Proverbs 17:11-20

New American Standard Bible 1995

¹¹ A rebellious man seeks only evil,
So a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
¹² Let a ^(A)man meet a ^(B)bear robbed of her cubs,
Rather than a fool in his folly.
¹³ He who ^(C)returns evil for good,
^(D)Evil will not depart from his house.
¹⁴ The beginning of strife is like letting out water,
So ^(E)abandon the quarrel before it breaks out.
¹⁵ He who ^(F)justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous,
Both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord.
¹⁶ Why is there a price in the hand of a fool to ^(G)buy wisdom,
When ^[a]he has no sense?
¹⁷ A ^(H)friend loves at all times,
And a brother is born for adversity.
¹⁸ A man lacking in ^[b]sense ^[c](I)pledges
And becomes guarantor in the presence of his neighbor.
¹⁹ He who ^(J)loves transgression loves strife;
He who ^(K)raises his door seeks destruction.
²⁰ He who has a crooked ^[d]mind ^(L)finds no good,
And he who is ^(M)perverted in his language falls into evil.