Proverbs 17:7-23
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 17
7 Excellent speech is not fitting for a fool, Much less are lying lips to a prince. 8A bribe is a charm in the sight of its owner; Wherever he turns, he prospers. 9One who conceals an offense seeks love, But one who repeats a matter separates close friends. 10A rebuke goes deeper into one who has understanding Than a hundred blows into a fool. 11A rebellious person seeks only evil, So a cruel messenger will be sent against him. 12Let a person meet a bear robbed of her cubs, Rather than a fool in his foolishness. 13One who returns evil for good, Evil will not depart from his house. 14The beginning of strife is like letting out water, So abandon the quarrel before it breaks out. 15One who justifies the wicked and one who condemns the righteous, Both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord. 16Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, When he has no sense? 17A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity. 18A person lacking in sense shakes hands And becomes guarantor in the presence of his neighbor. 19One who loves wrongdoing loves strife; One who makes his doorway high seeks destruction. 20One who has a crooked mind finds nothing good, And one who is corrupted in his language falls into evil. 21He who fathers a fool does so to his sorrow, And the father of a fool has no joy. 22A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones. 23A wicked person accepts a bribe from an inside pocket To pervert the ways of justice.King James Version
Christian Standard Bible
New Living Translation
English Standard Version
Chapter 17
7Fine 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. 9Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends. 10A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred blows into a fool. 11An evil man seeks only rebellion, and a cruel messenger will be sent against him. 12Let a man meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs rather than a fool in his folly. 13If anyone returns evil for good, evil will not depart from his house. 14The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks out. 15He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the Lord. 16Why 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. 18One who lacks sense gives a pledge and puts up security in the presence of his neighbor. 19Whoever 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. 21He 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. 23The wicked accepts a bribe in secret to pervert the ways of justice.New International Version
New King James Version
