Proverbs 17

1Better a dry crust with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife.

2A servant who acts wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully and will share the inheritance with the brothers.

3The crucible is for silver and the furnace for gold, but Yahweh tests hearts.

4An evildoer pays attention to wicked lips; a liar listens to a destructive tongue.

5Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker; whoever rejoices at disaster will not go unpunished.

6Grandchildren are the crown of the old, and the glory of children is their fathers.

7Fine speech does not suit a senseless fool; still less do lying lips suit a noble.

8A bribe is a lucky stone in the eyes of its owner; wherever he turns, he succeeds.

9Whoever covers over an offense seeks love, but whoever repeats a matter separates close friends.

10A rebuke goes deeper into a discerning person than a hundred blows into a fool.

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

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

13Whoever repays evil for good—evil will not leave his house.

14Starting a quarrel is like letting out water, so drop the dispute before it breaks out.

15Whoever acquits the wicked and whoever condemns the righteous—both of them are detestable to Yahweh.

16Why should a fool have money in his hand to buy wisdom when he has no sense?

17A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of trouble.

18A person lacking sense shakes hands on a pledge and puts up security in the presence of his neighbor.

19Whoever loves offense loves strife; whoever builds his doorway high is looking for destruction.

20One with a crooked heart finds nothing good, and one with a twisted tongue falls into trouble.

21Whoever fathers a fool brings himself grief, and the father of a senseless fool has no joy.

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

23A wicked person takes a bribe from under his cloak to bend the paths of justice.

24Wisdom is right in front of the discerning, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.

25A foolish son is a grief to his father and bitterness to the mother who bore him.

26It is not good even to fine the righteous, or to flog nobles for their uprightness.

27Whoever holds back his words has knowledge, and a person of understanding is restrained in spirit.

28Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; whoever shuts his lips is thought discerning.