10 A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding
    than a hundred blows into a fool.
11 An evil man seeks only rebellion,
    and (A)a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
12 Let a man meet (B)a she-bear robbed of her cubs
    (C)rather than a fool in his folly.
13 If anyone (D)returns evil for good,
    (E)evil will not depart from his house.
14 The beginning of strife is like letting out water,
    so (F)quit before the quarrel breaks out.
15 He who (G)justifies the wicked and he who (H)condemns the righteous
    are both alike an abomination to the Lord.
16 Why should a fool have money in his hand (I)to buy wisdom
    when he has no sense?
17 (J)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 (K)makes his door high seeks destruction.
20 (L)A man of crooked heart does not discover good,
    and one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity.
21 He who (M)sires a fool gets himself sorrow,
    and the father of a fool has no joy.
22 (N)A joyful heart is good medicine,
    but a crushed spirit (O)dries up the bones.
23 The wicked accepts (P)a bribe in secret[a]
    to (Q)pervert the ways of justice.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:23 Hebrew a bribe from the bosom

10 A rebuke impresses a discerning person
    more than a hundred lashes a fool.

11 Evildoers foster rebellion against God;
    the messenger of death will be sent against them.

12 Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs
    than a fool bent on folly.(A)

13 Evil will never leave the house
    of one who pays back evil(B) for good.(C)

14 Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam;
    so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.(D)

15 Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent(E)
    the Lord detests them both.(F)

16 Why should fools have money in hand to buy wisdom,
    when they are not able to understand it?(G)

17 A friend loves at all times,
    and a brother is born for a time of adversity.(H)

18 One who has no sense shakes hands in pledge
    and puts up security for a neighbor.(I)

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.(J)

22 A cheerful heart is good medicine,
    but a crushed(K) spirit dries up the bones.(L)

23 The wicked accept bribes(M) in secret
    to pervert the course of justice.(N)

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