Proverbs



Chapter 17

   1 Better is a dry crust of bread where there is quietness than a house full of feasting with strife.
   2 A servant who acts wisely will rule over an heir who behaves shamefully, and will share the inheritance along with the relatives.
   3 The crucible is for refining silver and the furnace is for gold, likewise the LORD tests hearts.
   4 One who acts wickedly pays attention to evil counsel; a liar listens to a malicious tongue.
   5 The one who mocks the poor insults his Creator; whoever rejoices over disaster will not go unpunished.
   6 Grandchildren are like a crown to the elderly, and the glory of children is their parents.
   7 Excessive speech is not becoming for a fool; how much less are lies for a ruler!
   8 A bribe works like a charm for the one who offers it; in whatever he does he succeeds.
   9 The one who forgives an offense seeks love, but whoever repeats a matter separates close friends.
   10 A rebuke makes a greater impression on a discerning person than a hundred blows on a fool.
   11 An evil person seeks only rebellion, and so a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
   12 It is better for a person to meet a mother bear being robbed of her cubs, than to encounter a fool in his folly.
   13 As for the one who repays evil for good, evil will not leave his house.
   14 Starting a quarrel is like letting out water; stop it before strife breaks out!
   15 The one who acquits the guilty and the one who condemns the innocent - both of them are an abomination to the LORD.
   16 Of what use is money in the hand of a fool, since he has no intention of acquiring wisdom?
   17 A friend loves at all times, and a relative is born to help in adversity.
   18 The one who lacks wisdom strikes hands in pledge, and puts up financial security for his neighbor.
   19 The one who loves a quarrel loves transgression; whoever builds his gate high seeks destruction.
   20 The one who has a perverse heart does not find good, and the one who is deceitful in speech falls into trouble.
   21 Whoever brings a fool into the world does so to his grief, and the father of a fool has no joy.
   22 A cheerful heart brings good healing, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
   23 A wicked person receives a bribe secretly to pervert the ways of justice.
   24 Wisdom is directly in front of the discerning person, but the eyes of a fool run to the ends of the earth.
   25 A foolish child is a grief to his father, and bitterness to the mother who bore him.
   26 It is terrible to punish a righteous person, and to flog honorable men is wrong.
   27 The truly wise person restrains his words, and the one who stays calm is discerning.
   28 Even a fool who remains silent is considered wise, and the one who holds his tongue is deemed discerning.