Proverbs 17

1 A piece of bread enjoyed in peace is better than a house full of many good things and unjust sacrifices with fighting.

2 A household servant who understands will rule foolish masters and divide portions among brothers.

3 As silver and gold are tested in a furnace, so chosen hearts are tested before the Lord.

4 An evil person listens to the tongue of lawbreakers, but a righteous person pays no attention to lying lips.

5 Whoever laughs at the poor provokes their Maker, and whoever rejoices over someone’s destruction will not be acquitted, but whoever has compassion will receive mercy.

6 Children’s children are the crown of the old, and their fathers are the boast of children. The faithful person possesses a whole world of wealth, but the faithless person does not have even a small coin.

7 Faithful lips do not suit a fool, nor do lying lips suit a righteous person.

8 Instruction is a reward of favor to those who use it, and wherever it turns, it will succeed.

9 Whoever conceals injuries seeks friendship, but whoever hates to conceal them separates friends and relatives.

10 A threat crushes the heart of a discerning person, but a fool has no perception even after being scourged.

11 Every evil person stirs up disputes, but the Lord will send a merciless messenger against him.

12 Concern may fall upon a man who understands, but fools will reason about evils.

13 Whoever returns evil for good will never have evil removed from his house.

14 The beginning of righteousness gives authority to words, but rebellion and fighting lead ahead of poverty.

15 Whoever judges the unjust righteous and the righteous unjust is unclean and detestable before God.

16 Why did a fool come to have wealth? A senseless person cannot acquire wisdom. Whoever builds his own house high seeks crushing, and whoever twists away from learning will fall into evils.

17 Let a friend be there for you at every time, and let brothers be useful in distress, for this is why they are born.

18 A foolish man applauds and rejoices over himself, just like someone who gives security for his own friend.

19 A lover of sin rejoices in fights.

20 A hardhearted person does not encounter good things, and a man whose tongue constantly changes will fall into evils.

21 A fool’s heart brings pain to the one who possesses it. A father does not rejoice over an uninstructed son, but a discerning son gladdens his mother.

22 A rejoicing heart produces good health, but the bones of a sorrowful man dry up.

23 The roads of one who unjustly receives gifts against his chest do not succeed, and an ungodly person turns aside roads of righteousness.

24 A wise man has an understanding face, but a fool’s eyes range to the ends of the earth.

25 A foolish son is anger to his father and pain to the woman who bore him.

26 It is not good to punish a righteous man or holy to plot against righteous rulers.

27 Whoever restrains himself from uttering a harsh word is discreet, and a patient man is discerning.

28 When a senseless person asks about wisdom, wisdom will be credited to him, and someone who makes himself silent will seem discerning.