Proverbs 17:6-16

6 ¹Grandchildren are ²the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers.

7 Fine speech is not ³becoming to a fool; still less is ⁴false speech to a prince.

8 ⁵A bribe is like a magic stone in the eyes of the one who gives it; wherever he turns he prospers.

9 Whoever ⁶covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter ⁷separates 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 ⁸a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

12 Let a man meet ⁹a she-bear robbed of her cubs ¹⁰rather than a fool in his folly.

13 If anyone ¹¹returns evil for good, ¹²evil will not depart from his house.

14 The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so ¹³quit before the quarrel breaks out.

15 He who ¹⁴justifies the wicked and he who ¹⁵condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the LORD.

16 Why should a fool have money in his hand ¹⁶to buy wisdom when he has no sense?

Proverbs 17:6-16 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. Psalms 128:6; [Psalms 127:3, 4]
• 2. Proverbs 16:31
• 3. [Proverbs 19:10; Proverbs 26:1]
• 4. Proverbs 6:17
• 5. ver. 23; Proverbs 18:16; Proverbs 19:6; Proverbs 21:14; [Exodus 23:8; Isaiah 1:23; Amos 5:12]
• 6. Proverbs 10:12
• 7. Proverbs 16:28
• 8. [1 Kings 2:29]
• 9. 2 Samuel 17:8; Hosea 13:8
• 10. [Proverbs 27:3]
• 11. Psalms 35:12; Psalms 109:4, 5; [Proverbs 20:22; Matthew 5:39]
• 12. [2 Samuel 12:10]
• 13. Proverbs 20:3; Proverbs 25:8
• 14. Proverbs 24:24; Exodus 23:7; Isaiah 5:23
• 15. Job 34:17; Psalms 94:21; [ver. 26; Proverbs 18:5]
• 16. [Proverbs 23:23]