Mishle 17
Orthodox Jewish Bible
17 Better is a dry crust, and quietness therewith, than a bais full of zevakhim (sacrificial religious meals) with strife.
2 An eved maskil (wise servant) shall have rule over a ben that causeth shame, and shall have a share of the nachalah among the achim.
3 The crucible is for kesef, and the furnace for zahav, but Hashem is the testor of hearts.
4 An evildoer giveth heed to false sfatayim (lips), and a sheker (liar) giveth ear to a spiteful lashon.
5 He who mocketh the poor showeth contempt for his Oseh (Maker), and he that gloats at calamities shall not go unpunished.
6 Bnei banim are the ateret of zekenim; and the tiferet of banim are their avot.
7 Eloquent speech becometh not a naval (fool), much less do lying sfatayim (lips) a ruler.
8 A shochad (gift, bribe) is like a charm in the eynayim of him that hath it: wherever he turneth, he prospereth.
9 He that covereth a peysha (transgression) seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth the best of friends.
10 Ge’arah (scolding) goeth deeper into a meiven than a hundred blows into a kesil (fool).
11 A rah seeketh only rebellion; therefore a merciless malach shall be sent to him.
12 Let an ish meet a dov robbed of her cubs rather than a kesil in his folly.
13 He who rewardeth ra’ah for tovah, ra’ah shall not depart from his bais.
14 The beginning of madon (strife) is like releasing mayim, therefore stop contention before a quarrel begins.
15 He that justifieth the rashah, and he that condemneth the tzaddik, even they both are to’evah to Hashem.
16 Why is there the purchase price in the yad of a kesil (fool) to acquire chochmah, seeing he hath no lev for it?
17 The re’a (friend) loveth at all times, and a brother is born for tzarah (adversity).
18 Adam devoid of lev [of understanding] shaketh hands in pledge, and becometh the security deposit for his neighbor.
19 He loveth peysha (transgression, sin) that loveth strife, and he that maketh his threshold high seeketh shever (fracture).
20 He that hath a crooked mind findeth no tov, and he that hath a deceitful lashon falleth into ra’ah.
21 He that begetteth a kesil doeth it to his sorrow, and the avi naval hath no simchah.
22 A lev same’ach doeth tov like a medicine, but a downcast ruach drieth up the bones.
23 A rasha accepts a shochad (bribe) out of the kheyk (bosom, i.e., secretly) to pervert the orkhot mishpat (paths of justice).
24 Chochmah is before the meiven (discerning one); but the eynayim of a kesil are on the ends of ha’aretz.
25 A ben kesil is a ka’as (grief) to aviv (his father), and bitterness to her that bore him.
26 Also to punish the tzaddik is not tov, nor to flog officials for their yashar (uprightness, integrity).
27 He that hath da’as spareth his words, and an ish tevunah (man of understanding) is of a calm ruach.
28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted chacham, and he that shutteth his sfatayim (lips) is esteemed a man of understanding.
Proverbs 17
New International Version
17 Better a dry crust with peace and quiet
than a house full of feasting, with strife.(A)
2 A prudent servant will rule over a disgraceful son
and will share the inheritance as one of the family.
4 A wicked person listens to deceitful lips;
a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.
5 Whoever mocks the poor(D) shows contempt for their Maker;(E)
whoever gloats over disaster(F) will not go unpunished.(G)
6 Children’s children(H) are a crown to the aged,
and parents are the pride of their children.
7 Eloquent lips are unsuited to a godless fool—
how much worse lying lips to a ruler!(I)
8 A bribe is seen as a charm by the one who gives it;
they think success will come at every turn.(J)
9 Whoever would foster love covers over an offense,(K)
but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.(L)
10 A rebuke impresses a discerning person
more than a hundred lashes a fool.
11 Evildoers foster rebellion against God;
the messenger of death will be sent against them.
12 Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs
than a fool bent on folly.(M)
14 Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam;
so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.(P)
16 Why should fools have money in hand to buy wisdom,
when they are not able to understand it?(S)
17 A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for a time of adversity.(T)
18 One who has no sense shakes hands in pledge
and puts up security for a neighbor.(U)
19 Whoever loves a quarrel loves sin;
whoever builds a high gate invites destruction.
20 One whose heart is corrupt does not prosper;
one whose tongue is perverse falls into trouble.
21 To have a fool for a child brings grief;
there is no joy for the parent of a godless fool.(V)
24 A discerning person keeps wisdom in view,
but a fool’s eyes(AA) wander to the ends of the earth.
25 A foolish son brings grief to his father
and bitterness to the mother who bore him.(AB)
26 If imposing a fine on the innocent is not good,(AC)
surely to flog honest officials is not right.
27 The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint,(AD)
and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.(AE)
28 Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent,
and discerning if they hold their tongues.(AF)
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