Proverbs 17:15-28

The LORD hates both of these things: freeing the guilty and punishing the innocent. It won’t do a fool any good to try to buy wisdom, because he doesn’t have the ability to be wise. A friend loves you all the time, and a brother helps in time of trouble. It is not wise to promise to pay what your neighbor owes. Whoever loves to argue loves to sin. Whoever brags a lot is asking for trouble. A person with an evil heart will find no success, and the person whose words are evil will get into trouble. It is sad to have a foolish child; there is no joy in being the parent of a fool. A happy heart is like good medicine, but a broken spirit drains your strength. When the wicked accept money to do wrong there can be no justice. The person with understanding is always looking for wisdom, but the mind of a fool wanders everywhere. Foolish children make their father sad and cause their mother great sorrow. It is not good to punish the innocent or to beat leaders for being honest. The wise say very little, and those with understanding stay calm. Even fools seem to be wise if they keep quiet; if they don’t speak, they appear to understand.