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Proverbs 17
Amplified Bible
Proverbs 17
Amplified Bible
Contrast the Upright and the Wicked
17 Better is a dry morsel [of food served] with quietness and peace
Than a house full of feasting [served] with strife and contention.
2
A wise servant will rule over the [unworthy] son who acts shamefully and brings disgrace [to the family]
And [the worthy servant] will share in the inheritance among the brothers.
3
The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold,
But the Lord tests hearts.(A)
4
An evildoer listens closely to wicked lips;
And a liar pays attention to a destructive and malicious tongue.
5
Whoever mocks the poor taunts his Maker,
And he who rejoices at [another’s] disaster will not go unpunished.(B)
6
Grandchildren are the crown of aged men,
And the glory of children is their fathers [who live godly lives].(C)
7
Excellent speech does not benefit a fool [who is spiritually blind],
Much less do lying lips benefit a prince.
8
A bribe is like a bright, precious stone in the eyes of its owner;
Wherever he turns, he prospers.
9
He who covers and forgives an offense seeks love,
But he who repeats or gossips about a matter separates intimate friends.
10
A reprimand goes deeper into one who has understanding and a teachable spirit
Than a hundred lashes into a fool.(D)
11
A rebellious man seeks only evil;
Therefore a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
12
Let a man meet a [ferocious] bear robbed of her cubs
Rather than the [angry, narcissistic] fool in his folly.(E)
13
Whoever returns evil for good,
Evil will not depart from his house.(F)
14
The beginning of strife is like letting out water [as from a small break in a dam; first it trickles and then it gushes];
Therefore [a]abandon the quarrel before it breaks out and tempers explode.
15
He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous
Are both repulsive to the Lord.(G)
16
Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom,
When he has no common sense or even a heart for it?
17
A friend loves at all times,
And a brother is born for adversity.
18
A man lacking common sense gives a pledge
And becomes guarantor [for the debt of another] in the presence of his neighbor.
19
He who loves transgression loves strife and is quarrelsome;
He who [proudly] raises his gate seeks destruction [because of his arrogant pride].
20
He who has a crooked mind finds no good,
And he who is perverted in his language falls into evil.(H)
21
He who becomes the parent of a fool [who is spiritually blind] does so to his sorrow,
And the father of a fool [who is spiritually blind] has no joy.
22
A happy heart is good medicine and a joyful mind causes healing,
But a broken spirit dries up the bones.(I)
23
A wicked man receives a bribe from the [hidden] pocket
To pervert the ways of justice.
24
[Skillful and godly] wisdom is in the presence of a person of understanding [and he recognizes it],
But the eyes of a [thickheaded] fool are on the ends of the earth.
25
A foolish son is a grief and anguish to his father
And bitterness to her who gave birth to him.
26
It is also not good to fine the righteous,
Nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.
27
He who has knowledge restrains and is careful with his words,
And a man of understanding and wisdom has a cool spirit (self-control, an even temper).(J)
28
Even a [callous, arrogant] fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise;
When he closes his lips he is regarded as sensible (prudent, discreet) and a man of understanding.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 17:14 The ancient rabbis derived from this statement the principle of seeking a settlement before a case comes to court (cf Matt 5:25; Luke 12:58).
Proverbs 17
New International Version
Proverbs 17
New International Version
17 Better a dry crust with peace and quiet
than a house full of feasting, with strife.(A)
2 A prudent servant will rule over a disgraceful son
and will share the inheritance as one of the family.
4 A wicked person listens to deceitful lips;
a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.
5 Whoever mocks the poor(D) shows contempt for their Maker;(E)
whoever gloats over disaster(F) will not go unpunished.(G)
6 Children’s children(H) are a crown to the aged,
and parents are the pride of their children.
7 Eloquent lips are unsuited to a godless fool—
how much worse lying lips to a ruler!(I)
8 A bribe is seen as a charm by the one who gives it;
they think success will come at every turn.(J)
9 Whoever would foster love covers over an offense,(K)
but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.(L)
10 A rebuke impresses a discerning person
more than a hundred lashes a fool.
11 Evildoers foster rebellion against God;
the messenger of death will be sent against them.
12 Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs
than a fool bent on folly.(M)
14 Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam;
so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.(P)
16 Why should fools have money in hand to buy wisdom,
when they are not able to understand it?(S)
17 A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for a time of adversity.(T)
18 One who has no sense shakes hands in pledge
and puts up security for a neighbor.(U)
19 Whoever loves a quarrel loves sin;
whoever builds a high gate invites destruction.
20 One whose heart is corrupt does not prosper;
one whose tongue is perverse falls into trouble.
21 To have a fool for a child brings grief;
there is no joy for the parent of a godless fool.(V)
24 A discerning person keeps wisdom in view,
but a fool’s eyes(AA) wander to the ends of the earth.
25 A foolish son brings grief to his father
and bitterness to the mother who bore him.(AB)
26 If imposing a fine on the innocent is not good,(AC)
surely to flog honest officials is not right.
27 The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint,(AD)
and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.(AE)
28 Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent,
and discerning if they hold their tongues.(AF)
Proverbs 17
Living Bible
Proverbs 17
Living Bible
17 A dry crust eaten in peace is better than steak every day along with argument and strife.
2 A wise slave will rule his master’s wicked sons and share their estate.
3 Silver and gold are purified by fire, but God purifies hearts.
4 The wicked enjoy fellowship with others who are wicked; liars enjoy liars.
5 Mocking the poor is mocking the God who made them. He will punish those who rejoice at others’ misfortunes.
6 An old man’s grandchildren are his crowning glory. A child’s glory is his father.
7 Truth from a rebel or lies from a king are both unexpected.
8 A bribe works like magic. Whoever uses it will prosper![a]
9 Love forgets mistakes; nagging about them parts the best of friends.
10 A rebuke to a man of common sense is more effective than a hundred lashes on the back of a rebel.
11 The wicked live for rebellion; they shall be severely punished.[b]
12 It is safer to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool caught in his folly.
13 If you repay evil for good, a curse is upon your home.
14 It is hard to stop a quarrel once it starts,[c] so don’t let it begin.
15 The Lord despises those who say that bad is good and good is bad.
16 It is senseless to pay tuition to educate a rebel who has no heart for truth.[d]
17 A true friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.
18 It is poor judgment to countersign another’s note, to become responsible for his debts.
19 Sinners love to fight; boasting is looking for trouble.
20 An evil man is suspicious of everyone[e] and tumbles into constant trouble.
21 It’s no fun to be a rebel’s father.
22 A cheerful heart does good like medicine, but a broken spirit makes one sick.
23 It is wrong to accept a bribe to twist justice.
24 Wisdom is the main pursuit of sensible men, but a fool’s goals are at the ends of the earth!
25 A rebellious son is a grief to his father and a bitter blow to his mother.
26 How shortsighted to fine the godly for being good! And to punish nobles for being honest!
27-28 The man of few words and settled mind is wise; therefore, even a fool is thought to be wise when he is silent. It pays him to keep his mouth shut.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 17:8 This is a fact, but not to be encouraged!
- Proverbs 17:11 they shall be severely punished, literally, “a stern [ruthless] messenger will be sent against him.”
- Proverbs 17:14 It is hard to stop a quarrel once it starts, literally, “as when one lets out water.”
- Proverbs 17:16 no heart for truth, literally, “no heart.”
- Proverbs 17:20 is suspicious of everyone, or “does not prosper.”
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