Proverbs, chapter 17

Our Thoughts Are Tested by the Lord

CA dry crust of bread eaten in peace and quiet

is better than a feast eaten where everyone argues.

²A wise slave

will be placed in charge of a no-good child,

and that slave will be given the same inheritanceP

that each child receives.

³Silver and gold are tested by flames of fireO;

our thoughts are tested by the Lord.

⁴Troublemakers listen to troublemakers,

and liars listen to liars.

⁵By insulting the poor, you insult your CreatorI.

You will be punished

if you make fun of someone in trouble.

⁶Grandparents are proud of their grandchildren,

and children should be proud of their parents.

⁷It sounds strange for a fool to talk sensibly,

but it's even worse for a ruler to tell lies.

⁸A bribe works miracles like a magic charmO

that brings good luck.

⁹You will keep your friends if you forgive them,

but you will lose your friends

if you keep talking about what they did wrong.

¹⁰A sensible person accepts correctionI,

but you can't beat sense into a fool.

¹¹Cruel people want to rebel,

and so vicious attackers will be sent against them.

¹²A bear robbed of her cubs is far less dangerous

than a stubborn fool.

¹³You will always have trouble

if you are mean to those who are good to you.

¹⁴The start of an argument is like a water leak—

so stop it before real trouble breaks out.

¹⁵The Lord doesn't like those who defend the guilty

or condemn the innocent.

¹⁶Why should fools have money for an education

when they refuse to learn?

¹⁷A friend is there to help,

in any situation,

and relatives are born to share our troubles.

¹⁸It's stupid to guarantee someone else's loanH.

¹⁹The wicked and the proud love trouble

and keep begging to be hurt.

²⁰Dishonesty does you no good,

and telling lies will get you in trouble.

²¹ CIt's never pleasant to be the parent of a fool

and have nothing but pain.

²²If you are cheerful, you feel good;

if you are sad, you hurt all over.

²³Crooks accept secret bribesO

to keep justice from being done.

²⁴Anyone with wisdom knows what makes good sense,

but fools can never make up their minds.

²⁵ CFoolish children bring sorrow

and pain to their parents.

²⁶It isn't fair to punish the innocent

and those who do right.

²⁷ CIt makes a lot of sense to be a person of few words

and to stay calm.

²⁸Even fools seem smart when they are quiet.