Proverbs 17 — NETB

17Verse 1Better is a dry crust of bread where there is quietness
than a house full of feasting with strife.
^{Verse 2}A servant who acts wisely will rule
over an heir who behaves shamefully,
and will share the inheritance along with the relatives.
^{Verse 3}The crucible is for refining silver and the furnace is for gold,
likewise the Lord tests hearts.
^{Verse 4}One who acts wickedly pays attention to evil counsel;
a liar listens to a malicious tongue.
^{Verse 5}The one who mocks the poor insults his Creator;
whoever rejoices over disaster will not go unpunished.
^{Verse 6}Grandchildren are like a crown to the elderly,
and the glory of children is their parents.
^{Verse 7}Excessive speech is not becoming for a fool;
how much less are lies for a ruler!
^{Verse 8}A bribe works like a charm for the one who offers it;
in whatever he does he succeeds.
^{Verse 9}The one who forgives an offense seeks love,
but whoever repeats a matter separates close friends.
^{Verse 10}A rebuke makes a greater impression on a discerning person
than a hundred blows on a fool.
^{Verse 11}An evil person seeks only rebellion,
and so a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
^{Verse 12}It is better for a person to meet a mother bear being robbed of her cubs,
than to encounter a fool in his folly.
^{Verse 13}As for the one who repays evil for good,
evil will not leave his house.
^{Verse 14}Starting a quarrel is like letting out water;
stop it before strife breaks out!
^{Verse 15}The one who acquits the guilty and the one who condemns the innocent –
both of them are an abomination to the Lord.
^{Verse 16}Of what use is money in the hand of a fool,
since he has no intention of acquiring wisdom?
^{Verse 17}A friend loves at all times,
and a relative is born to help in adversity.
^{Verse 18}The one who lacks wisdom strikes hands in pledge,
and puts up financial security for his neighbor.
^{Verse 19}The one who loves a quarrel loves transgression;
whoever builds his gate high seeks destruction.
^{Verse 20}The one who has a perverse heart does not find good,
and the one who is deceitful in speech falls into trouble.
^{Verse 21}Whoever brings a fool into the world does so to his grief,
and the father of a fool has no joy.
^{Verse 22}A cheerful heart brings good healing,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
^{Verse 23}A wicked person receives a bribe secretly
to pervert the ways of justice.
^{Verse 24}Wisdom is directly in front of the discerning person,
but the eyes of a fool run to the ends of the earth.
^{Verse 25}A foolish child is a grief to his father,
and bitterness to the mother who bore him.
^{Verse 26}It is terrible to punish a righteous person,
and to flog honorable men is wrong.
^{Verse 27}The truly wise person restrains his words,
and the one who stays calm is discerning.
^{Verse 28}Even a fool who remains silent is considered wise,
and the one who holds his tongue is deemed discerning.