Proverbs 17:8-28

⁸An offering of money is like a stone of great price in the eyes of him who has it: wherever he goes, he does well.

⁹He who keeps a sin covered is looking for love; but he who keeps on talking of a thing makes division between friends.

¹⁰A word of protest goes deeper into one who has sense than a hundred blows into a foolish man.

¹¹An uncontrolled man is only looking for trouble, so a cruel servant will be sent against him.

¹²It is better to come face to face with a bear whose young ones have been taken away than with a foolish man acting foolishly.

¹³If anyone gives back evil for good, evil will never go away from his house.

¹⁴The start of fighting is like the letting out of water: so give up before it comes to blows.

¹⁵He who gives a decision for the evil-doer and he who gives a decision against the upright, are equally disgusting to the Lord.

¹⁶How will money in the hand of the foolish get him wisdom, seeing that he has no sense?

¹⁷A friend is loving at all times, and becomes a brother in times of trouble.

¹⁸A man without sense gives his hand in an agreement, and makes himself responsible before his neighbour.

¹⁹The lover of fighting is a lover of sin: he who makes high his doorway is looking for destruction.

²⁰Nothing good comes to him whose heart is fixed on evil purposes: and he who has an evil tongue will come to trouble.

²¹He who has an unwise son gets sorrow for himself, and the father of a foolish son has no joy.

²²A glad heart makes a healthy body, but a crushed spirit makes the bones dry.

²³A sinner takes an offering out of his robe, to get a decision for himself in a cause.

²⁴Wisdom is before the face of him who has sense; but the eyes of the foolish are on the ends of the earth.

²⁵A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitter pain to her who gave him birth.

²⁶To give punishment to the upright is not good, or to give blows to the noble for their righteousness.

²⁷He who has knowledge says little: and he who has a calm spirit is a man of good sense.

²⁸Even the foolish man, when he keeps quiet, is taken to be wise: when his lips are shut he is credited with good sense.