Proverbs 17

¹ Better is a dry morsel and quietness therewith, than an house full of feasting with strife.

² A servant that dealeth wisely shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part in the inheritance among the brethren.

³ The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.

⁴ An evil-doer giveth heed to wicked lips; and a liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue.

⁵ Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.

⁶ Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.

⁷ Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.

⁸ A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.

⁹ He that covereth a transgression seeketh love: but he that harpeth on a matter separateth chief friends.

¹⁰ A rebuke entereth deeper into one that hath understanding than an hundred stripes into a fool.

¹¹ An evil man seeketh only rebellion; therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

¹² Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.

¹³ Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

¹⁴ The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before there be quarrelling.

¹⁵ He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.

¹⁶ Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, seeing he hath no understanding?

¹⁷ A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

¹⁸ A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his neighbour.

¹⁹ He loveth transgression that loveth strife: he that raiseth high his gate seeketh destruction.

²⁰ He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.

²¹ He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.

²² A merry heart is a good medicine: but a broken spirit drieth up the bones.

²³ A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom, to pervert the ways of judgment.

²⁴ Wisdom is before the face of him that hath understanding: but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.

²⁵ A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.

²⁶ Also to punish the righteous is not good, nor to smite the noble for their uprightness.

²⁷ He that spareth his words hath knowledge: and he that is of a cool spirit is a man of understanding.

²⁸ Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: when he shutteth his lips, he is esteemed as prudent.