Proverbs 17
17
Our Thoughts Are Tested by the Lord
1A dry crust of bread eaten
in peace and quiet
is better than a feast eaten
where everyone argues.
2A wise slave
will be placed in charge
of a no-good child,
and that slave will be given
the same inheritance
that each child receives.
3Silver and gold are tested
by flames of fire;
our thoughts are tested
by the Lord.
4Troublemakers listen
to troublemakers,
and liars listen to liars.
5By insulting the poor,
you insult your Creator.
You will be punished
if you make fun
of someone in trouble.
6Grandparents are proud
of their grandchildren,
and children should be proud
of their parents.
7It sounds strange for a fool
to talk sensibly,
but it's even worse
for a ruler to tell lies.
8A bribe works miracles
like a magic charm
that brings good luck.
9You will keep your friends
if you forgive them,
but you will lose your friends
if you keep talking about
what they did wrong.
10A sensible person
accepts correction,
but you can't beat sense
into a fool.
11Cruel people want to rebel,
and so vicious attackers
will be sent against them.
12A bear robbed of her cubs
is far less dangerous
than a stubborn fool.
13You will always have trouble
if you are mean to those
who are good to you.
14The start of an argument
is like a water leak—
so stop it before
real trouble breaks out.
15The Lord doesn't like those
who defend the guilty
or condemn the innocent.
16Why should fools have money
for an education
when they refuse to learn?
17 #
Si 6.7-10. A friend is there to help,
in any situation,
and relatives are born
to share our troubles.
18It's stupid to guarantee
someone else's loan.
19The wicked and the proud
love trouble and keep begging
to be hurt.
20Dishonesty does you no good,
and telling lies
will get you in trouble.
21It's never pleasant
to be the parent of a fool
and have nothing but pain.
22If you are cheerful,
you feel good;
if you are sad,
you hurt all over.
23Crooks accept secret bribes
to keep justice
from being done.
24Anyone with wisdom knows
what makes good sense,
but fools can never
make up their minds.
25Foolish children bring sorrow
and pain to their parents.
26It isn't fair
to punish the innocent
and those who do right.
27It makes a lot of sense
to be a person of few words
and to stay calm.
28 #
Si 20.5. Even fools seem smart
when they are quiet.
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Proverbs 17: CEV
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Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)
© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 17
17
1 # ch. 15:17 Better is a dry morsel with quiet
than a house full of feasting#17:1 Hebrew sacrifices with strife.
2A servant who deals wisely will rule over #ver. 21, 25; ch. 10:5; 19:26 a son who acts shamefully
and #[2 Sam. 16:4]will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.
3 # ch. 27:21 The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold,
#
1 Chr. 29:17; Ps. 26:2; Jer. 17:10; Mal. 3:3 and the Lord tests hearts.
4An evildoer listens to wicked lips,
and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
5Whoever mocks the poor #ch. 14:31; [Matt. 25:40, 45] insults his Maker;
he who is #Job 31:29; Obad. 12; [ch. 24:17] glad at calamity will not go #ch. 16:5unpunished.
6 #
Ps. 128:6; [Ps. 127:3, 4] Grandchildren are #ch. 16:31the crown of the aged,
and the glory of children is their fathers.
7Fine speech is not #[ch. 19:10; 26:1] becoming to a fool;
still less is #ch. 6:17false speech to a prince.
8 # ver. 23; ch. 18:16; 19:6; 21:14; [Ex. 23:8; Isa. 1:23; Amos 5:12] A bribe is like a magic#17:8 Or precious stone in the eyes of the one who gives it;
wherever he turns he prospers.
9Whoever #ch. 10:12 covers an offense seeks love,
but he who repeats a matter #ch. 16:28separates close friends.
10A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding
than a hundred blows into a fool.
11An evil man seeks only rebellion,
and #[1 Kgs. 2:29]a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
12Let a man meet #2 Sam. 17:8; Hos. 13:8 a she-bear robbed of her cubs
# [ch. 27:3] rather than a fool in his folly.
13If anyone #Ps. 35:12; 109:4, 5; [ch. 20:22; Matt. 5:39] returns evil for good,
# [2 Sam. 12:10] evil will not depart from his house.
14The beginning of strife is like letting out water,
so #ch. 20:3; 25:8quit before the quarrel breaks out.
15He who #ch. 24:24; Ex. 23:7; Isa. 5:23 justifies the wicked and he who #Job 34:17; Ps. 94:21; [ver. 26; ch. 18:5]condemns the righteous
are both alike an abomination to the Lord.
16Why should a fool have money in his hand #[ch. 23:23]to buy wisdom
when he has no sense?
17 # ch. 18:24; 27:10; [Ruth 1:16; Job 6:14] A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for adversity.
18One who lacks sense gives a pledge
and puts up security in the presence of his neighbor.
19Whoever loves transgression loves strife;
he who #[ch. 11:2; 29:23]makes his door high seeks destruction.
20 # [ch. 11:20] A man of crooked heart does not discover good,
and one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity.
21He who #ch. 10:1; 19:13sires a fool gets himself sorrow,
and the father of a fool has no joy.
22 # See ch. 15:13 A joyful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit #Ps. 22:15; [ch. 12:25]dries up the bones.
23The wicked accepts #See ver. 8 a bribe in secret#17:23 Hebrew a bribe from the bosom
to #[Mic. 3:11; 7:3]pervert the ways of justice.
24 # [ch. 14:6; 15:14; Eccles. 2:14]; See Deut. 30:11-14 The discerning sets his face toward wisdom,
but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
25 # [See ver. 21 above] A foolish son is a grief to his father
# ch. 10:1 and bitterness to #ch. 23:25her who bore him.
26 # [ver. 15] To impose a fine on a righteous man is not good,
nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.
27Whoever #ch. 10:19; [James 1:19]restrains his words has knowledge,
and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
28Even a fool #Job 13:5who keeps silent is considered wise;
when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.
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