Bible Commentaries
Proverbs 17

Verses 1-28

Verse Proverbs 17:3. Two important thoughts are suggested by this proverb. First, that the heart will yield to no force other than that of God. Dross in metal may be discovered and expurged by fire, but evil in the heart can be discovered and dealt with only by God. Second, Jehovah does try the heart.

Verse Proverbs 17:5. The first part of this proverb does not teach, as is so often stated, that poverty is from God. Rather, it recognizes the inherent rights of every man in God, notwithstanding his poverty.

Verse Proverbs 17:10. The finer the disposition, the less is needed to correct it.

Verse Proverbs 17:15. A self-evident statement, and yet one that needs to be made, for in every age there have been those who fall into both forms of wrong.

Verse Proverbs 17:24. The contrast here is between "before the face of him" and "the ends of the earth." While it is a sure sign of weakness to see only the things that are near, it is a yet surer sign of folly to be forever looking at far-off things, to the neglect of those close at hand.