Proverbs 17

Contrast the Upright and the Wicked

11Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it Than a house full of 2feasting with strife.2A servant who acts wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully, And will share in the inheritance among brothers.3The 3refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But 4the Lord tests hearts.4An 5evildoer listens to wicked lips; A 6liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.5He who mocks the 7poor taunts his Maker; He who 8rejoices at calamity will not go unpunished.69Grandchildren are the crown of old men, And the 10glory of sons is their fathers.71112Excellent speech is not fitting for a fool, Much less are 13lying lips to a prince.8A 14bribe is a 15charm in the sight of its owner; Wherever he turns, he prospers.9He who 16conceals a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter 17separates intimate friends.10A rebuke goes deeper into one who has understanding Than a hundred blows into a fool.11A rebellious man seeks only evil, So a cruel messenger will be sent against him.12Let a 18man meet a 19bear robbed of her cubs, Rather than a fool in his folly.13He who 20returns evil for good, 21Evil will not depart from his house.14The beginning of strife is like letting out water, So 22abandon the quarrel before it breaks out.15He who 23justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous, Both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord.16Why is there a price in the hand of a fool to 24buy wisdom, When 25he has no sense?17A 26friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.18A man lacking in 27sense 2829pledges And becomes guarantor in the presence of his neighbor.19He who 30loves transgression loves strife; He who 31raises his door seeks destruction.20He who has a crooked 32mind 33finds no good, And he who is 34perverted in his language falls into evil.21He who 35sires a fool does so to his sorrow, And the father of a fool has no joy.22A 36joyful heart 37is good medicine, But a broken spirit 38dries up the bones.23A wicked man receives a 39bribe from the bosom To 40pervert the ways of justice.24Wisdom is in the presence of the one who has understanding, But the 41eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.25A 42foolish son is a grief to his father And 43bitterness to her who bore him.26It is also not good to 44fine the righteous, Nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.27He who 45restrains his words 46has knowledge, And he who has a 47cool spirit is a man of understanding.28Even a fool, when he 48keeps silent, is considered wise; When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.