Proverbs 17:9-15
Proverbs 17:9-15 The Message (MSG)
Overlook an offense and bond a friendship; fasten on to a slight and—good-bye, friend! A quiet rebuke to a person of good sense does more than a whack on the head of a fool. Criminals out looking for nothing but trouble won’t have to wait long—they’ll meet it coming and going! Better to meet a grizzly robbed of her cubs than a fool hellbent on folly. Those who return evil for good will meet their own evil returning. The start of a quarrel is like a leak in a dam, so stop it before it bursts. Whitewashing bad people and throwing mud on good people are equally abhorrent to GOD.
Proverbs 17:9-15 King James Version (KJV)
He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; But he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends. A reproof entereth more into a wise man Than an hundred stripes into a fool. An evil man seeketh only rebellion: Therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him. Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, Rather than a fool in his folly. Whoso rewardeth evil for good, Evil shall not depart from his house. The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: Therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with. He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, Even they both are abomination to the LORD.
Proverbs 17:9-15 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995)
He who conceals a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates intimate friends. A rebuke goes deeper into one who has understanding Than a hundred blows into a fool. A rebellious man seeks only evil, So a cruel messenger will be sent against him. Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, Rather than a fool in his folly. He who returns evil for good, Evil will not depart from his house. The beginning of strife is like letting out water, So abandon the quarrel before it breaks out. He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous, Both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.
Proverbs 17:9-15 New Century Version (NCV)
Whoever forgives someone’s sin makes a friend, but gossiping about the sin breaks up friendships. A wise person will learn more from a warning than a fool will learn from a hundred lashings. Disobedient people look only for trouble, so a cruel messenger will be sent against them. It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than to meet a fool doing foolish things. Whoever gives evil in return for good will always have trouble at home. Starting a quarrel is like a leak in a dam, so stop it before a fight breaks out. The LORD hates both of these things: freeing the guilty and punishing the innocent.
Proverbs 17:9-15 American Standard Version (ASV)
He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; But he that harpeth on a matter separateth chief friends. A rebuke entereth deeper into one that hath understanding Than a hundred stripes into a fool. An evil man seeketh only rebellion; Therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him. Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, Rather than a fool in his folly. Whoso rewardeth evil for good, Evil shall not depart from his house. The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: Therefore leave off contention, before there is quarrelling. He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the righteous, Both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah.
Proverbs 17:9-15 New International Version (NIV)
Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends. A rebuke impresses a discerning person more than a hundred lashes a fool. Evildoers foster rebellion against God; the messenger of death will be sent against them. Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool bent on folly. Evil will never leave the house of one who pays back evil for good. Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out. Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent— the LORD detests them both.
Proverbs 17:9-15 New King James Version (NKJV)
He who covers a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates friends. Rebuke is more effective for a wise man Than a hundred blows on a fool. An evil man seeks only rebellion; Therefore a cruel messenger will be sent against him. Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, Rather than a fool in his folly. Whoever rewards evil for good, Evil will not depart from his house. The beginning of strife is like releasing water; Therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts. He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, Both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.
Proverbs 17:9-15 Amplified Bible (AMP)
He who covers and forgives an offense seeks love, But he who repeats or gossips about a matter separates intimate friends. A reprimand goes deeper into one who has understanding and a teachable spirit Than a hundred lashes into a fool. [Is 32:6] A rebellious man seeks only evil; Therefore a cruel messenger will be sent against him. Let a man meet a [ferocious] bear robbed of her cubs Rather than the [angry, narcissistic] fool in his folly. [Hos 13:8] Whoever returns evil for good, Evil will not depart from his house. [Ps 109:4, 5; Jer 18:20] The beginning of strife is like letting out water [as from a small break in a dam; first it trickles and then it gushes]; Therefore abandon the quarrel before it breaks out and tempers explode. He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous Are both repulsive to the LORD. [Ex 23:7; Prov 24:24; Is 5:23]
Proverbs 17:9-15 New Living Translation (NLT)
Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends. A single rebuke does more for a person of understanding than a hundred lashes on the back of a fool. Evil people are eager for rebellion, but they will be severely punished. It is safer to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than to confront a fool caught in foolishness. If you repay good with evil, evil will never leave your house. Starting a quarrel is like opening a floodgate, so stop before a dispute breaks out. Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent— both are detestable to the LORD.
Proverbs 17:9-15 The Passion Translation (TPT)
Love overlooks the mistakes of others, but dwelling on the failures of others devastates friendships. One word of correction breaks open a teachable heart, but a fool can be corrected a hundred times and still not know what hit him. Rebellion thrives in an evil man, so a messenger of vengeance will be sent to punish him. It’s safer to meet a grizzly bear robbed of her cubs than to confront a reckless fool. The one who returns evil for good can expect to be treated the same way for the rest of his life. Don’t be one who is quick to quarrel, for an argument is hard to stop, and you never know how it will end, so don’t even start down that road! There is nothing God hates more than condemning the one who is innocent and acquitting the one who is guilty.
Proverbs 17:9-15 English Standard Version 2016 (ESV)
Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends. A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred blows into a fool. An evil man seeks only rebellion, and a cruel messenger will be sent against him. Let a man meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs rather than a fool in his folly. If anyone returns evil for good, evil will not depart from his house. The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks out. He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the LORD.