KJV Proverbs Chapter 17
1 Better |is| a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices |with| strife. 2 A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren. 3 The fining pot |is| for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts. 4 A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; |and| a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue. 5 Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: |and| he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished. 6 Children's children |are| the crown of old men; and the glory of children |are| their fathers. 7 Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince. 8 A gift |is as| a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth. 9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth |very| friends. 10 A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool. 11 An evil |man| seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him. 12 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly. 13 Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house. 14 The beginning of strife |is as| when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with. 15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both |are| abomination to the LORD. 16 Wherefore |is there| a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing |he hath| no heart |to it|? 17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. 18 A man void of understanding striketh hands, |and| becometh surety in the presence of his friend. 19 He loveth transgression that loveth strife: |and| he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction. 20 He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief. 21 He that begetteth a fool |doeth it| to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy. 22 A merry heart doeth good |like| a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones. 23 A wicked |man| taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment. 24 Wisdom |is| before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool |are| in the ends of the earth. 25 A foolish son |is| a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him. 26 Also to punish the just |is| not good, |nor| to strike princes for equity. 27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words: |and| a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit. 28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: |and| he that shutteth his lips |is esteemed| a man of understanding.