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Proverbs 17:13-26
King James Version
Proverbs 17:13-26
King James Version
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.
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Proverbs 17:13-26
New International Version
Proverbs 17:13-26
New International Version
14 Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam;
so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.(C)
16 Why should fools have money in hand to buy wisdom,
when they are not able to understand it?(F)
17 A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for a time of adversity.(G)
18 One who has no sense shakes hands in pledge
and puts up security for a neighbor.(H)
19 Whoever loves a quarrel loves sin;
whoever builds a high gate invites destruction.
20 One whose heart is corrupt does not prosper;
one whose tongue is perverse falls into trouble.
21 To have a fool for a child brings grief;
there is no joy for the parent of a godless fool.(I)
24 A discerning person keeps wisdom in view,
but a fool’s eyes(N) wander to the ends of the earth.
25 A foolish son brings grief to his father
and bitterness to the mother who bore him.(O)
26 If imposing a fine on the innocent is not good,(P)
surely to flog honest officials is not right.
Proverbs 17:13-26
English Standard Version
Proverbs 17:13-26
English Standard Version
13 If anyone (A)returns evil for good,
(B)evil will not depart from his house.
14 The beginning of strife is like letting out water,
so (C)quit before the quarrel breaks out.
15 He who (D)justifies the wicked and he who (E)condemns the righteous
are both alike an abomination to the Lord.
16 Why should a fool have money in his hand (F)to buy wisdom
when he has no sense?
17 (G)A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for adversity.
18 One who lacks sense gives a pledge
and puts up security in the presence of his neighbor.
19 Whoever loves transgression loves strife;
he who (H)makes his door high seeks destruction.
20 (I)A man of crooked heart does not discover good,
and one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity.
21 He who (J)sires a fool gets himself sorrow,
and the father of a fool has no joy.
22 (K)A joyful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit (L)dries up the bones.
23 The wicked accepts (M)a bribe in secret[a]
to (N)pervert the ways of justice.
24 (O)The discerning sets his face toward wisdom,
but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
25 (P)A foolish son is a grief to his father
(Q)and bitterness to (R)her who bore him.
26 (S)To impose a fine on a righteous man is not good,
nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 17:23 Hebrew a bribe from the bosom
Proverbs 17:13-26
Christian Standard Bible
Proverbs 17:13-26
Christian Standard Bible
14 To start a conflict is to release a flood;
stop the dispute before it breaks out.(C)
15 Acquitting the guilty and condemning the just(D)—
both are detestable to the Lord.
16 Why does a fool have money in his hand
with no intention of buying wisdom?(E)
17 A friend loves at all times,(F)
and a brother is born for a difficult time.
19 One who loves to offend loves strife;(H)
one who builds a high threshold invites injury.
20 One with a twisted mind will not succeed,
and one with deceitful speech will fall into ruin.(I)
21 A man fathers a fool to his own sorrow;
the father of a fool has no joy.(J)
22 A joyful heart is good medicine,
but a broken spirit dries up the bones.(K)
24 Wisdom is the focus of the perceptive,
but a fool’s eyes(N) roam to the ends of the earth.
25 A foolish son is grief to his father
and bitterness to the one who bore him.(O)
Proverbs 17:13-26
New American Standard Bible 1995
Proverbs 17:13-26
New American Standard Bible 1995
13 He who (A)returns evil for good,
(B)Evil will not depart from his house.
14 The beginning of strife is like letting out water,
So (C)abandon the quarrel before it breaks out.
15 He who (D)justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous,
Both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord.
16 Why is there a price in the hand of a fool to (E)buy wisdom,
When [a]he has no sense?
17 A (F)friend loves at all times,
And a brother is born for adversity.
18 A man lacking in [b]sense [c](G)pledges
And becomes guarantor in the presence of his neighbor.
19 He who (H)loves transgression loves strife;
He who (I)raises his door seeks destruction.
20 He who has a crooked [d]mind (J)finds no good,
And he who is (K)perverted in his language falls into evil.
21 He who (L)sires a fool does so to his sorrow,
And the father of a fool has no joy.
22 A (M)joyful heart [e]is good medicine,
But a broken spirit (N)dries up the bones.
23 A wicked man receives a (O)bribe from the bosom
To (P)pervert the ways of justice.
24 Wisdom is in the presence of the one who has understanding,
But the (Q)eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
25 A (R)foolish son is a grief to his father
And (S)bitterness to her who bore him.
26 It is also not good to (T)fine the righteous,
Nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 17:16 Lit there is no heart
- Proverbs 17:18 Lit heart
- Proverbs 17:18 Lit shakes hands
- Proverbs 17:20 Lit heart
- Proverbs 17:22 Lit causes good healing
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.
New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB1995) 
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.