Proverbs 17

¹ Better a dry crust with peace than a house full of feasting with strife.

² An intelligent servant will rule over a worthless son, and will share the inheritance with the brothers.

³ The crucible for silver, and the furnace for gold, but the tester of hearts is the LORD.

⁴ The evil man gives heed to wicked lips, and listens to falsehood from a mischievous tongue.

⁵ He who mocks the poor blasphemes his Maker; he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.

⁶ Grandchildren are the crown of old men, and the glory of children is their parentage.

⁷ Fine words are out of place in a fool; how much more, lying words in a noble!

⁸ A man who has a bribe to offer rates it a magic stone; at every turn it brings him success.

⁹ He who covers up a misdeed fosters friendship, but he who gossips about it separates friends.

¹⁰ A single reprimand does more for a man of intelligence than a hundred lashes for a fool.

¹¹ On rebellion alone is the wicked man bent, but a merciless messenger will be sent against him.

¹² Face a bear robbed of her cubs, but never a fool in his folly!

¹³ If a man returns evil for good, from his house evil will not depart.

¹⁴ The start of strife is like the opening of a dam; therefore, check a quarrel before it begins!

¹⁵ He who condones the wicked, he who condemns the just, are both an abomination to the LORD.

¹⁶ Of what use in the fool's hand are the means to buy wisdom, since he has no mind for it?

¹⁷ He who is a friend is always a friend, and a brother is born for the time of stress.

¹⁸ Senseless is the man who gives his hand in pledge, who becomes surety for his neighbor.

¹⁹ He who loves strife loves guilt; he who builds his gate high courts disaster.

²⁰ He who is perverse in heart finds no good, and a double-tongued man falls into trouble.

²¹ To be a fool's parent is grief for a man; the father of a numskull has no joy.

²² A joyful heart is the health of the body, but a depressed spirit dries up the bones.

²³ The wicked man accepts a concealed bribe to pervert the course of justice.

²⁴ The man of intelligence fixes his gaze on wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.

²⁵ A foolish son is vexation to his father, and bitter sorrow to her who bore him.

²⁶ It is wrong to fine an innocent man, but beyond reason to scourge princes.

²⁷ He who spares his words is truly wise, and he who is chary of speech is a man of intelligence.

²⁸ Even a fool, if he keeps silent, is considered wise; if he closes his lips, intelligent.