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← Proverbs 16

The Judgment of Solomon, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.

Proverbschapter 17

28 verses · Solomon and others · 10th to 5th century BC · Wisdom and poetry

The Judgment of Solomon, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.

The line breaks below follow the poem's own punctuation. The section titles are this site's own.

A.Better a Dry Morsel With Quietness; Strife Is Water Let Loosevv. 1-14

Better a dry morsel in quietness than a house full of feasting with strife.

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

A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but the LORD is the tester of hearts.

A wicked man listens to evil lips; a liar gives ear to a destructive tongue.

He who mocks the poor insults their Maker; whoever gloats over calamity will not go unpunished.

Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of a son is his father.

Eloquent words are unfit for a fool; how much worse are lying lips to a ruler!

A bribe is a charm to its giver; wherever he turns, he succeeds.

Whoever conceals an offense promotes love, but he who brings it up separates friends.

A rebuke cuts into a man of discernment deeper than a hundred lashes cut into a fool.

An evil man seeks only rebellion; a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly.

If anyone returns evil for good, evil will never leave his house.

To start a quarrel is to release a flood; so abandon the dispute before it breaks out.

B.A Friend Loveth at All Times; a Cheerful Heart Is Medicinevv. 15-28

Acquitting the guilty and condemning the righteous—both are detestable to the LORD.

Why should the fool have money in his hand with no intention of buying wisdom?

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

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

He who loves transgression loves strife; he who builds his gate high invites destruction.

The one with a perverse heart finds no good, and he whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble.

A man fathers a fool to his own grief; the father of a fool has no joy.

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

A wicked man takes a covert bribe to subvert the course of justice.

Wisdom is the focus of the discerning, but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.

A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him.

It is surely not good to punish the innocent or to flog a noble for his honesty.

A man of knowledge restrains his words, and a man of understanding maintains a calm spirit.

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

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