Proverbs 17

Proverbs 17 (New International Version)

 ¹ Better a dry crust with peace and quiet
       than a house full of feasting, ^[a] with strife.

 ² A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful son,
       and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.

 ³ The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,
       but the LORD tests the heart.

 ⁴ A wicked man listens to evil lips;
       a liar pays attention to a malicious tongue.

 ⁵ He who mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker;
       whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished.

 ⁶ Children's children are a crown to the aged,
       and parents are the pride of their children.

 ⁷ Arrogant ^[b] lips are unsuited to a fool—
       how much worse lying lips to a ruler!

 ⁸ A bribe is a charm to the one who gives it;
       wherever he turns, he succeeds.

 ⁹ He who covers over an offense promotes love,
       but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.

 ¹⁰ A rebuke impresses a man of discernment
       more than a hundred lashes a fool.

 ¹¹ An evil man is bent only on rebellion;
       a merciless official will be sent against him.

 ¹² Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs
       than a fool in his folly.

 ¹³ If a man pays back evil for good,
       evil will never leave his house.

 ¹⁴ Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam;
       so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.

 ¹⁵ Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent—
       the LORD detests them both.

 ¹⁶ Of what use is money in the hand of a fool,
       since he has no desire to get wisdom?

 ¹⁷ A friend loves at all times,
       and a brother is born for adversity.

 ¹⁸ A man lacking in judgment strikes hands in pledge
       and puts up security for his neighbor.

 ¹⁹ He who loves a quarrel loves sin;
       he who builds a high gate invites destruction.

 ²⁰ A man of perverse heart does not prosper;
       he whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble.

 ²¹ To have a fool for a son brings grief;
       there is no joy for the father of a fool.

 ²² A cheerful heart is good medicine,
       but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

 ²³ A wicked man accepts a bribe in secret
       to pervert the course of justice.

 ²⁴ A discerning man keeps wisdom in view,
       but a fool's eyes wander to the ends of the earth.

 ²⁵ A foolish son brings grief to his father
       and bitterness to the one who bore him.

 ²⁶ It is not good to punish an innocent man,
       or to flog officials for their integrity.

 ²⁷ A man of knowledge uses words with restraint,
       and a man of understanding is even-tempered.

 ²⁸ Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent,
       and discerning if he holds his tongue.

Footnotes:

1. Proverbs 17:1 Hebrew sacrifices
2. Proverbs 17:7 Or Eloquent