Proverbs 17:21–28

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.

25 A foolish son brings grief to his father

and bitterness to the mother who bore him.

26 If imposing a fine on the innocent is not good,

surely to flog honest officials is not right.

27 The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint,

and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.

28 Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent,

and discerning if they hold their tongues.

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.

25 A foolish son is a grief to his father,

And bitterness to her that bare him.

26 Also to punish the just is not good,

Nor to strike princes for equity.

27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words:

And a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.

28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise:

And he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

21 It is painful to be the parent of a fool;

there is no joy for the father of a rebel.

22 A cheerful heart is good medicine,

but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.

23 The wicked take secret bribes

to pervert the course of justice.

24 Sensible people keep their eyes glued on wisdom,

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

25 Foolish children bring grief to their father

and bitterness to the one who gave them birth.

26 It is wrong to punish the godly for being good

or to flog leaders for being honest.

27 A truly wise person uses few words;

a person with understanding is even-tempered.

28 Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent;

with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent.

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.

25 A foolish son is a grief to his father,

And bitterness to her who bore him.

26 Also, to punish the righteous is not good,

Nor to strike princes for their uprightness.

27 He who has knowledge spares his words,

And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.

28 Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace;

When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.

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.

25 Foolish children make their father sad

and cause their mother great sorrow.

26 It is not good to punish the innocent

or to beat leaders for being honest.

27 The wise say very little,

and those with understanding stay calm.

28 Even fools seem to be wise if they keep quiet;

if they don’t speak, they appear to understand.

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.

25 A foolish son is a grief to his father,

And bitterness to her that bare him.

26 Also to punish the righteous is not good,

Nor to smite the noble for their uprightness.

27 He that spareth his words hath knowledge;

And he that is of a cool spirit is a man of understanding.

28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise;

When he shutteth his lips, he is esteemed as prudent.

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.

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

26 To punish a righteous man is not good, nor to strike nobles because of their uprightness.

27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words; and a man of understanding is of a cool spirit. 28 Even a fool when he holdeth his peace is reckoned wise, and he that shutteth his lips, intelligent.

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. 

25 A foolish son is a heartache to his father 

and bitter grief to his mother. 

26 To punish an innocent person is not good. 

To strike down noble people is not right. 

27 Whoever has knowledge controls his words, 

and a person who has understanding is even-tempered. 

28 Even a stubborn fool is thought to be wise if he keeps silent. 

He is considered intelligent if he keeps his lips sealed. 

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.

25 A foolish son is grief to his father

and bitterness to the one who bore him.

26 It is certainly not good to fine an innocent person

or to beat a noble for his honesty.

27 The intelligent person restrains his words,

and one who keeps a cool head

is a man of understanding.

28 Even a fool is considered wise when he keeps silent,

discerning when he seals his lips.

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.

25 Foolish children are a grief to their father

and bitterness to her who bore them.

26 To impose a fine on the innocent is not right

or to flog the noble for their integrity.

27 One who spares words is knowledgeable;

one who is cool in spirit has understanding.

28 Even fools who keep silent are considered wise;

when they close their lips, they are deemed intelligent.

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.

25 A grief to his father is the child of a fool,

and bitterness to her who bore him.

26 Also, imposing a fine on the righteous is not good,

nor to flog nobles for uprightness.

27 He who spares his sayings knows knowledge,

and a cool spirit is a man of understanding.

28 Even a fool who keeps silent shall be considered wise;

he who closes his lips is intelligent.

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.

25 A foolish child makes his father sad

and his mother sorry.

26 It isn’t good to punish those who aren’t guilty.

It isn’t good to whip officials just because they are honest.

27 Anyone who has knowledge controls his words.

A man who has understanding is not easily upset.

28 We think even a foolish person is wise if he keeps silent.

We think he understands what is right if he controls his tongue.

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.

25 A foolish son is a grief to his father

And bitterness to her who bore him.

26 It is also not good to fine the righteous,

Nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.

27 He who restrains his words has knowledge,

And he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.

28 Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise;

When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.