Proverbs 17

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
1 A dry morsel with gladness is better than a house full of sacrifices along with conflict.	1 Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife.
2 A wise servant shall rule over foolish sons, and he will divide the inheritance among brothers.	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 Just as silver is tested by fire, and gold is tested in the furnace, so also does the Lord test hearts.	3 The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the LORD tries hearts.
4 The evil obey an unjust tongue. And the false are submissive to lying lips.	4 An evildoer listens to wicked lips; and a liar gives heed to a mischievous tongue.
5 Whoever despises the poor rebukes his Maker. And whoever rejoices in the ruin of another will not go unpunished.	5 He who mocks the poor insults his Maker; he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.
6 Sons of sons are the crown of old age. And the glory of sons is their fathers.	6 Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of sons is their fathers.
7 Well-chosen words are not fitting for the foolish, nor are lying lips fitting for a leader.	7 Fine speech is not becoming to a fool; still less is false speech to a prince.
8 The expectation of those who stand ready is a most pleasing jewel. Whichever way he turns himself, he understands prudently.	8 A bribe is like a magic stone in the eyes of him who gives it; wherever he turns he prospers.
9 Whoever conceals an offense seeks friendships. Whoever repeats the words of another separates allies.	9 He who forgives an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter alienates a friend.
10 A correction benefits more with a wise man, than a hundred stripes with a fool.	10 A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred blows into a fool.
11 The evil one continually seeks conflicts. But a cruel Angel shall be sent against him.	11 An evil man seeks only rebellion, and a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
12 It is more expedient to meet a bear robbed of her young, than the foolish trusting in his own folly.	12 Let a man meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs, rather than a fool in his folly.
13 Whoever repays evil for good, evil shall not withdraw from his house.	13 If a man returns evil for good, evil will not depart from his house.
14 Whoever releases the water is the head of the conflict. And just before he suffers contempt, he abandons judgment.	14 The beginning of strife is like letting out water; so quit before the quarrel breaks out.
15 Those who justify the impious, and those who condemn the just, both are abominable with God.	15 He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the LORD.
16 What does it profit the foolish to have riches, when he is not able to buy wisdom? Whoever makes his house high seeks ruin. And whoever shuns learning shall fall into evils.	16 Why should a fool have a price in his hand to buy wisdom, when he has no mind?
17 Whoever is a friend loves at all times. And a brother is proved by distress.	17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
18 A foolish man will clap his hands, when he makes a pledge for his friend.	18 A man without sense gives a pledge, and becomes surety in the presence of his neighbor.
19 Whoever dwells on discord loves disputes. And whoever exalts his door seeks ruin.	19 He who loves transgression loves strife; he who makes his door high seeks destruction.
20 Whoever is of a perverse heart shall not find good. And whoever turns his tongue shall fall into evil.	20 A man of crooked mind does not prosper, and one with a perverse tongue falls into calamity.
21 A foolish one is born into his own disgrace. But his father will not rejoice in one who is senseless.	21 A stupid son is a grief to a father; and the father of a fool has no joy.
22 A joyful soul makes a lifetime flourish. A gloomy spirit dries out the bones.	22 A cheerful heart is a good medicine, but a downcast spirit dries up the bones.
23 The impious receives gifts from the bosom, so that he may pervert the paths of judgment.	23 A wicked man accepts a bribe from the bosom to pervert the ways of justice.
24 Prudence shines from the face of the wise. The eyes of the foolish are on the ends of the earth.	24 A man of understanding sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
25 A foolish son is the anger of the father and the grief of the mother who conceived him.	25 A foolish son is a grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him.
26 It is not good to inflict damage on the just, nor to strike the leader who judges uprightly.	26 To impose a fine on a righteous man is not good; to flog noble men is wrong.
27 Whoever moderates his words is learned and prudent. And a man of learning has a precious spirit.	27 He who restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
28 If he would remain silent, even the foolish would be considered wise, and if he closes his lips, intelligent.	28 Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.