Proverbs 17
17
1Better a dry crust with peace and quiet
than a house full of feasting, with strife.
2A prudent servant will rule over a disgraceful son
and will share the inheritance as one of the family.
3The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,
but the Lord tests the heart.
4A wicked person listens to deceitful lips;
a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.
5Whoever mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker;
whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished.
6Children’s children are a crown to the aged,
and parents are the pride of their children.
7Eloquent lips are unsuited to a godless fool –
how much worse lying lips to a ruler!
8A bribe is seen as a charm by the one who gives it;
they think success will come at every turn.
9Whoever would foster love covers over an offence,
but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.
10A rebuke impresses a discerning person
more than a hundred lashes a fool.
11Evildoers foster rebellion against God;
the messenger of death will be sent against them.
12Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs
than a fool bent on folly.
13Evil will never leave the house
of one who pays back evil for good.
14Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam;
so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.
15Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent –
the Lord detests them both.
16Why should fools have money in hand to buy wisdom,
when they are not able to understand it?
17A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for a time of adversity.
18One who has no sense shakes hands in pledge
and puts up security for a neighbour.
19Whoever loves a quarrel loves sin;
whoever builds a high gate invites destruction.
20One whose heart is corrupt does not prosper;
one whose tongue is perverse falls into trouble.
21To have a fool for a child brings grief;
there is no joy for the parent of a godless fool.
22A cheerful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
23The wicked accept bribes in secret
to pervert the course of justice.
24A discerning person keeps wisdom in view,
but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth.
25A foolish son brings grief to his father
and bitterness to the mother who bore him.
26If imposing a fine on the innocent is not good,
surely to flog honest officials is not right.
27The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint,
and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.
28Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent,
and discerning if they hold their tongues.
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The Holy Bible, New International Version® (Anglicised), NIV®
Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.
Proverbs 17
17
1Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than a house full of feasting with strife.
2A wise servant shall rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part in the inheritance among the brethren.
3The fining-pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but Jehovah trieth the hearts.
4The evil-doer giveth heed to iniquitous lips; the liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue.
5Whoso mocketh a poor man reproacheth his Maker; he that is glad at calamity shall not be held innocent.
6Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.
7Excellent speech becometh not a vile man; how much less do lying lips a noble!
8A gift is a precious stone in the eyes of the possessor: whithersoever it turneth it prospereth.
9He that covereth transgression seeketh love; but he that bringeth a matter up again separateth very friends.
10A reproof entereth more deeply into him that hath understanding than a hundred stripes into a fool.
11An evil man seeketh only rebellion; but a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
12Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man rather than a fool in his folly.
13Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
14The beginning of contention is as when one letteth out water; therefore leave off strife before it become vehement.
15He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the righteous, even they both are abomination to Jehovah.
16To what purpose is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no sense?
17The friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
18A senseless man striketh hands, becoming surety for his neighbour.
19He loveth transgression that loveth a quarrel; he that maketh high his gate seeketh destruction.
20He that hath a perverse heart findeth no good; and he that shifteth about with his tongue falleth into evil.
21He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow, and the father of a vile man hath no joy.
22A joyful heart promoteth healing; but a broken spirit drieth up the bones.
23A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom, to pervert the paths of judgment.
24Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
25A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bore him.
26To punish a righteous man is not good, nor to strike nobles because of their uprightness.
27He that hath knowledge spareth his words; and a man of understanding is of a cool spirit. 28Even a fool when he holdeth his peace is reckoned wise, and he that shutteth his lips, intelligent.
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First published in 1890. This edition is maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.