17:1 Better [is] a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices [with] strife.
17:1 Better is a dry morsel with quietness, Than a house full of feasting with strife.

17:2 A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.
17:2 A wise servant will rule over a son who causes shame, And will share an inheritance among the brothers.

17:3 The fining pot [is] for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.
17:3 The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the LORD tests the hearts.

17:4 A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; [and] a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
17:4 An evildoer gives heed to false lips; A liar listens eagerly to a spiteful tongue.

17:5 Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: [and] he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.
17:5 He who mocks the poor reproaches his Maker; He who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.

17:6 Children's children [are] the crown of old men; and the glory of children [are] their fathers.
17:6 Children's children are the crown of old men, And the glory of children is their father.

17:7 Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
17:7 Excellent speech is not becoming to a fool, Much less lying lips to a prince.

17:8 A gift [is as] a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
17:8 A present is a precious stone in the eyes of its possessor; Wherever he turns, he prospers.

17:9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth [very] friends.
17:9 He who covers a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates friends.

17:10 A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.
17:10 Rebuke is more effective for a wise man Than a hundred blows on a fool.

17:11 An evil [man] seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
17:11 An evil man seeks only rebellion; Therefore a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

17:12 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
17:12 Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, Rather than a fool in his folly.

17:13 Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
17:13 Whoever rewards evil for good, Evil will not depart from his house.

17:14 The beginning of strife [is as] when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.
17:14 The beginning of strife is like releasing water; Therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts.

17:15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both [are] abomination to the LORD.
17:15 He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, Both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.

17:16 Wherefore [is there] a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing [he hath] no heart [to it]?
17:16 Why is there in the hand of a fool the purchase price of wisdom, Since he has no heart for it?

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

17:18 A man void of understanding striketh hands, [and] becometh surety in the presence of his friend.
17:18 A man devoid of understanding shakes hands in a pledge, And becomes surety for his friend.

17:19 He loveth transgression that loveth strife: [and] he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.
17:19 He who loves transgression loves strife, And he who exalts his gate seeks destruction.

17:20 He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
17:20 He who has a deceitful heart finds no good, And he who has a perverse tongue falls into evil.

17:21 He that begetteth a fool [doeth it] to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.
17:21 He who begets a scoffer does so to his sorrow, And the father of a fool has no joy.

17:22 A merry heart doeth good [like] a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
17:22 A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.

17:23 A wicked [man] taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.
17:23 A wicked man accepts a bribe behind the back To pervert the ways of justice.

17:24 Wisdom [is] before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool [are] in the ends of the earth.
17:24 Wisdom is in the sight of him who has understanding, But the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.

17:25 A foolish son [is] a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.
17:25 A foolish son is a grief to his father, And bitterness to her who bore him.

17:26 Also to punish the just [is] not good, [nor] to strike princes for equity.
17:26 Also, to punish the righteous is not good, Nor to strike princes for their uprightness.

17:27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words: [and] a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
17:27 He who has knowledge spares his words, And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.

17:28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: [and] he that shutteth his lips [is esteemed] a man of understanding.
17:28 Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.