Old Testament

Proverbs 17

The Tested Heart and the Ordered Life

12 passages

Overview

Through a sustained series of contrasting wisdom sayings, this chapter meditates on the interior dispositions that shape a well-ordered life — God's refining of the human heart, the healing power of joy, the discipline of silence, the bonds of genuine friendship, the sorrow of foolish children, the corruption of justice through bribery, and the openness to correction that marks true wisdom.

Passages

1–3The Value of Peace, Wisdom, and Purification 4–5The Sin of Lending Ear to Evil and Mocking the Poor 6–7Right Order in Family and Speech 8–9The Glittering Stone and the Mantle of Love 10–12The Wise Accept Correction; The Wicked Resist It 13–14The Poison of Ingratitude and the Flood of Quarrel 15–16Perversions of Justice and the Futility of Wisdom Without Will 17–18True Friendship Versus Reckless Loyalty 19–21The Sorrow Borne of Disobedience and Foolish Children 22–23The Heart's Condition and the Corruption of Justice 24–26Wisdom's Gaze, the Foolish Son, and Unjust Punishment 27–28The Eloquence of Silence

Study Resources

Proverbs 17

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Proverbs 16 Proverbs 18