Proverbs 17

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

¹⁶ What 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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