Proverbs 17

Proverbs 17 – New International Version (NIV)

1. Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife.
2. A prudent servant will rule over a disgraceful son and will share the inheritance as one of the family.
3. The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the heart.
4. A wicked person listens to deceitful lips; a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.
5. Whoever mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker; whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished.
6. Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.
7. Eloquent lips are unsuited to a godless fool— how much worse lying lips to a ruler!
8. A bribe is seen as a charm by the one who gives it; they think success will come at every turn.
9. Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.
10. A rebuke impresses a discerning person more than a hundred lashes a fool.
11. Evildoers foster rebellion against God; the messenger of death will be sent against them.
12. Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool bent on folly.
13. Evil will never leave the house of one who pays back evil for good.
14. Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.
15. Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent— the Lord detests them both.
16. Why should fools have money in hand to buy wisdom, when they are not able to understand it?
17. A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.
18. One who has no sense shakes hands in pledge and puts up security for a neighbor.
19. Whoever loves a quarrel loves sin; whoever builds a high gate invites destruction.
20. One whose heart is corrupt does not prosper; one whose tongue is perverse falls into trouble.
21. To have a fool for a child brings grief; there is no joy for the parent of a godless fool.
22. A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
23. The wicked accept bribes in secret to pervert the course of justice.
24. A discerning person keeps wisdom in view, but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth.
25. A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to the mother who bore him.
26. If imposing a fine on the innocent is not good, surely to flog honest officials is not right.
27. The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.
28. Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues.

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Proverbs 17 – King James Version (KJV)

1. Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, Than an house full of sacrifices with strife.
2. A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth 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 trieth the hearts.
4. A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; And a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
5. Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: And he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.
6. Children’s children are the crown of old men; And the glory of children are their fathers.
7. Excellent speech becometh not a fool: Much less do lying lips a prince.
8. A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: Whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
9. He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; But he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.
10. A reproof entereth more into a wise man Than an hundred stripes into a fool.
11. An evil man seeketh only rebellion: Therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
12. Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, Rather than a fool in his folly.
13. Whoso rewardeth evil for good, Evil shall not depart from his house.
14. The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: Therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.
15. He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, Even they both are abomination to the LORD.
16. Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, Seeing he hath no heart to it?
17. A friend loveth at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.
18. A man void of understanding striketh hands, And becometh surety in the presence of his friend.
19. He loveth transgression that loveth strife: And he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.
20. He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: And he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
21. He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: And the father of a fool hath no joy.
22. A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: But a broken spirit drieth the bones.
23. A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom To pervert the ways of judgment.
24. Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; But the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
25. A foolish son is a grief to his father, And bitterness to her that bare him.
26. Also to punish the just is not good, Nor to strike princes for equity.
27. He that hath knowledge spareth his words: And a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
28. Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: And he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.