Add parallel Print Page Options

17 Better is a dry morsel with quiet
    than a house full of feasting with strife.(A)
A slave who deals wisely will rule over a child who acts shamefully
    and will share the inheritance as one of the family.(B)
The crucible is for silver and the furnace for gold,
    but the Lord tests the heart.(C)
An evildoer listens to wicked lips,
    and a liar gives heed to a mischievous tongue.
Those who mock the poor insult their Maker;
    those who are glad at calamity will not go unpunished.(D)
Grandchildren are the crown of the aged,
    and the glory of children is their parents.(E)
Excess speech is not becoming to a fool;
    still less is false speech to a ruler.[a]
A bribe is like a magic stone in the eyes of those who give it;
    wherever they turn they prosper.(F)
One who forgives an affront fosters friendship,
    but one who dwells on disputes will alienate a friend.(G)
10 A rebuke strikes deeper into a discerning person
    than a hundred blows into a fool.
11 Evil people seek only rebellion,
    but a cruel messenger will be sent against them.
12 Better to meet a she-bear robbed of its cubs
    than to confront a fool immersed in folly.(H)
13 Evil will not depart from the house
    of one who returns evil for good.(I)
14 The beginning of strife is like letting out water,
    so stop before the quarrel breaks out.(J)
15 One who justifies the wicked and one who condemns the righteous
    are both alike an abomination to the Lord.(K)
16 Why should fools have a price in hand
    to buy wisdom when they have no mind to learn?
17 A friend loves at all times,
    and kinsfolk are born to share adversity.(L)
18 It is senseless to give a pledge,
    to become surety for a neighbor.(M)
19 One who loves transgression loves strife;
    one who builds a high threshold invites broken bones.(N)
20 The crooked of mind do not prosper,
    and the perverse of tongue fall into calamity.(O)
21 The one who fathers a fool gets trouble;
    the parent of a fool has no joy.(P)
22 A cheerful heart is a good medicine,
    but a downcast spirit dries up the bones.(Q)
23 The wicked accept a concealed bribe
    to pervert the ways of justice.(R)
24 The discerning person looks to wisdom,
    but the eyes of a fool to the ends of the earth.(S)
25 Foolish children are a grief to their father
    and bitterness to her who bore them.(T)
26 To impose a fine on the innocent is not right
    or to flog the noble for their integrity.(U)
27 One who spares words is knowledgeable;
    one who is cool in spirit has understanding.(V)
28 Even fools who keep silent are considered wise;
    when they close their lips, they are deemed intelligent.(W)

Footnotes

  1. 17.7 Or a noble

More Advice for a Son

17 Better a piece of dry bread with peace
than a house full of feasting with quarreling.
A wise slave will rule over a shameful son.
He will share the inheritance with the brothers.
There is a crucible for refining silver and a smelter for gold.
In the same way the Lord examines hearts.
An evildoer pays attention to wicked lips.
A liar feeds upon[a] a destructive tongue.
Whoever mocks a poor person insults his Maker.
A person who rejoices over calamity will not escape.
Grandchildren are a crown for the elderly,
and parents are a source of pride for their children.

Introduction to Fools and Foolishness:
The Consequences of Being a Fool

Eloquent lips are[b] not fitting for a fool.
How much less lying lips for a ruler!
A bribe works like a charm for the person who gives it.
Wherever he turns, he prospers.
A person who covers an offense pursues love,
but one who repeats the matter separates friends.
10 A reprimand impresses a discerning person
    more than receiving a hundred lashes impresses a fool.
11 An evil person promotes only rebellion,
and a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
12 Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs
    than to meet a fool in his stupidity.
13 A person who repays evil for good—
evil will never leave his house.
14 Starting a quarrel is like opening a floodgate,
so stop the dispute before it gets started.
15 Acquitting a guilty person
and convicting an innocent person—
both of these are disgusting[c] to the Lord.
16 Why hand a fool money to buy wisdom,
since he has no aptitude for using it?
17 A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for a time of trouble.
18 A person without sense shakes hands
    to guarantee a loan for his neighbor.
19 A person who loves sin loves conflict.
A person who builds his gate high invites destruction.
20 A crooked mind does not find good.
A perverted tongue will fall into disaster.
21 The man who fathers a fool has grief,
and the father of an arrogant fool will have no joy.
22 A cheerful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
23 A wicked person secretly accepts a bribe
to pervert the ways of justice.
24 Wisdom is right in front of a discerning person,
but a fool’s eyes wander to the end of the earth.

Avoiding Fools and Foolishness

25 A foolish son is an aggravation to his father
and bitterness to the woman who bore him.
26 It is not good to impose a fine on a righteous person
nor to flog officials because of their uprightness.
27 A person with knowledge restrains his words.
A person with understanding is even-tempered.
28 Even a stubborn fool who keeps silent will be considered wise.
He is considered to be perceptive if he keeps his lips shut.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:4 Hebrew variant listens to
  2. Proverbs 17:7 Or excessive chatter is
  3. Proverbs 17:15 Or repulsive