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