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17 Better a bite of dry bread eaten in peace
    than a family feast filled with strife.
A wise slave will become master over a son who acts shamefully,
    and he will share the inheritance with the brothers.
The crucible is for refining silver and the smelter for gold,
    but the one who purifies hearts by fire is Yahweh.
An evildoer pays attention to wicked lips.
    A liar opens his ears to a slanderous tongue.
Whoever makes fun of a poor person insults his maker.
    Whoever is happy to see someone’s distress will not escape punishment.
Grandchildren are the crown of grandparents,
    and parents are the glory of their children.

The Consequences of Being a Fool

Refined speech is not fitting for a godless fool.
    How much less does lying fit a noble person!
A bribe seems like a jewel to the one who gives it.[a]
    Wherever he turns, he prospers.
Whoever forgives an offense seeks love,
    but whoever keeps bringing up the issue separates the closest of friends.

10 A reprimand impresses a person who has understanding
    more than a hundred lashes impress a fool.
11 A rebel looks for nothing but evil.
    Therefore, a cruel messenger will be sent to punish him.
12 Better to meet a bear robbed of its cubs
    than a fool carried away with his stupidity.
13 Whoever pays back evil for good—
    evil will never leave his home.
14 Starting a quarrel is like opening a floodgate,
    so stop before the argument gets out of control.
15 Whoever approves of wicked people
    and whoever condemns righteous people
        is disgusting to Yahweh.

16 Why should a fool have money in his hand to buy wisdom
    when he doesn’t have a mind to grasp anything?
17 A friend always loves,
    and a brother is born to share trouble.
18 A person without good sense closes a deal with a handshake.
    He guarantees a loan in the presence of his friend.
19 Whoever loves sin loves a quarrel.
    Whoever builds his city gate high invites destruction.
20 A twisted mind never finds happiness,
    and one with a devious tongue repeatedly gets into trouble.
21 The parent of a fool has grief,
    and the father of a godless fool has no joy.
22 A joyful heart is good medicine,
    but depression drains one’s strength.
23 A wicked person secretly accepts a bribe to corrupt the ways of justice.
24 Wisdom is directly in front of an understanding person,
    but the eyes of a fool are looking around all over the world.

How Fools Live

25 A foolish son is a heartache to his father
    and bitter grief to his mother.

26 To punish an innocent person is not good.
    To strike down noble people is not right.
27 Whoever has knowledge controls his words,
    and a person who has understanding is even-tempered.

28 Even a stubborn fool is thought to be wise if he keeps silent.
    He is considered intelligent if he keeps his lips sealed.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:8 Or “who receives it.”

17 Better a dry crust with peace and quiet
    than a house full of feasting, with strife.(A)

A prudent servant will rule over a disgraceful son
    and will share the inheritance as one of the family.

The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,(B)
    but the Lord tests the heart.(C)

A wicked person listens to deceitful lips;
    a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.

Whoever mocks the poor(D) shows contempt for their Maker;(E)
    whoever gloats over disaster(F) will not go unpunished.(G)

Children’s children(H) are a crown to the aged,
    and parents are the pride of their children.

Eloquent lips are unsuited to a godless fool—
    how much worse lying lips to a ruler!(I)

A bribe is seen as a charm by the one who gives it;
    they think success will come at every turn.(J)

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)

13 Evil will never leave the house
    of one who pays back evil(N) for good.(O)

14 Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam;
    so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.(P)

15 Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent(Q)
    the Lord detests them both.(R)

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)

22 A cheerful heart is good medicine,
    but a crushed(W) spirit dries up the bones.(X)

23 The wicked accept bribes(Y) in secret
    to pervert the course of justice.(Z)

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)