Proverbs 17:9-16

Whoever forgives someone’s sin makes a friend, but gossiping about the sin breaks up friendships. A wise person will learn more from a warning than a fool will learn from a hundred lashings. Disobedient people look only for trouble, so a cruel messenger will be sent against them. It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than to meet a fool doing foolish things. Whoever gives evil in return for good will always have trouble at home. Starting a quarrel is like a leak in a dam, so stop it before a fight breaks out. 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.