Proverbs 17:4-16

⁴An evil man obeyeth to a wicked tongue; and a false man obeyeth to false lips. (An evil person obeyeth a wicked tongue; and a liar obeyeth lies.)

⁵He that despiseth a poor man, reproveth his maker; and he that is glad in the falling of another man, shall not be unpunished. (He who despiseth the poor, rebuketh his Maker; and he who is glad in the falling of another person, shall not go unpunished.)

⁶The crown of eld men is the sons of sons; and the glory of sons is the fathers of them.

⁷Words well-set together beseem not a fool; and a lying lip becometh not a prince. (Words put together well become not a fool; and lies become not a leader.)

⁸A precious stone most acceptable is the abiding of him that seeketh; whither ever he turneth himself, he understandeth prudently. (A gift, or a bribe, is like a most acceptable precious stone in the eyes of him who receiveth it; wherever it goeth, it bringeth prosperity to he who giveth it.)

⁹He that covereth trespass, seeketh friendships; he that rehearseth by an high word (or but he who remembereth a wrong), separateth them that (should) be knit together in peace.

¹⁰A blaming profiteth more at a prudent man, than an hundred wounds at a fool. (A rebuke more profiteth a prudent man, than an hundred wounds to a fool.)

¹¹Ever an evil man seeketh strives; forsooth a cruel angel shall be sent against him. (An evil person forevermore seeketh out strife, or arguments; but a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.)

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.