Proverbs 17:12-22

12 Better for a man to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his foolishness.

13 If anyone returns evil for good, evil will never depart from his house.

14 To start a conflict is to release a flood; stop the dispute before it breaks out.^[a]

15 Acquitting the guilty and condemning the just- both are detestable to the Lord.^[b]

16 Why does a fool have money in his hand with no intention of buying wisdom?^[c]

17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a difficult time.^[d]

18 One without sense enters an agreement^[e] and puts up security for his friend.^[f]

19 One who loves to offend loves strife; one who builds a high threshold invites injury.^[g]

20 One with a twisted mind will not succeed, and one with deceitful speech will fall into ruin.^[h]

21 A man fathers a fool to his own sorrow; the father of a fool has no joy.^[i]

22 A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.^[j]

Proverbs 17:12-22 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.

Footnotes

• [a] Pr 20:3
• [b] Pr 17:26; 18:5; 24:23-24
• [c] Pr 4:5,7; 18:15
• [d] Pr 18:24; 27:10
• [e] Lit sense shakes hands
• [f] Pr 6:1-5; 11:15; 22:26
• [g] Pr 13:10; 16:18; 29:22
• [h] Jr 23:36
• [i] Pr 10:1; 17:25; 23:24-25
• [j] Pr 14:30; 15:13; 18:14