17:1 Better is a dry crust of bread ¹  where there is quietness ² 

than a house full of feasting with strife. ³ 

17:2 A servant who acts wisely ⁴  will rule

over ⁵  an heir ⁶  who behaves shamefully, ⁷ 

and will share the inheritance along with the relatives. ⁸ 

17:3 The crucible ⁹  is for refining ¹⁰  silver and the furnace ¹¹  is for gold,

likewise ¹²  the Lord tests ¹³  hearts.

17:4 One who acts wickedly ¹⁴  pays attention to evil counsel; ¹⁵ 

a liar listens ¹⁶  to a malicious tongue. ¹⁷ 

17:5 The one who mocks the poor ¹⁸  insults ¹⁹  his Creator;

whoever rejoices over disaster will not go unpunished.

17:6 Grandchildren ²⁰  are like ²¹  a crown ²²  to the elderly,

and the glory ²³  of children is their parents. ²⁴ 

17:7 Excessive ²⁵  speech ²⁶  is not becoming for a fool; ²⁷ 

how much less are lies ²⁸  for a ruler! ²⁹ 

17:8 A bribe works like ³⁰  a charm ³¹  for the one who offers it; ³² 

in whatever he does ³³  he succeeds. ³⁴ 

17:9 The one who forgives ³⁵  an offense seeks ³⁶  love,

but whoever repeats a matter separates close friends. ³⁷ 

17:10 A rebuke makes a greater impression on ³⁸  a discerning person

than a hundred blows on a fool. ³⁹ 

17:11 An evil person seeks only rebellion, ⁴⁰ 

and so ⁴¹  a cruel messenger ⁴²  will be sent against him.

17:12 It is better for a person to meet ⁴³  a mother bear being robbed of her cubs,

than ⁴⁴  to encounter ⁴⁵  a fool in his folly. ⁴⁶ 

17:13 As for the one who repays ⁴⁷  evil for good,

evil will not leave ⁴⁸  his house. ⁴⁹ 

17:14 Starting a quarrel ⁵⁰  is like letting out water; ⁵¹ 

stop it before strife breaks out! ⁵² 

17:15 The one who acquits the guilty and the one who condemns the innocent ⁵³  –

both of them are an abomination to the Lord. ⁵⁴ 

17:16 Of what ⁵⁵  use is money in the hand of a fool, ⁵⁶ 

since he has no intention ⁵⁷  of acquiring wisdom? ⁵⁸ 

17:17 A friend ⁵⁹  loves at all times,

and a relative ⁶⁰  is born to help in adversity. ⁶¹ 

17:18 The one who lacks wisdom ⁶²  strikes hands in pledge, ⁶³ 

and puts up financial security ⁶⁴  for his neighbor. ⁶⁵ 

17:19 The one who loves a quarrel loves transgression; ⁶⁶ 

whoever builds his gate high seeks destruction. ⁶⁷ 

17:20 The one who has a perverse heart ⁶⁸  does not find good, ⁶⁹ 

and the one who is deceitful in speech ⁷⁰  falls into trouble.

17:21 Whoever brings a fool ⁷¹  into the world ⁷²  does so ⁷³  to his grief,

and the father of a fool has no joy. ⁷⁴ 

17:22 A cheerful heart ⁷⁵  brings good healing, ⁷⁶ 

but a crushed spirit ⁷⁷  dries up the bones. ⁷⁸ 

17:23 A wicked person receives a bribe secretly ⁷⁹ 

to pervert ⁸⁰  the ways of justice.

17:24 Wisdom is directly in front of ⁸¹  the discerning person,

but the eyes of a fool run ⁸²  to the ends of the earth. ⁸³ 

17:25 A foolish child is a grief ⁸⁴  to his father,

and bitterness to the mother who bore him. ⁸⁵ 

17:26 It is terrible ⁸⁶  to punish ⁸⁷  a righteous person,

and to flog ⁸⁸  honorable men is wrong. ⁸⁹ 

17:27 The truly wise person ⁹⁰  restrains ⁹¹  his words,

and the one who stays calm ⁹²  is discerning.

17:28 Even a fool who remains silent is considered ⁹³  wise,

and the one who holds his tongue is deemed discerning. ⁹⁴