Proverbs 17:13-23

New International Version

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

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

¹⁵Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent^(D)—
the Lord detests them both.^(E)

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

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

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

¹⁹Whoever loves a quarrel loves sin;
whoever builds a high gate invites destruction.

²⁰One whose heart is corrupt does not prosper;
one whose tongue is perverse falls into trouble.

²¹To have a fool for a child brings grief;
there is no joy for the parent of a godless fool.^(I)

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

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

Proverbs 17:13-23

King James Version

¹³Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

¹⁴The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.

¹⁵He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the Lord.

¹⁶Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?

¹⁷A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

¹⁸A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.

¹⁹He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.

²⁰He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.

²¹He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.

²²A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

²³A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.

New International Version (NIV)