Proverbs 17:14-28

English Standard Version

¹⁴ The beginning of strife is like letting out water,
    so ^(A)quit before the quarrel breaks out.
¹⁵ He who ^(B)justifies the wicked and he who ^(C)condemns the righteous
    are both alike an abomination to the Lord.
¹⁶ Why should a fool have money in his hand ^(D)to buy wisdom
    when he has no sense?
^17 (E)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 ^(F)makes his door high seeks destruction.
^20 (G)A man of crooked heart does not discover good,
    and one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity.
²¹ He who ^(H)sires a fool gets himself sorrow,
    and the father of a fool has no joy.
^22 (I)A joyful heart is good medicine,
    but a crushed spirit ^(J)dries up the bones.
²³ The wicked accepts ^(K)a bribe in secret^[a]
    to ^(L)pervert the ways of justice.
^24 (M)The discerning sets his face toward wisdom,
    but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
^25 (N)A foolish son is a grief to his father
    ^(O)and bitterness to ^(P)her who bore him.
^26 (Q)To impose a fine on a righteous man is not good,
    nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.
²⁷ Whoever ^(R)restrains his words has knowledge,
    and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
²⁸ Even a fool ^(S)who keeps silent is considered wise;
    when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.