Proverbs 17

1Better is a dry crust with peace than a house full of sacrificial feasts with strife.

2A prudent servant will rule over a son who brings shame, and among brothers he will share the inheritance.

3The crucible is for silver, and the furnace for gold, but Yahweh tests hearts.

4An evildoer listens to wicked lips; a liar gives ear to a destructive tongue.

5Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker; he who rejoices at calamity will not go unpunished.

6Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers.

7Lofty speech does not suit a fool; much less do lying lips suit a nobleman.

8To its owner, a bribe is a stone that brings favor; wherever he turns, he succeeds.

9Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but whoever repeats a matter separates a close friend.

10A rebuke sinks deeper into one who understands than a hundred blows into a fool.

11An evil man seeks only rebellion, and a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

12Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly.

13Whoever repays evil for good—calamity will not depart from his house.

14The beginning of strife is like letting out water; so abandon the quarrel before it breaks out.

15The one who acquits the wicked and the one who condemns the righteous—both alike are an abomination to Yahweh.

16Why does a fool have money in his hand to buy wisdom when he has no sense?

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

18A man lacking sense shakes hands, pledging security before his neighbor.

19Whoever loves transgression loves strife; whoever raises his doorway seeks ruin.

20One with a crooked heart finds no good, and one with a twisted tongue falls into trouble.

21He who fathers a fool does so to his own grief, and the father of a fool has no joy.

22A joyful heart promotes healing, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

23A wicked man takes a bribe from the bosom to pervert the paths of justice.

24Wisdom is before a discerning man, but the eyes of a fool are at the ends of the earth.

25A foolish son is grief to his father, and bitterness to the woman who bore him.

26It is also not good to punish a righteous man, nor to strike nobles for their uprightness.

27Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and a man of understanding is cool in spirit.

28Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; one who closes his lips is considered discerning.