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17:1  It is better to eat a dry crust of bread in peace and quiet than to eat a big dinner in a house full of fighting.
17:2  A wise servant will rule over a shameful child. He will be given part of the property as if he were a family member.
17:3  Fire tests silver, and heat tests gold. But the Lord tests our hearts.
17:4  Evil people listen to lies. Lying people listen to evil.
17:5  Anyone who laughs at those who are poor makes fun of their Maker. Anyone who is happy when others suffer will be punished.
17:6  Grandchildren are like a crown to older people. And children are proud of their parents.
17:7  Fancy words don’t belong in the mouths of ungodly fools. And lies certainly don’t belong in the mouths of rulers!
17:8  Those who give money think it will buy them favors. They think that no matter where they turn, they will succeed.
17:9  Whoever wants to show love forgives a wrong. But those who talk about it separate close friends.
17:10  A person who understands what is right learns more from just a warning than a foolish person learns from 100 strokes with a whip.
17:11  An evil person tries to keep others from obeying God. The messenger of death will be sent against them.
17:12  It is better to meet a bear whose cubs have been stolen than to meet a foolish person who is acting foolishly.
17:13  Evil will never leave the house of anyone who pays back evil for good.
17:14  Starting to argue is like making a crack in a dam. So drop the matter before a fight breaks out.
17:15  The Lord hates two things. He hates it when the guilty are set free. He also hates it when those who aren’t guilty are punished.
17:16  Why should a foolish person try to buy wisdom? They are not even able to understand it.
17:17  A friend loves at all times. They are there to help when trouble comes.
17:18  A person who has no sense agrees to pay what other people owe. It isn’t wise to promise to pay other people’s bills.
17:19  The one who loves to argue loves to sin. The one who builds a high gate is just asking to be destroyed.
17:20  If your heart is twisted, you won’t succeed. If your tongue tells lies, you will get into trouble.
17:21  It is sad to have a foolish child. The parents of a godless fool have no joy.
17:22  A cheerful heart makes you healthy. But a broken spirit dries you up.
17:23  Anyone who does wrong accepts favors in secret. Then they turn what is right into what is wrong.
17:24  Anyone who understands what is right keeps wisdom in view. But the eyes of a foolish person look everywhere else.
17:25  A foolish child makes his father sad and his mother sorry.
17:26  It isn’t good to fine those who aren’t guilty. So it certainly isn’t good to whip officials just because they are honest.
17:27  Anyone who has knowledge controls their words. Anyone who has understanding is not easily upset.
17:28  We think even foolish people are wise if they keep silent. We think they understand what is right if they control their tongues.