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 #Prov. 15:17a dry morsel with quietness,
Than a house full of feasting with strife.
2A wise servant will rule over #Prov. 10:5a son who causes shame,
And will share an inheritance among the brothers.
3The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold,
#1 Chr. 29:17; Ps. 26:2; Prov. 15:11; Jer. 17:10; (Mal. 3:3)But the Lord tests the hearts.
4An evildoer gives heed to false lips;
A liar listens eagerly to a spiteful tongue.
5#Prov. 14:31He who mocks the poor reproaches his Maker;
#Job 31:29; Prov. 24:17; Obad. 12; 1 Cor. 13:6He who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.
6#(Ps. 127:3; 128:3)Children’s children are the crown of old men,
And the glory of children is their father.
7Excellent speech is not becoming to a fool,
Much less lying lips to a prince.
8A present is a precious stone in the eyes of its possessor;
Wherever he turns, he prospers.
9#(Prov. 10:12; 1 Cor. 13:5–7; James 5:20)He who covers a transgression seeks love,
But #Prov. 16:28he who repeats a matter separates friends.
10#Prov. 10:17; (Mic. 7:9)Rebuke is more effective for a wise man
Than a hundred blows on a fool.
11An evil man seeks only rebellion;
Therefore a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
12Let a man meet #2 Sam. 17:8; Hos. 13:8a bear robbed of her cubs,
Rather than a fool in his folly.
13Whoever #Ps. 109:4, 5; Jer. 18:20; Rom. 12:17; 1 Thess. 5:15; (1 Pet. 3:9)rewards evil for good,
Evil will not depart from his house.
14The beginning of strife is like releasing water;
Therefore #(Prov. 20:3; 1 Thess. 4:11)stop contention before a quarrel starts.
15#Ex. 23:7; Prov. 24:24; Is. 5:23He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just,
Both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord.
16Why is there in the hand of a fool the purchase price of wisdom,
Since he has no heart for it?
17#Ruth 1:16; Prov. 18:24A friend loves at all times,
And a brother is born for adversity.
18#Prov. 6:1A man devoid of understanding shakes hands in a pledge,
And becomes surety for his friend.
19He who loves transgression loves strife,
And #Prov. 16:18he who exalts his gate seeks destruction.
20He who has a deceitful heart finds no good,
And he who has #James 3:8a perverse tongue falls into evil.
21He who begets a scoffer does so to his sorrow,
And the father of a fool has no joy.
22A #Prov. 12:25; 15:13, 15merry heart does good, like medicine,
But a broken spirit dries the bones.
23A wicked man accepts a bribe behind the back
To pervert the ways of justice.
24#Eccl. 2:14Wisdom is in the sight of him who has understanding,
But the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
25A #Prov. 10:1; 15:20; 19:13foolish son is a grief to his father,
And bitterness to her who bore him.
26Also, to punish the righteous is not good,
Nor to strike princes for their uprightness.
27#Prov. 10:19; James 1:19He who has knowledge spares his words,
And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.
28#Job 13:5Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace;
When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.
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The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.