Proverbs

Chapter 17

Better a Dry Morsel in Quietness

Proverbs 17 contrasts peaceful poverty with quarrelsome plenty and traces how wisdom shows itself in family loyalty, prudent silence, fair judgment, disciplined affection, and deep response to correction. The chapter repeatedly exposes the destructive power of mockery, bribery, strife, perversity, and foolishness, while presenting measured love and self-restraint as signs of durable wisdom.

As the seventeenth chapter of Proverbs, this passage continues the Solomonic proverb collection by tightening its focus on relationships, conflict, and the testing of character under pressure. It teaches that wisdom preserves households and friendships through quietness, loyalty, justice, and restraint, whereas folly tears them apart through rebellion, impulsiveness, corruption, and careless speech.

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Proverbs 17

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vv. 1-28

Better a Dry Morsel in Quietness

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B¹etter a dry morsel in quietness ²A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful son ³A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, ⁴A wicked man listens to evil lips; ⁵He who mocks the poor insults their Maker; ⁶Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, ⁷Eloquent words are unfit for a fool; ⁸A bribe is a charm to its giver;

⁹Whoever conceals an offense promotes love, ¹⁰A rebuke cuts into a man of discernment ¹¹An evil man seeks only rebellion; ¹²It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs ¹³If anyone returns evil for good, ¹⁴To start a quarrel is to release a flood; ¹⁵Acquitting the guilty and condemning the righteous— ¹⁶Why should the fool have money in his hand

¹⁷A friend loves at all times, ¹⁸A man lacking judgment strikes hands in pledge ¹⁹He who loves transgression loves strife; ²⁰The one with a perverse heart finds no good, ²¹A man fathers a fool to his own grief; ²²A joyful heart is good medicine, ²³A wicked man takes a covert bribe

²⁴Wisdom is the focus of the discerning, ²⁵A foolish son brings grief to his father ²⁶It is surely not good to punish the innocent ²⁷A man of knowledge restrains his words, ²⁸Even a fool is considered wise if he keeps silent,

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01vv. 1-28Better a Dry Morsel in QuietnessThe chapter gathers sayings about quiet contentment, household order, divine testing, speech, mockery of the poor, family joy and grief, bribes, concealing offenses, rebellion, pledges, friendship, perverse hearts, healing gladness, and prudent silence. Together they show that wisdom is not flashy but relationally stabilizing: it keeps peace, honors justice, receives rebuke, cherishes loyal companionship, and knows when not to speak.