Proverbs 17

Proverbs 17:1

The meanest fare, enjoyed in peace with God and our neighbour, and with quietness in our own mind, is better than the most sumptuous cheer, attended with brawling, contention, and strife

Proverbs 17:2

A pious and prudent servant ought to be preferred to a foolish and wicked child, and deserves a share of the inheritance in a family

Proverbs 17:3

As gold and silver are tried and purified in the fire, so the Lord, who searches the hearts of all men, proves and refines his own people from their sinful dross in the furnace of affliction

Proverbs 17:4

It is an honour to parents to have a numerous posterity walking in holiness and virtue; and it is the honour of children to have pious and prudent ancestors

Proverbs 17:8

Presents and bribes appear so lovely and tempting, that few can refuse them, or decline gratifying the desire of the giver

Proverbs 17:9

Overlooking of injuries, and mutual forbearance, is the best way to preserve and increase friendship and love: but repeating old faults breaks the strictest bonds of friendship, and makes an irreconcileable separation

Proverbs 17:11

Some men are so wilful and refractory, that, shaking off all reverence to God and their superiors, they are wholly and irreclaimably bent on mischief; they must therefore be cut off by the exemplary punishment

Proverbs 17:12

It is less dangerous to meet a bear in the 76 height of her rage than a furious fool in the pursuit of his unruly passions and desires

Proverbs 17:14

When men begin a quarrel, it gradually becomes more and more violent and extensive till it is with difficulty made up: it is best therefore to check and stifle all contentions in the beginning

Proverbs 17:16

In his mysterious providence, God gives to many foolish persons natural abilities, worldly substance, and opportunities of learning wisdom: and yet gives them no sense or inclination to desire it

Proverbs 17:17

A true friend continues constant in his affection and usefulness, however our circumstances alter: and a brother, who deserves the name, is especially kind and helpful in a time of adversity

Proverbs 17:18

He is extremely foolish whose kindness hurries him into rash suretyship for the debts of others, especially when they are suspected of knavery

Proverbs 17:19

He certainly loves wickedness who accustoms himself to brawling and contention: and he, who carries himself proudly, scornfully, and contemptuously, towards others, lives above his estate, and builds sumptuous houses, hurries himself into ruin; and breakers of the public peace open wide the floodgates to all impiety

Proverbs 17:20

A man of wicked devices, which he resolves to accomplish by any means, shall find himself deceived in his expectations of good: and a false, deceitful, and self-inconsistent, tongue will prove the ruin of its owner

Proverbs 17:22

Nothing more conduces to health than solid quietness of conscience, and a moderate cheerfulness of spirit: but excessive sadness and grief waste the body, and dry it up to a mere skeleton

Proverbs 17:23

Many wicked persons, who would refuse an open bribe, will willingly enough take bribes or presents secretly, in order to influence them to give counsel or judgment contrary to law and equity

Proverbs 17:24

A pious and prudent man has his mind fixed upon the unerring oracles of God, and has his sense and wisdom at hand to guide and govern him; but a foolish one has his thoughts always wandering and roving about impertinencies, and is never in any fixed or serious temper

Proverbs 17:27

The more wise and knowing a man is, he is the less apt to be talkative, speaking only what is fit and necessary; and his wisdom renders his mind and temper humble, calm, temperate, and dispassionate

Proverbs 17:28

So great a virtue it is to be duly silent, that, if even a foolish person restrain his lips from rash and impertinent talk, he is for the time reckoned a wise and intelligent person. 70