Proverbs Chapter 17 verse 1 Holy Bible
Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, Than a house full of feasting with strife.
read chapter 17 in ASV
Better a bit of dry bread in peace, than a house full of feasting and violent behaviour.
read chapter 17 in BBE
Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than a house full of feasting [with] strife.
read chapter 17 in DARBY
Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.
read chapter 17 in KJV
read chapter 17 in WBT
Better is a dry morsel with quietness, Than a house full of feasting with strife.
read chapter 17 in WEB
Better `is' a dry morsel, and rest with it, Than a house full of the sacrifices of strife.
read chapter 17 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 1. - (Comp, Proverbs 15:16, 17; Proverbs 16:8.) Better (sweeter) is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith. Dry bread was soaked in wine or water before it was eaten. Thus Boaz bid Ruth "dip her morsel in the vinegar" (Ruth 2:14); thus Jesus gave the sop to Judas when he had dipped it (John 13:26). The Septuagint is pleonastic, "Better is a morsel with joy in peace." Aben Ezra connects this verse with the last two of ch. 16, confining the application to the patient man; but the sentence seems rather to be independent and general. Than an house full of sacrifices with strife. Of the thank or peace offerings part only was burnt upon the altar, the rest was eaten by the offerer and his family; and as the victims were always the choicest animals, "a house full of sacrifices" would contain the materials for sumptuous feasting (see on Proverbs 7:4). The joyous family festival often degenerated into excess, which naturally led to quarrels and strife (see 1 Samuel 1:5, 6, 13; 1 Samuel 2:13, etc.). So the agapae of the early Church were desecrated by licence and selfishness (1 Corinthians 11:20, etc.). Septuagint, "than a house full of many good things and unrighteous victims with contention." With this verse compare the Spanish proverb, "Mas vale un pedazo de pan con amor, que gallinas con dolor."
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English ReadersXVII.(1) A house full of sacrifices.--Possibly the same as the "peace offerings" of Proverbs 7:14 (where see note). The consumption of these may have at times degenerated into licence (comp. 1Samuel 1:13), and quarrelling have ensued.
