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 peace
than a house full of feasting with strife. # Pr 15:17; 21:9,19; 25:24
2A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful son
and share an inheritance among brothers.
3A crucible for silver, and a smelter for gold, # Pr 27:21
and the Lord is the tester of hearts. # 1Ch 29:17; Ps 26:2; Pr 16:2; 21:2; Is 48:10; Jr 17:10; Mal 3:3
4A wicked person listens to malicious talk; # Lit to lips of iniquity
a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.
5The one who mocks the poor insults his Maker, # Pr 14:31; 21:13
and one who rejoices over calamity
will not go unpunished. # Jb 31:29; Pr 24:17; Lm 1:21-22; Ezk 25:6-7; 35:15; Ob 12
6Grandchildren are the crown of the elderly,
and the pride of sons is their fathers.
7Eloquent words are not appropriate on a fool’s lips;
how much worse are lies for a ruler.
8A bribe # Ex 23:8; Is 1:23; Am 5:12 seems like a magic stone to its owner;
wherever he turns, he succeeds. # Pr 18:16; 19:6; 21:14
9Whoever conceals an offense promotes love, # Pr 10:12; Jms 5:20; 1Pt 4:8
but whoever gossips about it separates friends. # Lv 19:16; Pr 11:13; 16:28
10A rebuke cuts into a perceptive person
more than a hundred lashes into a fool.
11An evil man seeks only rebellion;
a cruel messenger # Or a merciless angel #Ps 78:49 will be sent against him.
12Better for a man to meet a bear robbed of her cubs # 2Sm 17:8; Hs 13:8
than a fool in his foolishness.
13If anyone returns evil for good, # Ps 35:12; 109:5
evil will never depart from his house. # 2Sm 12:10
14To start a conflict is to release a flood;
stop the dispute before it breaks out. # Pr 20:3; 25:8
15Acquitting the guilty and condemning the just # Ex 23:7; Pr 17:26; 18:5; 24:23-24; Is 5:23 —
both are detestable to the Lord.
16Why does a fool have money in his hand
with no intention of buying wisdom? # Pr 4:5,7; 18:15; 23:23
17A friend loves at all times, # Ru 1:16; Pr 18:24; 27:10
and a brother is born for a difficult time.
18One without sense enters an agreement # Lit sense shakes hands
and puts up security for his friend. # Pr 6:1-5; 11:15; 22:26
19One who loves to offend loves strife; # Pr 29:22
one who builds a high threshold invites injury.
20One with a twisted mind will not succeed,
and one with deceitful speech will fall into ruin. # Jr 23:36
21A man fathers a fool to his own sorrow;
the father of a fool has no joy. # Pr 10:1; 17:25; 19:13; 23:24-25
22A joyful heart is good medicine,
but a broken spirit dries up the bones. # Ps 22:15; Pr 14:30; 15:13; 18:14
23A wicked man secretly takes a bribe # Pr 17:8
to subvert the course of justice. # Dt 16:19; Ps 15:5; Pr 18:5; Mc 3:11; 7:3
24Wisdom is the focus of the perceptive,
but a fool’s eyes # Ec 2:14 roam to the ends of the earth.
25A foolish son is grief to his father
and bitterness to the one who bore him. # Pr 10:1; 17:21; 19:13
26It is certainly not good to fine an innocent person
or to beat a noble for his honesty. # Or noble unfairly # Pr 17:15; 18:5; 24:23-24
27The intelligent person restrains his words, # Pr 10:19; Jms 1:19; 3:2
and one who keeps a cool head # Lit spirit
is a man of understanding.
28Even a fool is considered wise when he keeps silent,
discerning when he seals his lips. # Jb 13:5; Pr 10:19
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