| Chapter 17 |
1 | Better a bit of dry bread in peace, than a house full of feasting and violent behaviour. |
2 | A servant who does wisely will have rule over a son causing shame, and will have his part in the heritage among brothers. |
3 | The heating-pot is for silver and the oven-fire for gold, but the Lord is the tester of hearts. |
4 | A wrongdoer gives attention to evil lips, and a man of deceit gives ear to a damaging tongue. |
5 | Whoever makes sport of the poor puts shame on his Maker; and he who is glad because of trouble will not go free from punishment. |
6 | Children's children are the crown of old men, and the glory of children is their fathers. |
7 | Fair words are not to be looked for from a foolish man, much less are false lips in a ruler. |
8 | An offering of money is like a stone of great price in the eyes of him who has it: wherever he goes, he does well. |
9 | He who keeps a sin covered is looking for love; but he who keeps on talking of a thing makes division between friends. |
10 | A word of protest goes deeper into one who has sense than a hundred blows into a foolish man. |
11 | An uncontrolled man is only looking for trouble, so a cruel servant will be sent against him. |
12 | It is better to come face to face with a bear whose young ones have been taken away than with a foolish man acting foolishly. |
13 | If anyone gives back evil for good, evil will never go away from his house. |
14 | The start of fighting is like the letting out of water: so give up before it comes to blows. |
15 | He who gives a decision for the evil-doer and he who gives a decision against the upright, are equally disgusting to the Lord. |
16 | How will money in the hand of the foolish get him wisdom, seeing that he has no sense? |
17 | A friend is loving at all times, and becomes a brother in times of trouble. |
18 | A man without sense gives his hand in an agreement, and makes himself responsible before his neighbour. |
19 | The lover of fighting is a lover of sin: he who makes high his doorway is looking for destruction. |
20 | Nothing good comes to him whose heart is fixed on evil purposes: and he who has an evil tongue will come to trouble. |
21 | He who has an unwise son gets sorrow for himself, and the father of a foolish son has no joy. |
22 | A glad heart makes a healthy body, but a crushed spirit makes the bones dry. |
23 | A sinner takes an offering out of his robe, to get a decision for himself in a cause. |
24 | Wisdom is before the face of him who has sense; but the eyes of the foolish are on the ends of the earth. |
25 | A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitter pain to her who gave him birth. |
26 | To give punishment to the upright is not good, or to give blows to the noble for their righteousness. |
27 | He who has knowledge says little: and he who has a calm spirit is a man of good sense. |
28 | Even the foolish man, when he keeps quiet, is taken to be wise: when his lips are shut he is credited with good sense. |