Proverbs 17
Proverbs 17 is the seventeenth chapter of the Book of Proverbs in the Hebrew Bible. 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. This chapter is a part of the second collection of the book.
Text
Hebrew
The following table shows the Hebrew text of Proverbs 17 with vowels alongside an English translation based upon the JPS 1917 translation.| Verse | Hebrew | English translation |
| 1 | Better is a dry morsel and quietness therewith, Than a house full of feasting with strife. | |
| 2 | 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 | The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; But the LORD trieth the hearts.. | |
| 4 | A evil-doer giveth heed to wicked lips; And a liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue. | |
| 5 | Whoso mocketh the poor blasphemeth his Maker; And he that is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished. | |
| 6 | Children's children are the crown of old men; And the glory of children are their fathers. | |
| 7 | Overbearing speech becometh not a churl; Much less do lying lips a prince. | |
| 8 | A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it; Whithersoever he turneth, he prospereth. | |
| 9 | He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; But he that harpeth on a matter estrangeth a familiar friend. | |
| 10 | A rebuke entereth deeper into a man of understanding Than a hundred stripes into a fool. | |
| 11 | A rebellious man seeketh only evil; Therefore, a cruel messenger shall be sent against him. | |
| 12 | Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, Rather than a fool in his folly. | |
| 13 | Whoso rewardeth evil for good, Evil shall not depart from his house. | |
| 14 | The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water; Therefore, leave off contention, before the quarrel break out. | |
| 15 | He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the righteous, Even they both are an abomination to the LORD. | |
| 16 | Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool To buy wisdom, seeing he hath no understanding? | |
| 17 | A friend loveth at all times, And a brother is born for adversity. | |
| 18 | A man void of understanding is he that striketh hands, And becometh surety in the presence of his neighbour. | |
| 19 | He loveth transgression that loveth strife; He that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction. | |
| 20 | He that hath a forward heart findeth no good; And he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into evil. | |
| 21 | He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow; And the father of a churl hath no joy. | |
| 22 | A merry heart is a good medicine; But a broken spirit drieth the bones. | |
| 23 | A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom, To pervert the ways of justice. | |
| 24 | Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; But the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth. | |
| 25 | A foolish son is vexation to his father, And bitterness to her that bore him. | |
| 26 | To punish also the righteous is not good, Nor to strike the noble for their uprightness. | |
| 27 | He that spareth his words hath knowledge; And he that husbandeth his spirit is a man of discernment. | |
| 28 | 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, and Codex Leningradensis.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, Codex Sinaiticus, and Codex Alexandrinus.
Analysis
This chapter belongs to a section regarded as the second collection in the book of Proverbs, also called "The First 'Solomonic' Collection". The collection contains 375 sayings, each of which consists of two parallel phrases, except for Proverbs 19:7 which consists of three parts.Verse 1
- "Sacrifices of strife”: from, zivkhe riv. The word “sacrifices” in relation to "house" may suggest a connection with the Temple where people offer sacrifices, such as "peace offerings", and had plenty amount meat left over. It can also simply refer to a 'sumptuous meal' as in festivals.
Verse 5
- "Reproaches": from the Hebrew word חֵרֵף, kheref, meaning “taunt” or “insults” ; 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.
Verse 28
- "Esteemed a man of understanding": in Hebrew is using the Niphal participle in the declarative or estimative sense with stative verbs: “to be discerning” becoming “to be declared discerning”.