Proverbs 17

17 ¹ Better a dry crust eaten in peace than a house full of feasting with strife. ² A prudent servant will rule over a disgraceful son and will share the inheritance among the brothers. ³ The crucible is for silver and the furnace for gold, but our Father tests hearts. ⁴ An evildoer listens to wicked lips; a liar listens to a destructive tongue. ⁵ Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker; whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished. ⁶ Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their parents. ⁷ Fine speech is not fitting for a fool—still less are lying lips for a noble. ⁸ A bribe seems like a magic charm to the one who gives it; wherever he turns, he thinks he will succeed. ⁹ Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but whoever keeps bringing it up separates close friends. ¹⁰ A rebuke goes deeper into a person of understanding than a hundred blows into a fool. ¹¹ A rebellious man seeks only evil, and a cruel messenger will be sent against him. ¹² Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly. ¹³ If anyone returns evil for good, evil will never leave his house. ¹⁴ Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam, so drop the dispute before it bursts out. ¹⁵ Whoever justifies the wicked and whoever condemns the righteous—both alike are detestable to our Father. ¹⁶ Why should a fool have money in hand to buy wisdom, when he has no heart to learn? ¹⁷ A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of trouble. ¹⁸ One who lacks sense shakes hands on a pledge and puts up security for his neighbor. ¹⁹ Whoever loves wrongdoing loves strife; whoever builds his gate high invites destruction. ²⁰ A crooked heart finds no good, and a twisted tongue falls into trouble. ²¹ Whoever fathers a fool brings grief on himself; the father of a godless fool has no joy. ²² A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. ²³ A wicked man takes a bribe in secret to pervert the ways of justice. ²⁴ A discerning person keeps wisdom in view, but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth. ²⁵ A foolish son is a grief to his father and bitterness to the mother who bore him. ²⁶ To punish the righteous is not good, nor to flog the noble for their integrity. ²⁷ Whoever holds back his words has knowledge, and one with a calm spirit is a person of understanding. ²⁸ Even a fool who keeps silent is thought wise; when he closes his lips, he seems discerning.