Proverbs 17

¹Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.²A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren. ³The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the Lord trieth the hearts. ⁴A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue. ⁵Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.⁶Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers. ⁷Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.⁸A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth. ⁹He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends. ¹⁰A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool. ¹¹An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him. ¹²Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly. ¹³Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house. ¹⁴The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with. ¹⁵He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the Lord. ¹⁶Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it? ¹⁷A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. ¹⁸A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend. ¹⁹He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction. ²⁰He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief. ²¹He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy. ²²A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones. ²³A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment. ²⁴Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth. ²⁵A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him. ²⁶Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.

²⁷He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit. ²⁸Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.