Proverbs 17

International Standard Version

² A prudent servant will rule in place of a disgraceful son
    and will share in the inheritance among brothers.

³ The crucible is for silver
    and the furnace for gold—
        but the Lord assays hearts.

⁴ Whoever practices evil pays attention to wicked speech,
    and the liar listens to malicious talk.
⁵ Whoever mocks the poor shows contempt for their maker,
    and whoever is happy about disaster
        will not go unpunished.

⁶ Grandchildren are the crown of the aged,
    and the pride of children is their parents.

⁷ Appropriate speech is inconsistent with the fool;
    how much more are deceitful statements^[c] with a prince!

⁸ A bribe works wonders^[d] in the eyes of its giver;
    wherever he turns he prospers.

⁹ Anyone who overlooks^[e] an offense promotes love,
    but someone who gossips separates close friends.

¹⁰ A rebuke is more effective with a man of understanding
    than a hundred lashes to a fool.
¹¹ A rebellious person seeks evil;
    a cruel emissary will be sent to oppose him.

¹² It’s better to meet a mother bear who has lost her cubs
    than a fool in his stupidity.

¹³ The person who repays good with evil
    will never see^[f] evil leave his home.

¹⁴ Starting a quarrel is like spilling water—
    so drop the dispute before it escalates.

¹⁵ Exonerating the wicked and condemning the righteous
    are both detestable to the Lord.

¹⁶ What is this? A fool has enough money to buy wisdom,
    but is senseless?^[g]

¹⁷ A friend loves at all times,
    and a brother is there^[h] for times of trouble.

¹⁸ A man who lacks sense^[i] cosigns a loan,^[j]
    becoming a guarantor for his neighbor.

¹⁹ The person who loves transgression loves strife;
    the person who builds a high gate invites destruction.

²⁰ The person whose mind^[k] is perverse does not find good,
    and anyone with perverted speech falls into trouble.

²¹ The man who fathers a fool does so to his sorrow—
    the father of a fool has no joy.

²² A joyful heart is good medicine,
    but a broken spirit drains one’s strength.^[l]

²³ The wicked man takes a bribe in secret
    in order to pervert the course of justice.

²⁴ A person with understanding has wisdom as his objective,
    but a fool looks only^[m] to earthly goals.

²⁵ A foolish son brings grief to his father
    and bitterness to his mother.^[n]

²⁶ Furthermore, it isn’t good to fine the righteous,
    or to beat an official because of his uprightness.

²⁷ Whoever controls what he says is knowledgeable;
    anyone who has a calm spirit is a man of understanding.
²⁸ Even a fool is thought to be wise when he remains silent;
    he is thought to be prudent when he keeps his mouth shut.