Proverbs 17

17 Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.

A dry cracker, (small piece of food), without confusion, is better than a house full of delicious food and confusion.

2 A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.

You do not have to be blood-related to get the family's wealth.  A disobedient son will be under the leadership of a wise servant.

3 The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the Lord trieth the hearts.

Silver and gold are refined by fire: but the Lord tests the hearts.

4 A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.

Wicked doers give attention to liars: and a liar gives attention to badly behaved people.

5 Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.

Whoever makes fun of the poor disapproves of God's Word: and he that is glad when someone is hurt shall not go without negative consequences. 

6 Children's children are the crown of old men, and the glory of children are their fathers.

If you live to see your grandchildren it is an honor, and the beauty of children is their fathers.

7 Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince: 

Excellent speech is words that are good and they come at the right time.  A person that does not spend time with God uses words that have no value; the same outcome of the lack of wisdom applies to a leader who has influence and has nothing to say that will help the people he leads.

8 A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.

God gives gifts

9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.

We are to love because our sins are buried, but anyone who talks of matters between the best of friends separates them.

10 A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.

Correction is easily taken by people who love God's Word; You cannot beat wisdom into a person who rejects it over and over. 

11 An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

A person who refuses to change will be visited by a person who will deliver what he wants to do to others.

12 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.

A hurt bear is a better friend than talking to a fool.

13 Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

Anyone who gives evil for good, nothing good will ever enter the house of the evil.

14 The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.

Turning on strife is like turning on a fountain of water. So leave off anger and do not be bothered with it.

15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the Lord.

Treat people right.

16 Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?

You cannot educate a fool; so do not waste your time or money because he cannot understand it anyway.

17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

A friend loves through the good and bad, and God will allow you to have a brother who will help you in hard times.

18 A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.

Do not pledge to pay a debt for a stranger, it shows you lack good sense.

19 He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.

If you love to cut people down, you love sinning over and over again: he that overcharges, thinks he is better than others will come to ruin.

20 He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.

He that does not care to think before he speaks will not find good: a lying tongue will fall down.

21 He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.

Giving birth to a fool hurts: and the father of a fool is unhappy.

22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

A happy heart is like a medicine: but unforgiveness destroys your health.

23 A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.

A wicked man takes gifts from secret places to cause unjust verdicts.

24 Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth. 

A person who listens to wisdom continues in the Word of God: the wicked tend to death.

25 A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.

Parents of a foolish child live to regret having the child.

26 Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.

To punish the good is not right, nor is it right to hurt a prince for doing what is right.

27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.

Don't talk so much: a man who has the spirit of God has a good understanding.

28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding. 

Being quiet looks good on a fool: anyone who can be quiet when he knows he is right and no one listens has a good understanding.