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17:1  A meal of bread and water in contented peace is better than a banquet spiced with quarrels.
17:2  A wise servant takes charge of an unruly child and is honored as one of the family.
17:3  As silver in a crucible and gold in a pan, so our lives are refined by God.
17:4  Evil people relish malicious conversation; the ears of liars itch for dirty gossip.
17:5  Whoever mocks poor people insults their Creator; gloating over misfortune is a punishable crime.
17:6  Old people are distinguished by grandchildren; children take pride in their parents.
17:7  We don’t expect eloquence from fools, nor do we expect lies from our leaders.
17:8  Receiving a gift is like getting a rare gemstone; any way you look at it, you see beauty refracted.
17:9  Overlook an offense and bond a friendship; fasten on to a slight and—good-bye, friend!
17:10  A quiet rebuke to a person of good sense does more than a whack on the head of a fool.
17:11  Criminals out looking for nothing but trouble won’t have to wait long—they’ll meet it coming and going!
17:12  Better to meet a grizzly robbed of her cubs than a fool hellbent on folly.
17:13  Those who return evil for good will meet their own evil returning.
17:14  The start of a quarrel is like a leak in a dam, so stop it before it bursts.
17:15  Whitewashing bad people and throwing mud on good people are equally abhorrent to God.
17:16  What’s this? Fools out shopping for wisdom! They wouldn’t recognize it if they saw it!
17:17  Friends love through all kinds of weather, and families stick together in all kinds of trouble.
17:18  It’s stupid to try to get something for nothing, or run up huge bills you can never pay.
17:19  The person who courts sin marries trouble; build a wall, invite a burglar.
17:20  A bad motive can’t achieve a good end; double-talk brings you double trouble.
17:21  Having a fool for a child is misery; it’s no fun being the parent of a dolt.
17:22  A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired.
17:23  The wicked take bribes under the table; they show nothing but contempt for justice.
17:24  The perceptive find wisdom in their own front yard; fools look for it everywhere but right here.
17:25  A surly, stupid child is sheer pain to a father, a bitter pill for a mother to swallow.
17:26  It’s wrong to penalize good behavior, or make good citizens pay for the crimes of others.
17:27  The one who knows much says little; an understanding person remains calm.
17:28  Even dunces who keep quiet are thought to be wise; as long as they keep their mouths shut, they’re smart.