Proverbs 17-18

Proverbs 17

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

²A wise servant shall 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 Jehovah trieth the hearts.

⁴The evil-doer giveth heed to iniquitous lips; the liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue.

⁵Whoso mocketh a poor man reproacheth his Maker; he that is glad at calamity shall not be held innocent.

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

⁷Excellent speech becometh not a vile man; how much less do lying lips a noble!

⁸A gift is a precious stone in the eyes of the possessor: whithersoever it turneth it prospereth.

⁹He that covereth transgression seeketh love; but he that bringeth a matter up again separateth very friends.

¹⁰A reproof entereth more deeply into him that hath understanding than a hundred stripes into a fool.

¹¹An evil man seeketh only rebellion; but 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 contention is as when one letteth out water; therefore leave off strife before it become vehement.

¹⁵He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the righteous, even they both are abomination to Jehovah.

¹⁶To what purpose is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no sense?

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

¹⁸A senseless man striketh hands, becoming surety for his neighbour.

¹⁹He loveth transgression that loveth a quarrel; he that maketh high his gate seeketh destruction.

²⁰He that hath a perverse heart findeth no good; and he that shifteth about with his tongue falleth into evil.

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

²²A joyful heart promoteth healing; but a broken spirit drieth up the bones.

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

²⁴Wisdom is before 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 bore him.

²⁶To punish a righteous man is not good, nor to strike nobles because of their uprightness.

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

²⁸Even a fool when he holdeth his peace is reckoned wise, and he that shutteth his lips, intelligent.

Proverbs 18

¹He that separateth himself seeketh his pleasure, he is vehement 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 reproach.

⁴The words of a man's mouth are deep waters, and the fountain of wisdom is a gushing brook.

⁵It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to wrong the righteous in judgment.

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

⁷A fool's mouth is destruction to him, and his lips are a snare to his soul.

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

⁹He also who is indolent in his work is brother of the destroyer.

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

¹¹The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as a 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 sustaineth his infirmity; but a broken spirit who can bear?

¹⁵The heart of an intelligent man 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 is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.

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

¹⁹A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city; and contentions are as the bars of a palace.

²⁰A man's belly is satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; with the increase of his lips is he satisfied.

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

²²Whoso hath found a wife hath found a good thing, and hath obtained favour from Jehovah.

²³He that is poor speaketh with supplications, but the rich answereth roughly.

²⁴A man of many friends will come to ruin but there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.