# Proverbs 17.3

<!-- type: passage | created: 2026-05-06 | updated: 2026-05-06 -->

**Book:** [Proverbs](/codex/proverbs/) · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT

## Immediate context (±2 verses)

**ASV** ([ASV](/codex/asv/))
> 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. (Proverbs 17:1-5, ASV)

**WEB** ([WEB](/codex/web/))
> 1. Better is a dry morsel with quietness, than a house full of feasting with strife. 2. A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who causes shame, and shall have a part in the inheritance among the brothers.
>
> **3. The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, but Yahweh tests the hearts.**
>
> 4. An evildoer heeds wicked lips. A liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue. 5. Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker. He who is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished. (Proverbs 17:1-5, WEB)

**KJV** ([KJV](/codex/kjv/))
> 1. Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife. <sup>sacrifices: or, good cheer</sup> 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. <sup>unpunished: Heb. held innocent</sup> (Proverbs 17:1-5, KJV)

**YLT** ([YLT](/codex/ylt/))
> 1. Better [is] a dry morsel, and rest with it, Than a house full of the sacrifices of strife. 2. A wise servant ruleth over a son causing shame, And in the midst of brethren He apportioneth an inheritance.
>
> **3. A refining pot [is] for silver, and a furnace for gold, And the trier of hearts [is] Jehovah.**
>
> 4. An evil doer is attentive to lips of vanity, Falsehood is giving ear to a mischievous tongue. 5. Whoso is mocking at the poor Hath reproached his Maker, Whoso is rejoicing at calamity is not acquitted. (Proverbs 17:1-5, YLT)

## Setting

- **Speaker:** Solomon (principal); Agur; Lemuel; wise men
- **Audience:** young Israelite men in the wisdom tradition
- **Location:** Israel, Solomonic court
- **Time period:** principal composition c. 970-930 BC (Solomon); compilation c. 700 BC (Hezekiah)

## Theological reading

## Key words

- [H3068 - YHWH](/codex/h3068-yhwh/), *YHWH* (Strong's H3068). Also appears in: [Genesis 2.4](/codex/genesis-2-4/), [Genesis 2.7](/codex/genesis-2-7/), [Genesis 2.16-17](/codex/genesis-2-16-17/).

## Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the **most literal English translations available** (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the **public domain in the United States**, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

- **[ASV](/codex/asv/)** (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
- **[WEB](/codex/web/)** (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
- **[KJV](/codex/kjv/)** (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
- **[YLT](/codex/ylt/)** (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See [Bibles](/codex/bibles/) for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.