QalPtc) his lips H8193 is esteemed a man of understanding. H995 (NiphPtc)
Footnotes
- § 17:1 Or, good cheer
- § 17:5 Heb. held innocent
- § 17:7a Heb. A lip of excellency
- § 17:7b Heb. a lip of lying
- § 17:8 Heb. a stone of grace
- § 17:9 Or, procureth
- § 17:18 Heb. heart
- § 17:20 Heb. The froward of heart
- § 17:22 Or, to a medicine
- § 17:27 Or, a cool spirit
Byzantine Greek New Testament
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