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 is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than a house full of feasting with strife.
2A wise servant shall rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part in the inheritance among the brethren.
3The fining-pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but Jehovah trieth the hearts.
4The evil-doer giveth heed to iniquitous lips; the liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue.
5Whoso mocketh a poor man reproacheth his Maker; he that is glad at calamity shall not be held innocent.
6Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.
7Excellent speech becometh not a vile man; how much less do lying lips a noble!
8A gift is a precious stone in the eyes of the possessor: whithersoever it turneth it prospereth.
9He that covereth transgression seeketh love; but he that bringeth a matter up again separateth very friends.
10A reproof entereth more deeply into him that hath understanding than a hundred stripes into a fool.
11An evil man seeketh only rebellion; but a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
12Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man rather than a fool in his folly.
13Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
14The beginning of contention is as when one letteth out water; therefore leave off strife before it become vehement.
15He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the righteous, even they both are abomination to Jehovah.
16To what purpose is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no sense?
17The friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
18A senseless man striketh hands, becoming surety for his neighbour.
19He loveth transgression that loveth a quarrel; he that maketh high his gate seeketh destruction.
20He that hath a perverse heart findeth no good; and he that shifteth about with his tongue falleth into evil.
21He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow, and the father of a vile man hath no joy.
22A joyful heart promoteth healing; but a broken spirit drieth up the bones.
23A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom, to pervert the paths of judgment.
24Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
25A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bore him.
26To punish a righteous man is not good, nor to strike nobles because of their uprightness.
27He that hath knowledge spareth his words; and a man of understanding is of a cool spirit. 28Even a fool when he holdeth his peace is reckoned wise, and he that shutteth his lips, intelligent.
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First published in 1890. This edition is maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.