Proverbs

Proverbs 17 ©

Various observations of moral virtues and their contrary vices.

1

BETTER is aa dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of 1sacrifices with strife.

a ch. 15.16,17; 16.8. Ec. 4.6. 1Ti. 6.6,8. Ps. 37.16.
2

A wise servant shall have rule over ba son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.

b ch. 10.5; 19.26; 29.15; 28.7,24.
3

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

c ch. 27.21. Ps. 26.2; 17.3; 139.23,24. Je. 17.10. Mal. 3.3. 1Pe. 1.7. Is. 48.10.
4

A dwicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a *naughty tongue.

d 1Sa. 22.7-11. 1Ki. 22.6-27. ch. 29.12.
5

eWhoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be 2unpunished.

e ch. 14.31. Ja. 2.15,16. 1Jn. 3.17. Ob. 11-16. Je. 17.16. Job 31.29. Re. 11.10,13.
6

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

f Ps. 127.3,5; 128.3,6. Job 42.16. Ge. 50.23.
7

3Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do 4lying lips a prince.

8

A ggift is as 5a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.

g ch. 18.16; 19.6; 21.14. Ge. 33. 1Sa. 25. 2Sa. 16.1-4.
9

He hthat covereth a transgression 6seeketh love; ibut he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.

h ch. 10.12; 19.11. 1Pe. 4.8.
i ch. 16.28; 6.19.
10

7A jreproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.

j Ps. 141.5. ch. 9.8,9; 12.1; 15.5,31,32.
11

An kevil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

k 2Sa. 18; 20. Nu. 16.
12

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

l Ho. 13.8. ch. 28.15. 2Ki. 2.24.
13

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

m Ps. 55.12-15; 35.12; 109.4-20. Ro. 12.17. 1Th. 5.15. 1Pe. 3.9. Mat. 5.39.
14

The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: ntherefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.

n He. 12.14. Ro. 12.18. ch. 13.10; 16.32; 20.3; 25.8,9. 1Th. 4.11.
15

oHe that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.

o Ex. 23.7. ch. 24.24. Is. 5.23,24. Eze. 13.10,16. 1Ki. 21.13.
16

pWherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?

p Is. 55.1-7. Ps. 81.8-11. Ho. 11.2,7. Ac. 13.46,47. 2Co. 6.1. He. 2.3.
17

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

q ch. 18.24. 1Sa. 18-20; 23. 2Sa. 1; 9. Ru. 1.16. Es. 4.14. Job 6.14.
18

A rman void of 8understanding *striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.

r ch. 6.1-5; 11.15; 20.16; 22.26,27.
19

He sloveth transgression that loveth strife: and the that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.

s Ps. 36.1-4. ch. 10.12; 13.10. Ja. 4.1; 3.6,16.
t ch. 11.2; 16.18; 18.12; 29.23. 1Sa. 25.36-38. Da. 4.30,31.
20

9He uthat hath a *froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.

u Ps. 18.26. ch. 3.32; 8.13; 16.28; 22.5; 18.6,7. Ja. 3.6.
21

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

v ch. 10.1; 15.20; 19.13. v.25. Ge. 26.35; 42.38.
22

A wmerry heart doeth good 10like a medicine: but xa broken spirit drieth the bones.

w ch. 15.13,15; 12.25. Ec. 9.7-9. Ps. 22.15. 2Co. 2.7.
x ch. 18.14.
23

A ywicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.

y ch. 21.14; 18.16. 1Sa. 8.3. Ex. 23.2,8. 2Ki. 5.21. Ec. 7.9.
24

zWisdom is before him that hath understanding; abut the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.

a ch. 23.5. Ps. 119.37.
z ch. 14.6; 15.14. Ec. 2.14; 8.1.
25

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

b ch. 10.1; 15.20; 19.13. v.25. 2Sa. 13-18.
26

cAlso to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.

c 1Ki. 1. ch. 18.5; 10.19. v.11,15. Ja. 1.19; 3.2.
27

He dthat hath knowledge espareth his words: and a man of understanding is of 11an excellent spirit.

d Am. 5.13. Ps. 39.1,9.
e ch. 10.19. Ja. 1.19.
28

fEven a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

f Job 13.5. Ec. 5.3; 10.3. ch. 15.2; 14.6-8; 18.6,7.