Proverbs 17

1 Better a dry morsel and quiet with it than a house filled [with] feasts of strife.

2 A slave who deals wisely will rule over a child who acts shamefully, and in the midst of brothers he will share his inheritance.

3 A crucible [is] for the silver, and a furnace [is] for the gold, but Yahweh will test hearts.

4 He who does evil listens to lips of wickedness, [and] the liar gives heed to the tongue of mischief.

5 He who mocks the poor insults him who made him; he who rejoices at calamity will not go unpunished.

6 The crown of the elderly [are] {grandchildren}, and the glory of children [is] their fathers.

7 {Fine speech} [is] not becoming a fool, {still less} [is] {false speech} for a ruler.

8 The bribe [is] a stone of magic in the eyes of its owner; {everywhere} he will turn, he will prosper.

9 He who forgives an affront fosters love, but he who waits on a matter will alienate a friend.

10 A rebuke strikes him who understands deeper than one hundred blows to a fool.

11 An evil person will seek only rebellion, and a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

12 [May] a man meet a she-bear robbed of offspring and not a fool in his folly.

13 [For] he who returns evil for good, evil will not depart from his house.

14 [Like] the release of water [is] the beginning of strife; before it breaks out, stop the quarrel.

15 He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous, the two of them [are] both abominations of Yahweh.

16 Why [is] this? A price in the hand of a fool, [in order] to buy wisdom where there is no {sense}.

17 The friend loves at all times, but a brother is born for adversity.

18 A person who lacks {sense} {pledges}; he becomes security before his neighbor.

19 He who loves transgression loves strife; he who builds his high thresholds seeks destruction.

20 He who is crooked of heart will not find goodness, and he who is perverse, by his tongue he will fall into calamity.

21 He who begets a fool, [there is] trouble for him; the father of a fool will not rejoice.

22 A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a downcast spirit will dry out bones.

23 The wicked will accept a bribe from the lap, [in order] to pervert the ways of justice.

24 He who understands sets [his] face [toward] wisdom, but the eyes of a fool, to the end of the earth.

25 A grief to his father [is] the child of a fool, and bitterness to her who bore him.

26 Also, imposing a fine on the righteous is not good, [nor] to flog nobles for uprightness.

27 He who spares his sayings knows knowledge, and a cool spirit is a man of understanding.

28 Even a fool who keeps silent {shall be considered wise}; he who closes his lips [is] intelligent.

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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "sons of sons"
• [b]. Literally "A lip of fine[ness]"
• [c]. Literally "only for"
• [d]. Literally "lip of deceit"
• [e]. Or "master"
• [f]. Literally "to all which"
• [g]. Hebrew "and"
• [h]. Literally "heart"
• [i]. Hebrew "time"
• [j]. Literally "heart"
• [k]. Literally "pledges a hand"
• [l]. Or "mind"
• [m]. Or "land"
• [n]. Literally "wise, he shall be considered"

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.