Proverbs 17:7-15

⁷Not comely for a fool is a lip of excellency, Much less for a noble a lip of falsehood.

⁸A stone of grace is the bribe in the eyes of its possessors, Whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.

⁹Whoso is covering transgression is seeking love, And whoso is repeating a matter Is separating a familiar friend.

¹⁰Rebuke cometh down on the intelligent More than a hundred stripes on a fool.

¹¹An evil man seeketh only rebellion, And a fierce messenger is sent against him.

¹²The meeting of a bereaved bear by a man, And — not a fool in his folly.

¹³Whoso is returning evil for good, Evil moveth not from his house.

¹⁴The beginning of contention is a letting out of waters, And before it is meddled with leave the strife.

¹⁵Whoso is justifying the wicked, And condemning the righteous, Even both of these are an abomination to Jehovah.