Proverbs 17:20-28

20 He who has a crooked mind ¹finds no good, And he who is ²perverted in his language falls into evil.

21 He who ³sires a fool does so to his sorrow, And the father of a fool has no joy.

22 A ⁴joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit ⁵dries up the bones.

23 A wicked man receives a ⁶bribe from the bosom To ⁷pervert the ways of justice.

24 Wisdom is in the presence of the one who has understanding, But the ⁸eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.

25 A ⁹foolish son is a grief to his father And ¹⁰bitterness to her who bore him.

26 It is also not good to ¹¹fine the righteous, Nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.

27 He who ¹²restrains his words has knowledge, And he who has a ¹³cool spirit is a man of understanding.

28 Even a fool, when he ¹⁴keeps silent, is considered wise; When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.

Proverbs 17:20-28 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. Proverbs 24:20
• 2. James 3:8
• 3. Proverbs 10:1; Proverbs 17:25; Proverbs 19:13
• 4. Proverbs 15:13
• 5. Psalms 22:15
• 6. Proverbs 17:8
• 7. Exodus 23:8; Micah 3:11; Micah 7:3
• 8. Ecclesiastes 2:14
• 9. Proverbs 19:13
• 10. Proverbs 10:1
• 11. Proverbs 17:15; Proverbs 18:5
• 12. Proverbs 10:19; James 1:19
• 13. Proverbs 14:29
• 14. Job 13:5

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "heart"
• [b] Lit "causes good healing"
• [c] Lit "knows"