The Book of Proverbs

Chapter 17

1. ¶ Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife. 2. ¶ A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren. 3. ¶ The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts. 4. ¶ A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue. 5. ¶ Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities 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 gift 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 repeateth a matter separateth very friends. 10. ¶ A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an 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 it be meddled with. 15. ¶ He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD. 16. ¶ Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it? 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 friend. 19. ¶ He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction. 20. ¶ He that hath a froward 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 merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones. 23. ¶ A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment. 24. ¶ Wisdom is before 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 just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity. 27. ¶ He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit. 28. Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.