Bible Commentaries
Proverbs 17

Verse 1

Pro 17:1

Proverbs 17:1

"Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, Than a house full of feasting with strife."

"Better a dry crust and concord with it than a house full of feasting and strife.” "Better a morsel of dry bread, and peace with it, than a house full of feasting, with strife.”

Proverbs 17:1. Because their bread was “dry”, they dipped it in water and other softening fluids (Ruth 2:14; John 13:36). And having only a dry morsel to eat could be the sign of extreme poverty. So taken, the verse means that poverty and peace are to be preferred to prosperity and problems (such as “strife”). The rich have troubles and problems that the poor do not have. This statement should be a comfort to people who have only the barest of necessities. Proverbs 15:17 is very similar.

Verse 2

Pro 17:2

Proverbs 17:2

"A servant that dealeth wisely shall rule over a son that causeth shame, And shall have part in the inheritance among the brethren."

"A wise servant shall rule over a disgraceful son, and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers." "A slave who deals wisely will rule over a child that acts shamefully, and will share the inheritance as one of the family.” Eliezer the servant of Abraham was just such a servant (Genesis 15:2-3) as that which is spoken of here.

Proverbs 17:2. “Pulpit Commentary”: “Here is intimated the supremacy of wisdom over folly and vise...Slaves were often raised to high honor and might inherit their master’s possessions. Thus Abraham’s servant...was at one time considered the patriarch’s heir (Genesis 15:2-3); Ziba, Saul’s servant, obtained the inheritance of his lord Mephibosheth (2 Samuel 16:4); Joseph was advanced to the highest post in Egypt.” In European history when the sons of Clovis, king of the Franks, did not really care to rule but merely to enjoy the pleasures of the palace, they had “mayors of the palace” who did the actual ruling, and in time the mayors became the heirs of the throne itself. (For further reading consult the “Merovingian” and “Carolingian” dynasties in church history books or encyclopedias.) For “a son that causeth shame”, see Proverbs 10:5; Proverbs 19:26.

Verse 3

Pro 17:3

Proverbs 17:3

"The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; But Jehovah trieth the hearts."

"The smelter for silver, the furnace for gold, and the Eternal for testing the heart"! "As silver is tried by fire, and gold in the furnace, so the Lord trieth the hearts.” The Douay rendition here appears to be the best, because it stresses the fact that God will indeed try men’s hearts, even as he tried that of Abraham (Genesis 22:1 ff).

Proverbs 17:3. Just as men refine gold and silver (Proverbs 27:21), so does God refine men. Through the Word (John 15:3), but especially through chastening (Isaiah 48:10; Hebrews 12:11) and persecution (1 Peter 1:6-7; James 1:2-3; and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18), does He refine us. Malachi 3:2-3 aptly predicted this refining in the Christian dispensation.

Verse 4

Pro 17:4

Proverbs 17:4

"An evil-doer giveth heed to wicked lips; And a liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue."

"A bad man hearkens to the tongue of transgressors: but a righteous man attends not to false lips.” "Evil people listen to evil ideas, and liars listen to lies.” It is obvious that many renditions are paraphrases rather than translations.

Proverbs 17:4. It is common for perverse people to believe the wrong thing about others. They want to. They get enjoyment from it. They derive satisfaction in thinking the righteous are not really righteous. This verse is a case of Hebrew parallelism in which the second line restates the truth of the first statement. Thus the “liar” is the “evil-doer”, “giveth ear” is the same as “giveth heed”, and a “mischievous tongue” is the same as “wicked lips” The liar will have something more to lie about.

Verse 5

Pro 17:5

Proverbs 17:5

"Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker; And he that is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished."

"Some people make fun of poor people. They laugh at people who have problems. This shows that those bad people don’t respect God who made them. These bad people will be punished.” "He who mocks a poor man insults his Maker, and one who makes fun of calamity will not escape punishment.” Most of these various versions and translations speak truth, but not always in conformity with the sacred text.

Proverbs 17:5. Proverbs 14:31 talked of oppressing the poor; this verse of mocking the poor. People mock the poor when they make fun of them, laugh at them, mimic them, and make life harder for them. God is the “Maker” of the poor as well as the rich (Proverbs 22:2); when we mock them, we mock Him; when we give to them, we are making a loan to the Lord (Proverbs 19:17). We should not be glad at any calamity, whether that calamity be poverty (as in this context) or any other. Job said he was free from this (Job 31:29), but Edom wasn’t (Obadiah 1:12). God will punish us if we do (Proverbs 24:17).

Verse 6

Pro 17:6

Proverbs 17:6

"Children’s children are the crown of old men; And the glory of children are their fathers."

This truism is illustrated by every grandfather (or grandmother) who "just happens" to have handy a picture of a grandchild.

The second clause ("And fathers are the pride of their sons") is illustrated by this story:

Boys were bragging on their dads. The farmer’s boy said, "My dad raised a big wheat crop, and bought a new car." The professor’s son, said, "My dad was just elected president of the university." The doctor’s son said, "That’s nothing, my dad did a heart-transplant in one day and made $20,000.00." The lawyer’s boy said, "You think that’s big? My dad won a lawsuit and made $100,000.00"! The preacher’s son spoke up and said, "You haven’t heard anything yet. My dad preaches for a big church, He talks for a few minutes, and it takes sixteen men to carry out the money"!

Proverbs 17:6. When one’s own health begins to fail, and it seems there is less and less purpose for one’s earthly life, along come the births of grandchildren to inject a new dimension into one’s living. They “crown” one’s life near one’s bowing-out years. The last statement shows that good children not only respect their parents but actually glory in them. How they will brag about them (sometimes even exaggerate concerning what he can do, what he knows, how much money he has, etc.).

For the blessing that children can be, see Psalms 127:3-5; Psalms 128:3.

Verse 7

Pro 17:7

Proverbs 17:7

"Excellent speech becometh not a fool; Much less do lying lips a prince."

"It does not become a fool to speak loftily. How much less do lying lips a noble"! "It always makes a poor impression when a vulgar, foolish man presumes to speak imperatively and presumptuously.” "Let fools be false, and good men true. Translate: `Honest words do not become a fool; much less do lies a man of rectitude.’”

Proverbs 17:7. Excellent speech is speaking only the facts, speaking them at the right time, at the right place, to the right person, in the right spirit, and for the right purpose (to mention a few of its characteristics). As we don’t expect good speech from a fool, neither should we expect bad speech from a ruler. It is a shame that so many of our present-day ruling-class, even though elected to their offices, are known for being “politicians” (policy-men) more than “statesmen” (doing what is right under all conditions).

Verse 8

Pro 17:8

Proverbs 17:8

"A bribe is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it; Whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth."

Both the offering and the receiving of bribes is sinful; but this proverb states a shameful truth that in our work-a-day world, "Bribes get the job done"! There is no endorsement here either of giving or receiving bribes. The many renditions and various readings indicate uncertainties in the text; but the RSV is probably dependable: "A bribe is like a magic stone in the eyes of him who gives it; wherever he turns he prospers.”

Proverbs 17:8. The various translations face the problem of whether it should be “bribe”, “gift,” or “stone of grace”, and whether the “it” after “whithersoever” should be “it” or “he”. Of all the translations the “New World” gives as understandable a message on this verse as any: “The gift is a stone winning favor in the eyes of its grand owner. Everywhere that he turns he has success.” If the foregoing is correct, both Proverbs 18:16; Proverbs 19:6 verify the truth of its statement. If “bribe” is correct, “Living Bible” has, “A bribe works like magic. Whoever uses it will prosper” and it adds this footnote: “This is a fact, but the writer strictly forbids this perversion of justice. See Proverbs 17:23”

Verse 9

Pro 17:9

Proverbs 17:9

"He that covereth a transgression seeks love; But he that harpeth on a matter separateth chief friends."

It is the glory of a righteous person not to judge and criticize others; and it is always a mark of forbearance and kindness to ignore sins and mistakes that appear in the lives of others, especially, in this context, those of a close friend or associate. "He that harpeth on a matter" refers to the mention over and over again of a close friend’s alleged error. Such action is extremely irritating and should be absolutely avoided.

Proverbs 17:9. “Septuagint”: “He who concealeth injuries seeketh friendship.” One’s sense of love will cause him not to repeat many things he has heard, even if true, if they are not in the best interests of the one involved (Proverbs 10:12). Harping on a matter is just the opposite of concealing it, for it utilizes every opportunity to bring it up, to mention it, or to ramble on and on about it. This can be the end of friendship.

Verse 10

Pro 17:10

Proverbs 17:10

"A rebuke entereth deeper into one that hath understanding Than a hundred stripes into a fool."

"A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred blows into a fool.” Deane pointed out that, "The antithesis is put more forcibly in the Septuagint.” "A threat breaks the heart of a wise man; but a fool, though scourged, understands not.”

Proverbs 17:10. The contrast here does not mean to elevate “rebuke” (words of correction) and eliminate “stripes” (Physical punishments). It merely shows that some “words” do a wise man more good than “stripes” do a fool. What a pity that there are some whom neither words nor stripes will help! Peter was a man who was helped by rebuke, by both Jesus and Paul (Matthew 16:23; Matthew 26:75; Galatians 2:11-15).

Verse 11

Pro 17:11

Proverbs 17:11

"An evil man seeketh only rebellion; Therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him."

Of course, it is true, as Deane said, that, "An evil man seeks many things that do not exactly fit the term `rebellion’; but from the viewpoint of an Eastern potentate (like Solomon), any prominent crime by a subject would have been considered rebellion.” The cruel messenger would be the king’s response to it.

Proverbs 17:11. An “evil” man is one who will not be guided and governed by that which is right. He is a law-breaker, both in heart and in act. He seeks only rebellion against properly constituted authority (parents, school, government, manners, etc.). He, thus, is a liability and not an asset. Because he will not obey, will not respect the rights and property of others, he is often confined in prison at a great outlay of citizens money. Better for society if he had never been born!

Proverbs 17:11. The “rebellion” here under consideration was anarchy against the existing government. With the monarchical form of government of those days, this was common and accounted for may assassinations (see the Northern Kingdom history for numerous instances of this). When any such rebellion was detected, the rebellion was immediately put down (“a cruel messenger shall be sent against him”).

Verse 12

Pro 17:12

Proverbs 17:12

"Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly."

"Better face a she-bear robbed of her cubs than a stupid man in his folly.” This is an impressive warning against conflict with a foolish, wicked man.

Proverbs 17:12. The fierceness of a bear who has lost her young (“whelps”) is also referred to in 2 Samuel 17:8 and Hosea 13:8. One who is unfortunate enough to come along to become involved in some fool’s folly may suffer all the way from embarrassment to being murdered. Thus, one may have his car pelted by rock-throwing children as he drives by, his tires slashed because he lives in a neighborhood of “no-goods”, or his life taken by hoodlums who kill him to see what he had in his billfold.

Verse 13

Pro 17:13

Proverbs 17:13

"Whoso rewardeth evil for good, Evil shall not depart from his house."

"If a man repays evil for good, evil will never quit his house.” This warning frequently expressed in Proverbs simply means, "You reap what you sow,” a principle strongly reiterated in the New Testament (Galatians 6:7-8).

Proverbs 17:13. It is contrary to nature (an extreme wrong) to reward evil for good. It is bad enough not to receive thanks from those helped, but it is even worse for the blessed to repay evil to the giver of good. When this occurs, the promise is that “evil” will abide upon such a one and his house. Instances of repaying good with evil: 1 Samuel 25:21; Psalms 109:4-5; Jeremiah 18:20.

Verse 14

Pro 17:14

Proverbs 17:14

"The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water; Therefore leave off contention before there is quarreling."

Toy noted that the, "Language here is somewhat indefinite"; whatever the precise meaning, the passage is a warning against strife. "The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention before it be meddled with.” "If you start an argument, it is like breaking a hole in a dam; so stop the argument before it becomes bigger and bigger.”

Proverbs 17:14. “Clarke”: “As soon as the smallest breach is made in the dike or dam, the water begins to press from all parts towards the breach; the resistance becomes too great to be successfully opposed, so the dikes and all are speedily swept away. Such is the beginning of contentions, quarrels, lawsuits, etc.” “Pulpit Commentary” also interprets the statement “as when one letteth out water”. It is possible, though, that the expression referred to is the plain type of talk that they used in those days, talk that our society does not look upon as acceptable. Regardless of the figure and its interpretation, its application is unquestioned: cut off strife before it gets started.

Verse 15

Pro 17:15

Proverbs 17:15

"He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the righteous, Both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah."

"To absolve the wicked and to condemn the innocent are equally hateful to the Lord.” In fact, absolving the guilty is, in the last analysis, a condemnation of the innocent. An example of this is seen in the extreme leniency of our current judicial system in the mild or even omitted punishment of vicious criminals, who promptly multiply their violent crimes against the innocent.

Proverbs 17:15. In God’s books the wicked are to be condemned and the righteous commended (Matthew 25:34-36; Matthew 25:41-43 and many, many others). Proverbs 17:26 of this chapter says, “To punish the righteous is not good, Nor to smite the noble for their uprightness.” Exodus 23:7 : “The innocent and righteous slay thou not; for I will not justify the wicked.” Proverbs 24:24 : “He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous, People shall curse him, nations shall abhor him.” Isaiah 5:20 : “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil.”

Verse 16

Pro 17:16

Proverbs 17:16

"Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, Seeing he hath no understanding?"

This is a down to earth recognition that teaching can be wasted on a fool. This is not a snobbish remark; because, as always in Proverbs, the fool gets himself into his situation by his own stubbornness and wickedness.”

Proverbs 17:16. Why pay out money for books and then not read, study, or use them? Why pay tuition fees to go to school when one does not really want to study and learn? “Pulpit Commentary”: “A fool thinks that there is a royal road to wisdom, and that it, like other things, is to be purchased with money.” One who has a heart for learning will treasure and value every opportunity for learning (books, lectures, films, travel, etc.), such as Abraham Lincoln, and they rise on the wings of acquired knowledge and bless others with the knowledge they have gained. But pupils are not all students, teachers soon discover.

Verse 17

Pro 17:17

Proverbs 17:17

"A friend loveth at all times; And a brother is born for adversity."

"A friend is friendly at all times; but a brother is born for adversity.” "The meaning here is that in trouble one finds out what families are for, and you also find out who are your real friends. The next verse shows that a real friend may be imposed upon.”

Proverbs 17:17. A “friend” is “one who loves”. A true friend loves at all times, even in times of adversities and reverses and health-failures. They are contrasted with “fair-weather friends” such as the Prodigal Son had (Luke 15:13-16; Luke 15:30). Ruth represents inseparable love (Ruth 1:16). David and Jonathan also (1 Samuel 18:1; 1 Samuel 18:4; 2 Samuel 1:26). Brothers may live at a distance and not get to see each other very often, but times of adversity bring them together to help each other. Proverbs 18:24 speaks of the friend that is even closer to us than a brother.

Verse 18

Pro 17:18

Proverbs 17:18

"A man void of understanding striketh hands, And becometh surety in the presence of his neighbor."

See comment on Proverbs 6:1 ff. Proverbs gives very stern and persistent warnings against becoming another man’s guarantee or surety.

Proverbs 17:18. “Clarke”: “Striking each other’s hands, or shaking hands, was anciently the form in concluding a contract.” This was just as binding as our “signing” our names to a contract today. “Surety” was when one obligated himself for the debts of others. Proverbs gives strong warnings against this (Proverbs 6:1-2; Proverbs 11:15).

Verse 19

Pro 17:19

Proverbs 17:19

"He loveth transgression that loveth strife: He that raiseth high his gate seeketh destruction."

"One who is fond of crime must be fond of trouble, and to make one’s doorway inaccessible is to invite destruction.” Another rendition of the last clause is: "He who builds a lofty entrance invites thieves.” The idea behind this is that the thief believes the builder is protecting valuables by such an entrance.

Proverbs 17:19. One who loves strife must “love” transgression for strife produces many violations of God’s law (such as jealousies, envyings, evil surmisings, hatreds, anger, malice, evil speaking, etc.). Such is carnality: “Ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you jealousy and strife, are ye not carnal, and do ye not walk after the manner of man?” (1 Corinthians 3:3). James 3:16 : “Where jealousy and faction are, there is confusion and every vile deed.” “Pulpit Commentary” on exalting one’s gate and its consequent destruction: “He who builds a sumptuous house and lives in a way that his magnificent surroundings demand draws ruin on himself...The entrance to a Palestine house would usually be of humble dimensions and sparse ornamentation; any doorway of great architectural pretensions would be uncommon, and would be regarded as a token of extraordinary wealth or reprehensible pride...which he is unable to support or...provoke reprisals and injurious consequences.” A saying: “One who makes an unusual success in life makes many false friends and true enemies.” Build something great, and the world will not only notice it, but someone will try to destroy it. See Proverbs 16:18 also.

Verse 20

Pro 17:20

Proverbs 17:20

"He that hath a wayward heart findeth no good; And he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief."

The first clause here speaks of a certain type of cynical, bitter men who cannot see good in anything or any one. "The literal Hebrew regarding the `perverse tongue’ in the second clause is, `He who turns himself about with his tongue’; that is, he says one thing at one time, and something quite contrary at another.”

Proverbs 17:20. Another case of Hebrew parallelism in which the second statement is a restatement of the first, using different words. A “wayward heart” and a “perverse tongue” are two liabilities. The wayward heart is one that wandered out of the path that God has intended; it will find no good (no blessing from God), It is not pure so it will not see God (Matthew 5:8). It does not think upon the things listed in Philippians 4:8 so it will not know the peace that Philippians 4:7 mentions. Look at Jeremiah 17:9’s description of the wayward heart. The perverse tongue is perverted; that is, it is speaking contrary to God’s intentions for it. Such will get itself and others into much mischief and wrong-doing, See James 3:6; James 3:8 for the evil that the perverse tongue can cause.

Verse 21

Pro 17:21

Proverbs 17:21

"He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow; And the father of a fool hath no joy."

It should be continually borne in mind that the "fool" in Proverbs is generally a reference, not to the mentally retarded, but to the rascal, the sinner, the willfully wicked. "As in Psalms 14:1, `fool’ in this passage does not mean mere stupidity. Psalms 14:1 means that it is the rascal who has said in his heart, `There is no God.’”

Proverbs 17:21. The behavior of one’s children can greatly affect his own future happiness or sorrow (Proverbs 17:25; Proverbs 10:1; Proverbs 19:13). Think of the sorrow that Cain brought to Adam and Eve by killing Abel, that Absalom brought to his father David when he tried to steal his throne, and that Hophni and Phinehas brought to their priestly father Eli.

Verse 22

Pro 17:22

Proverbs 17:22

"A cheerful heart is a good medicine; But a broken spirit drieth up the bones."

This says that a sunny, cheerful disposition is good for one’s health; and there are convincing examples of this truth all around us.

Proverbs 17:22. Those who have cheerful hearts and bright outlooks upon life have a physical blessing of health that others do not know. On the other hand “nothing has such a direct tendency to ruin health and waste out life as grief, anxiety, fretfulness, bad tempers, etc. All these work death” (“Clarke”). Other passages: Proverbs 12:25; Proverbs 15:13; Proverbs 15:15.

Verse 23

Pro 17:23

Proverbs 17:23

"A wicked man receiveth a bribe out of the bosom, To pervert the ways of justice."

Here again we have an identification of bribery with wickedness and the perversion of justice. The bribery being "out of the bosom" is a reference to its being offered and received secretly.

Proverbs 17:23. “Clarke”: “Above their girdles the Asiatics carry their purses.” A wicked (not a righteous) man receives a bribe and perverts justice as a result. This was forbidden in Exodus 23:8. If officials are not to receive them, we should not give them in our desire to get some kind of preferential treatment.

Verse 24

Pro 17:24

Proverbs 17:24

"Wisdom is before the face of him that hath understanding; But the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth."

"A discerning man keeps wisdom in view, but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth.” Faithful and successful living require that one give close attention to the work at hand, that he diligently take care of the present business; but, "A fool fritters away the powers and opportunities that might have blessed him, having his attention continually diverted by a hundred different things.”

Proverbs 17:24. The contrast between the fool and the one with understanding in this verse is that the fool’s eyes are a long way off (to the “ends of the earth”), but the wise man sees wisdom right where he is. The fool misses the opportunities at hand and is always supposing that somewhere else, something else, is really better. An old saying: “A rolling stone gathers no moss,” meaning that one who is always moving about and not settled down will not accumulate much nor accomplish much. Remember the Prodigal Son in this connection (Luke 15)? See Proverbs 6:11 also.

Verse 25

Pro 17:25

Proverbs 17:25

"A foolish son is a grief to his father, And bitterness to her that bare him."

This is another truism in slightly different words from several in the same vein that we have found in Proverbs.

Proverbs 17:25. Proverbs 17:21 spoke of the sorrow that a fool brings to his father. This verse speaks of the grief and bitterness he brings to both his parents. It is a tragedy when a son brings “grief” instead of joy to his father, and when he brings “bitterness” instead of satisfaction to his mother. But children must be reared and trained, not merely begotten and born. Similar passages: Proverbs 10:1; Proverbs 15:20; Proverbs 19:13.

Verse 26

Pro 17:26

Proverbs 17:26

"Also to punish the righteous is not good, Also to smite the noble for their uprightness."

"To impose a fine on the innocent is not right, or to flog the noble for their integrity.” "It is not fair to fine the innocent, and most unfair to scourge a noble soul.” In a society like our own, where not even the most vicious criminals are consistently either fined or scourged, and the latter never at all, it is hard to understand why proverbs like this were needed.

Proverbs 17:26. See Proverbs 17:15, also Proverbs 18:5. This represents corruption in government, a perversion of justice. God has ordained government, and He says, “Do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise from the same” (Romans 13:3). Both Jesus and Paul were smitten when innocent (Matthew 26:67; Acts 23:1-2).

Verses 27-28

Pro 17:27-28

Proverbs 17:27-28

"He that spareth his words hath knowledge; And he that is of a cool spirit is a man of understanding. Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise."

Harris pointed out that, "There are two badges of a wise man: reticence, and calmness of temper.” This is the message of Proverbs 17:27. Proverbs 17:28 reveals that even a fool who exhibits reticence may be mistaken for a wise man.

Batsell Baxter, a president of A.C.C., had a favorite chapel yarn which he told more than once. A retarded little boy was told by his father, "Son, just don’t talk; and they won’t find out that you don’t know very much." A prominent visitor came. He asked the little boy a few questions, "How old are you"? "Where do you go to school"? "What is your brother doing"? Etc. The little boy made no response; and the visitor said, "I see that you don’t know very much"! Whereupon the little boy burst into tears, saying, "Daddy, they found it out anyway"!

"The implication here is that silence is nearly always a good thing.” "Even a fool may be counted wise if he keeps his mouth shut.”

Proverbs 17:27. “Pulpit Commentary”: “He shows his common sense, not by rash talk or saying all he knows, but by restraining his tongue.” We are to be “slow to speak” (James 1:19). “In the multitude of words there wanteth not transgression; But he that refraineth his lips doeth wisely” (Proverbs 10:19). “Cool spirit” means not losing one’s temper and is parallel to “slow to wrath” (James 1:19) and is praised in Proverbs 16:32 (“He that ruleth his spirit”). This verse teaches us the wisdom of both not being too talkative and not losing one’s temper.

Proverbs 17:28. This verse continues the thoughts begun in Proverbs 17:27. Ecclesiastes 5:3 connects a “fool’s voice” with the “multitude of words”. Job exclaimed to his rash critics, “Oh that ye would altogether hold your peace! And it would be your wisdom” (Job 13:5). An old saying: “Be silent, and they will think you are a fool; speak, and they will know it.” Occasionally you will get acquainted with a fool who does not advertise it with his speech; it was his lack of talkativeness that caused you to think of him as a normal person until you got better acquainted with him.

Proverbs of Solomon - Proverbs 17:1-28

Open It

1. When was the last time you got into a really big argument with someone?

2. When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

3. Why?

Explore It

4. When is dry crust better than feasting? (Proverbs 17:1)

5. What themes are developed in this chapter? (Proverbs 17:1-28)

6. What does this chapter say about fathers and sons? (Proverbs 17:1-28)

7. What does the Lord test? (Proverbs 17:3)

8. What did Solomon say about children and parents? (Proverbs 17:6)

9. What did Solomon say about bribes? (Proverbs 17:8; Proverbs 17:23)

10. How can friends build or tear down their friendship? (Proverbs 17:9)

11. What happens to the person who pays back evil for good? (Proverbs 17:13)

12. What does a friend always do? (Proverbs 17:17)

13. What do we know about a person who loves quarrels? (Proverbs 17:19)

14. What is the good of a cheerful attitude? (Proverbs 17:22)

15. What dries up the bones? (Proverbs 17:22)

16. What distinguishes the aspirations of the discerning person from those of the fool? (Proverbs 17:24)

17. How does a person of knowledge use words? (Proverbs 17:27)

18. What is the benefit of holding one’s tongue—even for the fool? (Proverbs 17:28)

Get It

19. How and why does God test us?

20. If God were to test your heart, what would He find?

21. In what way are children a crown to older people?

22. In what way are parents the pride of their children?

23. Why might it be easier to repeat a matter rather than to cover over it?

24. What is the appeal of quarreling?

25. How is a cheerful heart good medicine?

26. How can we know if our dreams and aspirations in life are realistic or foolish?

27. What is the relationship between mental attitude and good health?

28. When is it hard to use words with restraint?

Apply It

29. What is one specific step you can take this week to purify your heart?

30. What offense can you forgive?

31. What is a step you can take to help you use words with proper restraint?