| Chapter 17 |
1 | Better a bit of dry bread in peace, than a house full of feasting and violent behaviour.
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2 | A servant who does wisely will have rule over a son causing shame, and will have his part in the heritage among brothers.
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3 | The heating-pot is for silver and the oven-fire for gold, but the Lord is the tester of hearts.
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4 | A wrongdoer gives attention to evil lips, and a man of deceit gives ear to a damaging tongue.
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5 | Whoever makes sport of the poor puts shame on his Maker; and he who is glad because of trouble will not go free from punishment.
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6 | Children's children are the crown of old men, and the glory of children is their fathers.
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7 | Fair words are not to be looked for from a foolish man, much less are false lips in a ruler.
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8 | An offering of money is like a stone of great price in the eyes of him who has it: wherever he goes, he does well.
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9 | He who keeps a sin covered is looking for love; but he who keeps on talking of a thing makes division between friends.
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10 | A word of protest goes deeper into one who has sense than a hundred blows into a foolish man.
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11 | An uncontrolled man is only looking for trouble, so a cruel servant will be sent against him.
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12 | It is better to come face to face with a bear whose young ones have been taken away than with a foolish man acting foolishly.
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13 | If anyone gives back evil for good, evil will never go away from his house.
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14 | The start of fighting is like the letting out of water: so give up before it comes to blows.
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15 | He who gives a decision for the evil-doer and he who gives a decision against the upright, are equally disgusting to the Lord.
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16 | How will money in the hand of the foolish get him wisdom, seeing that he has no sense?
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17 | A friend is loving at all times, and becomes a brother in times of trouble.
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18 | A man without sense gives his hand in an agreement, and makes himself responsible before his neighbour.
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19 | The lover of fighting is a lover of sin: he who makes high his doorway is looking for destruction.
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20 | Nothing good comes to him whose heart is fixed on evil purposes: and he who has an evil tongue will come to trouble.
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21 | He who has an unwise son gets sorrow for himself, and the father of a foolish son has no joy.
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22 | A glad heart makes a healthy body, but a crushed spirit makes the bones dry.
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23 | A sinner takes an offering out of his robe, to get a decision for himself in a cause.
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24 | Wisdom is before the face of him who has sense; but the eyes of the foolish are on the ends of the earth.
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25 | A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitter pain to her who gave him birth.
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26 | To give punishment to the upright is not good, or to give blows to the noble for their righteousness.
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27 | He who has knowledge says little: and he who has a calm spirit is a man of good sense.
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28 | Even the foolish man, when he keeps quiet, is taken to be wise: when his lips are shut he is credited with good sense.
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