Proverbs 17:7-24

⁷Excellent speech becometh not a vile man; how much less do lying lips a noble!

⁸A gift is a precious stone in the eyes of the possessor: whithersoever it turneth it prospereth.

⁹He that covereth transgression seeketh love; but he that bringeth a matter up again separateth very friends.

¹⁰A reproof entereth more deeply into him that hath understanding than a hundred stripes into a fool.

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

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 contention is as when one letteth out water; therefore leave off strife before it become vehement.

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

¹⁶To what purpose is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no sense?

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

¹⁸A senseless man striketh hands, becoming surety for his neighbour.

¹⁹He loveth transgression that loveth a quarrel; he that maketh high his gate seeketh destruction.

²⁰He that hath a perverse heart findeth no good; and he that shifteth about with his tongue falleth into evil.

²¹He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow, and the father of a vile man hath no joy.

²²A joyful heart promoteth healing; but a broken spirit drieth up the bones.

²³A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom, to pervert the paths of judgment.

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