Proverbs 17:7-17

7 Fine speech is not ¹becoming to a fool; still less is ²false speech to a prince.

8 ³A bribe is like a magic stone in the eyes of the one who gives it; wherever he turns he prospers.

9 Whoever ⁴covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter ⁵separates close friends.

10 A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred blows into a fool.

11 An evil man seeks only rebellion, and ⁶a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

12 Let a man meet ⁷a she-bear robbed of her cubs ⁸rather than a fool in his folly.

13 If anyone ⁹returns evil for good, ¹⁰evil will not depart from his house.

14 The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so ¹¹quit before the quarrel breaks out.

15 He who ¹²justifies the wicked and he who ¹³condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the LORD.

16 Why should a fool have money in his hand ¹⁴to buy wisdom when he has no sense?

17 ¹⁵A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

Proverbs 17:7-17 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. [Proverbs 19:10; Proverbs 26:1]
• 2. Proverbs 6:17
• 3. ver. 23; Proverbs 18:16; Proverbs 19:6; Proverbs 21:14; [Exodus 23:8; Isaiah 1:23; Amos 5:12]
• 4. Proverbs 10:12
• 5. Proverbs 16:28
• 6. [1 Kings 2:29]
• 7. 2 Samuel 17:8; Hosea 13:8
• 8. [Proverbs 27:3]
• 9. Psalms 35:12; Psalms 109:4, 5; [Proverbs 20:22; Matthew 5:39]
• 10. [2 Samuel 12:10]
• 11. Proverbs 20:3; Proverbs 25:8
• 12. Proverbs 24:24; Exodus 23:7; Isaiah 5:23
• 13. Job 34:17; Psalms 94:21; [ver. 26; Proverbs 18:5]
• 14. [Proverbs 23:23]
• 15. Proverbs 18:24; Proverbs 27:10; [Ruth 1:16; Job 6:14]