NETtext - Proverbs - 17

17:1  Better is a dry crust of bread where there is quietness than a house full of feasting with strife.

17:2  A servant who acts wisely will rule over an heir who behaves shamefully, and will share the inheritance along with the relatives.

17:3  The crucible is for refining silver and the furnace is for gold, likewise the LORD tests hearts.

17:4  One who acts wickedly pays attention to evil counsel; a liar listens to a malicious tongue.

17:5  The one who mocks the poor insults his Creator; whoever rejoices over disaster will not go unpunished.

17:6  Grandchildren are like a crown to the elderly, and the glory of children is their parents.

17:7  Excessive speech is not becoming for a fool; how much less are lies for a ruler!

17:8  A bribe works like a charm for the one who offers it; in whatever he does he succeeds.

17:9  The one who forgives an offense seeks love, but whoever repeats a matter separates close friends.

17:10  A rebuke makes a greater impression on a discerning person than a hundred blows on a fool.

17:11  An evil person seeks only rebellion, and so a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

17:12  It is better for a person to meet a mother bear being robbed of her cubs, than to encounter a fool in his folly.

17:13  As for the one who repays evil for good, evil will not leave his house.

17:14  Starting a quarrel is like letting out water; stop it before strife breaks out!

17:15  The one who acquits the guilty and the one who condemns the innocent - both of them are an abomination to the LORD.

17:16  Of what use is money in the hand of a fool, since he has no intention of acquiring wisdom?

17:17  A friend loves at all times, and a relative is born to help in adversity.

17:18  The one who lacks wisdom strikes hands in pledge, and puts up financial security for his neighbor.

17:19  The one who loves a quarrel loves transgression; whoever builds his gate high seeks destruction.

17:20  The one who has a perverse heart does not find good, and the one who is deceitful in speech falls into trouble.

17:21  Whoever brings a fool into the world does so to his grief, and the father of a fool has no joy.

17:22  A cheerful heart brings good healing, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

17:23  A wicked person receives a bribe secretly to pervert the ways of justice.

17:24  Wisdom is directly in front of the discerning person, but the eyes of a fool run to the ends of the earth.

17:25  A foolish child is a grief to his father, and bitterness to the mother who bore him.

17:26  It is terrible to punish a righteous person, and to flog honorable men is wrong.

17:27  The truly wise person restrains his words, and the one who stays calm is discerning.

17:28  Even a fool who remains silent is considered wise, and the one who holds his tongue is deemed discerning.