Proverbs 17-19

Amplified Bible

17 Better is a dry morsel [of food served] with quietness and peace
Than a house full of feasting [served] with strife and contention.
² 
A wise servant will rule over the [unworthy] son who acts shamefully and brings disgrace [to the family]
And [the worthy servant] will share in the inheritance among the brothers.
³ 
The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold,
But the Lord tests hearts.^(A)
4 
An evildoer listens closely to wicked lips;
And a liar pays attention to a destructive and malicious tongue.
⁵ 
Whoever mocks the poor taunts his Maker,
And he who rejoices at [another’s] disaster will not go unpunished.^(B)
6 
Grandchildren are the crown of aged men,
And the glory of children is their fathers [who live godly lives].^(C)
7 
Excellent speech does not benefit a fool [who is spiritually blind],
Much less do lying lips benefit a prince.
⁸ 
A bribe is like a bright, precious stone in the eyes of its owner;
Wherever he turns, he prospers.
⁹ 
He who covers and forgives an offense seeks love,
But he who repeats or gossips about a matter separates intimate friends.
¹⁰ 
A reprimand goes deeper into one who has understanding and a teachable spirit
Than a hundred lashes into a fool.^(D)
11 
A rebellious man seeks only evil;
Therefore a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
¹² 
Let a man meet a [ferocious] bear robbed of her cubs
Rather than the [angry, narcissistic] fool in his folly.^(E)
13 
Whoever returns evil for good,
Evil will not depart from his house.^(F)
14 
The beginning of strife is like letting out water [as from a small break in a dam; first it trickles and then it gushes];
Therefore ^[a]abandon the quarrel before it breaks out and tempers explode.
¹⁵ 
He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous
Are both repulsive to the Lord.^(G)
16 
Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom,
When he has no common sense or even a heart for it?
¹⁷ 
A friend loves at all times,
And a brother is born for adversity.
¹⁸ 
A man lacking common sense gives a pledge
And becomes guarantor [for the debt of another] in the presence of his neighbor.
¹⁹ 
He who loves transgression loves strife and is quarrelsome;
He who [proudly] raises his gate seeks destruction [because of his arrogant pride].
²⁰ 
He who has a crooked mind finds no good,
And he who is perverted in his language falls into evil.^(H)
21 
He who becomes the parent of a fool [who is spiritually blind] does so to his sorrow,
And the father of a fool [who is spiritually blind] has no joy.
²² 
A happy heart is good medicine and a joyful mind causes healing,
But a broken spirit dries up the bones.^(I)
23 
A wicked man receives a bribe from the [hidden] pocket
To pervert the ways of justice.
²⁴ 
[Skillful and godly] wisdom is in the presence of a person of understanding [and he recognizes it],
But the eyes of a [thickheaded] fool are on the ends of the earth.
²⁵ 
A foolish son is a grief and anguish to his father
And bitterness to her who gave birth to him.
²⁶ 
It is also not good to fine the righteous,
Nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.
²⁷ 
He who has knowledge restrains and is careful with his words,
And a man of understanding and wisdom has a cool spirit (self-control, an even temper).^(J)
28 
Even a [callous, arrogant] fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise;
When he closes his lips he is regarded as sensible (prudent, discreet) and a man of understanding.

18 He who [willfully] separates himself [from God and man] seeks his own desire,
He quarrels against all sound wisdom.
² 
A [closed-minded] fool does not delight in understanding,
But only in revealing his personal opinions [unwittingly displaying his self-indulgence and his stupidity].
³ 
When the wicked man comes [to the depth of evil], contempt [of all that is pure and good] also comes,
And with inner baseness (dishonor) comes outer shame (scorn).
⁴ 
The words of a man’s mouth are like deep waters [copious and difficult to fathom];
The fountain of [mature, godly] wisdom is like a bubbling stream [sparkling, fresh, pure, and life-giving].
⁵ 
To show respect to the wicked person is not good,
Nor to push aside and deprive the righteous of justice.
⁶ 
A fool’s lips bring contention and strife,
And his mouth invites a beating.
⁷ 
A fool’s mouth is his ruin,
And his lips are the snare of his soul.
⁸ 
The words of a whisperer (gossip) are like dainty morsels [to be greedily eaten];
They go down into the innermost chambers of the body [to be remembered and mused upon].
⁹ 
He who is careless in his work
Is a brother to him who destroys.
¹⁰ 
The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
The righteous runs to it and is safe and set on high [far above evil].
¹¹ 
The rich man’s wealth is his strong city,
And like a high wall [of protection] in his own imagination and conceit.
¹² 
Before disaster the heart of a man is haughty and filled with self-importance,
But humility comes before honor.
¹³ 
He who answers before he hears [the facts]—
It is folly and shame to him.^(K)
14 
The spirit of a man sustains him in sickness,
But as for a broken spirit, who can bear it?
¹⁵ 
The mind of the prudent [always] acquires knowledge,
And the ear of the wise [always] seeks knowledge.
¹⁶ 
A man’s gift [given in love or courtesy] makes room for him
And brings him before great men.^(L)
17 
The first one to plead his case seems right,
Until another comes and cross-examines him.
^18 
[b]To cast lots puts an end to quarrels
And decides between powerful contenders.
¹⁹ 
A brother offended is harder to win over than a fortified city,
And contentions [separating families] are like the bars of a castle.
²⁰ 
A man’s stomach will be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth;
He will be satisfied with the consequence of his words.
²¹ 
Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it and indulge it will eat its fruit and bear the consequences of their words.^(M)
22 
He who finds a [^[c]true and faithful] wife finds a good thing
And obtains favor and approval from the Lord.^(N)
23 
The poor man pleads,
But the rich man answers roughly.
²⁴ 
The man of too many friends [chosen indiscriminately] will be broken in pieces and come to ruin,
But there is a [true, loving] friend who [is reliable and] sticks closer than a brother.

19 Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity
Than a [rich] man who is twisted in his speech and is a [shortsighted] fool.
² 
Also it is not good for a person to be without knowledge,
And he who hurries with his feet [acting impulsively and proceeding without caution or analyzing the consequences] sins (misses the mark).
³ 
The foolishness of man undermines his way [ruining whatever he undertakes];
Then his heart is resentful and rages against the Lord [for, being a fool, he blames the Lord instead of himself].
⁴ 
Wealth makes many friends,
But a poor man is separated from his friend.^(O)
5 
A false witness will not go unpunished,
And he who breathes out lies will not escape.^(P)
6 
Many will seek the favor of a generous and noble man,
And everyone is a friend to him who gives gifts.
⁷ 
All the brothers of a poor man hate him;
How much more do his friends abandon him!
He pursues them with words, but they are gone.
⁸ 
He who gains wisdom and good sense loves (preserves) his own soul;
He who keeps understanding will find good and prosper.
⁹ 
A false witness will not go unpunished,
And he who breathes lies will perish.
¹⁰ 
Luxury is not fitting for a fool;
Much less for a slave to rule over princes.
¹¹ 
Good sense and discretion make a man slow to anger,
And it is his honor and glory to overlook a transgression or an offense [without seeking revenge and harboring resentment].
¹² 
The king’s wrath terrifies like the roaring of a lion,
But his favor is as [refreshing and nourishing as] dew on the grass.^(Q)
13 
A foolish (ungodly) son is destruction to his father,
And the contentions of a [quarrelsome] wife are like a constant dripping [of water].
¹⁴ 
House and wealth are the inheritance from fathers,
But a wise, understanding, and sensible wife is [a gift and blessing] from the Lord.^(R)
15 
Laziness casts one into a deep sleep [unmindful of lost opportunity],
And the idle person will suffer hunger.
¹⁶ 
He who keeps and obeys the commandment [of the Lord] keeps (guards) his own life,
But he who is careless of his ways and conduct will die.^(S)
17 
He who is gracious and lends a hand to the poor lends to the Lord,
And the Lord will repay him for his good deed.^(T)
18 
Discipline and teach your son while there is hope,
And do not [indulge your anger or resentment by imposing inappropriate punishment nor] desire his destruction.
¹⁹ 
A man of great anger will bear the penalty [for his quick temper and lack of self-control];
For if you rescue him [and do not let him learn from the consequences of his action], you will only have to rescue him over and over again.
²⁰ 
Listen to counsel, receive instruction, and accept correction,
That you may be wise in the time to come.
²¹ 
Many plans are in a man’s mind,
But it is the Lord’s purpose for him that will stand (be carried out).^(U)
22 
That which is desirable in a man is his loyalty and unfailing love,
But it is better to be a poor man than a [wealthy] liar.
²³ 
The fear of the Lord leads to life,
So that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil.^(V)
24 
The lazy man buries his hand in the [food] dish,
But will not even bring it to his mouth again.
²⁵ 
Strike a scoffer [for refusing to learn], and the naive may [be warned and] become prudent;
Reprimand one who has understanding and a teachable spirit, and he will gain knowledge and insight.
²⁶ 
He who assaults his father and chases away his mother
Is a son who brings shame and disgrace.^(W)
27 
Cease listening, my son, to instruction and discipline
And you will stray from the words of knowledge.
²⁸ 
A wicked and worthless witness mocks justice,
And the mouth of the wicked spreads iniquity.
²⁹ 
Judgments are prepared for scoffers,
And beatings for the backs of [thickheaded] fools.^(X)