Proverbs 17-18

Amplified Bible

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.

18 He who [willfully] separates himself [from God and man] seeks his own desire,
He quarrels against all sound wisdom.
² 
A [closed-minded] fool does not delight in understanding,
But only in revealing his personal opinions [unwittingly displaying his self-indulgence and his stupidity].
³ 
When the wicked man comes [to the depth of evil], contempt [of all that is pure and good] also comes,
And with inner baseness (dishonor) comes outer shame (scorn).
⁴ 
The words of a man’s mouth are like deep waters [copious and difficult to fathom];
The fountain of [mature, godly] wisdom is like a bubbling stream [sparkling, fresh, pure, and life-giving].
⁵ 
To show respect to the wicked person is not good,
Nor to push aside and deprive the righteous of justice.
⁶ 
A fool’s lips bring contention and strife,
And his mouth invites a beating.
⁷ 
A fool’s mouth is his ruin,
And his lips are the snare of his soul.
⁸ 
The words of a whisperer (gossip) are like dainty morsels [to be greedily eaten];
They go down into the innermost chambers of the body [to be remembered and mused upon].
⁹ 
He who is careless in his work
Is a brother to him who destroys.
¹⁰ 
The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
The righteous runs to it and is safe and set on high [far above evil].
¹¹ 
The rich man’s wealth is his strong city,
And like a high wall [of protection] in his own imagination and conceit.
¹² 
Before disaster the heart of a man is haughty and filled with self-importance,
But humility comes before honor.
¹³ 
He who answers before he hears [the facts]—
It is folly and shame to him.^(K)
14 
The spirit of a man sustains him in sickness,
But as for a broken spirit, who can bear it?
¹⁵ 
The mind of the prudent [always] acquires knowledge,
And the ear of the wise [always] seeks knowledge.
¹⁶ 
A man’s gift [given in love or courtesy] makes room for him
And brings him before great men.^(L)
17 
The first one to plead his case seems right,
Until another comes and cross-examines him.
^18 
[b]To cast lots puts an end to quarrels
And decides between powerful contenders.
¹⁹ 
A brother offended is harder to win over than a fortified city,
And contentions [separating families] are like the bars of a castle.
²⁰ 
A man’s stomach will be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth;
He will be satisfied with the consequence of his words.
²¹ 
Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it and indulge it will eat its fruit and bear the consequences of their words.^(M)
22 
He who finds a [^[c]true and faithful] wife finds a good thing
And obtains favor and approval from the Lord.^(N)
23 
The poor man pleads,
But the rich man answers roughly.
²⁴ 
The man of too many friends [chosen indiscriminately] will be broken in pieces and come to ruin,
But there is a [true, loving] friend who [is reliable and] sticks closer than a brother.