Proverbs 17:23-28

23 The wicked accepts ¹a bribe in secret^[a] to ²pervert the ways of justice.

24 ³The discerning sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.

25 ⁴A foolish son is a grief to his father ⁵and bitterness to ⁶her who bore him.

26 ⁷To impose a fine on a righteous man is not good, nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.

27 Whoever ⁸restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.

28 Even a fool ⁹who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.

Proverbs 17:23-28 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS 7

This chapter gives an account of some buildings of Solomon for himself, 1Ki 7:1-12; and of other things for the use of the temple; of two pillars of brass, 1Ki 7:13-22; of the molten sea, 1Ki 7:23-26; and of ten bases, and ten layers on them, 1Ki 7:27-39; with other utensils and ornaments, 1Ki 7:40-51.

Cross References

• 1. See ver. 8
• 2. [Micah 3:11; Micah 7:3]
• 3. [Proverbs 14:6; Proverbs 15:14; Ecclesiastes 2:14]; See Deuteronomy 30:11-14
• 4. [See ver. 21 above]
• 5. Proverbs 10:1
• 6. Proverbs 23:25
• 7. [ver. 15]
• 8. Proverbs 10:19; [James 1:19]
• 9. Job 13:5

Footnotes

• [a]. Hebrew a bribe from the bosom