Proverbs 17

KING JAMES BIBLE	NEW JERUSALEM
1 Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.	1 Better a mouthful of dry bread with peace than a house fil ed with quarrelsome sacrifices.
2 A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.	2 A shrewd servant comes off better than an unworthy child, he will share the inheritance with thebrothers.
3 The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.	3 A furnace for silver, a foundry for gold, but Yahweh for the testing of hearts!
4 A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.	4 An evil-doer pays heed to malicious talk, a liar listens to a slanderous tongue.
5 Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.	5 To mock the poor is to insult the Creator, no one who laughs at distress wil go unpunished.
6 Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.	6 The crown of the aged is their children's children; the children's glory is their father.
7 Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.	7 Fine words do not become the foolish, false words become a prince stil less.
8 A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.	8 A gift works like a talisman for one who holds it: it brings prosperity at every turn.
9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.	9 Whoever covers an offence promotes love, whoever again raises the matter divides friends.
10 A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.	10 A reproof makes more impression on a person of understanding than a hundred strokes on a fool.
11 An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.	11 The wicked person thinks of nothing but rebellion, but a cruel messenger wil be sent to such a one.
12 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.	12 Rather come on a bear robbed of her cubs than on a fool in his fol y.
13 Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.	13 Disaster wil never be far from the house of one who returns evil for good.
14 The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.	14 As well unleash a flood as start a dispute; desist before the quarrel breaks out.
15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.	15 To absolve the guilty and condemn the upright, both alike are abhorrent to Yahweh.
16 Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?	16 What good is money in the hand of a fool? To buy wisdom with it? The desire is not there.
17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.	17 A friend is a friend at all times, it is for adversity that a brother is born.
18 A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.	18 Whoever offers guarantees lacks sense and goes surety for a neighbour.
19 He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.	19 The double-dealer loves sin, the proud courts ruin.
20 He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.	20 The tortuous of heart finds no happiness, the perverse of speech fal s into misery.
21 He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.	21 He who fathers a stupid child does so to his sorrow, the father of a fool knows no joy.
22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.	22 A glad heart is excel ent medicine, a depressed spirit wastes the bones away.
23 A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.	23 Under cover of his cloak a bad man takes a gift to pervert the course of justice.
24 Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.	24 The intelligent has wisdom there before him, but the eyes of a fool range to the ends of the earth.
25 A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.	25 A foolish child is a father's sorrow, and the grief of her who gave the child birth.
26 Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.	26 To fine the upright is indeed a crime, to strike the noble is an injustice.
27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.	27 Whoever can control the tongue knows what knowledge is, someone of understanding keeps a cooltemper.
28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.	28 If the fool holds his tongue, he may pass for wise; if he seals his lips, he may pass for intel igent.