Proverbs 17

1. ¹Better `is' a dry morsel, and rest with it, Than a house full of the sacrifices of strife.
2. ²A wise servant ruleth over a son causing shame, And in the midst of brethren He apportioneth an inheritance.
3. ³A refining pot `is' for silver, and a furnace for gold, And the trier of hearts `is' Jehovah.
4. ⁴An evil doer is attentive to lips of vanity, Falsehood is giving ear to a mischievous tongue.
5. ⁵Whoso is mocking at the poor Hath reproached his Maker, Whoso is rejoicing at calamity is not acquitted.
6. ⁶Sons' sons `are' the crown of old men, And the glory of sons `are' their fathers.
7. ⁷Not comely for a fool is a lip of excellency, Much less for a noble a lip of falsehood.
8. ⁸A stone of grace `is' the bribe in the eyes of its possessors, Whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
9. ⁹Whoso is covering transgression is seeking love, And whoso is repeating a matter Is separating a familiar friend.
10. ¹⁰Rebuke cometh down on the intelligent More than a hundred stripes on a fool.
11. ¹¹An evil man seeketh only rebellion, And a fierce messenger is sent against him.
12. ¹²The meeting of a bereaved bear by a man, And -- not a fool in his folly.
13. ¹³Whoso is returning evil for good, Evil moveth not from his house.
14. ¹⁴The beginning of contention `is' a letting out of waters, And before it is meddled with leave the strife.
15. ¹⁵Whoso is justifying the wicked, And condemning the righteous, Even both of these `are' an abomination to Jehovah.
16. ¹⁶Why `is' this -- a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, And a heart there is none?
17. ¹⁷At all times is the friend loving, And a brother for adversity is born.
18. ¹⁸A man lacking heart is striking hands, A surety he becometh before his friend.
19. ¹⁹Whoso is loving transgression is loving debate, Whoso is making high his entrance is seeking destruction.
20. ²⁰The perverse of heart findeth not good, And the turned in his tongue falleth into evil.
21. ²¹Whoso is begetting a fool hath affliction for it, Yea, the father of a fool rejoiceth not.
22. ²²A rejoicing heart doth good to the body, And a smitten spirit drieth the bone.
23. ²³A bribe from the bosom the wicked taketh, To turn aside the paths of judgment.
24. ²⁴The face of the intelligent `is' to wisdom, And the eyes of a fool -- at the end of the earth.
25. ²⁵A provocation to his father `is' a foolish son, And bitterness to her that bare him.
26. ²⁶Also, to fine the righteous is not good, To smite nobles for uprightness.
27. ²⁷One acquainted with knowledge is sparing his words, And the cool of temper `is' a man of understanding.
28. ²⁸Even a fool keeping silence is reckoned wise, He who is shutting his lips intelligent!

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