Proverbs 17
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New American Standard Bible 1995Holman Christian Standard Bible
1Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it Than a house full of feasting with strife.1Better a dry crust with peace than a house full of feasting with strife.
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 a disgraceful son and share an inheritance among brothers.
3The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the LORD tests hearts.3A crucible for silver, and a smelter for gold, and the LORD is the tester of hearts.
4An evildoer listens to wicked lips; A liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.4A wicked person listens to malicious talk; a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.
5He who mocks the poor taunts his Maker; He who rejoices at calamity will not go unpunished.5The one who mocks the poor insults his Maker, and one who rejoices over calamity will not go unpunished.
6Grandchildren are the crown of old men, And the glory of sons is their fathers.6Grandchildren are the crown of the elderly, and the pride of sons is their fathers.
7Excellent speech is not fitting for a fool, Much less are lying lips to a prince.7Eloquent words are not appropriate on a fool's lips; how much worse are lies for a ruler.
8A bribe is a charm in the sight of its owner; Wherever he turns, he prospers.8A bribe seems like a magic stone to its owner; wherever he turns, he succeeds.
9He who conceals a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates intimate friends.9Whoever conceals an offense promotes love, but whoever gossips about it separates friends.
10A rebuke goes deeper into one who has understanding Than a hundred blows into a fool.10A rebuke cuts into a perceptive person more than a hundred lashes into a fool.
11A rebellious man seeks only evil, So a cruel messenger will be sent against him.11An evil man seeks only rebellion; a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
12Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, Rather than a fool in his folly.12Better for a man to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his foolishness.
13He who returns evil for good, Evil will not depart from his house.13If anyone returns evil for good, evil will never depart from his house.
14The beginning of strife is like letting out water, So abandon the quarrel before it breaks out.14To start a conflict is to release a flood; stop the dispute before it 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 just-- 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?16Why does a fool have money in his hand with no intention of buying wisdom?
17A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.17A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a difficult time.
18A man lacking in sense pledges And becomes guarantor in the presence of his neighbor.18One without sense enters an agreement and puts up security for his friend.
19He who loves transgression loves strife; He who raises his door seeks destruction.19One who loves to offend loves strife; one who builds a high threshold invites injury.
20He who has a crooked mind finds no good, And he who is perverted in his language falls into evil.20One with a twisted mind will not succeed, and one with deceitful speech will fall into ruin.
21He who sires a fool does so to his sorrow, And the father of a fool has no joy.21A man fathers a fool to his own sorrow; the father of a fool has no joy.
22A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones.22A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
23A wicked man receives a bribe from the bosom To pervert the ways of justice.23A wicked man secretly takes a bribe to subvert 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.24Wisdom is the focus of the perceptive, but a fool's eyes roam to the ends of the earth.
25A foolish son is a grief to his father And bitterness to her who bore him.25A foolish son is grief to his father and bitterness to the one who bore him.
26It is also not good to fine the righteous, Nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.26It is certainly not good to fine an innocent person or to beat a noble for his honesty.
27He who restrains his words has knowledge, And he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.27The intelligent person restrains his words, and one who keeps a cool head is a man of understanding.
28Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.28Even a fool is considered wise when he keeps silent, discerning when he seals his lips.
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.orgHolman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.
Proverbs 16
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