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 hearkens to the tongue of
transgressors: but a righteous man attends not to false lips.
5 He that laughs at the poor provokes
him that made him; and he that rejoices at the destruction of another shall
not be held guiltless: but he that has compassion shall find mercy.
6 Children's children are the crown of
old men; and their fathers are the glory of children.
6a The faithful has the whole world
full of wealth; but the faithless not even a 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 conceals injuries seeks
love; but he that hates to hide them separates
friends and
aComp. Heb.kindred. 10 A threat breaks down the
heart of a wise man; but a fool, though scourged, understands not.
11 Every bad man stirs 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 rewards evil for good, evil
shall not be removed from his house.
14 Rightful rule gives power to
words; but sedition and strife precede poverty.
15 He that pronounces the unjust
just, and the just unjust, is unclean and abominable with God.
16 Why has the fool wealth? for a
senseless man will not be able to purchase wisdom.
16a He that exalts his own house
seeks ruin; and he that turns 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 applauds
and rejoices over himself, as he also that becomes
surety would make himself responsible for his own friends.
19 A lover of sin rejoices in
strifes; 20 and the hard-hearted man
bOr, meets not with good men.comes 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 rejoices not over an uninstructed son; but a wise
son gladdens his mother. 22 A glad
heart promotes health; but the bones of a sorrowful man dry up.
23 The ways of a man who unjustly
receives gifts in his bosom do not prosper; and an
ungodly man perverts 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 bore him.
26 It is not
right to punish a righteous man, nor is it holy to
plot against righteous princes. 27 He
that forbears to utter a hard word is discreet, and a patient man is wise.
28 Wisdom shall be imputed to a fool
who asks after wisdom: and he who holds his peace shall seem to be sensible.