Proverbs 17
17
Contrast the Upright and the Wicked
1Better is a dry morsel [of food served] with quietness and peace
Than a house full of feasting [served] with strife and contention.
2A wise servant will rule over the [unworthy] son who acts shamefully and brings disgrace [to the family]
And [the worthy servant] will share in the inheritance among the brothers.
3The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold,
But the Lord tests hearts. [Ps 26:2; Prov 27:21; Jer 17:10; Mal 3:3]
4An evildoer listens closely to wicked lips;
And a liar pays attention to a destructive and malicious tongue.
5Whoever mocks the poor taunts his Maker,
And he who rejoices at [another’s] disaster will not go unpunished. [Job 31:29; Prov 14:31; Obad 12]
6Grandchildren are the crown of aged men,
And the glory of children is their fathers [who live godly lives]. [Ps 127:3; 128:3]
7Excellent speech does not benefit a fool [who is spiritually blind],
Much less do lying lips benefit a prince.
8A bribe is like a bright, precious stone in the eyes of its owner;
Wherever he turns, he prospers.
9He who covers and forgives an offense seeks love,
But he who repeats or gossips about a matter separates intimate friends.
10A reprimand goes deeper into one who has understanding and a teachable spirit
Than a hundred lashes into a fool. [Is 32:6]
11A rebellious man seeks only evil;
Therefore a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
12Let a man meet a [ferocious] bear robbed of her cubs
Rather than the [angry, narcissistic] fool in his folly. [Hos 13:8]
13Whoever returns evil for good,
Evil will not depart from his house. [Ps 109:4, 5; Jer 18:20]
14The beginning of strife is like letting out water [as from a small break in a dam; first it trickles and then it gushes];
Therefore #17:14 The ancient rabbis derived from this statement the principle of seeking a settlement before a case comes to court (cf Matt 5:25; Luke 12:58).abandon the quarrel before it breaks out and tempers explode.
15He 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]
16Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom,
When he has no common sense or even a heart for it?
17A friend loves at all times,
And a brother is born for adversity.
18A man lacking common sense gives a pledge
And becomes guarantor [for the debt of another] in the presence of his neighbor.
19He who loves transgression loves strife and is quarrelsome;
He who [proudly] raises his gate seeks destruction [because of his arrogant pride].
20He who has a crooked mind finds no good,
And he who is perverted in his language falls into evil. [James 3:8]
21He who becomes the parent of a fool [who is spiritually blind] does so to his sorrow,
And the father of a fool [who is spiritually blind] has no joy.
22A happy heart is good medicine and a joyful mind causes healing,
But a broken spirit dries up the bones. [Prov 12:25; 15:13, 15]
23A wicked man receives a bribe from the [hidden] pocket
To pervert the ways of justice.
24[Skillful and godly] wisdom is in the presence of a person of understanding [and he recognizes it],
But the eyes of a [thickheaded] fool are on the ends of the earth.
25A foolish son is a grief and anguish to his father
And bitterness to her who gave birth to him.
26It is also not good to fine the righteous,
Nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.
27He who has knowledge restrains and is careful with his words,
And a man of understanding and wisdom has a cool spirit (self-control, an even temper). [James 1:19]
28Even a [callous, arrogant] fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise;
When he closes his lips he is regarded as sensible (prudent, discreet) and a man of understanding.
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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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