Proverbs 17 – read and compare multiple versions of the Bible

World English Bible

Proverbs 17 (WEBP)

[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.

Scripture quotations are taken from The World English Bible™ of eBible.org, 2020 stable text edition. It is in the public domain.

King James w/Strong’s #s

Proverbs 17 (KJVS)

[1] Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, Than an house full of sacrifices with strife.
[2] A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, And shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.
[3] The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: But the Lord trieth the hearts.
[4] A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; And a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
[5] Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: And he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.
[6] Children’s children are the crown of old men; And the glory of children are their fathers.
[7] Excellent speech becometh not a fool: Much less do lying lips a prince.
[8] A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: Whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
[9] He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; But he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.
[10] A reproof entereth more into a wise man Than an hundred stripes into a fool.
[11] An evil man seeketh only rebellion: Therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
[12] Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, Rather than a fool in his folly.
[13] Whoso rewardeth evil for good, Evil shall not depart from his house.
[14] The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: Therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.
[15] He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, Even they both are abomination to the Lord.
[16] Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, Seeing he hath no heart to it?
[17] A friend loveth at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.
[18] A man void of understanding striketh hands, And becometh surety in the presence of his friend.
[19] He loveth transgression that loveth strife: And he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.
[20] He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: And he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
[21] He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: And the father of a fool hath no joy.
[22] A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: But a broken spirit drieth the bones.
[23] A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom To pervert the ways of judgment.
[24] Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; But the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
[25] A foolish son is a grief to his father, And bitterness to her that bare him.
[26] Also to punish the just is not good, Nor to strike princes for equity.
[27] He that hath knowledge spareth his words: And a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
[28] Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: And he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

Proverbs 17:1 Or, good cheer
Proverbs 17:5 Heb. held innocent
Proverbs 17:7a Heb. A lip of excellency
Proverbs 17:7b Heb. a lip of lying
Proverbs 17:8 Heb. a stone of grace
Proverbs 17:9 Or, procureth
Proverbs 17:18 Heb. heart
Proverbs 17:20 Heb. The froward of heart
Proverbs 17:22 Or, to a medicine
Proverbs 17:27 Or, a cool spirit

Scripture quotations from The Authorized King James Version of the Holy Bible, using the standardized text of 1769. It is in the public domain.

Greek Bible (LXX/BYZ)

Proverbs 17 (BYZ)

[1] Κρείσσων () ψωμὸς μεθ’ () ἡδονῆς () ἐν () εἰρήνῃ () ἢ () οἶκος () πλήρης () πολλῶν () ἀγαθῶν () καὶ () ἀδίκων () θυμάτων μετὰ () μάχης. ()
[2] Οἰκέτης () νοήμων κρατήσει () δεσποτῶν () ἀφρόνων, () ἐν () δὲ () ἀδελφοῖς () διελεῖται () μέρη. ()
[3] Ὥσπερ () δοκιμάζεται () ἐν () καμίνῳ () ἄργυρος () καὶ () χρυσός, () οὕτως () ἐκλεκταὶ () καρδίαι () παρὰ () κυρίῳ. ()
[4] Κακὸς () ὑπακούει () γλώσσης () παρανόμων, δίκαιος () δὲ () οὐ () προσέχει () χείλεσιν () ψευδέσιν. ()
[5] Ὁ () καταγελῶν () πτωχοῦ () παροξύνει () τὸν () ποιήσαντα () αὐτόν, () ὁ () δὲ () ἐπιχαίρων ἀπολλυμένῳ () οὐκ () ἀθῳωθήσεται· ὁ () δὲ () ἐπισπλαγχνιζόμενος ἐλεηθήσεται. ()
[6] Στέφανος () γερόντων () τέκνα () τέκνων, () καύχημα () δὲ () τέκνων () πατέρες () αὐτῶν. () τοῦ () πιστοῦ () ὅλος () ὁ () κόσμος () τῶν () χρημάτων, () τοῦ () δὲ () ἀπίστου () οὐδὲ () ὀβολός.
[7] Οὐχ () ἁρμόσει () ἄφρονι () χείλη () πιστὰ () οὐδὲ () δικαίῳ () χείλη () ψευδῆ. ()
[8] Μισθὸς () χαρίτων () ἡ () παιδεία () τοῖς () χρωμένοις, () οὗ () δ’ () ἂν () ἐπιστρέψῃ, () εὐοδωθήσεται. ()
[9] Ὃς () κρύπτει () ἀδικήματα, () ζητεῖ () φιλίαν· () ὃς () δὲ () μισεῖ () κρύπτειν, () διίστησιν () φίλους () καὶ () οἰκείους. ()
[10] Συντρίβει () ἀπειλὴ () καρδίαν () φρονίμου, () ἄφρων () δὲ () μαστιγωθεὶς () οὐκ () αἰσθάνεται. ()
[11] Ἀντιλογίας () ἐγείρει () πᾶς () κακός, () ὁ () δὲ () κύριος () ἄγγελον () ἀνελεήμονα () ἐκπέμψει () αὐτῷ. ()
[12] Ἐμπεσεῖται () μέριμνα () ἀνδρὶ () νοήμονι, οἱ () δὲ () ἄφρονες () διαλογιοῦνται () κακά. ()
[13] Ὃς () ἀποδίδωσιν () κακὰ () ἀντὶ () ἀγαθῶν, () οὐ () κινηθήσεται () κακὰ () ἐκ () τοῦ () οἴκου () αὐτοῦ. ()
[14] Ἐξουσίαν () δίδωσιν () λόγοις () ἀρχὴ () δικαιοσύνης, () προηγεῖται () δὲ () τῆς () ἐνδείας στάσις () καὶ () μάχη. ()
[15] Ὃς () δίκαιον () κρίνει () τὸν () ἄδικον, () ἄδικον () δὲ () τὸν () δίκαιον, () ἀκάθαρτος () καὶ () βδελυκτὸς () παρὰ () θεῷ. ()
[16] Ἵνα () τί () ὑπῆρξεν χρήματα () ἄφρονι; () Κτήσασθαι () γὰρ () σοφίαν () ἀκάρδιος οὐ () δυνήσεται. () ὃς () ὑψηλὸν () ποιεῖ () τὸν () ἑαυτοῦ () οἶκον, () ζητεῖ () συντριβήν· ὁ () δὲ () σκολιάζων τοῦ () μαθεῖν () ἐμπεσεῖται () εἰς () κακά. ()
[17] Εἰς () πάντα () καιρὸν () φίλος () ὑπαρχέτω σοι, () ἀδελφοὶ () δὲ () ἐν () ἀνάγκαις () χρήσιμοι () ἔστωσαν· () τούτου () γὰρ () χάριν () γεννῶνται. ()
[18] Ἀνὴρ () ἄφρων () ἐπικροτεῖ καὶ () ἐπιχαίρει ἑαυτῷ () ὡς () καὶ () ὁ () ἐγγυώμενος ἐγγύῃ τὸν () ἑαυτοῦ () φίλον. ()
[19] Φιλαμαρτήμων χαίρει () μάχαις, ()
[20] ὁ () δὲ () σκληροκάρδιος οὐ () συναντᾷ () ἀγαθοῖς. () Ἀνὴρ () εὐμετάβολος γλώσσῃ () ἐμπεσεῖται () εἰς () κακά, ()
[21] καρδία () δὲ () ἄφρονος () ὀδύνη () τῷ () κεκτημένῳ () αὐτήν. () Οὐκ () εὐφραίνεται () πατὴρ () ἐπὶ () υἱῷ () ἀπαιδεύτῳ, () υἱὸς () δὲ () φρόνιμος () εὐφραίνει () μητέρα () αὐτοῦ. ()
[22] Καρδία () εὐφραινομένη () εὐεκτεῖν ποιεῖ, () ἀνδρὸς () δὲ () λυπηροῦ ξηραίνεται () τὰ () ὀστᾶ. ()
[23] Λαμβάνοντος () δῶρα () ἐν () κόλπῳ () ἀδίκως () οὐ () κατευοδοῦνται ὁδοί, () ἀσεβὴς () δὲ () ἐκκλίνει () ὁδοὺς () δικαιοσύνης. ()
[24] Πρόσωπον () συνετὸν () ἀνδρὸς () σοφοῦ, () οἱ () δὲ () ὀφθαλμοὶ () τοῦ () ἄφρονος () ἐπ’ () ἄκρα γῆς. ()
[25] Ὀργὴ () πατρὶ () υἱὸς () ἄφρων () καὶ () ὀδύνη () τῇ () τεκούσῃ () αὐτοῦ. ()
[26] Ζημιοῦν () ἄνδρα () δίκαιον () οὐ () καλόν, () οὐδὲ () ὅσιον () ἐπιβουλεύειν δυνάσταις () δικαίοις. ()
[27] Ὃς () φείδεται () ῥῆμα () προέσθαι σκληρόν, () ἐπιγνώμων· μακρόθυμος δὲ () ἀνὴρ () φρόνιμος. ()
[28] Ἀνοήτῳ () ἐπερωτήσαντι () σοφίαν () σοφία () λογισθήσεται, () ἐνεὸν () δέ () τις () ἑαυτὸν () ποιήσας () δόξει () φρόνιμος () εἶναι. ()

Proverbs 17:6 Originally verses 17:6 and 17:6a.
Proverbs 17:16 Originally verses 17:16 and 17:16a.

Old Testament scripture quotations and versification from Septuaginta, edited by Alfred Rahlfs (Stuttgart: Württembergische Bibelanstalt, 1935). New Testament quotations are from the Byzantine Text (Guardian Press, LLC, Robinson-Pierpont Byzantine Textform, 2026). Both are in the public domain.