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The Proverbs

⭑ Berean Study Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

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- Chapter 17 -

Righteous and lawless mouths

1
Better a dry morsel in quietness than a house full of feasting (a) with strife.
2
A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful son and share his inheritance as one of the brothers.
3
A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but the LORD is the tester of hearts.
4
A wicked man listens to evil lips; a liar gives ear to a destructive tongue.
5
He who mocks the poor insults their Maker; whoever gloats over calamity will not go unpunished.
6
Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of a son is his father.
7
Eloquent words are unfit for a fool; how much worse are lying lips to a ruler!
8
A bribe is a charm to its giver; wherever he turns, he succeeds.
9
Whoever conceals an offense promotes love, but he who brings it up separates friends.
10
A rebuke cuts into a man of discernment deeper than a hundred lashes cut into a fool.
11
An evil man seeks only rebellion; a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
12
It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly.

Wisdom in behavior

13
If anyone returns evil for good, evil will never leave his house.
14
To start a quarrel is to release a flood; so abandon the dispute before it breaks out.
15
Acquitting the guilty and condemning the righteous— both are detestable to the LORD.
16
Why should the fool have money in his hand with no intention of buying wisdom?
17
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
18
A man lacking judgment strikes hands in pledge and puts up security for his neighbor.
19
He who loves transgression loves strife; he who builds his gate high invites destruction.
20
The one with a perverse heart finds no good, and he whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble.
21
A man fathers a fool to his own grief; the father of a fool has no joy.
22
A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
23
A wicked man takes a covert bribe (b) to subvert the course of justice.
24
Wisdom is the focus of the discerning, but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.
25
A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him.
26
It is surely not good to punish the innocent or to flog a noble for his honesty.
27
A man of knowledge restrains his words, and a man of understanding maintains a calm spirit.
28
Even a fool is considered wise if he keeps silent, and discerning when he holds his tongue.

Footnotes

(a)17:1 Or sacrifices
(b)17:23 Hebrew a bribe from the bosom

Righteous and lawless mouths

1
Better is a dry morsel with quietness, than a house full of feasting with strife.
2
A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who causes shame, and shall have a part in the inheritance among the brothers.
3
The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the hearts.
4
An evildoer heeds wicked lips. A liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
5
Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker. He who is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.
6
Children’s children are the crown of old men; the glory of children is their parents.
7
Excellent speech isn’t fitting for a fool, much less do lying lips fit a prince.
8
A bribe is a precious stone in the eyes of him who gives it; wherever he turns, he prospers.
9
He who covers an offense promotes love; but he who repeats a matter separates best friends.
10
A rebuke enters deeper into one who has understanding than a hundred lashes into a fool.
11
An evil man seeks only rebellion; therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
12
Let a bear robbed of her cubs meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.

Wisdom in behavior

13
Whoever rewards evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
14
The beginning of strife is like breaching a dam, therefore stop contention before quarreling breaks out.
15
He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.
16
Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, since he has no understanding?
17
A friend loves at all times; and a brother is born for adversity.
18
A man void of understanding strikes hands, and becomes collateral in the presence of his neighbor.
19
He who loves disobedience loves strife. One who builds a high gate seeks destruction.
20
One who has a perverse heart doesn’t find prosperity, and one who has a deceitful tongue falls into trouble.
21
He who becomes the father of a fool grieves. The father of a fool has no joy.
22
A cheerful heart makes good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
23
A wicked man receives a bribe in secret, to pervert the ways of justice.
24
Wisdom is before the face of one who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.
25
A foolish son brings grief to his father, and bitterness to her who bore him.
26
Also to punish the righteous is not good, nor to flog officials for their integrity.
27
He who spares his words has knowledge. He who is even tempered is a man of understanding.
28
Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is counted wise. When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning.
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