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.

Proverbs 17

¹Better is a dry morsel with joy, than a house full of victims with strife.

²A wise servant shall rule over foolish sons, and shall divide the inheritance among the brethren.

³As silver is tried by fire, and gold in the furnace: so the Lord trieth the hearts.

⁴The evil man obeyeth an unjust tongue: and the deceitful hearkeneth to lying lips.

⁵He that despiseth the poor, reproacheth his maker: and he that rejoiceth at another man's ruin, shall not be unpunished.

⁶Children's children are the crown of old men: and the glory of children are their fathers.

⁷Eloquent words do not become a fool, nor lying lips a prince.

⁸The expectation of him that expecteth is a most acceptable jewel: whithersoever he turneth himself, he understandeth wisely.

⁹He that concealeth a transgression, seeketh friendships: he that repeateth it again, separateth friends.

¹⁰A reproof availeth more with a wise man, than a hundred stripes with a fool.

¹¹An evil man always seeketh quarrels: but a cruel angel shall be sent against him.

¹²It is better to meet a bear robbed of her whelps, than a fool trusting in his own folly.

¹³He that rendereth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

¹⁴The beginning of quarrels is as when one letteth out water: and before he suffereth reproach, he forsaketh judgment.

¹⁵He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, both are abominable before God.

¹⁶What doth it avail a fool to have riches, seeing he cannot buy wisdom? He that maketh his house high, seeketh a downfall: and he that refuseth to learn, shall fall into evils.

¹⁷He that is a friend loveth at all times: and a brother is proved in distress.

¹⁸A foolish man will clap hands, when he is surety for his friend.

¹⁹He that studieth discords, loveth quarrels: and he that exalteth his door, seeketh ruin.

²⁰He that is of a perverse heart, shall not find good: and he that perverteth his tongue, shall fall into evil.

²¹A fool is born to his own disgrace: and even his father shall not rejoice in a fool.

²²A joyful mind maketh age flourishing: a sorrowful spirit drieth up the bones.

²³The wicked man taketh gifts out of the bosom, that he may pervert the paths of judgment.

²⁴Wisdom shineth in the face of the wise: the eyes of fools are in the ends of the earth.

²⁵A foolish son is the anger of the father: and the sorrow of the mother that bore him.

²⁶It is no good thing to do hurt to the just: nor to strike the prince, who judgeth right.

²⁷He that setteth bounds to his words, is knowing and wise: and the man of understanding is of a precious spirit.

²⁸Even a fool, if he will hold his peace, shall be counted wise: and if he close his lips, a man of understanding.