## Proverbs Chapter 17

###### Proverbs 17:1
[Proverbs 17:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/17:1)

ט֤וֹב פַּ֣ת חֲ֭רֵבָה וְשַׁלְוָה־בָ֑הּ מִ֝בַּ֗יִת מָלֵ֥א זִבְחֵי־רִֽיב׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Better is a dry morsel, and quietness with it, than a house full of feasting with strife.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Better a dry loaf and peace with it than a house full of slaughtered [meat in the midst of] contention [i.e., It was better for the L-rd to destroy His Temple and His city and be at peace from the transgressions of Israel than to have them sacrifice offerings therein in the midst of strife].


###### Proverbs 17:2
[Proverbs 17:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/17:2)

עֶֽבֶד־מַשְׂכִּ֗יל יִ֭מְשֹׁל בְּבֵ֣ן מֵבִ֑ישׁ וּבְת֥וֹךְ אַ֝חִ֗ים יַחֲלֹ֥ק נַחֲלָֽה׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
A wise servant shall control a son who acts shamefully, and shall share the inheritance among the brethren.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
The wise servant [(Nevuchadnezzar)] will rule over the shameful son [(Israel)] and in the midst of brothers will apportion the inheritance [(to himself)].


###### Proverbs 17:3
[Proverbs 17:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/17:3)

מַצְרֵ֣ף לַ֭כֶּסֶף וְכ֣וּר לַזָּהָ֑ב וּבֹחֵ֖ן לִבּ֣וֹת יְהֹוָֽה׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the Lord tries the hearts.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
The refining pot for [assaying and refining] silver, and the crucible for gold, but the L-rd assays hearts.


###### Proverbs 17:4
[Proverbs 17:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/17:4)

מֵ֭רַע מַקְשִׁ֣יב עַל־שְׂפַת־אָ֑וֶן שֶׁ֥קֶר מֵ֝זִ֗ין עַל־לְשׁ֥וֹן הַוֺּֽת׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
A wicked doer gives heed to false lips; and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
The wicked man listens to iniquitous speech [(slander and false testimony)]; the false man listens to the destroying tongue.


###### Proverbs 17:5
[Proverbs 17:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/17:5)

לֹעֵ֣ג לָ֭רָשׁ חֵרֵ֣ף עֹשֵׂ֑הוּ שָׂמֵ֥חַ לְ֝אֵ֗יד לֹ֣א יִנָּקֶֽה׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
One who mocks the poor insults his maker: and one who is glad at calamity shall not go unpunished.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
He who mocks the poor man insults his Maker; he who rejoices in [another's] misfortune will not be clean [of it himself].


###### Proverbs 17:6
[Proverbs 17:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/17:6)

עֲטֶ֣רֶת זְ֭קֵנִים בְּנֵ֣י בָנִ֑ים וְתִפְאֶ֖רֶת בָּנִ֣ים אֲבוֹתָֽם׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
The crown of the old are grandchildren [(who walk in the way of good)], and the glory of children are their fathers [(who are righteous)].


###### Proverbs 17:7
[Proverbs 17:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/17:7)

לֹא־נָאוָ֣ה לְנָבָ֣ל שְׂפַת־יֶ֑תֶר אַ֝֗ף כִּֽי־לְנָדִ֥יב שְׂפַת־שָֽׁקֶר׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Haughty speech does not befit a churl: much less do lying lips a prince.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Lofty speech does not become the churl; how much more so, lying speech the noble one.


###### Proverbs 17:8
[Proverbs 17:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/17:8)

אֶבֶן־חֵ֣ן הַ֭שֹּׁחַד בְּעֵינֵ֣י בְעָלָ֑יו אֶֽל־כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֖ר יִפְנֶ֣ה יַשְׂכִּֽיל׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
A bribe is a fair jewel to the eyes of him who dispenses it: wherever it turns it brings success.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
A precious stone is appeasement [(of the L-rd)] in the eyes of his [(the appeaser's, the penitent's,)] Master. Wherever he turns [i.e., in whatever he asks of Him], He will prosper [him].


###### Proverbs 17:9
[Proverbs 17:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/17:9)

מְֽכַסֶּה־פֶּ֭שַׁע מְבַקֵּ֣שׁ אַהֲבָ֑ה וְשֹׁנֶ֥ה בְ֝דָבָ֗ר מַפְרִ֥יד אַלּֽוּף׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
He that covers a transgression seeks love; but he that repeats a matter separates close friends.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
One who conceals an offense [done against him (by not mentioning it)] seeks love [i.e., causes the offender to love him], and one who repeats a thing [i.e., one who always brings up the offense to his face] divorces the Ruler [from himself].


###### Proverbs 17:10
[Proverbs 17:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/17:10)

תֵּ֣חַת גְּעָרָ֣ה בְמֵבִ֑ין מֵהַכּ֖וֹת כְּסִ֣יל מֵאָֽה׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
A reproof enters more into a wise man than a hundred blows into a fool.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
The humbling [effect] of a rebuke in an understanding person [is more evident] than [the effect of] a hundred blows to the fool.


###### Proverbs 17:11
[Proverbs 17:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/17:11)

אַךְ־מְרִ֥י יְבַקֶּשׁ־רָ֑ע וּמַלְאָ֥ךְ אַ֝כְזָרִ֗י יְשֻׁלַּח־בּֽוֹ׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
An evil man seeks only to be insolent: but a stern messenger shall be sent against him.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
The rebellious one seeks only evil, and a cruel angel will be sent against him.


###### Proverbs 17:12
[Proverbs 17:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/17:12)

פָּג֬וֹשׁ דֹּ֣ב שַׁכּ֣וּל בְּאִ֑ישׁ וְאַל־כְּ֝סִ֗יל בְּאִוַּלְתּֽוֹ׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Better to be met by a bear bereaved [(of its cubs)] than by a fool [(an idolator)] in his folly [(enticing to idolatry)].


###### Proverbs 17:13
[Proverbs 17:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/17:13)

מֵשִׁ֣יב רָ֭עָה תַּ֣חַת טוֹבָ֑ה לֹא־[תָמ֥וּשׁ] (תמיש) רָ֝עָ֗ה מִבֵּיתֽוֹ׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Whoever rewards evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
One who returns evil for good — evil will not depart from his house.


###### Proverbs 17:14
[Proverbs 17:14](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/17:14)

פּ֣וֹטֵֽר מַ֭יִם רֵאשִׁ֣ית מָד֑וֹן וְלִפְנֵ֥י הִ֝תְגַּלַּ֗ע הָרִ֥יב נְטֽוֹשׁ׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
The beginning of strife is like letting out water: therefore leave off contention, before it breaks out.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
As opening [the way for] water [to escape] is beginning a quarrel; before it [(your shame)] is revealed, abandon it [(the quarrel)].


###### Proverbs 17:15
[Proverbs 17:15](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/17:15)

מַצְדִּ֣יק רָ֭שָׁע וּמַרְשִׁ֣יעַ צַדִּ֑יק תּוֹעֲבַ֥ת יְ֝הֹוָ֗ה גַּם־שְׁנֵיהֶֽם׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, both of them are abomination to the Lord.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Justifying an evildoer and condemning the righteous one — both of these are the abomination of the L-rd.


###### Proverbs 17:16
[Proverbs 17:16](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/17:16)

לָמָּה־זֶּ֣ה מְחִ֣יר בְּיַד־כְּסִ֑יל לִקְנ֖וֹת חׇכְמָ֣ה וְלֶב־אָֽיִן׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Why is the purchase price of wisdom in the hand of a fool, seeing he has no sense?

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Of what use is payment in the hand of a fool to acquire wisdom [(Torah)] if the heart [(to fulfill it)] is lacking [(and he learns it only to acquire a name)]?


###### Proverbs 17:17
[Proverbs 17:17](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/17:17)

בְּכׇל־עֵ֭ת אֹהֵ֣ב הָרֵ֑עַ וְאָ֥ח לְ֝צָרָ֗ה יִוָּלֵֽד׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
At all times love friends [(to acquire them)], and a brother in [a time of] affliction will he be born.


###### Proverbs 17:18
[Proverbs 17:18](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/17:18)

אָדָ֣ם חֲסַר־לֵ֭ב תּוֹקֵ֣עַ כָּ֑ף עֹרֵ֥ב עֲ֝רֻבָּ֗ה לִפְנֵ֥י רֵעֵֽהוּ׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
A man who strikes the palm is void of understanding, in becoming surety in the presence of his friend.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
The man lacking a heart clasps hands, going security for his friend.


###### Proverbs 17:19
[Proverbs 17:19](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/17:19)

אֹ֣הֵֽב פֶּ֭שַׁע אֹהֵ֣ב מַצָּ֑ה מַגְבִּ֥יהַּ פִּ֝תְח֗וֹ מְבַקֶּשׁ־שָֽׁבֶר׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
He loves transgression that loves strife: and he that makes high his door seeks destruction.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
One who loves to offend [(his neighbor)] loves to quarrel; one who lifts his voice [in pride] seeks breaking.


###### Proverbs 17:20
[Proverbs 17:20](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/17:20)

עִקֶּשׁ־לֵ֭ב לֹ֣א יִמְצָא־ט֑וֹב וְנֶהְפָּ֥ךְ בִּ֝לְשׁוֹנ֗וֹ יִפּ֥וֹל בְּרָעָֽה׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
He that has a crooked heart finds no good: and he that has a perverse tongue falls into mischief.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
The perverse of heart will not find good, and he who turns away [his true intent] with his tongue will fall into the evil [he plotted against the other].


###### Proverbs 17:21
[Proverbs 17:21](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/17:21)

יֹלֵ֣ד כְּ֭סִיל לְת֣וּגָה ל֑וֹ וְלֹא־יִ֝שְׂמַ֗ח אֲבִ֣י נָבָֽל׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
He that begets a fool does it to his sorrow: and the father of a churl has no joy.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
One who has begotten a fool has done so to his sorrow, and the father of a churl will not rejoice.


###### Proverbs 17:22
[Proverbs 17:22](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/17:22)

לֵ֣ב שָׂ֭מֵחַ יֵיטִ֣יב גֵּהָ֑ה וְר֥וּחַ נְ֝כֵאָ֗ה תְּיַבֶּשׁ־גָּֽרֶם׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
A merry heart is a good medicine: but a broken spirit dries the bones.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
A happy heart [(in contentment with one's lot)] heightens shining [(of countenance)], but a broken spirit dries the bone.


###### Proverbs 17:23
[Proverbs 17:23](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/17:23)

שֹׁ֣חַד מֵ֭חֵק רָשָׁ֣ע יִקָּ֑ח לְ֝הַטּ֗וֹת אׇרְח֥וֹת מִשְׁפָּֽט׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
A wicked man takes a bribe out of the bosom to pervert the ways of justice.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
He [(the L-rd)] accepts appeasement from the recesses of the wicked one [(i.e., in secret)] to turn the paths of judgment [(from severity to lenity)].


###### Proverbs 17:24
[Proverbs 17:24](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/17:24)

אֶת־פְּנֵ֣י מֵבִ֣ין חׇכְמָ֑ה וְעֵינֵ֥י כְ֝סִ֗יל בִּקְצֵה־אָֽרֶץ׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Wisdom is before him that has understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Wisdom lies before the understanding one [i.e., he perceives it as easily accessible to him]; but the eyes of the fool [vis-à-vis] wisdom are in the ends of the earth.


###### Proverbs 17:25
[Proverbs 17:25](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/17:25)

כַּ֣עַס לְ֭אָבִיו בֵּ֣ן כְּסִ֑יל וּ֝מֶ֗מֶר לְיֽוֹלַדְתּֽוֹ׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bore him.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
A foolish son is ire to his father [(e.g., Yeravam to the L-rd)] and bitterness to her who bore him [(i.e., to the congregation of Israel, whom he caused to sin)].


###### Proverbs 17:26
[Proverbs 17:26](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/17:26)

גַּ֤ם עֲנ֣וֹשׁ לַצַּדִּ֣יק לֹא־ט֑וֹב לְהַכּ֖וֹת נְדִיבִ֣ים עַל־יֹֽשֶׁר׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Neither is it good to punish an innocent man, nor to give blows to noble men for their integrity.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
To punish the righteous, too, [(along with the wicked)] is not good [viz. I Kings 19:18], to smite the noble in [their] justness.


###### Proverbs 17:27
[Proverbs 17:27](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/17:27)

חוֹשֵׂ֣ךְ אֲ֭מָרָיו יוֹדֵ֣עַ דָּ֑עַת (וקר) [יְקַר־]ר֝֗וּחַ אִ֣ישׁ תְּבוּנָֽה׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
He that has knowledge spares his words: and a man of understanding is slow to anger.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
The knower of wisdom spares his words; the man of understanding is chary of breath [i.e., speech].


###### Proverbs 17:28
[Proverbs 17:28](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/17:28)

גַּ֤ם אֱוִ֣יל מַ֭חֲרִישׁ חָכָ֣ם יֵחָשֵׁ֑ב אֹטֵ֖ם שְׂפָתָ֣יו נָבֽוֹן׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Even a fool, when he holds his peace, is counted wise: and he that shuts his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Even one who silences a fool is accounted wise; one who stops up his [the fool's] lips [is accounted] understanding.