Proverbs 17

1 A meal of bread and water in contented peace
is better than a banquet spiced with quarrels.

2 A wise servant takes charge of an unruly child
and is honored as one of the family.

3 As silver in a crucible and gold in a pan,
so our lives are assayed by God.

4 Evil people relish malicious conversation;
the ears of liars itch for dirty gossip.

5 Whoever mocks poor people, insults their Creator;
gloating over misfortune is a punishable crime.

6 Old people are distinguished by grandchildren;
children take pride in their parents.

7 We don’t expect eloquence from fools,
nor do we expect lies from our leaders.

8 Receiving a gift is like getting a rare gemstone;
any way you look at it, you see beauty refracted.

9 Overlook an offense and bond a friendship;
fasten on to a slight and—good-bye, friend!

10 A quiet rebuke to a person of good sense
does more than a whack on the head of a fool.

11 Criminals out looking for nothing but trouble
won’t have to wait long—they’ll meet it coming and going!

12 Better to meet a grizzly robbed of her cubs
than a fool hellbent on folly.

13 Those who return evil for good
will meet their own evil returning.

14 The start of a quarrel is like a leak in a dam,
so stop it before it bursts.

15 Whitewashing bad people and throwing mud on good people
are equally abhorrent to God.

16 What’s this? Fools out shopping for wisdom!
They wouldn’t recognize it if they saw it!
One Who Knows Much Says Little

17 Friends love through all kinds of weather,
and families stick together in all kinds of trouble.

18 It’s stupid to try to get something for nothing,
or run up huge bills you can never pay.

19 The person who courts sin, marries trouble;
build a wall, invite a burglar.

20 A bad motive can’t achieve a good end;
double-talk brings you double trouble.

21 Having a fool for a child is misery;
it’s no fun being the parent of a dolt.

22 A cheerful disposition is good for your health;
gloom and doom leave you bone-tired.

23 The wicked take bribes under the table;
they show nothing but contempt for justice.

24 The perceptive find wisdom in their own front yard;
fools look for it everywhere but right here.

25 A surly, stupid child is sheer pain to a father,
a bitter pill for a mother to swallow.

26 It’s wrong to penalize good behavior,
or make good citizens pay for the crimes of others.

27 The one who knows much says little;
an understanding person remains calm.

28 Even dunces who keep quiet are thought to be wise;
as long as they keep their mouths shut, they’re smart.
Words Kill, Words Give Life

Proverbs 18

1 Loners who care only for themselves
spit on the common good.

2 Fools care nothing for thoughtful discourse;
all they do is run off at the mouth.

3 When wickedness arrives, shame’s not far behind;
contempt for life is contemptible.

4 Many words rush along like rivers in flood,
but deep wisdom flows up from artesian springs.

5 It’s not right to go easy on the guilty,
or come down hard on the innocent.

6 The words of a fool start fights;
do him a favor and gag him.

7 Fools are undone by their big mouths;
their souls are crushed by their words.

8 Listening to gossip is like eating cheap candy;
do you really want junk like that in your belly?

9 Slack habits and sloppy work
are as bad as vandalism.

10 God’s name is a place of protection—
good people can run there and be safe.

11 The rich think their wealth protects them;
they imagine themselves safe behind it.

12 Pride first, then the crash,
but humility is precursor to honor.

13 Answering before listening
is both stupid and rude.

14 A healthy spirit conquers adversity,
but what can you do when the spirit is crushed?

15 Wise men and women are always learning,
always listening for fresh insights.

16 A gift gets attention;
it buys the attention of eminent people.

17 The first speech in a court case is always convincing—
until the cross-examination starts!

18 You may have to draw straws
when faced with a tough decision.

19 Do a favor and win a friend forever;
nothing can untie that bond.

20 Words satisfy the mind as much as fruit does the stomach;
good talk is as gratifying as a good harvest.

21 Words kill, words give life;
they’re either poison or fruit—you choose.

22 Find a good spouse, you find a good life—
and even more: the favor of God!

23 The poor speak in soft supplications;
the rich bark out answers.

24 Friends come and friends go,
but a true friend sticks by you like family.
If You Quit Listening

Proverbs 19

1 Better to be poor and honest
than a rich person no one can trust.

2 Ignorant zeal is worthless;
haste makes waste.

3 People ruin their lives by their own stupidity,
so why does God always get blamed?

4 Wealth attracts friends as honey draws flies,
but poor people are avoided like a plague.

5 Perjury won’t go unpunished.
Would you let a liar go free?

6 Lots of people flock around a generous person;
everyone’s a friend to the philanthropist.

7 When you’re down on your luck, even your family avoids you—
yes, even your best friends wish you’d get lost.
If they see you coming, they look the other way—
out of sight, out of mind.

8 Grow a wise heart—you’ll do yourself a favor;
keep a clear head—you’ll find a good life.

9 The person who tells lies gets caught;
the person who spreads rumors is ruined.

10 Blockheads shouldn’t live on easy street
any more than workers should give orders to their boss.

11 Smart people know how to hold their tongue;
their grandeur is to forgive and forget.

12 Mean-tempered leaders are like mad dogs;
the good-natured are like fresh morning dew.

13 A parent is worn to a frazzle by a stupid child;
a nagging spouse is a leaky faucet.

14 House and land are handed down from parents,
but a congenial spouse comes straight from God.

15 Life collapses on loafers;
lazybones go hungry.

16 Keep the rules and keep your life;
careless living kills.

17 Mercy to the needy is a loan to God,
and God pays back those loans in full.

18 Discipline your children while you still have the chance;
indulging them destroys them.

19 Let angry people endure the backlash of their own anger;
if you try to make it better, you’ll only make it worse.

20 Take good counsel and accept correction—
that’s the way to live wisely and well.

21 We humans keep brainstorming options and plans,
but God’s purpose prevails.

22 It’s only human to want to make a buck,
but it’s better to be poor than a liar.

23 Fear-of-God is life itself,
a full life, and serene—no nasty surprises.

24 Some people dig a fork into the pie
but are too lazy to raise it to their mouth.

25 Punish the insolent—make an example of them.
Who knows? Somebody might learn a good lesson.

26 Kids who lash out against their parents
are an embarrassment and disgrace.

27 If you quit listening, dear child, and strike off on your own,
you’ll soon be out of your depth.

28 An unprincipled witness desecrates justice;
the mouths of the wicked spew malice.

29 The irreverent have to learn reverence the hard way;
only a slap in the face brings fools to attention.
Deep Water in the Heart