Proverbs 17

1 Better is a dry morsel with quietness, than a house full of feasting with strife.

2 A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who causes shame, and shall have a part in the inheritance among the brothers.

3 The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the hearts.

4 An evildoer heeds wicked lips. A liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.

5 Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker. He who is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.

6 Children’s children are the crown of old men; the glory of children is their parents.

7 Excellent speech isn’t fitting for a fool, much less do lying lips fit a prince.

8 A bribe is a precious stone in the eyes of him who gives it; wherever he turns, he prospers.

9 He who covers an offense promotes love; but he who repeats a matter separates best friends.

10 A rebuke enters deeper into one who has understanding than a hundred lashes into a fool.

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

12 Let a bear robbed of her cubs meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.

13 Whoever rewards evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

14 The beginning of strife is like breaching a dam, therefore stop contention before quarreling breaks out.

15 He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.

16 Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, since he has no understanding?

17 A friend loves at all times; and a brother is born for adversity.

18 A man void of understanding strikes hands, and becomes collateral in the presence of his neighbor.

19 He who loves disobedience loves strife. One who builds a high gate seeks destruction.

20 One who has a perverse heart doesn’t find prosperity, and one who has a deceitful tongue falls into trouble.

21 He who becomes the father of a fool grieves. The father of a fool has no joy.

22 A cheerful heart makes good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

23 A wicked man receives a bribe in secret, to pervert the ways of justice.

24 Wisdom is before the face of one who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.

25 A foolish son brings grief to his father, and bitterness to her who bore him.

26 Also to punish the righteous is not good, nor to flog officials for their integrity.

27 He who spares his words has knowledge. He who is even tempered is a man of understanding.

28 Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is counted wise. When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning.

Around Proverbs 17

Context

Context for this book is being written. A note appears here only once it names its sources.

AI explanation

About Proverbs as a whole · Written by an AI model · Not reviewed by a theological reader

This explanation was written by an AI model to help you get started. It names no sources and can contain mistakes. Scripture comes first, and context with sources is shown separately on this page.

What this book is about

Two voices call from the high places of a city, and both want the same passers-by. “Wisdom has built her house”, the ninth chapter says. She has set her table and sent out her maidens, and she calls the simple to leave their simple ways. Across the street, a loud and undisciplined woman, Folly, sits at her door and calls the very same crowd.

That picture captures the whole book. Proverbs gathers short sayings and longer poems about living wisely. Its starting point is that “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.” It contrasts the wise and the foolish in speech, work, money, friendship, marriage and the raising of children.

In the opening chapters wisdom is pictured as a woman calling out in the streets. The book ends with a poem in praise of a capable wife.

Background

Most of the sayings are linked with Solomon. Others are credited to Agur, to King Lemuel and to unnamed wise teachers, and one section was copied by officials of King Hezekiah about two centuries after Solomon (25:1). Similar collections of wisdom are known from Egypt and Mesopotamia.

How Christians read it

A proverb states what is generally true, not a guarantee for every case. Reading the sayings as promises leads to disappointment, and the books of Job and Ecclesiastes show the exceptions. The New Testament speaks of Christ as the wisdom of God, and many Christians read the figure of wisdom in chapter 8 in that light.

About this explanation

Written by Claude Sonnet 5.5, an AI model, on 19 October 2026. It draws on the WEB text and general knowledge and was not checked against sources by a person. Every quotation from Scripture is checked automatically against the WEB text.

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World English Bible. Public-domain source and edition notes