Proverbs 17:11-27

¹¹An evil man seeketh only rebellion; Therefore shall a cruel messenger be sent against him.

¹²Let a man meet a bear robbed of her whelps, Rather than a fool in his folly.

¹³Whoso returneth evil for good, Evil shall not depart from his house.

¹⁴The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water; Therefore leave off contention before it rolleth onward.

¹⁵He that justifieth the wicked, And he that condemneth the just, Both alike are an abomination to the LORD.

¹⁶Why should a price be in the hand of a fool To get wisdom, seeing he hath no sense?

¹⁷A friend loveth at all times; But in adversity he is born a brother.

¹⁸A man who lacketh understanding striketh hands, And becometh surety in the presence of his friend.

¹⁹He who loveth strife loveth transgression; He who raiseth high his gate seeketh ruin.

²⁰He that is of a deceitful heart shall find no good; And he that turneth about with his tongue shall fall into mischief.

²¹Whoso begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow; Yea, the father of the fool hath no joy.

²²A merry heart doeth good to the body; But a broken spirit drieth up the bones.

²³The wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom, To pervert the ways of judgment.

²⁴Wisdom is before the face of him that hath understanding; But the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.

²⁵A foolish son is a grief to his father, And bitterness to her that bore him.

²⁶Moreover, to punish the righteous is not good, Nor to smite the noble for their equity.

²⁷He that spareth his words is imbued with knowledge; And he that is of a cool spirit is a man of understanding.