| Chapter 17 |
1 | Better [is] a dry morsel, and rest with it, Than a house full of the sacrifices of strife.
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2 | A wise servant ruleth over a son causing shame, And in the midst of brethren He apportioneth an inheritance.
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3 | A refining pot [is] for silver, and a furnace for gold, And the trier of hearts [is] Jehovah.
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4 | An evil doer is attentive to lips of vanity, Falsehood is giving ear to a mischievous tongue.
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5 | Whoso is mocking at the poor Hath reproached his Maker, Whoso is rejoicing at calamity is not acquitted.
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6 | Sons' sons [are] the crown of old men, And the glory of sons [are] their fathers.
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7 | Not comely for a fool is a lip of excellency, Much less for a noble a lip of falsehood.
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8 | A stone of grace [is] the bribe in the eyes of its possessors, Whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
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9 | Whoso is covering transgression is seeking love, And whoso is repeating a matter Is separating a familiar friend.
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10 | Rebuke cometh down on the intelligent More than a hundred stripes on a fool.
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11 | An evil man seeketh only rebellion, And a fierce messenger is sent against him.
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12 | The meeting of a bereaved bear by a man, And -- not a fool in his folly.
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13 | Whoso is returning evil for good, Evil moveth not from his house.
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14 | The beginning of contention [is] a letting out of waters, And before it is meddled with leave the strife.
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15 | Whoso is justifying the wicked, And condemning the righteous, Even both of these [are] an abomination to Jehovah.
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16 | Why [is] this -- a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, And a heart there is none?
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17 | At all times is the friend loving, And a brother for adversity is born.
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18 | A man lacking heart is striking hands, A surety he becometh before his friend.
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19 | Whoso is loving transgression is loving debate, Whoso is making high his entrance is seeking destruction.
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20 | The perverse of heart findeth not good, And the turned in his tongue falleth into evil.
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21 | Whoso is begetting a fool hath affliction for it, Yea, the father of a fool rejoiceth not.
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22 | A rejoicing heart doth good to the body, And a smitten spirit drieth the bone.
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23 | A bribe from the bosom the wicked taketh, To turn aside the paths of judgment.
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24 | The face of the intelligent [is] to wisdom, And the eyes of a fool -- at the end of the earth.
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25 | A provocation to his father [is] a foolish son, And bitterness to her that bare him.
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26 | Also, to fine the righteous is not good, To smite nobles for uprightness.
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27 | One acquainted with knowledge is sparing his words, And the cool of temper [is] a man of understanding.
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28 | Even a fool keeping silence is reckoned wise, He who is shutting his lips intelligent!
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