196Hb. the sacrifices of strife.
17: 2 A servant that dealeth wisely shall have rule over a son that 197causeth shame, And shall have part in the inheritance among the brethren.
197Or, doeth shamefully,
17: 3 The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; But Jehovah trieth the hearts.
17: 4 An evil-doer giveth heed to wicked lips; And 198a liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue.
198Hb. falsehood giveth ear
17: 5 Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker; And he that is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.
17: 6 Children’s children are the crown of old men; And the glory of children are their fathers.
17: 7 199Excellent speech becometh not a fool; Much less do lying lips a prince.
199Or, Arrogant
17: 8 The 200bribe is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it; Whithersoever it turneth, 201it 202prospereth.
200Or, gift (especially to escape punishment)
201Or, he
202Or, dealeth wisely.
17: 9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; But he that harpeth on a matter separateth chief friends.
17: 10 A rebuke entereth deeper into one that hath understanding Than a hundred stripes into a fool.
17: 11 203An evil man seeketh only rebellion; Therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
203Or, A rebellious man (Hb. Rebellion) seeketh only evil;
17: 12 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, Rather than a fool in his folly.
17: 13 Whoso rewardeth evil for good, Evil shall not depart from his house.
17: 14 The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: Therefore leave off contention, before there is quarrelling.
17: 15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the righteous, Both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah.
17: 16 Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, Seeing he hath no 204understanding?
204Hb. heart
17: 17 A friend loveth at all times; And 205a brother is born for adversity.
205Or, is born as a brother for adversity.
17: 18 A man void of understanding striketh hands, And becometh surety in the presence of his neighbor.
17: 19 206He loveth transgression that loveth strife: He that raiseth high his gate seeketh destruction.
206Or, He that loveth transgression loveth strife:
17: 20 He that hath a wayward heart findeth no good; And he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into 207mischief.
207Or, calamity.
17: 21 He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow; And the father of a fool hath no joy.
17: 22 A cheerful heart is a good medicine; But a broken spirit drieth up the bones.
17: 23 A wicked man receiveth a bribe out of the bosom, To pervert the ways of justice.
17: 24 Wisdom is before the face of him that hath understanding; But the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
17: 25 A foolish son is a grief to his father, And bitterness to her that bare him.
17: 26 Also to 208punish the righteous is not good, Nor to smite the noble for their uprightness.
208Or, fine
17: 27 He 209that spareth his words hath knowledge; And he that is of a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
209Or, that hath knowledge spareth his words: And a man of understanding is of a cool spirit.
17: 28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise; 210When he shutteth his lips, he is esteemed as prudent.
210Or, He that shutteth his lips is esteemed as prudent.
