Proverbs 17:16–20

16 Why should fools have money in hand to buy wisdom,

when they are not able to understand it?

17 A friend loves at all times,

and a brother is born for a time of adversity.

18 One who has no sense shakes hands in pledge

and puts up security for a neighbor.

19 Whoever loves a quarrel loves sin;

whoever builds a high gate invites destruction.

20 One whose heart is corrupt does not prosper;

one whose tongue is perverse falls into trouble.

16 Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool

To get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?

17 A friend loveth at all times,

And a brother is born for adversity.

18 A man void of understanding striketh hands,

And becometh surety in the presence of his friend.

19 He loveth transgression that loveth strife:

And he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.

20 He that hath a froward heart findeth no good:

And he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.

16 It is senseless to pay to educate a fool,

since he has no heart for learning.

17 A friend is always loyal,

and a brother is born to help in time of need.

18 It’s poor judgment to guarantee another person’s debt

or put up security for a friend.

19 Anyone who loves to quarrel loves sin;

anyone who trusts in high walls invites disaster.

20 The crooked heart will not prosper;

the lying tongue tumbles into trouble.

16 Why is there in the hand of a fool the purchase price of wisdom,

Since he has no heart for it?

17 A friend loves at all times,

And a brother is born for adversity.

18 A man devoid of understanding shakes hands in a pledge,

And becomes surety for his friend.

19 He who loves transgression loves strife,

And he who exalts his gate seeks destruction.

20 He who has a deceitful heart finds no good,

And he who has a perverse tongue falls into evil.

16 It won’t do a fool any good to try to buy wisdom,

because he doesn’t have the ability to be wise.

17 A friend loves you all the time,

and a brother helps in time of trouble.

18 It is not wise to promise

to pay what your neighbor owes.

19 Whoever loves to argue loves to sin.

Whoever brags a lot is asking for trouble.

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

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

16 Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom,

Seeing he hath no understanding?

17 A friend loveth at all times;

And a brother is born for adversity.

18 A man void of understanding striketh hands,

And becometh surety in the presence of his neighbor.

19 He loveth transgression that loveth strife:

He that raiseth high his gate seeketh destruction.

20 He that hath a wayward heart findeth no good;

And he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.

16 To what purpose is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no sense?

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

18 A senseless man striketh hands, becoming surety for his neighbour.

19 He loveth transgression that loveth a quarrel; he that maketh high his gate seeketh destruction.

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

16 Why should a fool have money in his hand to buy wisdom 

when he doesn’t have a mind to grasp anything? 

17 A friend always loves, 

and a brother is born to share trouble. 

18 A person without good sense closes a deal with a handshake. 

He guarantees a loan in the presence of his friend. 

19 Whoever loves sin loves a quarrel. 

Whoever builds his city gate high invites destruction. 

20 A twisted mind never finds happiness, 

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

16 Why does a fool have money in his hand

with no intention of buying wisdom?

17 A friend loves at all times,

and a brother is born for a difficult time.

18 One without sense enters an agreement

and puts up security for his friend.

19 One who loves to offend loves strife;

one who builds a high threshold invites injury.

20 One with a twisted mind will not succeed,

and one with deceitful speech will fall into ruin.

16 Why should fools have a price in hand

to buy wisdom when they have no mind to learn?

17 A friend loves at all times,

and kinsfolk are born to share adversity.

18 It is senseless to give a pledge,

to become surety for a neighbor.

19 One who loves transgression loves strife;

one who builds a high threshold invites broken bones.

20 The crooked of mind do not prosper,

and the perverse of tongue fall into calamity.

16 Why is this? A price in the hand of a fool,

in order to buy wisdom where there is no sense.

17 The friend loves at all times,

but a brother is born for adversity.

18 A person who lacks sense pledges;

he becomes security before his neighbor.

19 He who loves transgression loves strife;

he who builds his high thresholds seeks destruction.

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

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

16 What good is money in the hands of a foolish person?

He doesn’t want to become wise.

17 A friend loves at all times.

He is there to help when trouble comes.

18 A man who has little sense agrees to pay what other people owe.

It isn’t wise to put up money for others.

19 The one who loves to argue loves to sin.

The one who builds a high gate is just asking to be destroyed.

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

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

16 Why is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom,

When he has no sense?

17 A friend loves at all times,

And a brother is born for adversity.

18 A man lacking in sense pledges

And becomes guarantor in the presence of his neighbor.

19 He who loves transgression loves strife;

He who raises his door seeks destruction.

20 He who has a crooked mind finds no good,

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