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17:1  It is better to eat a dry crust of bread in peace than to have a feast where there is quarreling.
17:2  A wise servant will rule over his master’s disgraceful son. And he will even inherit a share of what the master leaves his sons.
17:3  A hot furnace tests silver and gold. In the same way, the Lord tests a person’s heart.
17:4  An evil person listens to evil words. A liar pays attention to cruel words.
17:5  If you make fun of the poor, you insult God, who made them. If you laugh at someone’s trouble, you will be punished.
17:6  Grandchildren are the reward of old people. And children are proud of their parents.
17:7  Foolish people should not be proud. And rulers should not be liars!
17:8  A person might think he can pay people and they will do anything he asks. He thinks it will succeed every time.
17:9  Whoever forgives someone’s sin makes a friend. But the one who tells about the sin breaks up friendships.
17:10  A wise man will learn more from a warning than a foolish person will learn from 100 lashings.
17:11  A disobedient person is only looking for trouble. So a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
17:12  It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than to meet a foolish person doing foolish things.
17:13  If a person gives evil in return for good, his house will always be full of trouble.
17:14  Starting a quarrel is like a leak in a dam. So stop the quarrel before a fight breaks out.
17:15  The Lord hates both these things: letting guilty people go free and punishing those who are not guilty.
17:16  It won’t do a fool any good to try to buy wisdom. He doesn’t really want to be wise.
17:17  A friend loves you all the time. A brother is always there to help you.
17:18  It is not wise to promise to pay what your neighbor owes.
17:19  Whoever loves to quarrel loves to sin. Whoever is proud is asking for trouble.
17:20  A person with an evil heart will find no success. And the person whose words are evil will get into trouble.
17:21  It is sad to have a foolish son. There is no joy in being the father of a fool.
17:22  A happy heart is like good medicine. But a broken spirit drains your strength.
17:23  A wicked person secretly accepts money to do wrong. Then there will be no fairness.
17:24  The person with understanding looks for wisdom. But a foolish person lets his mind wander everywhere.
17:25  A foolish son makes his father sad. And he causes his mother great sorrow.
17:26  It is not good to punish those who have done what is right. Nor is it good to punish leaders for being honest.
17:27  The person who has knowledge says very little. And a person with understanding stays calm.
17:28  Even a foolish person seems to be wise if he keeps quiet. He appears to have understanding if he doesn’t speak.