Proverbs

Offers wisdom and advice on how to live a good and meaningful life.

Chapter 17

1 Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.

*It's better to have a small piece of food and peace than a big house with many offerings and arguments.

2 A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.

*A smart helper will control what a disgraceful child does, and will share in the family's inheritance with the other siblings.

3 The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.

*The fine pot is for refining silver, and the furnace is for purifying gold; however, the Lord tests people's hearts.

4 A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.

*A bad person listens to lies; and a person who is not truthful pays attention to a worthless mouth.

5 Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.

*Whoever mocks the poor is criticizing their Creator, and whoever is happy about misfortunes will not go unpunished.

6 Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.

*Grandchildren are like a crown for elderly people, and parents bring honor to their children.

7 Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.

*A good talk doesn't suit a foolish person; lies are even worse for a leader.

8 A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.

*A gift is like a valuable gem to the person who has it: wherever it goes, it brings success.

9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.

*Covering a mistake brings love, but talking about it again pushes friends apart.

10 A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.

*A scolding is more effective for a smart person than hitting a foolish person a hundred times.

11 An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

*A bad person looks for trouble: so a harsh messenger will be sent to deal with him.

12 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.

*Let a mother bear encounter a person instead of a foolish person acting stupidly.

13 Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

*Whoever pays back bad for good, bad will never leave their home.

14 The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.

*Strife starts like water being released; so stop arguing before things get worse.

15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.

*Whoever defends the wrongdoers and judges the righteous, both are hateful to God.

16 Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?

*Why does a foolish person have to pay for wisdom when they don't really care about it?

17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

*A true friend always cares, and a sibling is there when tough times come.

18 A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.

*A person without wisdom agrees to be responsible for a friend's debt, promising to pay it back.

19 He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.

*He likes breaking rules and causing trouble: and the one who boasts about their power is looking for disaster.

20 He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.

*A person with a stubborn heart can't find goodness, and someone with a twisted tongue often gets into trouble.

21 He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.

*Having a foolish child brings sadness to the parent, and a fool's parent has no happiness.

22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

*A happy heart is as good as medicine: but a sad heart can make your bones dry.

23 A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.

*A bad person takes a bribe from inside their chest to change how justice works.

24 Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.

*Wisdom is for those who understand things; but a foolish person's eyes are far away, like being at the edge of the world.

25 A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.

*A stupid child causes sadness for his dad and anger for the mom who gave birth to him.

26 Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.

*It's not right to punish good people or hit powerful leaders for fairness.

27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.

*Someone with wisdom uses few words, and a smart person has a great 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.

*Even a foolish person is considered smart when they stay quiet. And someone who doesn't talk is thought to be wise.

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