1 Dry crumbs in peace a17:1 Lit. quiet are better than a full meal b17:1 Lit. house full of meat with strife. ISV — Proverbs 17:1
2 A prudent servant will rule in place of a disgraceful son and will share in the inheritance among brothers. ISV — Proverbs 17:2
3 The crucible is for silver and the furnace for gold— but the LORD assays hearts. ISV — Proverbs 17:3
4 Whoever practices evil pays attention to wicked speech, and the liar listens to malicious talk. ISV — Proverbs 17:4
5 Whoever mocks the poor shows contempt for their maker, and whoever is happy about disaster will not go unpunished. ISV — Proverbs 17:5
6 Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the pride of children is their parents. ISV — Proverbs 17:6
7 Appropriate speech is inconsistent with the fool; how much more are deceitful statements c17:7 Lit. lips with a prince! ISV — Proverbs 17:7
8 A bribe works wonders d17:8 Lit. A gift is a stone of favor in the eyes of its giver; wherever he turns he prospers. ISV — Proverbs 17:8
9 Anyone who overlooks e17:9 Lit. covers an offense promotes love, but someone who gossips separates close friends. ISV — Proverbs 17:9
10 A rebuke is more effective with a man of understanding than a hundred lashes to a fool. ISV — Proverbs 17:10
11 A rebellious person seeks evil; a cruel emissary will be sent to oppose him. ISV — Proverbs 17:11
12 It’s better to meet a mother bear who has lost her cubs than a fool in his stupidity. ISV — Proverbs 17:12
13 The person who repays good with evil will never see f17:13 The Heb. lacks will see evil leave his home. ISV — Proverbs 17:13
14 Starting a quarrel is like spilling water— so drop the dispute before it escalates. ISV — Proverbs 17:14
15 Exonerating the wicked and condemning the righteous are both detestable to the LORD. ISV — Proverbs 17:15
16 What is this? A fool has enough money to buy wisdom, but is senseless? g17:16 Lit. but has no heart ISV — Proverbs 17:16
17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is there h17:17 Lit. born for times of trouble. ISV — Proverbs 17:17
18 A man who lacks sense i17:18 Lit. heart cosigns a loan, j17:18 Lit. sense strikes the palm becoming a guarantor for his neighbor. ISV — Proverbs 17:18
19 The person who loves transgression loves strife; the person who builds a high gate invites destruction. ISV — Proverbs 17:19
20 The person whose mind k17:20 Lit. heart is perverse does not find good, and anyone with perverted speech falls into trouble. ISV — Proverbs 17:20
21 The man who fathers a fool does so to his sorrow— the father of a fool has no joy. ISV — Proverbs 17:21
22 A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit drains one’s strength. l17:22 Lit. spirit dries the bones ISV — Proverbs 17:22
23 The wicked man takes a bribe in secret in order to pervert the course of justice. ISV — Proverbs 17:23
24 A person with understanding has wisdom as his objective, but a fool looks only m17:24 The Heb. lacks only to earthly goals. ISV — Proverbs 17:24
25 A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to his mother. n17:25 Lit. to the one who bore him ISV — Proverbs 17:25
26 Furthermore, it isn’t good to fine the righteous, or to beat an official because of his uprightness. ISV — Proverbs 17:26
27 Whoever controls what he says is knowledgeable; anyone who has a calm spirit is a man of understanding. ISV — Proverbs 17:27
28 Even a fool is thought to be wise when he remains silent; he is thought to be prudent when he keeps his mouth shut. ISV — Proverbs 17:28