Proverbs 17:3-24

³As silver is proved by fire, and gold is proved by a chimney, so the Lord proveth hearts.

⁴An evil man obeyeth to a wicked tongue; and a false man obeyeth to false lips.

⁵He that despiseth a poor man, reproveth his maker; and he that is glad in the falling of another man, shall not be unpunished.

⁶The crown of eld or old men is the sons of sons; and the glory of sons is the fathers of them.

⁷Words well-set together beseem not a fool; and a lying lip becometh not a prince.

⁸A precious stone most acceptable is the abiding of him that seeketh; whither ever he turneth himself, he understandeth prudently.

⁹He that covereth trespass, seeketh friendships; he that rehearseth by an high word, separateth them that be knit together in peace.

¹⁰A blaming profiteth more at a prudent man, than an hundred wounds at a fool.

¹¹Ever an evil man seeketh strives; forsooth a cruel angel shall be sent against him.

¹²It speedeth more to meet a female bear, when her whelps be ravished, than a fool trusting to himself in his folly.

¹³Evil shall not go away from the house of him, that yieldeth evils for goods.

¹⁴He that letteth out water, is the head of strives; and before that he suffereth wrong, he forsaketh doom.

¹⁵Both he that justifieth a wicked man, and he that condemneth a just or rightwise man, ever either is abominable to God.

¹⁶What profiteth it to a fool to have riches, since he may not buy wisdom? He that maketh his house high, seeketh falling; and he that escheweth to learn, shall fall into evils.

¹⁷He that is a friend, loveth in all time; and a brother is proved in anguishes.

¹⁸A fond or foolish man shall make joy with hands, when he hath promised for his friend.

¹⁹He that bethinketh discords, loveth chidings; and he that enhanceth his mouth, seeketh falling.

²⁰He that is of wayward heart, shall not find good; and he that turneth the tongue, shall fall into evil.

²¹A fool is born in his shame; but neither the father shall be glad in a fool.

²²A joyful soul maketh liking age; a sorrowful spirit maketh dry bones.

²³A wicked man taketh gifts from the bosom, to mis-turn the paths of doom.

²⁴Wisdom shineth in the face of a prudent man; the eyes of fools be in the ends of earth.