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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Proverbs 17 NLT</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/proverbs/17.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" 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href="../proverbs/16.htm" title="Proverbs 16">◄</a> Proverbs 17 <a href="../proverbs/18.htm" title="Proverbs 18">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">New Living Translation</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/nlt/esv/proverbs/17.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Chapters"> Par ▾ </a></td></tr></table></div><div class="chap"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/17-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>Better a dry crust eaten in peace</p><p class="line2">than a house filled with feasting—and conflict.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/17-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>A wise servant will rule over the master’s disgraceful son</p><p class="line2">and will share the inheritance of the master’s children.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/17-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>Fire tests the purity of silver and gold,</p><p class="line2">but the LORD tests the heart.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/17-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>Wrongdoers eagerly listen to gossip;</p><p class="line2">liars pay close attention to slander.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/17-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>Those who mock the poor insult their Maker;</p><p class="line2">those who rejoice at the misfortune of others will be punished.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/17-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged;</p><p class="line2">parents<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">a</span></a> are the pride of their children.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/17-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>Eloquent words are not fitting for a fool;</p><p class="line2">even less are lies fitting for a ruler.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/17-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>A bribe is like a lucky charm;</p><p class="line2">whoever gives one will prosper!</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/17-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>Love prospers when a fault is forgiven,</p><p class="line2">but dwelling on it separates close friends.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/17-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>A single rebuke does more for a person of understanding</p><p class="line2">than a hundred lashes on the back of a fool.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/17-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>Evil people are eager for rebellion,</p><p class="line2">but they will be severely punished.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/17-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>It is safer to meet a bear robbed of her cubs</p><p class="line2">than to confront a fool caught in foolishness.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/17-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>If you repay good with evil,</p><p class="line2">evil will never leave your house.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/17-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>Starting a quarrel is like opening a floodgate,</p><p class="line2">so stop before a dispute breaks out.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/17-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent—</p><p class="line2">both are detestable to the LORD.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/17-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>It is senseless to pay to educate a fool,</p><p class="line2">since he has no heart for learning.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/17-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>A friend is always loyal,</p><p class="line2">and a brother is born to help in time of need.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/17-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span>It’s poor judgment to guarantee another person’s debt</p><p class="line2">or put up security for a friend.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/17-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span>Anyone who loves to quarrel loves sin;</p><p class="line2">anyone who trusts in high walls invites disaster.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/17-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span>The crooked heart will not prosper;</p><p class="line2">the lying tongue tumbles into trouble.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/17-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>It is painful to be the parent of a fool;</p><p class="line2">there is no joy for the father of a rebel.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/17-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span>A cheerful heart is good medicine,</p><p class="line2">but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/17-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span>The wicked take secret bribes</p><p class="line2">to pervert the course of justice.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/17-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span>Sensible people keep their eyes glued on wisdom,</p><p class="line2">but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/17-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span>Foolish children<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">b</span></a> bring grief to their father</p><p class="line2">and bitterness to the one who gave them birth.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/17-26.htm"><b>26</b></a></span>It is wrong to punish the godly for being good</p><p class="line2">or to flog leaders for being honest.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/17-27.htm"><b>27</b></a></span>A truly wise person uses few words;</p><p class="line2">a person with understanding is even-tempered.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/17-28.htm"><b>28</b></a></span>Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent;</p><p class="line2">with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent.</p><A name="footnotes"></a><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><span class="mainfootnotes"><span class="mainfootnoteshdg">Footnotes:</span><br><span class="fn">a</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">17:6 </span><span class="ft">Hebrew </span><span class="it">fathers.</span><br><span class="fn">b</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">17:25 </span><span class="ft">Hebrew </span><span class="it">A foolish son.</span><br></span></div></div><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center"><em>Holy Bible</em>, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of <a href="http://www.tyndale.com">Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.</a>, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. 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