Proverbs 17

17TH CHAPTER

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.^a

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.