Proverbs 17

Quietness and strife, ver.1. Wise servants, 2. The trying of hearts, 3. Lying lips,4,7. Mocking of the poor, and those that are in misery, 5. Children, and fathers, 6. Excellent speaking and keeping silence, 7,27,28. Gifts 8,23. Forgiving ones neighbour, 9. Fools, 10,12,16,21,24,25,28. Rebellion, 11. Rewarding evil for good, 13. Contentiousness, 14,19. Censures, 15,26. Friends, 17. Suretiship, 18. Pride, 19. Perverseness of heart and tongue, 20. Joy and sadness of spirit, 22. Gestures of them that have understanding, 24.

1. Better is a day morse, and quietness therewith, then an house full of slain beasts, [Hebr. Slaughter. The Hebrew word for the most part signifieth beasts, that are killed for sacrifice, but it signifieth also those that are made ready for food, and for a banquet, or feast, as here, and Gen.31.54. See the annot. There] with strife. [Hebr. Of strife: that is, where there is strife withal. Comp.above chap.15.17.]

2. An understanding servant shall have rule over a son, that maketh ashamed: [Compare above chap.10.on verse 5.] and he shall divide the inheritance in the midst of the brethren. [the meaning is, that he shall also carry away a part of the inheritance among the brethren of the son, as that he shall be entrusted with, that causeth shame. Others understand he shall be as it were Governor or Guardian of the children, and shall be in such respect among them, as that he shall be entrusted with the disposing of their means and estate, and consequently with the dividing of their inheritances.]

3. The fining-pot is for silver [By the fining-pot here, is meant a vessel, wherein silver is melted, and refined. So below chapter 27.21.] and the furnace [to wit, wherein, silver, tin, copper, &c. Is melted, and refined. See Ezek.22.18,19,20,&c.] for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts. [meaning, the LORD alone. Men may indeed by their art silver, and gold, to know whether it be good or bad: but none can search into the heart of man, save God alone. Compare Jer.17.10.]

4. The wicked doer [That is, he that doth evil to his neighbour, or is prone to do evil] giveth heed to the unrighteous lip: [Hebr. Lip of unrighteousness: to wit, which sheweth, how a man may commit iniquity, or unrighteousness, and hurt his neighbour] a liar [Heb. Falsehood, or lying: See Job 35. On verse 13.] inclineth (his) ear to the perverse tongue. [Hebr. Tongue of perversenesses: that is, that speaketh perverse things. See above chap.2.on verse 12. Oth. Hearing lying in the perverse tongue.]

5. He that mocketh the poor [To wit, either in gesture, word, or deed. Compare above chapter 14.31.] reproacheth his Maker: [that is, dishonoureth God, who not onely created the poor man, but also visiteth, and exerciseth him by poverty and misery] he that rejoiceth at destruction, [to wit, at the destruction of his neighbour. See below chapter 24.17.] shall not be guiltless.[that is, remain unpunished. See 1 Kings 2.on verse 9.]

6. Childrens children [To wit, that are wise and godly; in whom, the parents, that are old, enjoy the blessing of God, of which, see Psalms 127:3. and 128.3.] are the Crown [that is, ornament. See ab.chap.12.on verse 4.] of old men: and the ornament of children are their fathers. [for it is an honourable thing to be born of honest and religious parents.]

7. An excellent lip [Hebr. A lip of excellency, or, eminency; that is, an excellent speech or sentence treating of excellent and transcendent things, as of wisdom, and virtue. So in the following words, a lip of falsehood; that is, a false speech] becometh not a fool: [that is, a wicked fool, that is fallen off from all wisdom, honesty, and virtue. See 1 Sam.25.on verse 25.] much less (doth) a lying a Prince.

8. The gift is a gracious stone [Hebr. A stone of grace: that is, as a gracious and precious stone, or pearl, which for its beauty and preciousness is wont to be very delightful and pleasant] in the eyes of its lords: [that is, those that are prone to receive it, or that have already received it, and do now enjoy it. See of this word Gen.14.on verse 13.] whithersoever it shall turn it self, [to wit, the gift, by the disposing and offering of the giver. Oth. Whithersoever he (to wit, the giver, or owner) shall turn himself, he shall, &c.] it shall prosper. [that is, it shall perform something with him that receiveth it, to the benefit and advantage of the giver. Salomon speaketh not here of that which ought to be done, but of that which is wont to be done.]

9. He that covereth [To wit, by forgetting, and forgiving it] the transgression, [to wit, which is committed against him by his neighbour. Compare above chap.10.12.] seeketh love: [that is, he endeavoureth to feed, and maintain the love, wherewith he is loved of his friend] but he that reporteth the matter, [or, the word; to wit, of the transgression] separateth the chiefest friend. [see above chap.16.on verse 28.]

10. The reproof entereth deeper into the man of understanding, then to smite a fool an hundred times. [To wit, to bring him to amendment.]

11. Surely the rebellious (person) [Hebr. The rebellion; that is, he that is exceeding rebellious. See Job 35.on verse 13. So above verse 4. Falsehood, for false person. Understand him that is rebellious against God, and against those that are set over him] seeketh evil: [to wit, that he may do it to his neighbour, and especially to the godly man. Or, the rebellious (person) seeketh onely evil: Oth. The evil (man) seeketh onely, or, surely rebellion] but a cruel messenger [to wit, Satan, or some grievous plague, or judgement, which God useth as his executioners] shall be sent [namely, by God] against him.

12. Let a hear that is robbed of (her) whelps, come and meet a man; but not a fool in his folly: [That is, when by his folly he is driven on to all unreasonable and raging passion. The meaning is, that there is less danger in meeting a bear in his raging cruelty, then to meet a fool, when he is carried on to unruly and raging passions.]

13. He that rewardeth evil for Good, [Compare Deu.32.35. Prov.20.22. and 24.29. Rom.12.17. 1 Thess.5.15. 1 Pet.3.9.] evil [to wit, the evil of punishment. See Gen.19.on verse 19.] shall not depart from his house. [that is, from his household, or family. See Gen.7.on verse 1. Or from his flock, and posterity; to wit, that imitate and follow his sins. See 1 Kings 14.on verse 10.]

14. The beginning of strife [That is, that which beginneth the strife, or the difference] is (as) one that giveth the water an opening: [that is, that letteth in the water, by opening the sluce, or breaking the bank, whereby it is withheld from breaking violently in; for as long as this opening, or breach lasteth, there is no stopping of the water from running, yea the passage of it growth still wider and wider] therefore forsake contention, before it [to wit, strife or contention] mingle it self. [Or, be mingled; to wit, that are drawn into it, and are troubled with or about it; or, before thou mingle thy self with it; or, meddle with it.]

15. Whoso justifieth the wicked [That is, cleareth, and pronounceth them just and righteous. See Genesis 44.on verse 16. And Deut.25.on verse 1.] and condemneth the righteous, [that is, pronounceth them unrighteous, guilty, and worthy to be punished. See Deut.25.on verse 1.] are an abomination unto the LORD, yea they both. See the same phrase below chap.20.10,12.]

16. Why should (there) now be money in the hand of a fool, [That is, wealth, and means, to learn arts and sciences] to buy wisdom, [to wit, as other things, which may always be had for money or ware, as if (forsooth) wisdom and learning were altogether such, and were also in like manner to be obtained by every one, even by very fools] seeing he hath no understanding? [Hebr. Heart: that is, understanding. See Job 9.on verse 4. He speaketh of understanding, whereby a man is fit to desire wisdom earnestly, to apprehend it deeply, and to use it profitably.]

17. A friend [To wit, he that is a true friend; that is, that sheweth kindness and faithfulness to his friend, Genesis 24:49. and that loveth truth and peace, Zach.8.19.] loveth at all times: [not onely min prosperity, but also in adversity] and a brother [that is, one that sheweth true brotherly love, to help his friend out of trouble, or at last to give him some ease in it, according to his power] is born in distress. [that is, is by Gods Providence sent, and brought to light, so that in adversity brother. Oth. A brother is born against distress: To wit, to assist a man in it. Or, and he (to wit, the friend) is born a brother in distress.]

18. A man void of understanding stricketh hands; [See above chap.6.on verse 1.] making himself surety [or, promising suretiship] with [Hebrew before the face of: that is, in the presence of. Oth. Before] his neighbour. [meaning the creditor, for whose security the surety bindeth himself to pay, in case the party principal fail. Others understand the debtor, for whom the suretiship is entered into.]

19. He that loveth brawling, loveth transgression: [The reason is, because scolding and contention is the original cause of many sins, which the contentious person by his actings seemeth to love] he that exalteth his door, [to wit, the door of his building, which he hath raised high] seeketh breaking, [that is, damage and destruction. So above chap.16.18. see above ch.8.on ver.36. This letter clause is to be understood as a common proverb, of those that go above their estate, in apparel, or otherwise. For as an house that is built very high, is oftentimes subject to fall; so shall a man that lifteth up himself above his estate, and despiseth his neighbour, whom he seeketh to oppress by strifes and contentions, often, get a cruel and terrible fall.]

20. Whoso is forward [Or, perverse. See above ch.6.on verse 14.] in heart, shall not find the thing that is good: [compare above ch.16.20. and the annot.] and he that is perverse in his tongue, [see above ch.2.on v.12.] shall fall into mischief.

21. Whoso begetteth a fool, [That is, one that will in time be a fool] (he) shall be a grief unto him: and the father of the fool, [see of this word fool, above on v.7.] shall have no joy.

22. A merry heart shall make a medicine good: [that is, powerful, efficacious, that it may do the body good. Compare the phrase with above chap.15.2. Oth. Shall do good (as) a medicine, to wit, to the body, to keep and preserve it in good health. Or, maketh good medicine; to wit, which causeth the body to proper] but a wounded spirit shall dry up the bones. [that is, the inward members, and powers of the body. See Job 7.on verse 15.]

23. The wicked (man) will take the gift out of the bosome; [To wit, of him that presenteth it; that is, he will take it privily, and in secret: for no man would be willingly known to be such a one that perverteth judgement. Compare above chap.16.on verse 33.] to wrest the ways of judgement. [that is, to pervert the course of justice and equity, that may be held in places of Judicature. Compare Exod.23.3. also below chap.18.5. and 21.14. Isa.10.2. Amos 5:12.]

24. Wisdom is in the face of him that hath understanding: [That is, wisdom is seen in the very eyes of a man of understanding, when a man looks upon the steadiness of his eyes, the melodesty of his countenance, the shamefacedness of his looks. Others understand this thus, that wisdom is always present with those that have understanding, and is not far to seek: or that they have it always ready before their eyes, to order themselves according unto it, Eccles.2.14.] but the eyes of the fool are in the end of the earth. [that is, a fools look moveth, and wandereth to and fro into all corners. The flying or straying eyes are a token of the vanity, and in stability of the mind. Oth. The fool looketh every where to find wisdom, but all in vain, above chapter 14.6.]

25. A foolish son is a grief to his father; and bitter sorrow to her, that bare him. [Hebr. Bitterness; that is, cause of sorrow, that is of a most bitter taste and relish unto her heart. See 2 Kings 4.on verse 27. Compare also above chap.10.1. and 15.20. and here verse 21. And below chap.19.13.]

26. It is good, [That is, it very bad, unseemly, and stark haught. So below chap.18.5. and 19.2. and 20.23. So not evil, that which is not good, below chap.31.12.] to cause the righteous [that is, the guiltless or innocent person] also to be amerced; [that is, not onely the wicked, but also the godly: or, it is not good, to set a fine upon the righteous, much less to inflict corporal punishment upon them wrongfully, and underservedly] that Princes should strike (a man) for that which is right. [or, beyond, or, against right, or, equity.]

27. Whoso knoweth knowledge, [That is, he that hath good and found understanding] refraineth his words; (and) a man of understanding is costly in spirit in mind, not rashly, nor indiscreetly dispersing whatsoever he knoweth, or hath in his heart. Oth. Is cold in spirit, or, of a cold mind and temper; that is, free from passions, or perturbations, and slow to speak. See of the word spirit, taken in this sense, 2 Kings 19:7. and below chap.29.11. See the annot.]

28. A very fool, that holdeth his peace, shall be counted wise; (and) he that shutteth his lips, a man of understanding.