Proverbs 17

Listen to Proverbs 17

1 ¹Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting^[a] with strife.

2 A servant who deals wisely will rule over ²a son who acts shamefully and ³will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.

3 ⁴The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, ⁵and the LORD tests hearts.

4 An evildoer listens to wicked lips, and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.

5 Whoever mocks the poor ⁶insults his Maker; he who is ⁷glad at calamity will not go ⁸unpunished.

6 ⁹Grandchildren are ¹⁰the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers.

7 Fine speech is not ¹¹becoming to a fool; still less is ¹²false speech to a prince.

8 ¹³A bribe is like a magic stone in the eyes of the one who gives it; wherever he turns he prospers.

9 Whoever ¹⁴covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter ¹⁵separates 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 ¹⁶a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

12 Let a man meet ¹⁷a she-bear robbed of her cubs ¹⁸rather than a fool in his folly.

13 If anyone ¹⁹returns evil for good, ²⁰evil will not depart from his house.

14 The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so ²¹quit before the quarrel breaks out.

15 He who ²²justifies the wicked and he who ²³condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the LORD.

16 Why should a fool have money in his hand ²⁴to buy wisdom when he has no sense?

17 ²⁵A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

18 One who lacks sense gives a pledge and puts up security in the presence of his neighbor.

19 Whoever loves transgression loves strife; he who ²⁶makes his door high seeks destruction.

20 ²⁷A man of crooked heart does not discover good, and one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity.

21 He who ²⁸sires a fool gets himself sorrow, and the father of a fool has no joy.

22 ²⁹A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit ³⁰dries up the bones.

23 The wicked accepts ³¹a bribe in secret^[b] to ³²pervert the ways of justice.

24 ³³The discerning sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.

25 ³⁴A foolish son is a grief to his father ³⁵and bitterness to ³⁶her who bore him.

26 ³⁷To impose a fine on a righteous man is not good, nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.

27 Whoever ³⁸restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.

28 Even a fool ³⁹who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.

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Proverbs 17 Commentary

Chapter 17

Verse 1 These words recommend family love and peace, as needful for the comfort of human life. Verse 2 . The wise servant is more deserving, and more likely to appear one of the family, than a profligate son. Verse 3 . God tries the heart by affliction. He thus has often shown the sin remaining in the heart of the believer. Verse 4 . Flatterers, especially false teachers, are welcome to those that live in sin. Verse 5 . Those that laugh at poverty, treat God's providence and precepts with contempt. Verse 6 . It is an honour to children to have wise and godly parents continued to them, even after they are grown up and settled in the world. Verse 7 . A fool, in Solomon's Proverbs, signifies a wicked man, whom excellent speech does not become, because his conversation contradicts it. Verse 8 . Those who set their hearts upon money, will do any thing for it. What influence should the gifts of God have on our hearts! Verse 9 . The way to preserve peace is to make the best of every thing; not to notice what has been said or done against ourselves. Verse 10 . A gentle reproof will enter, not only into the head, but into the heart of a wise man. Verse 11 . Satan, and the messengers of Satan, shall be let loose upon an evil man. Verse 12 . Let us watch over our own passions, and avoid the company of furious men. Verse 13 . To render evil for good is devilish. He that does so, brings a curse upon his family. Verse 14 . What danger there is in the beginning of strife! Resist its earliest display; and leave it off, if it were possible, before you begin. Verse 15 . It is an offence to God to acquit the guilty, or to condemn those who are not guilty. Verse 16 . Man's neglect of God's favour and his own interest is very absurd. Verse 17 . No change of outward circumstances should abate our affection for our friends or relatives. But no friend, except Christ, deserves unlimited confidence. In Him this text did receive, and still receives its most glorious fulfilment. Verse 18 . Let not any wrong their families. Yet Christ's becoming Surety for men, was a glorious display of Divine wisdom; for he was able to discharge the bond. Verse 19 . If we would keep a clear conscience and a quiet mind, we must shun all excitements to anger. And a man who affects a style of living above his means, goes the way to ruin. Verse 20 . There is nothing got by ill designs. And many have paid dear for an unbridled tongue. Verse 21 . This speaks very plainly what many wise and good men feel very strongly, how grievous it is to have a foolish, wicked child. Verse 22 . It is great mercy that God gives us leave to be cheerful, and cause to be cheerful, if by his grace he gives us hearts to be cheerful. Verse 23 . The wicked are ready to part with their money, though loved, that they may not suffer for their crimes. Verse 24 . The prudent man keeps the word of God continually in view. But the foolish man cannot fix his thoughts, nor pursue any purpose with steadiness. Verse 25 . Wicked children despise the authority of their father, and the tenderness of their mother. Verse 26 . It is very wrong to find fault ( proverbs 17:27-28 ) wise man, by the good temper of his mind, and by the good government of his tongue. He is careful when he does speak, to speak to the purpose. God knows his heart, and the folly that is bound there; therefore he cannot be deceived in his judgment as men may be.

Taken from Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Concise)

Cross References 39

1. Proverbs 15:17
2. ver. 21, 25; Proverbs 10:5; Proverbs 19:26
3. [2 Samuel 16:4]
4. Proverbs 27:21
5. 1 Chronicles 29:17; Psalms 26:2; Jeremiah 17:10; Malachi 3:3
6. Proverbs 14:31; [Matthew 25:40, 45]
7. Job 31:29; Obadiah 12; [Proverbs 24:17]
8. Proverbs 16:5
9. Psalms 128:6; [Psalms 127:3, 4]
10. Proverbs 16:31
11. [Proverbs 19:10; Proverbs 26:1]
12. Proverbs 6:17
13. ver. 23; Proverbs 18:16; Proverbs 19:6; Proverbs 21:14; [Exodus 23:8; Isaiah 1:23; Amos 5:12]
14. Proverbs 10:12
15. Proverbs 16:28
16. [1 Kings 2:29]
17. 2 Samuel 17:8; Hosea 13:8
18. [Proverbs 27:3]
19. Psalms 35:12; Psalms 109:4, 5; [Proverbs 20:22; Matthew 5:39]
20. [2 Samuel 12:10]
21. Proverbs 20:3; Proverbs 25:8
22. Proverbs 24:24; Exodus 23:7; Isaiah 5:23
23. Job 34:17; Psalms 94:21; [ver. 26; Proverbs 18:5]
24. [Proverbs 23:23]
25. Proverbs 18:24; Proverbs 27:10; [Ruth 1:16; Job 6:14]
26. [Proverbs 11:2; Proverbs 29:23]
27. [Proverbs 11:20]
28. Proverbs 10:1; Proverbs 19:13
29. See Proverbs 15:13
30. Psalms 22:15; [Proverbs 12:25]
31. See ver. 8
32. [Micah 3:11; Micah 7:3]
33. [Proverbs 14:6; Proverbs 15:14; Ecclesiastes 2:14]; See Deuteronomy 30:11-14
34. [See ver. 21 above]
35. Proverbs 10:1
36. Proverbs 23:25
37. [ver. 15]
38. Proverbs 10:19; [James 1:19]
39. Job 13:5

Footnotes 2

[a]. Hebrew sacrifices
[b]. Hebrew a bribe from the bosom

Chapter Summary

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.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible