Proverbs17

¹ Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, Than a house full of feasting with strife.

² A servant that dealeth wisely shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, And shall have part in the inheritance among the brethren.

³ The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; But Jehovah trieth the hearts.

⁴ An evil-doer giveth heed to wicked lips; And a liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue.

⁵ Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker; And he that is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.

⁶ Children’s children are the crown of old men; And the glory of children are their fathers.

⁷ Excellent speech becometh not a fool; Much less do lying lips a prince.

⁸ A bribe is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it; Whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.

⁹ He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; But he that harpeth on a matter separateth chief friends.

¹⁰ A rebuke entereth deeper into one that hath understanding Than a hundred stripes into a fool.

¹¹ An evil man seeketh only rebellion; Therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

¹² Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, Rather than a fool in his folly.

¹³ Whoso rewardeth evil for good, Evil shall not depart from his house.

¹⁴ The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: Therefore leave off contention, before there is quarrelling.

¹⁵ He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the righteous, Both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah.

¹⁶ Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, Seeing he hath no understanding?

¹⁷ A friend loveth at all times; And a brother is born for adversity.

¹⁸ A man void of understanding striketh hands, And becometh surety in the presence of his neighbor.

¹⁹ He loveth transgression that loveth strife: He that raiseth high his gate seeketh destruction.

²⁰ He that hath a wayward heart findeth no good; And he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.

²¹ He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow; And the father of a fool hath no joy.

²² A cheerful heart is a good medicine; But a broken spirit drieth up the bones.

²³ A wicked man receiveth a bribe out of the bosom, To pervert the ways of justice.

²⁴ Wisdom is before the face of him that hath understanding; But the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.

²⁵ A foolish son is a grief to his father, And bitterness to her that bare him.

²⁶ Also to punish the righteous is not good, Nor to smite the noble for their uprightness.

²⁷ He that spareth his words hath knowledge; And he that is of a cool spirit is a man of understanding.

²⁸ Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise; When he shutteth his lips, he is esteemed as prudent.