Proverbs 17:12-27

¹²It speedeth more to meet a female bear, when her whelps be ravished, than a fool trusting to himself in his folly. (It is better to meet a female bear after she hath been robbed of her whelps, than a fool trusting himself in his own foolishness.)

¹³Evil shall not go away from the house of him, that yieldeth evils for goods (or who giveth evil for good).

¹⁴He that letteth (out) water, is the head of strives, (or of arguments); and before that he suffereth wrong, he forsaketh doom (or he deserteth judgement).

¹⁵Both he that justifieth a wicked man, and he that condemneth a just man, ever either is abominable to God. (Both he who justifieth a wicked person, and he who condemneth a righteous person, be abominable to God.)

¹⁶What profiteth it to a fool to have riches, since he may not buy wisdom? (or since he cannot buy wisdom?) He that maketh his house high, seeketh falling; and he that escheweth to learn, shall fall into evils.

¹⁷He that is a friend, loveth in all time; and a brother is proved in anguishes.

¹⁸A fond man shall make joy with hands (or A foolish person shall clap his hands, or shall rejoice), when he hath promised for his friend.

¹⁹He that bethinketh discords, loveth chidings; and he that enhanceth his mouth, seeketh falling. (He who thinketh up discord, loveth arguments; and he who exalteth his own mouth, seeketh his own downfall.)

²⁰He that is of wayward heart, shall not find good; and he that (mis-)turneth the tongue, shall fall into evil.

²¹A fool is born in his shame; but neither the father shall be glad in a fool. (A fool is born to his parents? shame; and the father shall never be glad, or have joy, over his foolish son.)

²²A joyful soul maketh liking age (or A joyful soul maketh a good life); a sorrowful spirit maketh dry bones.

²³A wicked man taketh gifts from the bosom, to mis-turn the paths of doom. (A wicked person accepeth secret gifts, or bribes, to pervert the course of justice.)

²⁴Wisdom shineth in the face of a prudent man; the eyes of fools be in the ends of earth. (Wisdom shineth in the face of the prudent; the eyes of fools be upon the ends of the earth.)

²⁵A fond son is the ire of the father, and the sorrow of the mother that bare him.

²⁶It is not good to bring in harm to a just man; neither to smite the prince that deemeth rightfully. (It is not good to harm the righteous; nor to strike the leader who ruleth rightfully.)

²⁷He that measureth his words, is wise and prudent; and a learned man is of precious spirit. (He who measureth his words, is wise and prudent; and a learned person hath a precious spirit.)