Proverbs 17 - New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB1995)

Contrast the Upright and the Wicked

17 (A)Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it
Than a house full of [a]feasting with strife.
2 A servant who acts wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully,
And will share in the inheritance among brothers.
3 The (B)refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold,
But (C)the Lord tests hearts.
4 An (D)evildoer listens to wicked lips;
A [b]liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.
5 He who mocks the (E)poor taunts his Maker;
He who (F)rejoices at calamity will not go unpunished.
6 (G)Grandchildren are the crown of old men,
And the (H)glory of sons is their fathers.
7 [c](I)Excellent speech is not fitting for a fool,
Much less are (J)lying lips to a prince.
8 A (K)bribe is a [d]charm in the sight of its owner;
Wherever he turns, he prospers.
9 He who (L)conceals a transgression seeks love,
But he who repeats a matter (M)separates intimate friends.
10 A rebuke goes deeper into one who has understanding
Than a hundred blows into a fool.
11 A rebellious man seeks only evil,
So a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
12 Let a (N)man meet a (O)bear robbed of her cubs,
Rather than a fool in his folly.
13 He who (P)returns evil for good,
(Q)Evil will not depart from his house.
14 The beginning of strife is like letting out water,
So (R)abandon the quarrel before it breaks out.
15 He who (S)justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous,
Both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord.
16 Why is there a price in the hand of a fool to (T)buy wisdom,
When [e]he has no sense?
17 A (U)friend loves at all times,
And a brother is born for adversity.
18 A man lacking in [f]sense [g](V)pledges
And becomes guarantor in the presence of his neighbor.
19 He who (W)loves transgression loves strife;
He who (X)raises his door seeks destruction.
20 He who has a crooked [h]mind (Y)finds no good,
And he who is (Z)perverted in his language falls into evil.
21 He who (AA)sires a fool does so to his sorrow,
And the father of a fool has no joy.
22 A (AB)joyful heart [i]is good medicine,
But a broken spirit (AC)dries up the bones.
23 A wicked man receives a (AD)bribe from the bosom
To (AE)pervert the ways of justice.
24 Wisdom is in the presence of the one who has understanding,
But the (AF)eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
25 A (AG)foolish son is a grief to his father
And (AH)bitterness to her who bore him.
26 It is also not good to (AI)fine the righteous,
Nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.
27 He who (AJ)restrains his words [j]has knowledge,
And he who has a (AK)cool spirit is a man of understanding.
28 Even a fool, when he (AL)keeps silent, is considered wise;
When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:1 Lit sacrifices of strife
  2. Proverbs 17:4 Lit falsehood
  3. Proverbs 17:7 Lit A lip of abundance
  4. Proverbs 17:8 Lit stone of favor
  5. Proverbs 17:16 Lit there is no heart
  6. Proverbs 17:18 Lit heart
  7. Proverbs 17:18 Lit shakes hands
  8. Proverbs 17:20 Lit heart
  9. Proverbs 17:22 Lit causes good healing
  10. Proverbs 17:27 Lit knows

Cross references

  1. Proverbs 17:1 : Prov 15:17
  2. Proverbs 17:3 : Prov 27:21
  3. Proverbs 17:3 : 1 Chr 29:17; Ps 26:2; Prov 15:11; Jer 17:10; Mal 3:3
  4. Proverbs 17:4 : Prov 14:15
  5. Proverbs 17:5 : Prov 14:31
  6. Proverbs 17:5 : Job 31:29; Prov 24:17; Obad 12
  7. Proverbs 17:6 : Gen 48:11; Prov 13:22
  8. Proverbs 17:6 : Ex 20:12; Mal 1:6
  9. Proverbs 17:7 : Prov 24:7
  10. Proverbs 17:7 : Ps 31:18; Prov 12:22
  11. Proverbs 17:8 : Prov 21:14; Is 1:23; Amos 5:12
  12. Proverbs 17:9 : Prov 10:12; James 5:20; 1 Pet 4:8
  13. Proverbs 17:9 : Prov 16:28
  14. Proverbs 17:12 : Prov 29:9
  15. Proverbs 17:12 : 2 Sam 17:8; Hos 13:8
  16. Proverbs 17:13 : Ps 35:12; 109:5; Jer 18:20
  17. Proverbs 17:13 : 2 Sam 12:10; 1 Kin 21:22; Prov 13:21
  18. Proverbs 17:14 : Prov 20:3; 25:8; 1 Thess 4:11
  19. Proverbs 17:15 : Ex 23:7; Prov 18:5; 24:24; Is 5:23
  20. Proverbs 17:16 : Prov 23:23
  21. Proverbs 17:17 : Ruth 1:16; Prov 18:24
  22. Proverbs 17:18 : Prov 6:1; 11:15; 22:26
  23. Proverbs 17:19 : Prov 29:22
  24. Proverbs 17:19 : Prov 16:18; 29:23
  25. Proverbs 17:20 : Prov 24:20
  26. Proverbs 17:20 : James 3:8
  27. Proverbs 17:21 : Prov 10:1; 17:25; 19:13
  28. Proverbs 17:22 : Prov 15:13
  29. Proverbs 17:22 : Ps 22:15
  30. Proverbs 17:23 : Prov 17:8
  31. Proverbs 17:23 : Ex 23:8; Mic 3:11; 7:3
  32. Proverbs 17:24 : Eccl 2:14
  33. Proverbs 17:25 : Prov 19:13
  34. Proverbs 17:25 : Prov 10:1
  35. Proverbs 17:26 : Prov 17:15; 18:5
  36. Proverbs 17:27 : Prov 10:19; James 1:19
  37. Proverbs 17:27 : Prov 14:29
  38. Proverbs 17:28 : Job 13:5

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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