Proverbs 17

Tree of Life Version

² A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful son
and will share the inheritance with the brothers.

³ A crucible is for silver
and a furnace is for gold,
but Adonai tests the heart.

⁴ An evildoer listens to wicked lips;
a liar listens to a malicious tongue.

⁵ Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker.
Whoever rejoices at calamity will not go unpunished.

⁶ Grandchildren are the crown of the elderly
and the glory of children is their parents.

⁷ Arrogant lips are not fitting for a fool,
much less lying lips for a ruler.
⁸ A bribe is a charm in the eyes of its owner.
Wherever he turns, he succeeds.

⁹ Whoever covers up an offense seeks love.^[a]
Whoever repeats a matter separates close friends.

¹⁰ A rebuke makes a greater impression on a discerning person
than a hundred lashes on a fool.

¹¹ An evil man seeks only rebellion,
and so a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

¹² Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs
than to deal with a fool in his folly.

¹³ Whoever rewards evil for good—
evil will never leave his house.

¹⁴ The beginning of strife is like letting out water—
so stop a quarrel before it breaks out.

¹⁵ Acquitting the wicked and condemning the righteous:
both are an abomination to Adonai.

¹⁶ Of what use is money in the hand of a fool
since he has no intention of acquiring wisdom?

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

¹⁸ A man lacking judgment shakes hands on a deal
and puts up financial security for his neighbor.

¹⁹ He who loves sin loves strife.
One who builds a high gate invites destruction.

²⁰ A perverse heart finds nothing good
a devious tongue falls into trouble.

²¹ Whoever fathers a fool gets grief.
There is no joy for the father of a disgraceful son.

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

²³ The wicked one receives a bribe in secret
to pervert the ways of justice.

²⁴ Wisdom is before the person of understanding,
but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
²⁵ A foolish son is grief to his father
and bitterness to her that bore him.
²⁶ Also, to punish a righteous person is not good,
nor to beat up an honorable one for his integrity.
²⁷ One with knowledge restrains his words,
and a discerning person stays calm.
²⁸ Even a fool, who keeps quiet, is considered wise,
discerning, if he seals his lips.