Proverbs 17:17-18:13

English Standard Version

¹⁷^(A)A friend loves at all times,
    and a brother is born for adversity.
¹⁸One who lacks sense gives a pledge
    and puts up security in the presence of his neighbor.
¹⁹Whoever loves transgression loves strife;
    he who ^(B)makes his door high seeks destruction.
²⁰^(C)A man of crooked heart does not discover good,
    and one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity.
²¹He who ^(D)sires a fool gets himself sorrow,
    and the father of a fool has no joy.
²²^(E)A joyful heart is good medicine,
    but a crushed spirit ^(F)dries up the bones.
²³The wicked accepts ^(G)a bribe in secret^[a]
    to ^(H)pervert the ways of justice.
²⁴^(I)The discerning sets his face toward wisdom,
    but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
²⁵^(J)A foolish son is a grief to his father
    ^(K)and bitterness to ^(L)her who bore him.
²⁶^(M)To impose a fine on a righteous man is not good,
    nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.
²⁷Whoever ^(N)restrains his words has knowledge,
    and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
²⁸Even a fool ^(O)who keeps silent is considered wise;
    when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.
18 Whoever ^(P)isolates himself seeks his own desire;
    he breaks out against all sound judgment.
²A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,
    but only ^(Q)in expressing his opinion.
³When wickedness comes, contempt comes also,
    and with dishonor comes disgrace.
⁴The words of a man's mouth are ^(R)deep waters;
    the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
⁵It is not good to ^(S)be partial to^[b] the wicked
    or to ^(T)deprive the righteous of justice.
⁶A fool's lips walk into a fight,
    and his mouth invites ^(U)a beating.
⁷^(V)A fool's mouth is his ruin,
    and his lips are a snare to his soul.
⁸^(W)The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels;
    they go down into ^(X)the inner parts of the body.
⁹Whoever is slack in his work
    is a ^(Y)brother to him who destroys.
¹⁰^(Z)The name of the Lord is ^(AA)a strong tower;
    the righteous man runs into it and ^(AB)is safe.
¹¹^(AC)A rich man's wealth is his strong city,
    and like a high wall in his imagination.
¹²^(AD)Before destruction a man's heart is haughty,
    but ^(AE)humility comes before honor.
¹³If one gives an answer ^(AF)before he hears,
    it is his folly and shame.