Proverbs 17

¹Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith,

²A servant that dealeth wisely shall have rule over a son that causeth shame,

³The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold;

⁴An evil-doer giveth heed to wicked lips;

⁵Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker;

⁶Children’s children are the crown of old men;

⁷Excellent speech becometh not a fool;

⁸A bribe is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it;

⁹He that covereth a transgression seeketh love;

¹⁰A rebuke entereth deeper into one that hath understanding

¹¹An evil man seeketh only rebellion;

¹²Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man,

¹³Whoso rewardeth evil for good,

¹⁴The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water:

¹⁵He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the righteous,

¹⁶Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom,

¹⁷A friend loveth at all times;

¹⁸A man void of understanding striketh hands,

¹⁹He loveth transgression that loveth strife:

²⁰He that hath a wayward heart findeth no good;

²¹He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow;

²²A cheerful heart is a good medicine;

²³A wicked man receiveth a bribe out of the bosom,

²⁴Wisdom is before the face of him that hath understanding;

²⁵A foolish son is a grief to his father,

²⁶Also to punish the righteous is not good,

²⁷He that spareth his words hath knowledge;

²⁸Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise;