1Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it
         Than a house full of feasting with strife.

2A servant who acts wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully,
         And will share in the inheritance among brothers.

3The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold,
         But the LORD tests hearts.

4An evildoer listens to wicked lips;
         A liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.

5He who mocks the poor taunts his Maker;
         He who rejoices at calamity will not go unpunished.

6Grandchildren are the crown of old men,
         And the glory of sons is their fathers.

7Excellent speech is not fitting for a fool,
         Much less are lying lips to a prince.

8A bribe is a charm in the sight of its owner;
         Wherever he turns, he prospers.

9He who conceals a transgression seeks love,
         But he who repeats a matter separates intimate friends.

10A rebuke goes deeper into one who has understanding
         Than a hundred blows into a fool.

11A rebellious man seeks only evil,
         So a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

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

13He who returns evil for good,
         Evil will not depart from his house.

14The beginning of strife is like letting out water,
         So abandon the quarrel before it breaks out.

15He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous,
         Both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.

16Why is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom,
         When he has no sense?

17A friend loves at all times,
         And a brother is born for adversity.

18A man lacking in sense pledges
         And becomes guarantor in the presence of his neighbor.

19He who loves transgression loves strife;
         He who raises his door seeks destruction.

20He who has a crooked mind finds no good,
         And he who is perverted in his language falls into evil.

21He who sires a fool does so to his sorrow,
         And the father of a fool has no joy.

22A joyful heart is good medicine,
         But a broken spirit dries up the bones.

23A wicked man receives a bribe from the bosom
         To pervert the ways of justice.

24Wisdom is in the presence of the one who has understanding,
         But the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.

25A foolish son is a grief to his father
         And bitterness to her who bore him.

26It is also not good to fine the righteous,
         Nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.

27He who restrains his words has knowledge,
         And he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.

28Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise;
         When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.

Parallel Verses

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it Than a house full of feasting with strife.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
Better a bite of dry bread eaten in peace than a family feast filled with strife.

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

Douay-Rheims Bible
Better is a dry morsel with joy, than a house full of victims with strife.

Darby Bible Translation
Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than a house full of feasting with strife.

English Revised Version
Better is a dry morsel and quietness therewith, than an house full of feasting with strife.

Webster's Bible Translation
Better is a dry morsel, and quietness with it, than a house full of sacrifices with strife.

World English Bible
Better is a dry morsel with quietness, than a house full of feasting with strife.

Young's Literal Translation
Better is a dry morsel, and rest with it, Than a house full of the sacrifices of strife.

Cross References

Proverbs 15:17 Better is a dish of vegetables where love is Than a fattened ox served with hatred.

Proverbs 17:2 A servant who acts wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully, And will share in the inheritance among brothers.

Commentary

Matthew Henry's Whole Bible Commentary

Chapter 17

Verse 1

These words recommend family-love and peace, as conducing very much to the comfort of human life. 1. Those that live in unity and quietness, not only free from jealousies and animosities, but vying in mutual endearments, and obliging to one another, live very comfortably, though they are low in the world, work hard and fare hard, though they have but each of them a morsel, and that a dry morsel. There may be peace and quietness where there are not three meals a day, provided there by a joint satisfaction in God's providence and a mutual satisfaction in each other's prudence. Holy love may be found in a cottage. 2. Those that live in contention, that are always jarring and brawling, and reflecting upon one another, though they have plenty of dainties, a house full of sacrifices, live uncomfortably; they cannot expect the blessing of God upon them and what they have, nor can they have any true relish of their enjoyments, much less any peace in their own consciences. Love will sweeten a dry morsel, but strife will sour and embitter a house full of sacrifices. A little of the leaven of malice will leaven all the enjoyments.

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New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org.

GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Quotations are used by permission. Copyright 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved.

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