Proverbs · 28 verses
Proverbs 17
Every verse links to the people and places named in it, and to the passages readers connect it with.
The chapter
What happens here
Atlas's own reading, written from this chapter and nothing else, and published only once a person has approved it. Each scene names the verses it covers; the names inside it link to the people and places they name.
A fool in his folly is more alarming than a bear robbed of her cubs; then, in a splendid reversal, silence makes the fool look wise.
A bear, a bribe, and a shut mouthvv. 1–28
The sayings begin by preferring a dry morsel in quietness to a feast with strife, and they keep a sharp eye on the ways people spoil what they have. A wicked man lends his ear to evil, a liar to destruction, and a covert bribe quietly bends justice; even a bribe is called a charm to its giver, which is a remarkably frank little portrait of crooked success. Yet the chapter will not let the matter rest there: the one who mocks the poor insults their Maker, and the one who returns evil for good brings evil home to stay.
Then comes the chapter's wildest comparison: a bear robbed of her cubs is preferable company to a fool in his folly. Quarrels are floods waiting for a breach, high gates invite destruction, and a man without judgment signs security for his neighbour. Against all this clamour stand the friend who loves at all times, the brother born for adversity, the joyful heart that is good medicine, and the person who knows when not to add another word.
The ending gives silence an almost theatrical promotion. Wisdom belongs to the discerning, while the fool's eyes wander to the ends of the earth; but if the fool keeps silent, he is considered wise, and if he holds his tongue, discerning. It is not a transformation, exactly—only a closed mouth, doing astonishingly well.
The text
Read it
Berean Standard Bible, public domain. Names the Hebrew and Greek put in the verse link to the person, place or people they name; the address beside each verse is a link to that verse, which is what a reader copies and shares.
Prov 17:1Better a dry morsel in quietness than a house full of feasting with strife.
Prov 17:2A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful son and share his inheritance as one of the brothers.
Prov 17:3A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but the LORD is the tester of hearts.
Prov 17:4A wicked man listens to evil lips; a liar gives ear to a destructive tongue.
Prov 17:5He who mocks the poor insults their Maker; whoever gloats over calamity will not go unpunished.
Prov 17:6Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of a son is his father.
Prov 17:7Eloquent words are unfit for a fool; how much worse are lying lips to a ruler!
Prov 17:8A bribe is a charm to its giver; wherever he turns, he succeeds.
Prov 17:9Whoever conceals an offense promotes love, but he who brings it up separates friends.
Prov 17:10A rebuke cuts into a man of discernment deeper than a hundred lashes cut into a fool.
Prov 17:11An evil man seeks only rebellion; a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
Prov 17:12It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly.
Prov 17:13If anyone returns evil for good, evil will never leave his house.
Prov 17:14To start a quarrel is to release a flood; so abandon the dispute before it breaks out.
Prov 17:15Acquitting the guilty and condemning the righteous—both are detestable to the LORD.
Prov 17:16Why should the fool have money in his hand with no intention of buying wisdom?
Prov 17:17A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Prov 17:18A man lacking judgment strikes hands in pledge and puts up security for his neighbor.
Prov 17:19He who loves transgression loves strife; he who builds his gate high invites destruction.
Prov 17:20The one with a perverse heart finds no good, and he whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble.
Prov 17:21A man fathers a fool to his own grief; the father of a fool has no joy.
Prov 17:22A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
Prov 17:23A wicked man takes a covert bribe to subvert the course of justice.
Prov 17:24Wisdom is the focus of the discerning, but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.
Prov 17:25A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him.
Prov 17:26It is surely not good to punish the innocent or to flog a noble for his honesty.
Prov 17:27A man of knowledge restrains his words, and a man of understanding maintains a calm spirit.
Prov 17:28Even a fool is considered wise if he keeps silent, and discerning when he holds his tongue.
02 — Read alongside
Where this is echoed
Readers' own connections, from OpenBible's crowd-voted cross-references — agreement about relevance, and not scholarly confidence. 276 passages were voted onto 28 verses of this chapter; the 16 shown lead on votes, and each is listed at the verse it was voted onto most strongly.
- 22Proverbs 15:13A joyful heart makes a cheerful countenance, but sorrow of the heart crushes the spirit.
- 22Proverbs 12:25Anxiety weighs down the heart of a man, but a good word cheers it up.
- 22Proverbs 18:14The spirit of a man can endure his sickness, but who can survive a broken spirit?
- 17Proverbs 18:24A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.
- 27James 3:18Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness.
- 222 Corinthians 7:10Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
- 17John 15:13–14Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
- 1Proverbs 15:17Better a dish of vegetables where there is love than a fattened ox with hatred.
- 9Proverbs 10:12Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all transgressions.
- 1Psalms 37:16Better is the little of the righteous than the abundance of many who are wicked.
- 1Proverbs 21:19Better to live in the desert than with a contentious and ill-tempered wife.
- 28Job 13:5If only you would remain silent; for that would be your wisdom!
- 91 Peter 4:8Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
- 22Ecclesiastes 9:7–9Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a cheerful heart, for God has already approved your works:
- 22Romans 5:2–5through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
- 27James 1:19My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger,
Onward