Proverbs 17

Proverbs 17 is the seventeenth chapter of the Book of Proverbs in the Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament of the Christian Bible.Template:Sfn The book is a compilation of several wisdom literature collections, with the heading in 1:1 may be intended to regard Solomon as the traditional author of the whole book, but the dates of the individual collections are difficult to determine, and the book probably obtained its final shape in the post-exilic period.Template:Sfn This chapter is a part of the second collection of the book.Template:Sfn

Text

Hebrew

The following table shows the Hebrew text of Proverbs 17 with vowels alongside an English translation based upon the JPS 1917 translation (now in the public domain).

Verse	Hebrew	English translation (JPS 1917)
1	Template:Script/Hebrew	Better is a dry morsel and quietness therewith, Than a house full of feasting with strife.
2	Template:Script/Hebrew	A servant that dealeth wisely shall have rule over a son that dealeth shamefully, And shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.
3	Template:Script/Hebrew	The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; But the LORD trieth the hearts. .
4	Template:Script/Hebrew	A evil-doer giveth heed to wicked lips; And a liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue.
5	Template:Script/Hebrew	Whoso mocketh the poor blasphemeth his Maker; And he that is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.
6	Template:Script/Hebrew	Children’s children are the crown of old men; And the glory of children are their fathers.
7	Template:Script/Hebrew	Overbearing speech becometh not a churl; Much less do lying lips a prince.
8	Template:Script/Hebrew	A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it; Whithersoever he turneth, he prospereth.
9	Template:Script/Hebrew	He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; But he that harpeth on a matter estrangeth a familiar friend.
10	Template:Script/Hebrew	A rebuke entereth deeper into a man of understanding Than a hundred stripes into a fool.
11	Template:Script/Hebrew	A rebellious man seeketh only evil; Therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
12	Template:Script/Hebrew	Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, Rather than a fool in his folly.
13	Template:Script/Hebrew	Whoso rewardeth evil for good, Evil shall not depart from his house.
14	Template:Script/Hebrew	The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water; Therefore leave off contention, before the quarrel break out.
15	Template:Script/Hebrew	He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the righteous, Even they both are an abomination to the LORD.
16	Template:Script/Hebrew	Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool To buy wisdom, seeing he hath no understanding?
17	Template:Script/Hebrew	A friend loveth at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.
18	Template:Script/Hebrew	A man void of understanding is he that striketh hands, And becometh surety in the presence of his neighbour.
19	Template:Script/Hebrew	He loveth transgression that loveth strife; He that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.
20	Template:Script/Hebrew	He that hath a forward heart findeth no good; And he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into evil.
21	Template:Script/Hebrew	He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow; And the father of a churl hath no joy.
22	Template:Script/Hebrew	A merry heart is a good medicine; But a broken spirit drieth the bones.
23	Template:Script/Hebrew	A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom, To pervert the ways of justice.
24	Template:Script/Hebrew	Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; But the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
25	Template:Script/Hebrew	A foolish son is vexation to his father, And bitterness to her that bore him.
26	Template:Script/Hebrew	To punish also the righteous is not good, Nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.
27	Template:Script/Hebrew	He that spareth his words hath knowledge; And he that husbandeth his spirit is a man of discernment.
28	Template:Script/Hebrew	Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise; And he that shutteth his lips is esteemed as a man of understanding.

Textual witnesses

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in Hebrew are of the Masoretic Text, which includes the Aleppo Codex (10th century), and Codex Leningradensis (1008).Template:Sfn

There is also a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint, made in the last few centuries BC. Extant ancient manuscripts of the Septuagint version include Codex Vaticanus (B; $𝔊$^B; 4th century), Codex Sinaiticus (S; BHK: $𝔊$^S; 4th century), and Codex Alexandrinus (A; $𝔊$^A; 5th century).Template:Sfn

Analysis

This chapter belongs to a section regarded as the second collection in the book of Proverbs (comprising Proverbs 10:1–22:16), also called "The First 'Solomonic' Collection" (the second one in Proverbs 25:1–29:27).Template:Sfn The collection contains 375 sayings, each of which consists of two parallel phrases, except for Proverbs 19:7 which consists of three parts.Template:Sfn

Verse 1

Better is a dry morsel with quietness

than a house full of sacrifices with strife.

• "Sacrifices of strife”: from Template:Langx, zivkhe riv. The word “sacrifices” in relation to "house" may suggest a connection with the Temple (as in Proverbs 7:14) where people offer sacrifices, such as "peace offerings", and had plenty amount meat left over.Template:Sfn It can also simply refer to a 'sumptuous meal' (Deuteronomy 12:15; Isaiah 34:6; Ezekiel 39:17) as in festivals.

The general idea is that a modest meal with peace and harmony ('quietness') round the table is better than a festive meal filled with resentments and rivalries or even open quarrels (cf. Proverbs 15:17).Template:Sfn

Verse 5

Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker,

and he who is glad at calamities will not be unpunished.

• "Reproaches": from the Hebrew word Template:Lang, kheref, meaning “taunt” (as with a cutting taunt) or “insults” (NET Bible); in this case it may mean "showing contempt for" or "insulting" God, blaming God’s providential control of the world or "offending the divine nature" of poverty by holding it up as a personal failure (cf. Proverbs 14:31).

Verse 28

Even a fool, when he holds his peace, is counted wise;

and he who shuts his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

• "Esteemed a man of understanding": in Hebrew is using the Niphal participle in the declarative or estimative sense with stative verbs: “to be discerning” (Qal) becoming “to be declared discerning” (Niphal).

As 'silence is a mark of wisdom', a fool who could observe "restraint in speech" and "cool in spirit" (verse 27), instead of being 'hot-tempered' (cf. Proverbs 15:18), can conceal his/her folly and even be regarded as a wise person.Template:Sfn

See also

• Related Bible parts: Deuteronomy 12, Proverbs 7, Proverbs 15, Proverbs 22, Isaiah 34, Ezekiel 39

Sources

• Template:Cite book
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External links

• Jewish translations:
  • Mishlei - Proverbs - Chapter 17 (Judaica Press) translation [with Rashi's commentary] at Chabad.org
• Christian translations:
  • Online Bible at GospelHall.org (ESV, KJV, Darby, American Standard Version, Bible in Basic English)
• Book of Proverbs Chapter 17 King James Version
• Template:Librivox book Various versions