Proverbs 17
17:1 Better is a dry crust of bread1 where there is quietness2
than a house full of feasting with strife.3
17:2 A servant who acts wisely4 will rule
over5 an heir6 who behaves shamefully,7
and will share the inheritance along with the relatives.8
17:3 The crucible9 is for refining10 silver and the furnace11 is for gold,
likewise12 the
17:4 One who acts wickedly14 pays attention to evil counsel;15
a liar listens16 to a malicious tongue.17
17:5 The one who mocks the poor18 insults19 his Creator;
whoever rejoices over disaster will not go unpunished.
17:6 Grandchildren20 are like21 a crown22 to the elderly,
and the glory23 of children is their parents.24
17:7 Excessive25 speech26 is not becoming for a fool;27
how much less are lies28 for a ruler!29
17:8 A bribe works like30 a charm31 for the one who offers it;32
in whatever he does33 he succeeds.34
17:9 The one who forgives35 an offense seeks36 love,
but whoever repeats a matter separates close friends.37
17:10 A rebuke makes a greater impression on38 a discerning person
than a hundred blows on a fool.39
17:11 An evil person seeks only rebellion,40
and so41 a cruel messenger42 will be sent against him.
17:12 It is better for a person to meet43 a mother bear being robbed of her cubs,
than44 to encounter45 a fool in his folly.46
17:13 As for the one who repays47 evil for good,
evil will not leave48 his house.49
17:14 Starting a quarrel50 is like letting out water;51
stop it before strife breaks out!52
17:15 The one who acquits the guilty and the one who condemns the innocent53 –
both of them are an abomination to the
17:16 Of what55 use is money in the hand of a fool,56
since he has no intention57 of acquiring wisdom?58
17:17 A friend59 loves at all times,
and a relative60 is born to help in adversity.61
17:18 The one who lacks wisdom62 strikes hands in pledge,63
and puts up financial security64 for his neighbor.65
17:19 The one who loves a quarrel loves transgression;66
whoever builds his gate high seeks destruction.67
17:20 The one who has a perverse heart68 does not find good,69
and the one who is deceitful in speech70 falls into trouble.
17:21 Whoever brings a fool71 into the world72 does so73 to his grief,
and the father of a fool has no joy.74
17:22 A cheerful heart75 brings good healing,76
but a crushed spirit77 dries up the bones.78
17:23 A wicked person receives a bribe secretly79
to pervert80 the ways of justice.
17:24 Wisdom is directly in front of81 the discerning person,
but the eyes of a fool run82 to the ends of the earth.83
17:25 A foolish child is a grief84 to his father,
and bitterness to the mother who bore him.85
17:26 It is terrible86 to punish87 a righteous person,
and to flog88 honorable men is wrong.89
17:27 The truly wise person90 restrains91 his words,
and the one who stays calm92 is discerning.
17:28 Even a fool who remains silent is considered93 wise,
and the one who holds his tongue is deemed discerning.94