Proverbs 17

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

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

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

4A wicked doer
giveth heed
to false lips;
and a liar
giveth ear
to a naughty tongue.

5Whoso
mocketh the poor
reproacheth his Maker:
and he that is glad
at calamities 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
repeateth a matter
separateth very friends.

10A reproof
entereth more
into a wise man
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 it
be meddled with.

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

16Wherefore
is there a price
in the hand of a fool
to get wisdom,
seeing he hath
no heart to it?

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 friend.

19He loveth transgression
that loveth strife:
and he that
exalteth 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
doeth good like a medicine:
but a broken spirit
drieth the bones.

23A wicked man
taketh a gift
out of the bosom
to pervert
the ways 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 bare him.

26Also
to punish the just
is not good,
nor to strike princes
for equity.

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

28Even a fool,
when he holdeth his peace,
is counted wise: and
he that shutteth
his lips is esteemed
a man of understanding.