Proverbs 17 (Contemporary English Version)
- A dry crust of bread eaten in peace and quiet is better than a feast eaten where everyone argues.
- A hard-working slave will be placed in charge of a no-good child, and that slave will be given the same inheritance that each child receives.
- Silver and gold are tested by flames of fire; our thoughts are tested by the LORD.
- Troublemakers listen to troublemakers, and liars listen to liars.
- By insulting the poor, you insult your Creator. You will be punished if you make fun of someone in trouble.
- Grandparents are proud of their grandchildren, and children should be proud of their parents.
- It sounds strange for a fool to talk sensibly, but it's even worse for a ruler to tell lies.
- A bribe works miracles like a magic charm that brings good luck.
- You will keep your friends if you forgive them, but you will lose your friends if you keep talking about what they did wrong.
- A sensible person accepts correction, but you can't beat sense into a fool.
- Cruel people want to rebel, and so vicious attackers will be sent against them.
- A bear robbed of her cubs is far less dangerous than a stubborn fool.
- You will always have trouble if you are mean to those who are good to you.
- The start of an argument is like a water leak-- so stop it before real trouble breaks out.
- The LORD doesn't like those who defend the guilty or condemn the innocent.
- Why should fools have money for an education when they refuse to learn?
- A friend is always a friend, and relatives are born to share our troubles.
- It's stupid to guarantee someone else's loan.
- The wicked and the proud love trouble and keep begging to be hurt.
- Dishonesty does you no good, and telling lies will get you in trouble.
- It's never pleasant to be the parent of a fool and have nothing but pain.
- If you are cheerful, you feel good; if you are sad, you hurt all over.
- Crooks accept secret bribes to keep justice from being done.
- Anyone with wisdom knows what makes good sense, but fools can never make up their minds.
- Foolish children bring sorrow to their father and pain to their mother.
- It isn't fair to punish the innocent and those who do right.
- It makes a lot of sense to be a person of few words and to stay calm.
- Even fools seem smart when they are quiet.
Chapter to chapter, Solomon continues to touch on much the same topics while adding new perspectives to them and intermingling new topics. In this chapter Solomon addresses:
- Our Speech - We are told that to remain silent is often wiser than speech. Even the fool might appear wise if he doesn't open his mouth. The problem is, it is the intelligent person who understands the need to restrain his words and keep a cool head while the fool is not inclined to do either. A fool and excessive speech is not a good combination, but one that often goes together. We are also told that lies and deceitful speech will lead to our ruin.
- The Fool - While a fool may bring destruction to himself, he brings grief and bitterness to his parents. There is no joy, Solomon says, for the man who fathers a fool. I should note that Solomon gives no hint of responsibility to the parents for raising a fool. This comment comes from my own question as to the role discipline plays in raising a son who is a fool. I suspect it plays a significant role, but Solomon seems to place the responsibility on the son, and it is right that he should, if for no other reason than simply because a person must at some point take responsibility for their actions. Since Solomon is addressing his own son, however, it is natural that he would place responsibility on the son for acting foolishly because he has repeatedly emphasized the need for the son to seek wisdom and knowledge and tells him the pitfalls of being foolish. Particularly in his case, since he is providing the teaching, responsibility would rest with the son. Besides bringing grief and bitterness to his parents, what else is characteristic of the fool? It is hard to tell him anything. A rebuke for his actions has little affect. He may as well be given a hundred lashes. Furthermore, he is dangerous to be around. Solomon says, "Better for a man to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his foolishness."
- An Evil or Wicked Character - An evil or wicked person is constantly stirring up trouble. He listens to malicious talk and to a destructive tongue. Though it is not mentioned here, the wicked person is likely prone to pass on the malicious and destructive talk he listens to or to even stir up trouble based on it. This seems likely since the nature of the wicked person is to stir up trouble and Solomon points out that he seeks only rebellion and secretly takes bribes to subvert justice.
- Conflict - Solomon say that "To start a conflict is to release a flood." A flood, when released, is hard to stop, and Solomon says the dispute should be stopped before it breaks out and becomes like a flood. He says it is better to choose peace than to have wealth and better to ignore an offense against one's self and to promote love. To offend others is to invite strife, and excessive boasting invites injury.
- Justice - "Acquitting the guilty and condemning the just--both are detestable to the LORD." And, "It is certainly not good to fine an innocent person, or to beat a noble for his honesty." These are Solomon's comments on injustice at the governmental level. On a personal level, he says that if we return evil for good, evil will never depart from our house. On a personal level, injustice can nearly always be avoided, particularly if a person is not too obsessed with his own personal rights. But if we become excessively concerned for personal rights we will also promote injustice toward others. At a governmental level it becomes more difficult to avoid injustice, particularly in the courts. Gathering strong evidence related to a crime or having reliable witnesses is not always possible. When these are missing the execution of justice becomes extremely difficult. Both acquitting the guilty and condemning the just are detestable to the Lord. If we err, on which side is it best to err?
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