Proverbs 17
17
1Better to eat a dry scrap in peace than to feast in a house full of people arguing.
2A servant who acts wisely will be put in charge of a disgraced son, and will share the family inheritance with the brothers.
3A crucible tests silver, and a furnace tests gold, but the Lord tests the attitude of mind.
4Evil people listen to spiteful talk, and liars pay attention to malicious words.
5Anyone who oppresses the poor insults their Maker, and anyone who enjoys the suffering of others will be punished.
6Old people are proud of their grandchildren, and children are proud of their parents.
7Fine words don't suit stupid people, how much less are lies suited to a ruler.
8Whoever gives a bribe thinks it's a magical stone—that wherever they turn they'll have success!
9If you forgive a wrong you encourage friendship, but if you keep talking about it you'll lose your friend.
10A reprimand hits a thinking person more than one hundred blows hit someone stupid.
11Evil people are only looking to rebel, so a cruel messenger#17:11. “Cruel messenger”: perhaps referring to death. will be sent to attack them.
12Better to meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs than a stupid person and their foolishness.
13If you repay evil for good, evil will never leave your house.
14The beginning of a quarrel is like the first leak in a water dam, so drop it before a major argument bursts out.
15The Lord hates it when the wicked are acquitted and the innocent condemned.
16Is there any point in stupid people trying to buy wisdom when they don't want to learn?
17A true friend is always there to love you, and family#17:17. “Family”: literally, “a brother.” provides help when troubles come.
18It's not a wise idea to make a pledge and guarantee a neighbor's debt.
19People who love sin like to argue; those who build high gates invite destruction.#17:19. The meaning of the second line is unclear.
20People with warped minds don't succeed; those who tell lies get into trouble.
21A stupid son brings grief to his father; the father of a child who does stupid things has no joy.
22A cheerful attitude is like good medicine, but discouragement makes you sick.#17:22. “Makes you sick”: literally, “dries out the bones.”
23The wicked take hidden bribes to pervert the course of justice.
24Sensible people focus on wisdom, but the eyes of stupid people are always wandering.
25A stupid son brings grief to his father and sadness to his mother who gave birth to him.
26It's not right to impose a fine on someone who's innocent or to flog good leaders for their honesty.
27If you're wise, you'll be careful what you say; and if you're sensible, you'll keep your temper.
28Even stupid people who keep quiet are considered wise; if they don't say anything they appear intelligent.
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Dr. Jonathan Gallagher. Released under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 Unported License. Version 4.3. For corrections send email to jonathangallagherfbv@gmail.com
Proverbs 17
17
1Better a bite of dry bread ⌞eaten⌟ in peace
than a family feast filled with strife.
2A wise slave will become master over a son who acts shamefully,
and he will share the inheritance with the brothers.
3The crucible is for refining silver and the smelter for gold,
but the one who purifies hearts ⌞by fire⌟ is the Lord.
4An evildoer pays attention to wicked lips.
A liar opens his ears to a slanderous tongue.
5Whoever makes fun of a poor person insults his maker.
Whoever is happy ⌞to see someone’s⌟ distress will not escape punishment.
6Grandchildren are the crown of grandparents,
and parents are the glory of their children.
The Consequences of Being a Fool
7Refined speech is not fitting for a godless fool.
How much less does lying fit a noble person!
8A bribe seems ⌞like⌟ a jewel to the one who gives it.#17:8 Or “who receives it.”
Wherever he turns, he prospers.
9Whoever forgives an offense seeks love,
but whoever keeps bringing up the issue separates the closest of friends.
10A reprimand impresses a person who has understanding
more than a hundred lashes impress a fool.
11A rebel looks for nothing but evil.
Therefore, a cruel messenger will be sent ⌞to punish⌟ him.
12Better to meet a bear robbed of its cubs
than a fool ⌞carried away⌟ with his stupidity.
13Whoever pays back evil for good—
evil will never leave his home.
14Starting a quarrel is ⌞like⌟ opening a floodgate,
so stop before the argument gets out of control.
15Whoever approves of wicked people
and whoever condemns righteous people
is disgusting to the Lord.
16Why should a fool have money in his hand to buy wisdom
when he doesn’t have a mind to grasp anything?
17A friend always loves,
and a brother is born to share trouble.
18A person without good sense closes a deal with a handshake.
He guarantees a loan in the presence of his friend.
19Whoever loves sin loves a quarrel.
Whoever builds his city gate high invites destruction.
20A twisted mind never finds happiness,
and one with a devious tongue ⌞repeatedly⌟ gets into trouble.
21The parent of a fool has grief,
and the father of a godless fool has no joy.
22A joyful heart is good medicine,
but depression drains one’s strength.
23A wicked person secretly accepts a bribe to corrupt the ways of justice.
24Wisdom is directly in front of an understanding person,
but the eyes of a fool ⌞are looking around⌟ all over the world.
How Fools Live
25A foolish son is a heartache to his father
and bitter grief to his mother.
26To punish an innocent person is not good.
To strike down noble people is not right.
27Whoever has knowledge controls his words,
and a person who has understanding is even-tempered.
28Even a stubborn fool is thought to be wise if he keeps silent.
He is considered intelligent if he keeps his lips sealed.
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