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Chapter 17
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Verse 1

Better is a dry crust of bread where there is quietness than a house full of feasting with strife.

Verse 2

A servant who acts wisely will rule over an heir who behaves shamefully, and will share the inheritance along with the relatives.

Verse 3

The crucible is for refining silver and the furnace is for gold, likewise the LORD tests hearts.

Verse 4

One who acts wickedly pays attention to evil counsel; a liar listens to a malicious tongue.

Verse 5

The one who mocks the poor has insulted his Creator; whoever rejoices over disaster will not go unpunished.

Verse 6

Grandchildren are like a crown to the elderly, and the glory of children is their parents.

Verse 7

Excessive speech is not becoming for a fool; how much less are lies for a ruler!

Verse 8

A bribe works like a charm for the one who offers it; in whatever he does he succeeds.

Verse 9

The one who forgives an offense seeks love, but whoever repeats a matter separates close friends.

Verse 10

A rebuke makes a greater impression on a discerning person than a hundred blows on a fool.

Verse 11

An evil person seeks only rebellion, and so a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

Verse 12

It is better for a person to meet a mother bear being robbed of her cubs, than to encounter a fool in his folly.

Verse 13

As for the one who repays evil for good, evil will not leave his house.

Verse 14

Starting a quarrel is like letting out water; abandon strife before it breaks out!

Verse 15

The one who acquits the guilty and the one who condemns the innocent– both of them are an abomination to the LORD.

Verse 16

What’s the point of a fool having money in hand to buy wisdom, when his head is empty?

Verse 17

A friend loves at all times, and a relative is born to help in adversity.

Verse 18

The one who lacks sense strikes hands in pledge, and puts up financial security for his neighbor.

Verse 19

The one who loves a quarrel loves transgression; whoever builds his gate high seeks destruction.

Verse 20

The one who has a perverse heart does not find good, and the one who is deceitful in speech falls into trouble.

Verse 21

Whoever brings a fool into the world does so to his grief, and the father of a fool has no joy.

Verse 22

A cheerful heart brings good healing, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

Verse 23

A wicked person receives a bribe secretly to pervert the ways of justice.

Verse 24

Wisdom is directly in front of the discerning person, but the eyes of a fool run to the ends of the earth.

Verse 25

A foolish child is a grief to his father, and bitterness to the mother who bore him.

Verse 26

It is terrible to punish a righteous person, and to flog honorable men is wrong.

Verse 27

The truly wise person restrains his words, and the one who stays calm is discerning.

Verse 28

Even a fool who remains silent is considered wise, and the one who holds his tongue is deemed discerning.

←Previous: proverbs 16
Chapter 17
Next: proverbs 18→