Proverbs 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®)

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Proverbs 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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