Proverbs 17 - Heartlight

¹Better a dry morsel in quietness

than a house full of feasting with strife.

²A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful son

and share his inheritance as one of the brothers.

³A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold,

but the LORD is the tester of hearts.

⁴A wicked man listens to evil lips;

a liar gives ear to a destructive tongue.

⁵He who mocks the poor insults their Maker;

whoever gloats over calamity will not go unpunished.

⁶Grandchildren are the crown of the aged,

and the glory of a son is his father.

⁷Eloquent words are unfit for a fool;

how much worse are lying lips to a ruler!

⁸A bribe is a charm to its giver;

wherever he turns, he succeeds.

⁹Whoever conceals an offense promotes love,

but he who brings it up separates friends.

¹⁰A rebuke cuts into a man of discernment

deeper than a hundred lashes cut into a fool.

¹¹An evil man seeks only rebellion;

a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

¹²It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs

than a fool in his folly.

¹³If anyone returns evil for good,

evil will never leave his house.

¹⁴To start a quarrel is to release a flood;

so abandon the dispute before it breaks out.

¹⁵Acquitting the guilty and condemning the righteous —

both are detestable to the LORD.

¹⁶Why should the fool have money in his hand

with no intention of buying wisdom?

¹⁷A friend loves at all times,

and a brother is born for adversity.

¹⁸A man lacking judgment strikes hands in pledge

and puts up security for his neighbor.

¹⁹He who loves transgression loves strife;

he who builds his gate high invites destruction.

²⁰The one with a perverse heart finds no good,

and he whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble.

²¹A man fathers a fool to his own grief;

the father of a fool has no joy.

²²A joyful heart is good medicine,

but a broken spirit dries up the bones.

²³A wicked man takes a covert bribe

to subvert the course of justice.

²⁴Wisdom is the focus of the discerning,

but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.

²⁵A foolish son brings grief to his father

and bitterness to her who bore him.

²⁶It is surely not good to punish the innocent

or to flog a noble for his honesty.

²⁷A man of knowledge restrains his words,

and a man of understanding maintains a calm spirit.

²⁸Even a fool is considered wise if he keeps silent,

and discerning when he holds his tongue.

— Proverbs 17

(BSB)

Related Resources from Heartlight

There are 15 resources related to this passage:

Keeping Our Mouths Shut

Devo: Together in Christ

"A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered. Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; with their mouths..."

A Velcro® Friend

Devo: Together in Christ

"A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need."

Fostering Love, Not Creating Roadblocks

Devo: Together in Christ

"Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends."

Proverbs 17:1

Devo: Daily Wisdom

"Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife."

Proverbs 17:14

Devo: Daily Wisdom

"Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out."

Proverbs 17:14

Devo: Daily Wisdom

"Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out."

Proverbs 17:16

Devo: Today's Verse

"Of what use is money in the hand of a fool, since he has no desire to get wisdom?"

Proverbs 17:17

Devo: Daily Wisdom

"A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity."

Proverbs 17:27

Devo: Daily Wisdom

"A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered."

Proverbs 17:3

Devo: Daily Wisdom

"The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the heart."

Proverbs 17:3

Devo: Daily Wisdom

"The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the heart."

Proverbs 17:6

Devo: Daily Wisdom

"Children's children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children."

Proverbs 17:9

Devo: Daily Wisdom

"He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends."

Proverbs 17:9

Devo: Today's Verse

"He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends."

Restore Me, O God

Devo: Together in Christ

"A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person's strength."

Cross References for Proverbs 17

Cross References Provided by Open Bible

The Berean Standard Bible

The Berean Standard Bible (BSB) is a modern, clear, and faithful translation based on the best available Greek and Hebrew manuscripts. Ideal for reading, study, and sharing, it entered the public domain in 2023. For more information, visit berean.bible.