Chapter 17. Better is a dry morsel with quietness Than a house full of feasting with Strife A wise servant will rule over a son who Causes shame and will share an Inheritance among the brothers The refining pot is for silver and the Furnace for gold But the Lord tests the hearts An evil doer gives heed to false lips A liar listens eagerly to a spiteful Tongue He who mocks the poor reproaches his Maker He who is glad at Calamity will not go Unpunished Children's children are the crown of old Men And the glory of children is their Father Excellent speech is not becoming to a Fool much less lying lips to a prince A present is a precious stone in the Eyes of its possessor Wherever he turns he prospers He who covers a transgression seeks love But he who repeats a matter separates Friends Rebuke is more effective for a wise man Than a hundred blows on a fool An evil man seeks only a rebellion Therefore a cruel Messenger will be sent Against him
Let a man meet a bear robbed of her Cubs Rather than a fool in his folly Whoever rewards evil for good Evil will not depart from his house The beginning of strife is like Releasing water Therefore stop contention before a Quarrel starts He who justifies the wicked and he who Condemns the just Both of them alike are an Abomination to The Lord Why is there in the hand of a fool the Purchase price of wisdom Since he has no heart for it A friend loves at all times and a Brother is born for adversity A man devoid of understanding shakes Hands in a pledge and becomes Surety for His friend He who loves transgression loves strife And he who exalts his gate seeks Destruction He who has a deceitful heart finds no Good And he who has a perverse tongue falls Into evil He who begets a scoffer does so to his Sorrow And the father of a fool has no joy A merry heart does good like medicine But a broken Spirit dries the bones A wicked man accepts a bribe behind the Back to pervert the ways of Justice
Wisdom is in the sight of him who has Understanding But the eyes of a fool are on the ends Of the Earth A foolish son is a grief to his father And bitterness to her Who Bore him Also to punish the righteous is not good Nor to strike princes for their Uprightness He who has knowledge spares his words And a man of understanding is of a calm Spirit Even a fool is counted wise when he Holds his peace When he shuts his lips he is considered Perceptive