Proverbs 17:1-28 CEB

[1] Better a dry crust with quiet than a house full of feasting with quarrels. [2] An insightful servant rules over a disgraceful son and will divide an inheritance with the brothers. [3] A crucible is for silver and a furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the heart. [4] An evildoer pays attention to guilty lips; a liar listens to a destructive tongue. [5] Those who mock the poor insult their maker; those who rejoice in disaster won’t go unpunished. [6] Grandchildren are the crown of the elderly, and the glory of children is their parents. [7] Too much talking isn’t right for a fool; even less so false speech for an honorable person. [8] A bribe seems magical in the eyes of those who give it, granting success to all who use it. [9] One who seeks love conceals an offense, but one who repeats it divides friends. [10] A rebuke goes deeper to an understanding person than a hundred lashes to a fool. [11] Evil people seek only rebellion; a cruel messenger will be sent against them. [12] Safer to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than fools in their folly. [13] Evil will never depart from the house of those who return evil for good. [14] The start of a quarrel is like letting out water, so drop the dispute before it breaks out. [15] Judging the righteous wicked and the wicked righteous—the LORD detests both of these. [16] Why should a fool have money to pay for wisdom? He has no mind. [17] Friends love all the time, and kinsfolk are born for times of trouble. [18] One with no sense shakes hands on a deal, securing a loan for a friend. [19] Those who love an offense love a quarrel; those who build a high doorway invite a collapse. [20] Those with crooked hearts won’t prosper, and those with twisted tongues will fall into trouble. [21] Having a fool for a son brings grief; there’s no joy for a scoundrel’s father. [22] A joyful heart helps healing, but a broken spirit dries up the bones. [23] The wicked take secret bribes to twist the way of justice. [24] Wisdom is right in front of those with understanding, but the eyes of fools are off to the edges of the earth. [25] A foolish son is irritating to his father and bitter to her who gave birth to him. [26] It isn’t good to punish the righteous, to strike the honorable for their integrity. [27] Wise are those who restrain their talking; people with understanding are coolheaded. [28] Fools who keep quiet are deemed wise; those who shut their lips are smart.