Proverbs 17 - International Standard Version (ISV)

More Words of Wisdom

17 Dry crumbs in peace[a] are better
than a full meal[b] with strife.

2 A prudent servant will rule in place of a disgraceful son
and will share in the inheritance among brothers.

3 The crucible is for silver
and the furnace for gold—
but the Lord assays hearts.

4 Whoever practices evil pays attention to wicked speech,
and the liar listens to malicious talk.
5 Whoever mocks the poor shows contempt for their maker,
and whoever is happy about disaster
will not go unpunished.

6 Grandchildren are the crown of the aged,
and the pride of children is their parents.

7 Appropriate speech is inconsistent with the fool;
how much more are deceitful statements[c] with a prince!

8 A bribe works wonders[d] in the eyes of its giver;
wherever he turns he prospers.

9 Anyone who overlooks[e] an offense promotes love,
but someone who gossips separates close friends.

10 A rebuke is more effective with a man of understanding
than a hundred lashes to a fool.
11 A rebellious person seeks evil;
a cruel emissary will be sent to oppose him.

12 It’s better to meet a mother bear who has lost her cubs
than a fool in his stupidity.

13 The person who repays good with evil
will never see[f] evil leave his home.

14 Starting a quarrel is like spilling water—
so drop the dispute before it escalates.

15 Exonerating the wicked and condemning the righteous
are both detestable to the Lord.

16 What is this? A fool has enough money to buy wisdom,
but is senseless?[g]

17 A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is there[h] for times of trouble.

18 A man who lacks sense[i] cosigns a loan,[j]
becoming a guarantor for his neighbor.

19 The person who loves transgression loves strife;
the person who builds a high gate invites destruction.

20 The person whose mind[k] is perverse does not find good,
and anyone with perverted speech falls into trouble.

21 The man who fathers a fool does so to his sorrow—
the father of a fool has no joy.

22 A joyful heart is good medicine,
but a broken spirit drains one’s strength.[l]

23 The wicked man takes a bribe in secret
in order to pervert the course of justice.

24 A person with understanding has wisdom as his objective,
but a fool looks only[m] to earthly goals.

25 A foolish son brings grief to his father
and bitterness to his mother.[n]

26 Furthermore, it isn’t good to fine the righteous,
or to beat an official because of his uprightness.

27 Whoever controls what he says is knowledgeable;
anyone who has a calm spirit is a man of understanding.
28 Even a fool is thought to be wise when he remains silent;
he is thought to be prudent when he keeps his mouth shut.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:1 Lit. quiet
  2. Proverbs 17:1 Lit. house full of meat
  3. Proverbs 17:7 Lit. lips
  4. Proverbs 17:8 Lit. A gift is a stone of favor
  5. Proverbs 17:9 Lit. covers
  6. Proverbs 17:13 The Heb. lacks will see
  7. Proverbs 17:16 Lit. but has no heart
  8. Proverbs 17:17 Lit. born
  9. Proverbs 17:18 Lit. heart
  10. Proverbs 17:18 Lit. sense strikes the palm
  11. Proverbs 17:20 Lit. heart
  12. Proverbs 17:22 Lit. spirit dries the bones
  13. Proverbs 17:24 The Heb. lacks only
  14. Proverbs 17:25 Lit. to the one who bore him

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Proverbs 17 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

17 Better [is] a dry morsel, and rest with it, Than a house full of the sacrifices of strife. 2 A wise servant ruleth over a son causing shame, And in the midst of brethren He apportioneth an inheritance. 3 A refining pot [is] for silver, and a furnace for gold, And the trier of hearts [is] Jehovah....
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Proverbs 17 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

17 Better is a dry morsel with joy, than an house full of sacrifices with chiding, (or with arguments). 2 A wise servant shall be lord of fond sons; and he shall part heritage among brethren. (A wise servant shall be lord over his master’s foolish sons and daughters; and in time he shall have part o...
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Proverbs 17 - World English Bible (WEB)

17 Better is a dry morsel with quietness, than a house full of feasting with strife.2 A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who causes shame, and shall have a part in the inheritance among the brothers.3 The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, but Yahweh tests the hearts....
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Proverbs 17 - The Voice (VOICE)

17 Better to gnaw on a bit of dry crust in peace than to feast in a house full of stress.2 A wise servant will be put in charge of a child who behaves badly and will take a share of the inheritance like one of the family.3 Silver is purified in the crucible, gold in the furnace, but motives of the h...
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Proverbs 17 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Beware Bribes and Rebellion17 Better is dry crust with peace and quietthan a house full of feasting with strife. 2 A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful sonand will share the inheritance with the brothers. 3 A crucible is for silverand a furnace is for gold,but Adonai tests the heart. 4 An evi...
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Proverbs 17 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

17 Better is a dry morsel with quietthan a house full of feasting with strife.2 A slave who deals wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully, and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.3 The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tries hearts.4 An evildoer ...
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Proverbs 17 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

17 Better is a dry morsel with quietthan a house full of feasting with strife.2 A slave who deals wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully, and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.3 The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tries hearts.4 An evildoer ...
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Proverbs 17 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

17 Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife.2 A slave who deals wisely will rule over a child who acts shamefully, and will share the inheritance as one of the family.3 The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, but the Lord tests the heart.4 An evild...
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Proverbs 17 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

17 Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife.(A)2 A slave who deals wisely will rule over a child who acts shamefully and will share the inheritance as one of the family.(B)3 The crucible is for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the heart.(C)4 An e...
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Proverbs 17 - New Living Translation (NLT)

17 Better a dry crust eaten in peace than a house filled with feasting—and conflict. 2 A wise servant will rule over the master’s disgraceful son and will share the inheritance of the master’s children. 3 Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but the Lord tests the heart. 4 Wrongdoers eagerly li...
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Proverbs 17 - New Life Version (NLV)

17 A dry piece of food with peace and quiet is better than a house full of food with fighting. 2 A servant who is wise in what he does will rule over a son who acts in shame. He will share in what is given as one of the brothers. 3 The melting-pot is for silver and the hot fire is for gold, but the ...
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Proverbs 17 - New King James Version (NKJV)

The Lord Tests Hearts17 Better is (A)a dry morsel with quietness,Than a house full of [a]feasting with strife. 2 A wise servant will rule over (B)a son who causes shame,And will share an inheritance among the brothers. 3 The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold,(C)But the Lord tests t...
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Proverbs 17 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

17 Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife. 2 A prudent servant will rule over a disgraceful son, and will share the inheritance as one of the family. 3 The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the heart. 4 A wicked person listen...
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Proverbs 17 - New International Version (NIV)

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. 3 The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,(B) but the Lord tests the heart.(C) 4 A wicked perso...
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Proverbs 17 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

17 It is better to eat a dry crust of bread in peace and quiet than to eat a big dinner in a house full of fighting. 2 A wise servant will rule over a shameful child. He will be given part of the property as if he were a family member. 3 Fire tests silver, and heat tests gold. But the Lord tests our...
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Proverbs 17 - New English Translation (NET)

17 Better is a dry crust of bread[a] where there is quietness[b]than a house full of feasting with strife.[c]2 A servant who acts wisely[d] will ruleover[e] an heir[f] who behaves shamefully,[g]and will share the inheritance along with the relatives.[h]3 The crucible[i] is for refining[j] silver and...
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