Proverbs 17
1 Better is a morsel with pleasure in peace,
than a house full of many good things and unjust sacrifices, with strife.
2 A wise servant shall have rule over foolish masters,
and shall divide portions among brethren.
3 As silver and gold are tried in a furnace,
so are choice hearts with the Lord.
4 A bad man hearkeneth to the tongue of transgressors:
but a righteous man attendeth not to false lips.
5 He that laugheth at the poor provoketh him that made him;
and he that rejoiceth at the destruction of another shall not be held guiltless:
but he that hath compassion shall find mercy.
6 Children’s children are the crown of old men;
and their fathers are the glory of children.
6a [1]The faithful hath the whole world full of wealth;
but the faithless not even a [2]farthing.
7 Faithful lips will not suit a fool;
nor lying lips a just man.
8 Instruction is to them that use it a gracious reward:
and whithersoever it may turn, it shall prosper.
9 He that concealeth injuries seeketh love;
but he that hateth to hide them separateth friends and [3]kindred.
10 A threat breaketh down the heart of a wise man;
but a fool, though scourged, understandeth not.
11 Every bad man stirreth up strifes:
but the Lord will send out against him an unmerciful messenger.
12 Care may befall a man of understanding;
but fools will meditate evils.
13 Whoso rewardeth evil for good,
evil shall not be removed from his house.
14 Rightful rule giveth power to words;
but sedition and strife precede poverty.
15 He that pronounceth the unjust just, and the just unjust,
is unclean and abominable with God.
16 Why hath the fool wealth?
for a senseless man will not be able to purchase wisdom.
16a He that exalteth his own house seeketh ruin;
and he that turneth aside from instruction shall fall into mischiefs.
17 Have thou a friend for every time,
and let brethren be useful in distress;
for on this account are they born.
18 A foolish man applaudeth and rejoiceth over himself,
as he also that becometh surety would make himself responsible for his own friends.
19 A lover of sin rejoiceth in strifes;
20 and the hard-hearted man [4]cometh not in for good.
A man of a changeful tongue will fall into mischiefs;
21 and the heart of a fool is grief to its possessor.
A father rejoiceth not over an uninstructed son;
but a wise son gladdeneth his mother.
22 A glad heart promoteth health;
but the bones of a sorrowful man dry up.
23 The ways of a man who unjustly receiveth gifts in his bosom do not prosper;
and an ungodly man perverteth the ways of righteousness.
24 The countenance of a wise man is sensible;
but the eyes of a fool go to the ends of the earth.
25 A foolish son is a cause of anger to his father,
and grief to her that bare him.
26 It is not right to punish a righteous man,
nor is it holy to plot against righteous princes.
27 He that forbeareth to utter a hard word is discreet,
and a patient man is wise.
28 Wisdom shall be imputed to a fool who asketh after wisdom:
and he who holdeth his peace shall seem to be sensible.