משלי יזProverbs 17

Better a dry crust with peaceThan a house full of feasting with strife.

A capable servant will dominate an incompetent sonAnd share the inheritance with the brothers.

For silver—the crucible,For gold—the furnace,And GOD tests the mind.

An evildoer listens to mischievous talk;A liar gives ear to malicious words.

One who mocks the poor affronts their Maker;One who rejoices over another’s misfortune will not go unpunished.

Grandchildren are the crown of their elders,And the glory of children is their parents.

Lofty words are not fitting for a villain,Much less lying words for a noble.

A bribe seems like a charm to its user;It brings success at every turn.

One who seeks love overlooks faults,But one who harps on a matter alienates friends.

A rebuke works on an intelligent personMore than one hundred blows on a fool.

Evildoers seek only to rebel;A ruthless messenger will be sent against them.

Sooner meet a bereaved she-bearThan a fool immersed in nonsense.

Evil will never depart from the houseOf one who repays good with evil.

To start a quarrel is to open a sluice;Before a dispute flares up, drop it.

To acquit the guilty and convict the innocent—Both are an abomination to GOD.

What good is money in the hand of a foolTo purchase wisdom, when that person has no mind?

A friend is devoted at all times;A sibling is born to share adversity.

Devoid of sense are the people who give their handTo stand surety for their fellows.

One who loves transgression loves strife;One who builds a high threshold invites broken bones.

Crooked minds come to no good,And the double-tongued fall into trouble.

One begets a dullard to one’s own grief;The father of a villain has no joy.

A joyful heart makes for good health; Despondency dries up the bones.

The wicked draw bribes out of their bosomTo pervert the course of justice.

Wisdom lies before the intelligent;The eyes of dullards range to the ends of the earth.

A stupid son is vexation for his fatherAnd a heartache for the woman who bore him.

To punish an innocent is surely not right,Or to flog the great for their uprightness.

One who is knowledgeable is sparing with words;A man of understanding is reticent.

Even fools who keep silent are deemed wise;Intelligent, while their mouth is shut.