Proverbs 17:20-28

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

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

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

23 A wicked man secretly takes a bribe to subvert the course of justice.^[d]

24 Wisdom is the focus of the perceptive, but a fool's eyes roam to the ends of the earth.

25 A foolish son is grief to his father and bitterness to the one who bore him.^[e]

26 It is certainly not good to fine an innocent person, or to beat a noble for his honesty.^{[f] [g]}

27 The intelligent person restrains his words, and one who keeps a cool head^[h] is a man of understanding.

28 Even a fool is considered wise when he keeps silent, discerning, when he seals his lips.^[i]

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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Jr 23:36
• [b]. Pr 10:1; 17:25; 23:24-25
• [c]. Pr 14:30; 15:13; 18:14
• [d]. Pr 18:5; Dt 16:19; Ps 15:5
• [e]. Pr 10:1; 17:21; 19:13
• [f]. Or noble unfairly
• [g]. Pr 17:15; 18:5; 24:23-24
• [h]. Lit spirit
• [i]. Pr 10:19; Jms 1:19; 3:2