Proverbs 17
1It is better to have quiet with a dry morsel of bread 1 than a house full of feasting with strife. 1
2A wise servant will rule over a son who acts shamefully 1 and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers. 1
3The crucible is for silver and the furnace is for gold, 1 but Yahweh refines hearts. 1
4The evildoer pays attention to wicked lips; 1 a liar gives ear to a destructive tongue. 1
5Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker 1 and the one who rejoices at misfortune will not go unpunished. 1
6Grandchildren are the crown of the aged 1 and parents bring honor to their children. 1
7Eloquent speech is not suitable for a fool; 1 much less are lying lips suitable for royalty. 1
8A bribe is like a magic stone to the one who gives it; 1 wherever he turns, he succeeds. 1
9Whoever overlooks an offense seeks love, 1 but the one who repeats a matter alienates close friends. 1
10A rebuke goes deeper into a person who has understanding 1 than a hundred blows go into a fool. 1
11An evil person only seeks rebellion, 1 so a cruel messenger will be sent against him. 1
12It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs 1 than to meet a fool in his foolishness. 1
13When someone returns evil for good, 1 evil will never leave his house. 1
14The beginning of conflict is like one who releases water everywhere, 1 so walk away from the dispute before it has broken out. 1
15The person who acquits the wicked person and the person who condemns the righteous person— 1 both are an abomination to Yahweh. 1
16Why should a fool pay money to learn about wisdom, 1 when he has no ability to learn it? 1
17A friend is loving at all times 1 and a brother is born for times of trouble. 1
18A man having no sense makes binding promises 1 and becomes responsible for his neighbor's debts. 1
19Whoever loves conflict loves sin; 1 the one who makes the threshold of his door too high causes bones to be broken. 1
20A person who has a crooked heart finds nothing that is good; 1 the one who has a perverse tongue falls into calamity. 1
21Whoever is the parent of a fool brings grief to himself; 1 and the father of a fool has no joy. 1
22A cheerful heart is good medicine, 1 but a broken spirit dries up the bones. 1
23A wicked man accepts a secret bribe 1 to pervert the ways of justice. 1
24The one who has understanding sets his face toward wisdom, 1 but the eyes of a fool are set on the ends of the earth. 1
25A foolish son is a grief to his father 1 and bitterness to the woman who bore him. 1
26Also, it is never good to punish the righteous person; 1 neither is it good to flog noble men who have integrity. 1
27One who has knowledge uses few words 1 and one with understanding is even-tempered. 1
28Even a fool is thought to be wise if he keeps silent; 1 when he keeps his mouth shut, he is considered to be intelligent.