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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GOD'S WORD® Translation ©1995, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020 by God's Word to the Nations Mission Society. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 17
17
1It is better to eat a dry crust of bread in peace
than to have a feast where there is quarreling.
2A wise servant will rule over his master’s disgraceful son.
And he will even inherit a share of what the master leaves his sons.
3A hot furnace tests silver and gold.
In the same way, the Lord tests a person’s heart.
4An evil person listens to evil words.
A liar pays attention to cruel words.
5If you make fun of the poor,
you insult God, who made them.
If you laugh at someone’s trouble,
you will be punished.
6Grandchildren are the reward of old people.
And children are proud of their parents.
7Foolish people should not be proud.
And rulers should not be liars!
8A person might think he can pay people and they will do anything he asks.
He thinks it will succeed every time.
9Whoever forgives someone’s sin makes a friend.
But the one who tells about the sin breaks up friendships.
10A wise man will learn more from a warning
than a foolish person will learn from 100 lashings.
11A disobedient person is only looking for trouble.
So a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
12It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs
than to meet a foolish person doing foolish things.
13If a person gives evil in return for good,
his house will always be full of trouble.
14Starting a quarrel is like a leak in a dam.
So stop the quarrel before a fight breaks out.
15The Lord hates both these things:
letting guilty people go free and punishing those who are not guilty.
16It won’t do a fool any good to try to buy wisdom.
He doesn’t really want to be wise.
17A friend loves you all the time.
A brother is always there to help you.
18It is not wise to promise
to pay what your neighbor owes.
19Whoever loves to quarrel loves to sin.
Whoever is proud is asking for trouble.
20A person with an evil heart will find no success.
And the person whose words are evil will get into trouble.
21It is sad to have a foolish son.
There is no joy in being the father of a fool.
22A happy heart is like good medicine.
But a broken spirit drains your strength.
23A wicked person secretly accepts money to do wrong.
Then there will be no fairness.
24The person with understanding looks for wisdom.
But a foolish person lets his mind wander everywhere.
25A foolish son makes his father sad.
And he causes his mother great sorrow.
26It is not good to punish those who have done what is right.
Nor is it good to punish leaders for being honest.
27The person who has knowledge says very little.
And a person with understanding stays calm.
28Even a foolish person seems to be wise if he keeps quiet.
He appears to have understanding if he doesn’t speak.
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Copyright © 2015 by Tommy Nelson™, a Division of Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.