Proverbs 17

¹Better is a dry morsel and quietness therewith, than an house full of feasting with strife. ²A servant that dealeth wisely shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part in the inheritance among the brethren. ³The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts. ⁴An evil-doer giveth heed to wicked lips; anda liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue. ⁵Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: andhe that is glad at calamity 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 asa 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 harpeth on a matter separateth chief friends. ¹⁰A rebuke entereth deeper into one that hath understanding 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 aswhen one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before there be quarrelling. ¹⁵He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD. ¹⁶Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, seeing he hath no understanding? 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 neighbour. ¹⁹He loveth transgression that loveth strife: he that raiseth high 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 itto his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy. ²²A merry heart is a good medicine: but a broken spirit drieth up the bones. ²³A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom, to pervert the ways of judgment. ²⁴Wisdom is before the face of 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 righteous is not good, norto smite the noble for theiruprightness. ²⁷He that spareth his words hath knowledge: and he that is of a cool spirit is a man of understanding. ²⁸Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: when he shutteth his lips, he is esteemed asprudent.