Proverbs 17:10–14

10 A rebuke impresses a discerning person

more than a hundred lashes a fool.

11 Evildoers foster rebellion against God;

the messenger of death will be sent against them.

12 Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs

than a fool bent on folly.

13 Evil will never leave the house

of one who pays back evil for good.

14 Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam;

so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.

10 A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding

than a hundred blows into a fool.

11 An evil man seeks only rebellion,

and a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

12 Let a man meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs

rather than a fool in his folly.

13 If anyone returns evil for good,

evil will not depart from his house.

14 The beginning of strife is like letting out water,

so quit before the quarrel breaks out.

10 A single rebuke does more for a person of understanding

than a hundred lashes on the back of a fool.

11 Evil people are eager for rebellion,

but they will be severely punished.

12 It is safer to meet a bear robbed of her cubs

than to confront a fool caught in foolishness.

13 If you repay good with evil,

evil will never leave your house.

14 Starting a quarrel is like opening a floodgate,

so stop before a dispute breaks out.

10 Rebuke is more effective for a wise man

Than a hundred blows on a fool.

11 An evil man seeks only rebellion;

Therefore a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

12 Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs,

Rather than a fool in his folly.

13 Whoever rewards evil for good,

Evil will not depart from his house.

14 The beginning of strife is like releasing water;

Therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts.

10 A wise person will learn more from a warning

than a fool will learn from a hundred lashings.

11 Disobedient people look only for trouble,

so a cruel messenger will be sent against them.

12 It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs

than to meet a fool doing foolish things.

13 Whoever gives evil in return for good

will always have trouble at home.

14 Starting a quarrel is like a leak in a dam,

so stop it before a fight breaks out.

10 A rebuke entereth deeper into one that hath understanding

Than a hundred stripes into a fool.

11 An evil man seeketh only rebellion;

Therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

12 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man,

Rather than a fool in his folly.

13 Whoso rewardeth evil for good,

Evil shall not depart from his house.

14 The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water:

Therefore leave off contention, before there is quarrelling.

10 A reproof entereth more deeply into him that hath understanding than a hundred stripes into a fool.

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

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

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

14 The beginning of contention is as when one letteth out water; therefore leave off strife before it become vehement.

10 A reprimand impresses a person who has understanding 

more than a hundred lashes impress a fool. 

11 A rebel looks for nothing but evil. 

Therefore, a cruel messenger will be sent ⸤to punish⸥ him. 

12 Better to meet a bear robbed of its cubs 

than a fool ⸤carried away⸥ with his stupidity. 

13 Whoever pays back evil for good— 

evil will never leave his home. 

14 Starting a quarrel is ⸤like⸥ opening a floodgate, 

so stop before the argument gets out of control. 

10 A rebuke cuts into a perceptive person

more than a hundred lashes into a fool.

11 An evil man seeks only rebellion;

a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

12 Better for a man to meet a bear robbed of her cubs

than a fool in his foolishness.

13 If anyone returns evil for good,

evil will never depart from his house.

14 To start a conflict is to release a flood;

stop the dispute before it breaks out.

10 A rebuke strikes deeper into a discerning person

than a hundred blows into a fool.

11 Evil people seek only rebellion,

but a cruel messenger will be sent against them.

12 Better to meet a she-bear robbed of its cubs

than to confront a fool immersed in folly.

13 Evil will not depart from the house

of one who returns evil for good.

14 The beginning of strife is like letting out water,

so stop before the quarrel breaks out.

10 A rebuke strikes him who understands

deeper than one hundred blows to a fool.

11 An evil person will seek only rebellion,

and a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

12 May a man meet a she-bear robbed of offspring

and not a fool in his folly.

13 For he who returns evil for good,

evil will not depart from his house.

14 Like the release of water is the beginning of strife;

before it breaks out, stop the quarrel.

10 A person who understands what is right learns more from just a warning

than a foolish person learns from 100 strokes with a whip.

11 An evil person never wants to obey.

An official who shows no mercy will be sent against him.

12 It is better to meet a bear whose cubs have been stolen

than to meet a foolish person who is acting foolishly.

13 Evil will never leave the house

of anyone who pays back evil for good.

14 Starting to argue is like making a crack in a dam.

So drop the matter before a fight breaks out.

10 A rebuke goes deeper into one who has understanding

Than a hundred blows into a fool.

11 A rebellious man seeks only evil,

So a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

12 Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs,

Rather than a fool in his folly.

13 He who returns evil for good,

Evil will not depart from his house.

14 The beginning of strife is like letting out water,

So abandon the quarrel before it breaks out.