Proverbs 17

1 Better [more desirable, pleasing] a dry [barren, without nourishment] morsel [small piece of food, bite of bread] in quietness [peace, rest, ease] than a house [dwelling place, family home] full [abundant, filled to capacity] of feasting [sacrifices, abundant food] with strife [quarreling, discord, conflict]. word study 2 A wise [prudent, circumspect] servant [slave, bondman] will rule [have dominion, govern] over a disgraceful [shameful, bringing dishonor] son [child, descendant] and share [divide, apportion] his inheritance [possession, heritage] as one of the brothers [brethren, kin]. word study 3 A crucible [refining pot, for purification] for silver [money, wealth] and a furnace [oven-fire, for smelting] for gold [something yellow, brilliant], but the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] is the tester [examiner, trier] of hearts [the center of emotions and thoughts]. word study 4 A wicked [evil, morally wrong] man listens [pays careful attention] to evil [false, deceitful] lips; a liar [one who deceives, distorts truth] gives ear [listens, heeds] to a destructive [mischievous, calamitous] tongue [language, words]. word study 5 He who mocks [despises, makes sport of] the poor [those in need, destitute] insults [reproaches, taunts] their Maker [the one who created them, God]; whoever gloats [is glad, rejoices] over calamity [disaster, oppression] will not go [remain] unpunished [without penalty, cleared]. word study 6 Grandchildren [children’s children, descendants] are the crown [royal dignity] of the aged [old men, elderly], and the glory [beauty, honor] of a son [child, descendant] is his father [parent, ancestor]. word study 7 Eloquent [fine, excellent] words are unfit [not suitable, do not become] for a fool [foolish, stupid person]; how much worse [much less] are lying [false, deceptive] lips [language, speech] to a ruler [noble, prince]! word study 8 A bribe [a gift to influence, a stone of favor] is a charm [a precious stone, a magical persuasion] to its giver [the one presenting the gift]; wherever he turns [in every direction, to whithersoever it leads], he succeeds [prospers, does well]. word study 9 Whoever conceals [covers, hides from view] an offense [transgression, revolt against God or others] promotes [seeks, fosters] love [affection, divine love], but he who brings it up [repeats, harps on] separates [divides, scatters] friends [close companions, chief friends]. word study 10 A rebuke [stern warning, correction] cuts into a man of discernment [one who understands, having insight] deeper than a hundred [numerous, many] lashes [blows, strikes] cut into a fool [one who is stupid, silly, rejecting God’s wisdom]. word study 11 An [uncontrolled, wicked] evil man seeks [searches for, looks to] only [exclusively, constantly] rebellion [bitterness, resistance to authority]; a [harsh, unkind] cruel messenger [an ambassador, an envoy] will be sent [dispatched, commissioned] against him. word study 12 It is better [more desirable, preferable] to meet [encounter, come face to face with] a bear [slow-moving animal, fierce creature] robbed of her cubs [bereaved, having lost her young] than a fool [stupid person, one who rejects God] in his folly [foolishness, silliness, absurd behavior]. word study 13 If anyone [whoever, whoso] returns [gives back, repayeth] evil [bad, moral harm] for good [pleasant, welfare], evil [bad, adversity] will never [not, shall not] leave [depart from, remove from] his house [family, dwelling place]. word study 14 To start [initiate, begin] a quarrel [strife, contention] is to release [let out, unleash] a flood [like breaching a dam]; so abandon [leave, forsake] the dispute [contention, argument] before [prior to, before it escalates] it breaks out [comes to blows, erupts into conflict]. word study 15 Acquitting [justifying, declaring innocent] the guilty [wicked, morally wrong] and condemning [passing judgment against] the righteous [just, made right with God]— both [even, also] are detestable [an abomination, disgusting] to the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God]. word study 16 Why should the fool [stupid and silly, one who rejects God] have money [a price, wages, or reward] in his hand [an open hand; strength, a side or share] with no intention [or heart, feelings, or will] of buying [to acquire or redeem] wisdom [skill, prudence, or good judgment, having a heart that understands]? word study 17 A friend [neighbor, companion, one who is close] loves [has affection for, is devoted to] at all [every, each] times [occasions, experiences], and a brother [male sibling, close relative, dear friend] is born [brought into being, given life] for adversity [trouble, distress, hardship, dearth]. word study 18 A man [void of understanding, lacking wisdom] lacking judgment [insight, discernment] strikes [to blow, clap] hands in pledge [to guarantee, become surety] and puts up security [a promise, guarantee] for his neighbor [friend, companion, one near to him]. word study 19 He who loves [has affection for, is devoted to] transgression [rebellion, sin] loves [is drawn to, enjoys] strife [quarrels, debate]; he who builds [exalts, raises high] his gate [entrance, doorway] high [lofty, proudly] invites [seeks, opens himself to] destruction [breaking, shattering]. word study 20 The one with a [twisted] perverse heart [the feelings, the will, the mind] finds [discovers, attains] no [absence of] good [pleasant, beneficial], and he whose tongue [language, speech] is [characterized by] deceitful [false, misleading] falls [is overthrown, succumbs] into trouble [adversity, evil]. word study 21 A man [who begets] fathers a fool [stupid son, unwise child] to his own [personal, inner] grief [sorrow, heaviness]; the father [parent, progenitor] of a fool [foolish, impious person] has no [none, not any] joy [rejoices not, is not glad]. word study 22 A joyful [glad, cheerful] heart [the seat of feelings, will, and intellect] is good [pleasing, joyful] medicine [a cure, healing], but a broken [stricken, afflicted] spirit [the breath of life, mind, and emotions] dries up [to wither, become dry] the bones [the literal skeleton, or figuratively, one’s inner strength]. word study 23 A [morally wrong, bad] wicked man takes a [secret, hidden] covert bribe [gift, present] to subvert [pervert, twist] the course of [righteous, moral] justice [judgment, verdict]. word study 24 Wisdom [skill, prudence, or good judgment] is the focus [before the face] of the discerning [one who hath understanding, with insight], but the eyes [sources of perception] of a fool [stupid and silly, rejecting God] wander [are in the ends] to the ends [borders, edges] of the earth [land, territory, or region]. word study 25 A foolish [stupid, silly] son [child, descendant] brings grief [vexation, anger] to his father [parent, ancestor] and bitterness [sorrow, pain] to her [his mother] who bore [gave birth to, begot] him. word study 26 It is surely [not at all, by no means] not good [pleasant, beneficial] to punish [to fine, impose a penalty] the innocent [righteous, just] or to flog [to smite, strike] a noble [generous, high-ranking] for his honesty [uprightness, integrity, having a morally straight character]. word study 27 A man [male person, individual] of knowledge [understanding and discernment] restrains [to withhold, spare] his words [speech, promises], and a man [person, individual] of understanding [intelligence and insight] maintains [keeps, preserves] a calm [cool, quiet] spirit [breath of life, mind and emotions]. word study 28 Even [also, too] a fool [foolish, unwise] is considered [reckoned, esteemed] wise [intelligent, discerning] if he keeps [holds, maintains] silent [quiet, still], and discerning [prudent, understanding] when he holds [shuts, closes] his tongue [lips, language]. word study