Proverbs 16:31–17:6

31 Gray hair is a crown of splendor;

it is attained in the way of righteousness.

32 Better a patient person than a warrior,

one with self-control than one who takes a city.

33 The lot is cast into the lap,

but its every decision is from the Lord.

1 Better a dry crust with peace and quiet

than a house full of feasting, with strife.

2 A prudent servant will rule over a disgraceful son

and will share the inheritance as one of the family.

3 The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,

but the Lord tests the heart.

4 A wicked person listens to deceitful lips;

a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.

5 Whoever mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker;

whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished.

6 Children’s children are a crown to the aged,

and parents are the pride of their children.

31 The hoary head is a crown of glory,

If it be found in the way of righteousness.

32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty;

And he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

33 The lot is cast into the lap;

But the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord.

1 Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith,

Than an house full of sacrifices with strife.

2 A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame,

And shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.

3 The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold:

But the Lord trieth the hearts.

4 A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips;

And a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.

5 Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker:

And he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.

6 Children’s children are the crown of old men;

And the glory of children are their fathers.

31 Gray hair is a crown of glory;

it is gained by living a godly life.

32 Better to be patient than powerful;

better to have self-control than to conquer a city.

33 We may throw the dice,

but the Lord determines how they fall.

1 Better a dry crust eaten in peace

than a house filled with feasting—and conflict.

2 A wise servant will rule over the master’s disgraceful son

and will share the inheritance of the master’s children.

3 Fire tests the purity of silver and gold,

but the Lord tests the heart.

4 Wrongdoers eagerly listen to gossip;

liars pay close attention to slander.

5 Those who mock the poor insult their Maker;

those who rejoice at the misfortune of others will be punished.

6 Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged;

parents are the pride of their children.

31 The silver-haired head is a crown of glory,

If it is found in the way of righteousness.

32 He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,

And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

33 The lot is cast into the lap,

But its every decision is from the Lord.

1 Better is a dry morsel with quietness,

Than a house full of feasting with strife.

2 A wise servant will rule over a son who causes shame,

And will share an inheritance among the brothers.

3 The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold,

But the Lord tests the hearts.

4 An evildoer gives heed to false lips;

A liar listens eagerly to a spiteful tongue.

5 He who mocks the poor reproaches his Maker;

He who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.

6 Children’s children are the crown of old men,

And the glory of children is their father.

31 Gray hair is like a crown of honor;

it is earned by living a good life.

32 Patience is better than strength.

Controlling your temper is better than capturing a city.

33 People throw lots to make a decision,

but the answer comes from the Lord.

1 It is better to eat a dry crust of bread in peace

than to have a feast where there is quarreling.

2 A wise servant will rule over the master’s disgraceful child

and will even inherit a share of what the master leaves his children.

3 A hot furnace tests silver and gold,

but the Lord tests hearts.

4 Evil people listen to evil words.

Liars pay attention to cruel words.

5 Whoever mistreats the poor insults their Maker;

whoever enjoys someone’s trouble will be punished.

6 Old people are proud of their grandchildren,

and children are proud of their parents.

31 The hoary head is a crown of glory;

It shall be found in the way of righteousness.

32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty;

And he that ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh a city.

33 The lot is cast into the lap;

But the whole disposing thereof is of Jehovah.

1 Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith,

Than a house full of feasting with strife.

2 A servant that dealeth wisely shall have rule over a son that causeth shame,

And shall have part in the inheritance among the brethren.

3 The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold;

But Jehovah trieth the hearts.

4 An evil-doer giveth heed to wicked lips;

And a liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue.

5 Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker;

And he that is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.

6 Children’s children are the crown of old men;

And the glory of children are their fathers.

31 The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it is found in the way of righteousness.

32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

33 The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole decision is of Jehovah.

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

2 A wise servant shall rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part in the inheritance among the brethren.

3 The fining-pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but Jehovah trieth the hearts.

4 The evil-doer giveth heed to iniquitous lips; the liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue.

5 Whoso mocketh a poor man reproacheth his Maker; he that is glad at calamity shall not be held innocent.

6 Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.

31 Silver hair is a beautiful crown found in a righteous life. 

32 Better to get angry slowly than to be a hero. 

Better to be even-tempered than to capture a city. 

33 The dice are thrown, 

but the Lord determines every outcome. 

1 Better a bite of dry bread ⸤eaten⸥ in peace 

than a family feast filled with strife. 

2 A wise slave will become master over a son who acts shamefully, 

and he will share the inheritance with the brothers. 

3 The crucible is for refining silver and the smelter for gold, 

but the one who purifies hearts ⸤by fire⸥ is the Lord. 

4 An evildoer pays attention to wicked lips. 

A liar opens his ears to a slanderous tongue. 

5 Whoever makes fun of a poor person insults his maker. 

Whoever is happy ⸤to see someone’s⸥ distress will not escape punishment. 

6 Grandchildren are the crown of grandparents, 

and parents are the glory of their children. 

31 Gray hair is a glorious crown;

it is found in the way of righteousness.

32 Patience is better than power,

and controlling one’s temper, than capturing a city.

33 The lot is cast into the lap,

but its every decision is from the Lord.

1 Better a dry crust with peace

than a house full of feasting with strife.

2 A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful son

and share an inheritance among brothers.

3 A crucible for silver, and a smelter for gold,

and the Lord is the tester of hearts.

4 A wicked person listens to malicious talk;

a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.

5 The one who mocks the poor insults his Maker,

and one who rejoices over calamity

will not go unpunished.

6 Grandchildren are the crown of the elderly,

and the pride of sons is their fathers.

31 Gray hair is a crown of glory;

it is gained in a righteous life.

32 One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,

and one whose temper is controlled than one who captures a city.

33 The lot is cast into the lap,

but the decision is the Lord’s alone.

1 Better is a dry morsel with quiet

than a house full of feasting with strife.

2 A slave who deals wisely will rule over a child who acts shamefully

and will share the inheritance as one of the family.

3 The crucible is for silver and the furnace for gold,

but the Lord tests the heart.

4 An evildoer listens to wicked lips,

and a liar gives heed to a mischievous tongue.

5 Those who mock the poor insult their Maker;

those who are glad at calamity will not go unpunished.

6 Grandchildren are the crown of the aged,

and the glory of children is their parents.

31 A crown of glory is gray hair;

by a righteous life it is gained.

32 He who is slow to anger is better than him who is mighty,

and he who controls his spirit than him who captures a city.

33 The lot will be cast into the lap,

but all of its decisions are from Yahweh.

1 Better a dry morsel and quiet with it

than a house filled with feasts of strife.

2 A slave who deals wisely will rule over a child who acts shamefully,

and in the midst of brothers he will share his inheritance.

3 A crucible is for the silver, and a furnace is for the gold,

but Yahweh will test hearts.

4 He who does evil listens to lips of wickedness,

and the liar gives heed to the tongue of mischief.

5 He who mocks the poor insults him who made him;

he who rejoices at calamity will not go unpunished.

6 The crown of the elderly are grandchildren,

and the glory of children is their fathers.

31 Gray hair is a glorious crown.

You get it by living the right way.

32 It is better to be patient than to fight.

It is better to control your temper than to take a city.

33 Lots are cast into the lap to make decisions.

But everything they decide comes from the Lord.

1 It is better to eat a dry crust of bread in peace and quiet

than to eat a big dinner in a house that is full of fighting.

2 A wise servant will rule over a shameful child.

He will be given part of the property as if he were a family member.

3 Fire tests silver. Heat tests gold.

But the Lord tests our hearts.

4 An evil person listens to evil words.

A liar pays attention to words that are harmful.

5 Anyone who laughs at those who are poor makes fun of their Maker.

Anyone who is happy when others suffer will be punished.

6 Grandchildren are like a crown to older people.

And children are proud of their parents.

31 A gray head is a crown of glory;

It is found in the way of righteousness.

32 He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,

And he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city.

33 The lot is cast into the lap,

But its every decision is from the Lord.

1 Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it

Than a house full of feasting with strife.

2 A servant who acts wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully,

And will share in the inheritance among brothers.

3 The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold,

But the Lord tests hearts.

4 An evildoer listens to wicked lips;

A liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.

5 He who mocks the poor taunts his Maker;

He who rejoices at calamity will not go unpunished.

6 Grandchildren are the crown of old men,

And the glory of sons is their fathers.