Proverbs 17-18

Proverbs 17

¹Better a bit of dry bread in peace, than a house full of feasting and violent behaviour.

²A servant who does wisely will have rule over a son causing shame, and will have his part in the heritage among brothers.

³The heating-pot is for silver and the oven-fire for gold, but the Lord is the tester of hearts.

⁴A wrongdoer gives attention to evil lips, and a man of deceit gives ear to a damaging tongue.

⁵Whoever makes sport of the poor puts shame on his Maker; and he who is glad because of trouble will not go free from punishment.

⁶Children's children are the crown of old men, and the glory of children is their fathers.

⁷Fair words are not to be looked for from a foolish man, much less are false lips in a ruler.

⁸An offering of money is like a stone of great price in the eyes of him who has it: wherever he goes, he does well.

⁹He who keeps a sin covered is looking for love; but he who keeps on talking of a thing makes division between friends.

¹⁰A word of protest goes deeper into one who has sense than a hundred blows into a foolish man.

¹¹An uncontrolled man is only looking for trouble, so a cruel servant will be sent against him.

¹²It is better to come face to face with a bear whose young ones have been taken away than with a foolish man acting foolishly.

¹³If anyone gives back evil for good, evil will never go away from his house.

¹⁴The start of fighting is like the letting out of water: so give up before it comes to blows.

¹⁵He who gives a decision for the evil-doer and he who gives a decision against the upright, are equally disgusting to the Lord.

¹⁶How will money in the hand of the foolish get him wisdom, seeing that he has no sense?

¹⁷A friend is loving at all times, and becomes a brother in times of trouble.

¹⁸A man without sense gives his hand in an agreement, and makes himself responsible before his neighbour.

¹⁹The lover of fighting is a lover of sin: he who makes high his doorway is looking for destruction.

²⁰Nothing good comes to him whose heart is fixed on evil purposes: and he who has an evil tongue will come to trouble.

²¹He who has an unwise son gets sorrow for himself, and the father of a foolish son has no joy.

²²A glad heart makes a healthy body, but a crushed spirit makes the bones dry.

²³A sinner takes an offering out of his robe, to get a decision for himself in a cause.

²⁴Wisdom is before the face of him who has sense; but the eyes of the foolish are on the ends of the earth.

²⁵A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitter pain to her who gave him birth.

²⁶To give punishment to the upright is not good, or to give blows to the noble for their righteousness.

²⁷He who has knowledge says little: and he who has a calm spirit is a man of good sense.

²⁸Even the foolish man, when he keeps quiet, is taken to be wise: when his lips are shut he is credited with good sense.

Proverbs 18

¹He who keeps himself separate for his private purpose goes against all good sense.

²A foolish man has no pleasure in good sense, but only to let what is in his heart come to light.

³When the evil-doer comes, a low opinion comes with him, and with the loss of honour comes shame.

⁴The words of a man's mouth are like deep waters: the fountain of wisdom is like a flowing stream.

⁵To have respect for the person of the evil-doer is not good, or to give a wrong decision against the upright.

⁶A foolish man's lips are a cause of fighting, and his mouth makes him open to blows.

⁷The mouth of a foolish man is his destruction, and his lips are a net for his soul.

⁸The words of one who says evil of his neighbour secretly are like sweet food, and go down into the inner parts of the stomach.

⁹He who does not give his mind to his work is brother to him who makes destruction.

¹⁰The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the upright man running into it is safe.

¹¹The property of a man of wealth is his strong town, and it is as a high wall in the thoughts of his heart.

¹²Before destruction the heart of man is full of pride, and before honour goes a gentle spirit.

¹³To give an answer before hearing is a foolish thing and a cause of shame.

¹⁴The spirit of a man will be his support when he is ill; but how may a broken spirit be lifted up?

¹⁵The heart of the man of good sense gets knowledge; the ear of the wise is searching for knowledge.

¹⁶A man's offering makes room for him, letting him come before great men.

¹⁷The man who first puts his cause before the judge seems to be in the right; but then his neighbour comes and puts his cause in its true light.

¹⁸The decision of chance puts an end to argument, parting the strong.

¹⁹A brother wounded is like a strong town, and violent acts are like a locked tower.

²⁰With the fruit of a man's mouth his stomach will be full; the produce of his lips will be his in full measure.

²¹Death and life are in the power of the tongue; and those to whom it is dear will have its fruit for their food.

²²Whoever gets a wife gets a good thing, and has the approval of the Lord.

²³The poor man makes requests for grace, but the man of wealth gives a rough answer.

²⁴There are friends who may be a man's destruction, but there is a lover who keeps nearer than a brother.