Proverbs 17
28 verses
Chapter 17 continues exploring wisdom in relationships and social contexts, with attention to friendship, justice, family discord, and the various ways that pride and strife emerge and are remedied in human community. The chapter begins with the observation that a morsel of bread with quiet is better than a house full of feasting and strife, establishing that relational peace is more valuable than material abundance, a theme that recurs throughout: the beginning of strife is like letting out water while from the beginning discord breaks forth. The chapter emphasizes that the faithful friend loves at all times and becomes a brother in adversity; that wisdom rests on the lips of the discerning and is not found in the heart of fools; that even a fool who holds his peace is thought wise until he speaks. Memorable images include the crucible for silver and the furnace for gold (suggesting that trials reveal and refine character), the wicked listening to false lips and falsehood flowing from the wicked's mouth, and the slackness of hands bringing decay. The chapter also introduces the theme of justice: the righteous love justice while the wicked love iniquity; the king sits on the throne of justice and drives away all evil. Chapter 17 emphasizes that wisdom in relationships requires vigilance against pride and strife, cultivation of faithful friendship, and pursuit of justice, making clear that community and relationships are not peripheral to wisdom but central to it.
VERSES IN THIS CHAPTER
1
Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.
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2
A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.
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3
The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the Lord trieth the hearts.
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4
A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
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5
Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.
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6
Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.
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7
Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
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8
A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
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9
He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.
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10
A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.
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11
An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
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12
Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
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13
Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
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14
The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.
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15
He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the Lord.
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There's something deeply comforting about knowing that the same God who spoke these words is the same yesterday, today, ...
16
Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?
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17
A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
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18
A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.
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19
He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.
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20
He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
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21
He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.
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22
A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
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23
A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.
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24
Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
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25
A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.
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26
Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.
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27
He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
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28
Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.
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COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
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