Proverbs 17:20–24

20 One whose heart is corrupt does not prosper;

one whose tongue is perverse falls into trouble.

21 To have a fool for a child brings grief;

there is no joy for the parent of a godless fool.

22 A cheerful heart is good medicine,

but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

23 The wicked accept bribes in secret

to pervert the course of justice.

24 A discerning person keeps wisdom in view,

but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth.

20 A man of crooked heart does not discover good,

and one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity.

21 He who sires a fool gets himself sorrow,

and the father of a fool has no joy.

22 A joyful heart is good medicine,

but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

23 The wicked accepts a bribe in secret

to pervert the ways of justice.

24 The discerning sets his face toward wisdom,

but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.

20 He that hath a froward heart findeth no good:

And he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.

21 He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow:

And the father of a fool hath no joy.

22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine:

But a broken spirit drieth the bones.

23 A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom

To pervert the ways of judgment.

24 Wisdom is before him that hath understanding;

But the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.

20 He who has a deceitful heart finds no good,

And he who has a perverse tongue falls into evil.

21 He who begets a scoffer does so to his sorrow,

And the father of a fool has no joy.

22 A merry heart does good, like medicine,

But a broken spirit dries the bones.

23 A wicked man accepts a bribe behind the back

To pervert the ways of justice.

24 Wisdom is in the sight of him who has understanding,

But the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.

20 A person with an evil heart will find no success,

and the person whose words are evil will get into trouble.

21 It is sad to have a foolish child;

there is no joy in being the parent of a fool.

22 A happy heart is like good medicine,

but a broken spirit drains your strength.

23 When the wicked accept money to do wrong

there can be no justice.

24 The person with understanding is always looking for wisdom,

but the mind of a fool wanders everywhere.

20 He that hath a wayward heart findeth no good;

And he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.

21 He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow;

And the father of a fool hath no joy.

22 A cheerful heart is a good medicine;

But a broken spirit drieth up the bones.

23 A wicked man receiveth a bribe out of the bosom,

To pervert the ways of justice.

24 Wisdom is before the face of him that hath understanding;

But the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.

20 He that hath a perverse heart findeth no good; and he that shifteth about with his tongue falleth into evil.

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

22 A joyful heart promoteth healing; but a broken spirit drieth up the bones.

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

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

20 A twisted mind never finds happiness, 

and one with a devious tongue ⸤repeatedly⸥ gets into trouble. 

21 The parent of a fool has grief, 

and the father of a godless fool has no joy. 

22 A joyful heart is good medicine, 

but depression drains one’s strength. 

23 A wicked person secretly accepts a bribe to corrupt the ways of justice. 

24 Wisdom is directly in front of an understanding person, 

but the eyes of a fool ⸤are looking around⸥ all over the world. 

20 One with a twisted mind will not succeed,

and one with deceitful speech will fall into ruin.

21 A man fathers a fool to his own sorrow;

the father of a fool has no joy.

22 A joyful heart is good medicine,

but a broken spirit dries up the bones.

23 A wicked man secretly takes a bribe

to subvert the course of justice.

24 Wisdom is the focus of the perceptive,

but a fool’s eyes roam to the ends of the earth.

20 The crooked of mind do not prosper,

and the perverse of tongue fall into calamity.

21 The one who fathers a fool gets trouble;

the parent of a fool has no joy.

22 A cheerful heart is a good medicine,

but a downcast spirit dries up the bones.

23 The wicked accept a concealed bribe

to pervert the ways of justice.

24 The discerning person looks to wisdom,

but the eyes of a fool to the ends of the earth.

20 He who is crooked of heart will not find goodness,

and he who is perverse, by his tongue he will fall into calamity.

21 He who begets a fool, there is trouble for him;

the father of a fool will not rejoice.

22 A cheerful heart is good medicine,

but a downcast spirit will dry out bones.

23 The wicked will accept a bribe from the lap,

in order to pervert the ways of justice.

24 He who understands sets his face toward wisdom,

but the eyes of a fool, to the end of the earth.

20 If your heart is twisted, you won’t succeed.

If your tongue tells lies, you will get into trouble.

21 It is sad to have a foolish child.

The parents of a foolish person have no joy.

22 A cheerful heart makes you healthy.

But a broken spirit dries you up.

23 Anyone who does wrong accepts favors in secret.

Then he turns what is right into wrong.

24 Anyone who understands what is right keeps wisdom in view.

But the eyes of a foolish person look everywhere else.

20 He who has a crooked mind finds no good,

And he who is perverted in his language falls into evil.

21 He who sires a fool does so to his sorrow,

And the father of a fool has no joy.

22 A joyful heart is good medicine,

But a broken spirit dries up the bones.

23 A wicked man receives a bribe from the bosom

To pervert the ways of justice.

24 Wisdom is in the presence of the one who has understanding,

But the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.