Wisdom, Is Better Than Text: Proverbs 17:1-28
Better is a dry morsel with quietness, Than a house full of feasting with strife. 2 A wise servant will rule over a son who causes shame, And will share an inheritance among the brothers. 3 The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the LORD tests the hearts. 4 An evildoer gives heed to false lips; A liar listens eagerly to a spiteful tongue. 5 He who mocks the poor reproaches his Maker;He who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished. 6 Children’s children are the crown of old men, And the glory of children is their father. 7 Excellent speech is not becoming to a fool, Much less lying lips to a prince. 8 A present is a precious stone in the eyes of its possessor; Wherever he turns, he prospers. 9 He who covers a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates friends. 10 Rebuke is more effective for a wise man Than a hundred blows on a fool. 11 An evil man seeks only rebellion; Therefore a cruel messenger will be sent against him. 12 Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, Rather than a fool in his folly. 13 Whoever rewards evil for good, Evil will not depart from his house. 14 The beginning of strife is like releasing water;Therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts. 15 He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, Both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD. 16 Why is there in the hand of a fool the purchase price of wisdom, Since he has no heart for it? 17 A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity. 18 A man devoid of understanding shakes hands in a pledge, And becomes surety for his friend. 19 He who loves transgression loves strife, And he who exalts his gate seeks destruction. 20 He who has a deceitful heart finds no good, And he who has a perverse tongue falls into evil. 21 He who begets a scoffer does so to his sorrow, And the father of a fool has no joy. 22 A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones. 23 A wicked man accepts a bribe behind the back To pervert the ways of justice. 24 Wisdom is in the sight of him who has understanding, But the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth. 25 A foolish son is a grief to his father, And bitterness to her who bore him. 26 Also, to punish the righteous is not good, Nor to strike princes for their uprightness. 27 He who has knowledge spares his words, And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit. 28 Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.
These Proverbs give the wise things that are better than. Such as wisdom being better than silver or gold. Poverty and peace and contentment is better than plenty with strife. Wisdom in servants is better than folly in sons. Wisdom is offered over and over again to anyone who will hear and heed to.
Proverbs 17:1 NLT Better a dry crust eaten in peace than a house filled with feasting—and conflict.
Remember, Proverbs 15:17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, Than a fatted calf with hatred.
Proverbs 17:2NLT A wise servant will rule over the master’s disgraceful son and will share the inheritance of the master’s children.
Wisdom is vital, and better than privilege that if children act like fools, a wise servant will rise to prominence over the household.
Proverbs 17:3NLT Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but the Lord tests the heart.
The Lord is like a refining fire. Malachi 3:2-3NLT “But who will be able to endure it when he comes? Who will be able to stand and face him when he appears? For he will be like a blazing fire that refines metal, or like a strong soap that bleaches clothes. 3 He will sit like a refiner of silver, burning away the dross. He will purify the Levites, refining them like gold and silver, so that they may once again offer acceptable sacrifices to the Lord.
Psalm 66:10NLT You have tested us, O God; you have purified us like silver.
Job 23:10NLT “But he knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold.
Proverbs 17:4NLT Wrongdoers eagerly listen to gossip; liars pay close attention to slander.
Remember the old saying, “Birds of the feather flock together.”
Proverbs 17:5NLT Those who mock the poor insult their Maker;those who rejoice at the misfortune of others will be punished.
To make fun of what God created is to mock God.
The people of Edom were condemned for gloating over the collapse of ‘brother’ Israel.
Ezekiel 35:12-15NKJ Then you shall know that I am the LORD. I have heard all your blasphemies which you have spoken against the mountains of Israel, saying, ‘They are desolate; they are given to us to consume.’ 13 Thus with your mouth you have boasted against Me and multiplied your words against Me; I have heard them.” 14 ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “The whole earth will rejoice when I make you desolate. 15 As you rejoiced because the inheritance of the house of Israel was desolate, so I will do to you; you shall be desolate, O Mount Seir, as well as all of Edom—all of it! Then they shall know that I am the LORD.”’
Proverbs 17:6NLT Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged;parents are the pride of their children.
In Biblical times, to live to see ones grandchildren was considered a blessing.
I was behind an elderly couple today, as I listen to the lady tell a complete stranger that they were going to keep their grandchildren this weekend and she even said, “ones 7 and the other is 8!” (Nothing like being a grand parent.)
Proverbs 17:7NLT Eloquent words are not fitting for a fool; even less are lies fitting for a ruler.
A kings right to rule over a nation depends on his honesty and justice.
Proverbs 17:8NLT A bribe is like a lucky charm; whoever gives one will prosper!
Elsewhere, a bribe is condemned; however, here it’s talking about how the bribe brings prosperity to its recipient.
Proverbs 17:9NLT Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends.
Proverbs 10:12NKJ Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all sins.
Maintaining a healthy relationship means forgiving rather than dwelling on faults.
Proverbs 17:10NLT A single rebuke does more for a person of understanding than a hundred lashes on the back of a fool.
100 lashes will not change a fools behavior, or decisions,but a mild rebuke will correct the person gaining wisdom.
Proverbs 17:11NLT Evil people are eager for rebellion, but they will be severely punished.
Rebellion flows from the inner character of evil people.
Proverbs 17:12NLT It is safer to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than to confront a fool caught in foolishness.
Fools are less rational in anger than wild bears. ( This is a caution to teachers who try to teach fools.)
Proverbs 17:13NLT If you repay good with evil,evil will never leave your house.
Here is another verse on the laws of sowing and reaping.
Genesis 8:22NKJ “While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, Cold and heat, Winter and summer, And day and night Shall not cease.”
Look at I Samuel 25:21 Now David had said, “Surely in vain I have protected all that this fellow has in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that belongs to him. And he has repaid me evil for good. ( Abigail pleas offers presents unto David, but God strikes ,Nabal for his foolishness toward David.)
Proverbs 17:14NLT Starting a quarrel is like opening a floodgate,so stop before a dispute breaks out.
Unnecessary disputes should always be avoided!
Proverbs 17:15NLT Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent—both are detestable to the Lord.
Injustice is evil and destabilizes society.
Proverbs 17:16NLT It is senseless to pay tuition to educate a fool, since he has no heart for learning.
Wasted money for a wasted life.
Proverbs 17:17NLT A friend is always loyal,and a brother is born to help in time of need.
The difference between a friend and a brother, a true friend is always available, while a brother just comes around when there is trouble, so a true friend is better.
Proverbs 17:18NLT It’s poor judgment to guarantee another person’s debtor put up security for a friend.
This is a repeated message over and over again. ( Proverbs 10:12, 15:18, 16:28, 20:3. 22:10, 26:21) Don’t do it, it will ruin friendship.)
Proverbs 17:19NLT Anyone who loves to quarrel loves sin; anyone who trusts in high walls invites disaster.
No one wins a quarrel. Moreover, quarreling is different than confronting or being very direct.
Trusting in a hugh high wall means, ‘one’ who is proud and ‘one’ who flaunts his wealth.
Proverbs 17:20NLT The crooked heart will not prosper;the lying tongue tumbles into trouble.
One who is perverted in his ways. (His thoughts, actions, mouth and decisions.)
Proverbs 17:21NLT It is painful to be the parent of a fool;there is no joy for the father of a rebel.
A foolish child brings grief to his parents. ( Joy is removed because of this child’s decisions.)
Proverbs 17:22NLT A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.
A broken spirit, dries up the bone, but everyone is happier with a cheerful attitude. (Cheerfulness breeds cheerfulness.)
Proverbs 17:23NLT The wicked take secret bribes to pervert the course of justice.
Proverbs 17:24NLT Sensible people keep their eyes glued on wisdom, but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth.
People of wisdom are forever growing, while the fools eyes are never focused.
Proverbs 17:25NLT Foolish children bring grief to their father and bitterness to the one who gave them birth.
Parents pay dearly for their children’s foolishness.
Proverbs 17:26NLT It is wrong to punish the godly for being good or to flog leaders for being honest.
Sometimes the godly are punished along with those acting ungodly. :(
Proverbs 17:27NLT A truly wise person uses few words;a person with understanding is even-tempered.
Example: Jesus Christ.
Proverbs 17:28NLT Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent;with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent.
This is not saying that fools show wisdom in their silence, but that silence conceals their folly.
