Proverbs 17:1-28 ESV

[1] Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife. [2] A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers. [3] The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the LORD tests hearts. [4] An evildoer listens to wicked lips, and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue. [5] Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker; he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished. [6] Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers. [7] Fine speech is not becoming to a fool; still less is false speech to a prince. [8] A bribe is like a magic stone in the eyes of the one who gives it; wherever he turns he prospers. [9] Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends. [10] A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred blows into a fool. [11] An evil man seeks only rebellion, and a cruel messenger will be sent against him. [12] Let a man meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs rather than a fool in his folly. [13] If anyone returns evil for good, evil will not depart from his house. [14] The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks out. [15] He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the LORD. [16] Why should a fool have money in his hand to buy wisdom when he has no sense? [17] A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. [18] One who lacks sense gives a pledge and puts up security in the presence of his neighbor. [19] Whoever loves transgression loves strife; he who makes his door high seeks destruction. [20] A man of crooked heart does not discover good, and one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity. [21] He who sires a fool gets himself sorrow, and the father of a fool has no joy. [22] A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. [23] The wicked accepts a bribe in secret to pervert the ways of justice. [24] The discerning sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth. [25] A foolish son is a grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him. [26] To impose a fine on a righteous man is not good, nor to strike the noble for their uprightness. [27] Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. [28] Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.