Proverbs 17:12-28

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

¹³Whoso rewardeth 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 the quarrel break out.

¹⁵He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the righteous, even they both are an abomination to the LORD.

¹⁶Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, seeing he hath no understanding?

¹⁷A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

¹⁸A man void of understanding is he that striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his neighbour.

¹⁹He loveth transgression that loveth strife; he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.

²⁰He that hath a froward heart findeth no good; and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into evil.

²¹He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow; and the father of a churl hath no joy.

²²A merry heart is a good medicine; but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

²³A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom, to pervert the ways of justice.

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

²⁵A foolish son is vexation to his father, and bitterness to her that bore him.

²⁶To punish also the righteous is not good, nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.

²⁷He that spareth his words hath knowledge; and he that husbandeth his spirit is a man of discernment.

²⁸Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise; and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed as a man of understanding.