20Those who ◄have perverse minds/are always thinking about doing evil things► will not prosper, and disasters will happen to those who always tell lies.
21Children who are foolish soon cause their parents to be very sad; their parents will not be joyful at all.
22Being cheerful is like swallowing good medicine; being discouraged/gloomy all the time will ◄drain away your energy/cause you to become weak► MTY.
23Wicked people/judges accept bribes that are given to them secretly, and as a result they do not decide matters justly/fairly.
24Those who have good sense determine to do what is wise, but foolish people are always thinking about many different things and never decide what they should do.
25Children who are foolish cause their father to be sad and also cause their mother to be very sorrowful.
26It is not right to force someone who has done nothing wrong to pay a fine; it is wrong to punish good/respected people.
27Those who have good sense do not talk a lot, and those who ◄control their tempers/keep themselves from becoming very angry► are truly wise.
28People may think that foolish people who do not say anything are wise; if foolish people ◄do not say anything/keep their mouths shut►, others will think that they are very intelligent.
Proverbs 17
Proverbs 17:20-28