Proverbs 17:4-14

4 An evildoer listens to wicked lips, and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.

5 Whoever mocks the poor ¹insults his Maker; he who is ²glad at calamity will not go ³unpunished.

6 ⁴Grandchildren are ⁵the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers.

7 Fine speech is not ⁶becoming to a fool; still less is ⁷false speech to a prince.

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

9 Whoever ⁹covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter ¹⁰separates 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 ¹¹a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

12 Let a man meet ¹²a she-bear robbed of her cubs ¹³rather than a fool in his folly.

13 If anyone ¹⁴returns evil for good, ¹⁵evil will not depart from his house.

14 The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so ¹⁶quit before the quarrel breaks out.

Proverbs 17:4-14 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 14:31; [Matthew 25:40, 45]
• 2. Job 31:29; Obadiah 12; [Proverbs 24:17]
• 3. Proverbs 16:5
• 4. Psalms 128:6; [Psalms 127:3, 4]
• 5. Proverbs 16:31
• 6. [Proverbs 19:10; Proverbs 26:1]
• 7. Proverbs 6:17
• 8. ver. 23; Proverbs 18:16; Proverbs 19:6; Proverbs 21:14; [Exodus 23:8; Isaiah 1:23; Amos 5:12]
• 9. Proverbs 10:12
• 10. Proverbs 16:28
• 11. [1 Kings 2:29]
• 12. 2 Samuel 17:8; Hosea 13:8
• 13. [Proverbs 27:3]
• 14. Psalms 35:12; Psalms 109:4, 5; [Proverbs 20:22; Matthew 5:39]
• 15. [2 Samuel 12:10]
• 16. Proverbs 20:3; Proverbs 25:8