Chapter 17

Better dry crust and gay heart, than a house where all is feasting and all is quarrelling.

Where sons are fools, slaves will be masters, and share the inheritance like heirs born.

For silver and gold, furnace and crucible; men’s hearts are for the Lord’s assaying.

Ever ill-will gives heed to injurious talk, false faith listens to the slander.

He who shews contempt to the poor, insults man’s Maker; at thy own peril thou wilt take delight in another’s ruin.

Crown of old age, when a man sees his children’s children; pride of youth, when a man can boast of the fathers that begot him.

Solemn talk matches ill with folly, lying speech with royalty.

When a man has hope in view, like a jewel it shines before him; look where he will, his way lies clear.

If good will be thy quest, hide the wrong done; gossip unknits the bond of friendship.

One word of warning in a prudent man’s ear does more than a hundred lashes given to a fool.

Still the godless man will be for stirring up strife, till at last an angel visits him with no kindly message.

Better meet the she-bear reft of her cubs, than a fool in his blind confidence.

Evil shall still haunt his dwelling, that repays kindness with injury.

Who began the quarrel? He who let loose the flood-gates of it; and before he can suffer injury, he stands aside from the debate.

Misjudgement the Lord will never abide, whether the guilty go free, or the innocent are condemned.

Little the fool’s wealth avails; he may not buy wisdom if he would. (Build high, and court thy ruin; despise learning, and thou shalt come to mischief.3)

He is thy friend, who is thy friend at all times; of a brother’s love there is no test like adversity.

He is a fool, that lightly goes bail for his friend.

He loves a feud, that loves contention; build high, and court thy ruin.

False heart never found happiness, nor lying tongue escaped mischief.

A fool’s birthday is a day of shame; never father had joy of a reckless son.

A cheerful heart makes a quick recovery, it is crushed spirits that waste a man’s frame.

Out comes bribe from bosom, and the godless man turns justice aside from its course.

Wisdom is a beacon-light to the discerning; the fool’s eyes roam this way and that, as wide as earth.

Poor fool, his father’s bane, sorrow of the mother that bore him!

Foul shame it is to make the innocent suffer, to strike a blow against the chieftain that gives redress.

Skilful is he who has skill to check his tongue, learned he is that knows how to spare his breath.

Let him keep his own counsel, a fool may pass for a wise man; shut lips can claim discernment.