Proverbs 17

Proverbs · Chapter 17

Proverbs 17:23

1Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.2A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.3The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.4A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.5Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.6Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.7Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.8A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.9He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.10A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.11An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.12Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.13Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.14The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.15He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.16Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?17A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.18A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.19He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.20He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.21He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.22A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.23A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.24Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.25A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.26Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.27He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.28Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
23A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.A wicked man takes a covert bribe to subvert the course of justice.A wicked man receiveth a bribe out of the bosom, To pervert the ways of justice.

In context

Who is speaking and to whom, what is happening, when and where, and why it matters, each with its sources. Coming with the context cards.

Original Hebrew words

EnglishHebrewSay itStrong'sMeaning
a bribeשֹׁ֣חַדSHO-chadH7810
bribe

שֹׁ֫חַד (sha.chad) present, bribe

from [the] bosomמֵ֭חֵיקME-cheikH2436J
bosom: embrace

חֵיק (cheq) : embrace/chest bosom, hollow, bottom, midst

a wicked [person]רָשָׁ֣עra-SHA'H7563
wicked

רָשָׁע (ra.sah) 1) wicked, criminal 1a) guilty one, one guilty of crime (subst) 1b) wicked (hostile to God) 1c) wicked, guilty of sin (against God or man)

he acceptsיִקָּ֑חyi-KACHH3947H
to take: take

לָקַח (la.qach) : take 1) to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to take, take in the hand 1a2) to take and carry along 1a3) to take from, take out of, take, carry away, take away 1a4) to take to or for a person, procure, get, take possession of, select, choose, take in marriage, receive, accept 1a5) to take up or upon, put upon 1a6) to fetch 1a7) to take, lead, conduct 1a8) to take, capture, seize 1a9) to take, carry off 1a10) to take (vengeance) 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be captured 1b2) to be taken away, be removed …

to turn asideלְ֝הַטּ֗וֹתle-ha-TOTH5186
to stretch

נָטָה (na.tah) 1) to stretch out, extend, spread out, pitch, turn, pervert, incline, bend, bow 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to stretch out, extend, stretch, offer 1a2) to spread out, pitch (tent) 1a3) to bend, turn, incline 1a3a) to turn aside, incline, decline, bend down 1a3b) to bend, bow 1a3c) to hold out, extend (fig.) 1b) (Niphal) to be stretched out 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to stretch out 1c2) to spread out 1c3) to turn, incline, influence, bend down, hold out, extend, thrust aside, thrust away

[the] paths ofאָרְח֥וֹת'a-re-CHOTH0734
way

אֹ֫רַח (o.rach) 1) way, path 1a) path, road 1b) the path, way, passing of life (fig.) 1c) way of living (fig.) 1d) traveller, wayfarer (meton) Aramaic equivalent: o.rach (אֹ֫רַח "way" H0735)

justiceמִשְׁפָּֽט׃mish-PATH4941H
justice: judgement

מִשְׁפָּט (mish.pat) : judgement/punishment 1) judgment, justice, ordinance 1a) judgment 1a1) act of deciding a case 1a2) place, court, seat of judgment 1a3) process, procedure, litigation (before judges) 1a4) case, cause (presented for judgment) 1a5) sentence, decision (of judgment) 1a6) execution (of judgment) 1a7) time (of judgment) 1b) justice, right, rectitude (attributes of God or man) 1c) ordinance 1d) decision (in law) 1e) right, privilege, due (legal) 1f) proper, fitting, measure, fitness, custom, manner, plan

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.