Proverbs 17
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1Better is a dry crust of bread where there is quietness than a house full of feasting with strife. 1Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife.
2A servant who acts wisely will rule over an heir who behaves shamefully, and will share the inheritance along with the relatives. 2A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.
3The crucible is for refining silver and the furnace is for gold, likewise the LORD tests hearts. 3The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the LORD tests hearts.
4One who acts wickedly pays attention to evil counsel; a liar listens to a malicious tongue. 4An evildoer listens to wicked lips, and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
5The one who mocks the poor insults his Creator; whoever rejoices over disaster will not go unpunished. 5Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker; he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.
6Grandchildren are like a crown to the elderly, and the glory of children is their parents. 6Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers.
7Excessive speech is not becoming for a fool; how much less are lies for a ruler! 7Fine speech is not becoming to a fool; still less is false speech to a prince.
8A bribe works like a charm for the one who offers it; in whatever he does he succeeds. 8A bribe is like a magic stone in the eyes of the one who gives it; wherever he turns he prospers.
9The one who forgives an offense seeks love, but whoever repeats a matter separates close friends. 9Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.
10A rebuke makes a greater impression on a discerning person than a hundred blows on a fool. 10A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred blows into a fool.
11An evil person seeks only rebellion, and so a cruel messenger will be sent against him. 11An evil man seeks only rebellion, and a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
12It is better for a person to meet a mother bear being robbed of her cubs, than to encounter a fool in his folly. 12Let a man meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs rather than a fool in his folly.
13As for the one who repays evil for good, evil will not leave his house. 13If anyone returns evil for good, evil will not depart from his house.
14Starting a quarrel is like letting out water; stop it before strife breaks out! 14The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks out.
15The one who acquits the guilty and the one who condemns the innocent--both of them are an abomination to the LORD. 15He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the LORD.
16Of what use is money in the hand of a fool, since he has no intention of acquiring wisdom? 16Why should a fool have money in his hand to buy wisdom when he has no sense?
17A friend loves at all times, and a relative is born to help in adversity. 17A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
18The one who lacks wisdom strikes hands in pledge, and puts up financial security for his neighbor. 18One who lacks sense gives a pledge and puts up security in the presence of his neighbor.
19The one who loves a quarrel loves transgression; whoever builds his gate high seeks destruction. 19Whoever loves transgression loves strife; he who makes his door high seeks destruction.
20The one who has a perverse heart does not find good, and the one who is deceitful in speech falls into trouble. 20A man of crooked heart does not discover good, and one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity.
21Whoever brings a fool into the world does so to his grief, and the father of a fool has no joy. 21He who sires a fool gets himself sorrow, and the father of a fool has no joy.
22A cheerful heart brings good healing, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. 22A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
23A wicked person receives a bribe secretly to pervert the ways of justice. 23The wicked accepts a bribe in secret to pervert the ways of justice.
24Wisdom is directly in front of the discerning person, but the eyes of a fool run to the ends of the earth. 24The discerning sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
25A foolish child is a grief to his father, and bitterness to the mother who bore him. 25A foolish son is a grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him.
26It is terrible to punish a righteous person, and to flog honorable men is wrong. 26To impose a fine on a righteous man is not good, nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.
27The truly wise person restrains his words, and the one who stays calm is discerning. 27Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
28Even a fool who remains silent is considered wise, and the one who holds his tongue is deemed discerning. 28Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.
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Proverbs 16
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