Proverbs 17:2-12

2 A servant who deals wisely will rule over ¹a son who acts shamefully and ²will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.

3 ³The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, ⁴and 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 ⁵insults his Maker; he who is ⁶glad at calamity will not go ⁷unpunished.

6 ⁸Grandchildren are ⁹the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers.

7 Fine speech is not ¹⁰becoming to a fool; still less is ¹¹false speech to a prince.

8 ¹²A bribe is like a magic stone in the eyes of the one who gives it; wherever he turns he prospers.

9 Whoever ¹³covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter ¹⁴separates 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 ¹⁵a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

12 Let a man meet ¹⁶a she-bear robbed of her cubs ¹⁷rather than a fool in his folly.

Proverbs 17:2-12 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. ver. 21, 25; Proverbs 10:5; Proverbs 19:26
• 2. [2 Samuel 16:4]
• 3. Proverbs 27:21
• 4. 1 Chronicles 29:17; Psalms 26:2; Jeremiah 17:10; Malachi 3:3
• 5. Proverbs 14:31; [Matthew 25:40, 45]
• 6. Job 31:29; Obadiah 12; [Proverbs 24:17]
• 7. Proverbs 16:5
• 8. Psalms 128:6; [Psalms 127:3, 4]
• 9. Proverbs 16:31
• 10. [Proverbs 19:10; Proverbs 26:1]
• 11. Proverbs 6:17
• 12. ver. 23; Proverbs 18:16; Proverbs 19:6; Proverbs 21:14; [Exodus 23:8; Isaiah 1:23; Amos 5:12]
• 13. Proverbs 10:12
• 14. Proverbs 16:28
• 15. [1 Kings 2:29]
• 16. 2 Samuel 17:8; Hosea 13:8
• 17. [Proverbs 27:3]