Proverbs 17:15-28
New Living Translation
15 Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent—
both are detestable to the Lord.
16 It is senseless to pay to educate a fool,
since he has no heart for learning.
17 A friend is always loyal,
and a brother is born to help in time of need.
18 It’s poor judgment to guarantee another person’s debt
or put up security for a friend.
19 Anyone who loves to quarrel loves sin;
anyone who trusts in high walls invites disaster.
20 The crooked heart will not prosper;
the lying tongue tumbles into trouble.
21 It is painful to be the parent of a fool;
there is no joy for the father of a rebel.
22 A cheerful heart is good medicine,
but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.
23 The wicked take secret bribes
to pervert the course of justice.
24 Sensible people keep their eyes glued on wisdom,
but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth.
25 Foolish children[a] bring grief to their father
and bitterness to the one who gave them birth.
26 It is wrong to punish the godly for being good
or to flog leaders for being honest.
27 A truly wise person uses few words;
a person with understanding is even-tempered.
28 Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent;
with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent.
Footnotes
- 17:25 Hebrew A foolish son.
Proverbs 17:15-28
New International Version
16 Why should fools have money in hand to buy wisdom,
when they are not able to understand it?(C)
17 A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for a time of adversity.(D)
18 One who has no sense shakes hands in pledge
and puts up security for a neighbor.(E)
19 Whoever loves a quarrel loves sin;
whoever builds a high gate invites destruction.
20 One whose heart is corrupt does not prosper;
one whose tongue is perverse falls into trouble.
21 To have a fool for a child brings grief;
there is no joy for the parent of a godless fool.(F)
24 A discerning person keeps wisdom in view,
but a fool’s eyes(K) wander to the ends of the earth.
25 A foolish son brings grief to his father
and bitterness to the mother who bore him.(L)
26 If imposing a fine on the innocent is not good,(M)
surely to flog honest officials is not right.
27 The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint,(N)
and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.(O)
28 Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent,
and discerning if they hold their tongues.(P)
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