Proverbs 17-18

Proverbs 17

¹Better is a dry morsel and quietness therewith, than an house full of feasting with strife.

²A servant that dealeth wisely shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part in the inheritance among the brethren.

³The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.

⁴An evil-doer giveth heed to wicked lips; and a liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue.

⁵Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.

⁶Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.

⁷Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.

⁸A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.

⁹He that covereth a transgression seeketh love: but he that harpeth on a matter separateth chief friends.

¹⁰A rebuke entereth deeper into one that hath understanding than an hundred stripes into a fool.

¹¹An evil man seeketh only rebellion; therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

¹²Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.

¹³Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

¹⁴The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before there be quarrelling.

¹⁵He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.

¹⁶Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, seeing he hath no understanding?

¹⁷A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

¹⁸A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his neighbour.

¹⁹He loveth transgression that loveth strife: he that raiseth high his gate seeketh destruction.

²⁰He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.

²¹He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.

²²A merry heart is a good medicine: but a broken spirit drieth up the bones.

²³A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom, to pervert the ways of judgment.

²⁴Wisdom is before the face of him that hath understanding: but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.

²⁵A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.

²⁶Also to punish the righteous is not good, nor to smite the noble for their uprightness.

²⁷He that spareth his words hath knowledge: and he that is of a cool spirit is a man of understanding.

²⁸Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: when he shutteth his lips, he is esteemed as prudent.

Proverbs 18

¹He that separateth himself seeketh his own desire, and rageth against all sound wisdom.

²A fool hath no delight in understanding, but only that his heart may reveal itself.

³When the wicked cometh, there cometh also contempt, and with ignominy cometh reproach.

⁴The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters; the wellspring of wisdom is as a flowing brook.

⁵To accept the person of the wicked is not good, nor to turn aside the righteous in judgment.

⁶A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for stripes.

⁷A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.

⁸The words of a whisperer are as dainty, morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

⁹He also that is slack in his work is brother to him that is a destroyer.

¹⁰The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

¹¹The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own imagination.

¹²Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour goeth humility.

¹³He that giveth answer before he heareth, it is folly and shame unto him.

¹⁴The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a broken spirit who can bear?

¹⁵The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.

¹⁶A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.

¹⁷He that pleadeth his cause first seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him out.

¹⁸The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty.

¹⁹A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and such contentions are like the bars of a castle.

²⁰A man’s belly shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth; with the increase of his lips shall he be satisfied.

²¹Death and life are in the power of the tongue; and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

²²Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.

²³The poor useth entreaties: but the rich answereth roughly.

²⁴He that maketh many friends doeth it to his own destruction: but there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.