Proverbs 17

EJ2000(i) 1 ¶ Better is a dry morsel in peace than the house of contention full of sacrifices for a feast. 2 ¶ A prudent slave shall have rule over a son that causes shame and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren. 3 ¶ The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tries the hearts. 4 ¶ An evil doer gives heed to false lips, and a liar gives ear to the tongue which curses. 5 ¶ Whosoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker, and he that is glad regarding the calamity of someone else shall not go unpunished. 6 ¶ Children’s children are the crown of old men, and the honour of the children are their fathers. 7 ¶ Excellent speech is not suitable for a fool: much less lying lips for a prince! 8 ¶ A bribe is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that has it; wherever it turns, it prospers. 9 ¶ He that covers a transgression seeks love, but he that repeats a matter separates very friends. 10 ¶ Reproof is of more benefit to a wise man than a hundred stripes to a fool. 11 ¶ The rebellious man seeks only evil; therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him. 12 ¶ It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly. 13 ¶ Whosoever rewards evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house. 14 ¶ To release the waters (to speak rashly) is the beginning of contention; therefore, leave off strife before it gets started. 15 ¶ He that justifies the wicked and he that condemns the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD. 16 ¶ Of what good is the price to buy wisdom in the hand of the fool, seeing he has no heart to understand? 17 ¶ A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. 18 ¶ A man void of understanding strikes hands and becomes surety in the presence of his friend. 19 ¶ Transgression loves him that loves strife, and he that exalts his gate seeks destruction. 20 ¶ He that has a perverse heart shall never find good, and he that stirs up trouble with his tongue shall fall into evil. 21 ¶ He that begets a fool does it to his sorrow, and the father of a fool shall have no joy. 22 ¶ A joyful heart shall do good like a medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones. 23 ¶ A wicked man takes a gift in secret to pervert the paths of judgment. 24 ¶ Wisdom appears upon the countenance of him that has understanding, but the eyes of a fool manifest his folly unto the ends of the earth. 25 ¶ The foolish son is a grief to his father and bitterness to her that bore him. 26 ¶ It is certainly not good to condemn the just, nor to smite princes for doing that which is upright. 27 ¶ He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit. 28 Even a fool, when he is silent is counted wise, and he that shuts his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.