Proverbs 17

Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.

1A dry piece of bread with peace is better. It beats a house full of feast food with fighting.

2A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.

2A wise servant will lead a son who brings shame on the family. He will get a share of what the family passes down, like the sons do.

3The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.

3Hot pots test silver, and hot fires test gold. But the LORD tests what is inside people's hearts.

4A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.

4People who do wrong like to listen to lies. Liars listen to words that hurt other people.

5Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.

5Making fun of a poor person insults God, who made him. Anyone glad when others suffer will be punished.

6Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.

6Grandchildren are like a crown for old people. And children are proud of their fathers.

7Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.

7Fine, fancy words do not fit a fool. Lies fit a ruler even less.

8A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.

8A person who gives a bribe thinks it works like a magic jewel. He thinks it helps him wherever he goes.

NoteThe KJV word "gift" here means a bribe: money given in secret to get your way.

9He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.

9If you cover up a wrong someone did, love can grow. If you keep bringing it up, good friends split apart.

10A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.

10One correction teaches a wise person a lot. A hundred hits teach a fool less than that.

11An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

11A bad man only wants to fight against his ruler. So a hard, cruel messenger will be sent to him.

12Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.

12It is safer to meet a mother bear whose cubs are gone. That is better than meeting a fool doing foolish things.

13Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

13Some people pay back good with evil. Trouble will never leave that person's house.

14The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.

14Starting a fight is like making a hole in a dam. Walk away from the argument before the water bursts out.

15He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.

15Some judges let guilty people go free. Some punish people who did nothing wrong. The LORD hates both.

16Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?

16Why does a fool carry money to buy wisdom? He does not really want it.

17A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

17A friend loves you all the time. A brother is born to help when times are hard.

18A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.

18A person with no good sense shakes hands on a big promise. He promises to pay his friend's debt.

NoteIn Bible times, shaking hands meant making a promise to pay someone else's debt. If that person could not pay, you had to.

19He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.

19Someone who loves fighting loves doing wrong. Someone who builds a tall, showy gate is asking for trouble.

20He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.

20A person with a twisted heart finds nothing good. A person with a lying tongue falls into trouble.

21He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.

21Having a foolish child brings a parent sadness. The father of a fool has no joy.

22A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

22A happy heart works like good medicine. A crushed spirit dries a person up inside.

Note"Dries up the bones" is a picture. It means feeling worn out and weak inside.

23A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.

23A bad man takes a bribe hidden in his coat. He does it to twist what is fair.

24Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.

24A person who understands keeps wisdom right in front of him. A fool's eyes wander off to faraway places.

25A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.

25A foolish son makes his father very sad. He fills his mother with hurt.

26Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.

26It is wrong to punish people who did nothing wrong. It is wrong to beat good leaders for being honest.

27He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.

27A person who knows a lot uses few words. A person who understands stays calm.

28Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

28Even a fool seems wise when he stays quiet. Keeping his mouth shut makes him look smart.