What does Proverbs Chapter 17 say, and which statements belong to its speaker?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

Opening sayings preserve their words and attribution. Images and reported speech remain distinct from added interpretation. Future and conditional assertions retain their scope in the closing sayings.

Chapter breakdown

Proverbs 17 prefers joyful dry morsel to strifeful victims-filled house. Wise servant shall rule foolish sons and divide inheritance among brethren, not necessarily personally inherit. Silver-fire and gold-furnace testing compare the Lord trying hearts. Evil obeys unjust tongue, deceit listens lies; poor contempt reproaches Maker, another’s ruin joy shall be punished. Grandchildren crown old men, fathers children’s glory. Eloquent words do not suit fool, lies prince. Expectation of expecter is acceptable jewel, turning with wise understanding.

Concealing transgression seeks friendship, repetition separates. Wise reproof exceeds fool’s hundred stripes. Evil seeks quarrels, cruel angel shall come; bereaved bear better than folly-trusting fool. Evil for good keeps evil in house. Quarrel beginning resembles released water; before reproach he forsakes judgment. Wicked justification and just condemnation abominable. Fool riches cannot buy wisdom; high house seeks downfall, learning refusal evils. Friend always loves, brother proved in distress; fool shall clap hands in friend surety. Discord study loves quarrel, door exaltation ruin; perverse heart no good, perverse tongue evil. Fool birth disgrace and father no joy.

Joyful mind makes age flourishing, sorrowful spirit dries bones. Wicked takes bosom gifts to pervert judgments. Wisdom shines in wise face, fool eyes earth’s ends. Fool son angers father and saddens mother. Hurting just or striking right-judging prince is not good. Bounded words show knowledge and wisdom, understanding precious spirit. Even silent fool shall be counted wise. No exponential-conflict law, dike flood scene, promised longevity or sacrifice-invalidating doctrine is added.

The story inside

Opening: Opening sayings preserve their words and attribution. Development: Images and reported speech remain distinct from added interpretation. Conclusion: Future and conditional assertions retain their scope in the closing sayings.

Lessons worth keeping

1
Opening sayings preserve their words and attribution.
2
Images and reported speech remain distinct from added interpretation.
3
Future and conditional assertions retain their scope in the closing sayings.

Test your recall

Which images and requests does the speaker use, and what does the chapter leave unresolved?

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 68672–68673
Better is a dry morsel with joy, than a house full of victims with strife.
Lines 68678–68679
As silver is tried by fire, and gold in the furnace: so the Lord trieth the hearts.
Lines 68684–68685
He that despiseth the poor, reproacheth his maker: and he that rejoiceth at another man’s ruin, shall not be unpunished.
Lines 68695–68696
He that concealeth a transgression, seeketh friendships: he that repeateth it again, separateth friends.
Lines 68713–68714
He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, both are abominable before God.
Lines 68720–68721
He that is a friend loveth at all times: and a brother is proved in distress.
Lines 68752–68753
Even a fool, if he will hold his peace, shall be counted wise: and if he close his lips, a man of understanding.