Proverbs 17

¹Better is a dry morsel with joy, than a house full of victims with brawling.

²A wise servant shall rule over foolish children, and divide inheritance among brethren.

³As silver is tried by fire, and gold in the furnace: so our Lord proveth the hearts.

⁴The evil man obeyeth an unjust tongue: and the deceitful obeyeth lying lips.

⁵He that despiseth the poor, upbraideth his maker: and he that rejoiceth at another man's ruin, shall not be unpunished.

⁶The crown of old men the children's children: and the glory of children their fathers.

⁷Eloquent words become not a fool, nor lying lips a Prince.

⁸A most grateful pearl, the expectation of him that expecteth: whither soever he turneth himself, he understandeth wisely.

⁹He that concealeth offence, seeketh friendships: he that in other word repeateth it, separateth the confederate.

¹⁰Reprehension doth more profit with a wiseman, than an hundred stripes with a fool.

¹¹An evil man always seeketh brawls: but a cruel angel shall be sent against him.

¹²It is better to meet a bear when her young are taken away, than a fool trusting to himself in his own folly.

¹³He that rendereth evil things for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

¹⁴He that letteth water go, is the head of brawls: & before he suffer contumely, he forsaketh judgment.

¹⁵He that justifieth the impious, and he that condemneth the just, both are abominable before God.

¹⁶What doth it profit a fool to have riches, whereas he cannot buy wisdom? He that maketh his house high, seeketh ruin: and he that refuseth to learn, shall fall into evils.

¹⁷He loveth at all time that is a friend: and a brother is proved in distresses.

¹⁸A foolish man will clap the hands, when he is surety for his friend.

¹⁹He that meditateth discords, loveth brawls: and he that exalteth the door, seeketh ruin.

²⁰He that is of a perverse heart, shall not find good: and he that turneth his tongue, shall fall into evil.

²¹A fool is born to his own ignominy: but neither shall the father rejoice in a fool.

²²A joyful mind maketh a flourishing age, a sorrowful spirit dryeth up the bones.

²³The impious receiveth gifts out of the bosom, that he may pervert the paths of judgment.

²⁴In the face of the prudent wisdom shineth: the eyes of fools are in the ends of the earth.

²⁵A foolish son is the anger of the father: and the sorrow of the mother that bare him.

²⁶It is not good to do hurt to the just: nor to strike the Prince, which judgeth right.

²⁷He that moderateth his words, is learned and prudent: and the learned man is of a precious spirit.

²⁸The fool also if he hold his peace, shall be reputed wise: and if he close his lips, a man of understanding.