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 evildoer listens to wicked lips,
and a liar gives heed to a mischievous tongue.
5 Those who mock the poor insult their Maker;
those who are glad at calamity will not go unpunished.(D)
6 Grandchildren are the crown of the aged,
and the glory of children is their parents.(E)
7 Excess speech is not becoming to a fool;
still less is false speech to a ruler.[a]
8 A bribe is like a magic stone in the eyes of those who give it;
wherever they turn they prosper.(F)
9 One who forgives an affront fosters friendship,
but one who dwells on disputes will alienate a friend.(G)
10 A rebuke strikes deeper into a discerning person
than a hundred blows into a fool.
11 Evil people seek only rebellion,
but a cruel messenger will be sent against them.
12 Better to meet a she-bear robbed of its cubs
than to confront a fool immersed in folly.(H)
13 Evil will not depart from the house
of one who returns evil for good.(I)
14 The beginning of strife is like letting out water,
so stop before the quarrel breaks out.(J)
15 One who justifies the wicked and one who condemns the righteous
are both alike an abomination to the Lord.(K)
16 Why should fools have a price in hand
to buy wisdom when they have no mind to learn?
17 A friend loves at all times,
and kinsfolk are born to share adversity.(L)
18 It is senseless to give a pledge,
to become surety for a neighbor.(M)
19 One who loves transgression loves strife;
one who builds a high threshold invites broken bones.(N)
20 The crooked of mind do not prosper,
and the perverse of tongue fall into calamity.(O)
21 The one who fathers a fool gets trouble;
the parent of a fool has no joy.(P)
22 A cheerful heart is a good medicine,
but a downcast spirit dries up the bones.(Q)
23 The wicked accept a concealed bribe
to pervert the ways of justice.(R)
24 The discerning person looks to wisdom,
but the eyes of a fool to the ends of the earth.(S)
25 Foolish children are a grief to their father
and bitterness to her who bore them.(T)
26 To impose a fine on the innocent is not right
or to flog the noble for their integrity.(U)
27 One who spares words is knowledgeable;
one who is cool in spirit has understanding.(V)
28 Even fools who keep silent are considered wise;
when they close their lips, they are deemed intelligent.(W)

Footnotes

  1. 17.7Or a noble

Cross references

  1. 17.1 : Prov 15.17
  2. 17.2 : Prov 10.5
  3. 17.3 : Ps 26.2; Prov 27.21
  4. 17.5 : Job 31.29; Prov 14.31
  5. 17.6 : Prov 13.22
  6. 17.8 : Prov 21.14; Isa 1.23; Am 5.12
  7. 17.9 : Prov 10.12; 16.28; Jas 5.20; 1 Pet 4.8
  8. 17.12 : Hos 13.8
  9. 17.13 : Ps 109.4, 5; Jer 18.20
  10. 17.14 : Prov 20.3
  11. 17.15 : Ex 23.7; Isa 5.23
  12. 17.17 : Ruth 1.16; Prov 18.24
  13. 17.18 : Prov 6.1
  14. 17.19 : Prov 16.18; 29.22
  15. 17.20 : Jas 3.8
  16. 17.21 : Prov 10.1; 19.13
  17. 17.22 : Ps 22.15; Prov 15.13
  18. 17.23 : Ex 23.8
  19. 17.24 : Eccl 2.14
  20. 17.25 : Prov 10.1
  21. 17.26 : Prov 18.5
  22. 17.27 : Jas 1.19
  23. 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)

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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