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
1Better a dry crust with quiet
than a house full of feasting with quarrels.
2An insightful servant rules over a disgraceful son
and will divide an inheritance
with the brothers.
3A crucible is for silver and a furnace for gold,
but the LORD tests the heart.
4An evildoer pays attention to guilty lips;
a liar listens to a destructive tongue.
5Those who mock the poor insult their maker;
those who rejoice in disaster won’t go unpunished.
6Grandchildren are the crown of the elderly,
and the glory of children is their parents.
7Too much talking isn’t right for a fool;
even less so false speech for an honorable person.
8A bribe seems magical in the eyes of those who give it,
granting success to all who use it.
9One who seeks love conceals an offense,
but one who repeats it divides friends.
10A rebuke goes deeper to an understanding person
than a hundred lashes to a fool.
11Evil people seek only rebellion;
a cruel messenger will be sent against them.
12Safer to meet a bear robbed of her cubs
than fools in their folly.
13Evil will never depart from the house
of those who return evil for good.
14The start of a quarrel is like letting out water,
so drop the dispute before it breaks out.
15Judging the righteous wicked and the wicked righteous—
the LORD detests both of these.
16Why should a fool have money
to pay for wisdom? He has no mind.
17Friends love all the time,
and kinsfolk are born for times of trouble.
18One with no sense shakes hands on a deal,
securing a loan for a friend.
19Those who love an offense love a quarrel;
those who build a high doorway invite a collapse.
20Those with crooked hearts won’t prosper,
and those with twisted tongues will fall into trouble.
21Having a fool for a son brings grief;
there’s no joy for a scoundrel’s father.
22A joyful heart helps healing,
but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
23The wicked take secret bribes
to twist the way of justice.
24Wisdom is right in front of those with understanding,
but the eyes of fools are off to the edges of the earth.
25A foolish son is irritating to his father
and bitter to her who gave birth to him.
26It isn’t good to punish the righteous,
to strike the honorable for their integrity.
27Wise are those who restrain their talking;
people with understanding are coolheaded.
28Fools who keep quiet are deemed wise;
those who shut their lips are smart.
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2011 Common English Bible. All rights reserved.