Proverbs 17

1. ¹Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than a house full of feasting [supplied: with] strife.
2. ²A wise servant shall rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part in the inheritance among the brethren.
3. ³The fining-pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but Jehovah trieth the hearts.
4. ⁴The evil-doer giveth heed to iniquitous lips; the liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue.
5. ⁵Whoso mocketh a poor [supplied: man] reproacheth his Maker; he that is glad at calamity shall not be held innocent.
6. ⁶Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.
7. ⁷Excellent speech becometh not a vile [supplied: man]; how much less do lying lips a noble!
8. ⁸A gift is a precious stone in the eyes of the possessor: whithersoever it turneth it prospereth.
9. ⁹He that covereth transgression seeketh love; but he that bringeth a matter up again separateth very friends.
10. ¹⁰A reproof entereth more deeply into him that hath understanding than a hundred stripes into a fool.
11. ¹¹An evil [supplied: man] seeketh only rebellion; but a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
12. ¹²Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man rather than a fool in his folly.
13. ¹³Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
14. ¹⁴The beginning of contention is [supplied: as] when one letteth out water; therefore leave off strife before it become vehement.
15. ¹⁵He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the righteous, even they both are abomination to Jehovah.
16. ¹⁶To what purpose is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing [supplied: he] hath no sense?
17. ¹⁷The friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
18. ¹⁸A senseless man striketh hands, becoming surety for his neighbour.
19. ¹⁹He loveth transgression that loveth a quarrel; he that maketh high his gate seeketh destruction.
20. ²⁰He that hath a perverse heart findeth no good; and he that shifteth about with his tongue falleth into evil.
21. ²¹He that begetteth a fool [supplied: doeth it] to his sorrow, and the father of a vile [supplied: man] hath no joy.
22. ²²A joyful heart promoteth healing; but a broken spirit drieth up the bones.
23. ²³A wicked [supplied: man] taketh a gift out of the bosom, to pervert the paths of judgment.
24. ²⁴Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
25. ²⁵A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bore him.
26. ²⁶To punish a righteous [supplied: man] is not good, nor to strike nobles because of [supplied: their] uprightness.
27. ²⁷He that hath knowledge spareth his words; and a man of understanding is of a cool spirit.
28. ²⁸Even a fool when he holdeth his peace is reckoned wise, [supplied: and] he that shutteth his lips, intelligent.

Words in italics were supplied by the translators.

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