Proverbs 17

Proverbs 17

New King James Version (NKJV)

1 Better is a dry morsel with quietness,

Than a house full of feastingwith 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.

My Thoughts:

1. So let’s start with (v. 16) we read “Why is there in the hand of a fool the purchase price of wisdom, since he has no heart for it?”
   1. The money spent on a foolish man’s education is a waste of money, for he has not desire for the understanding being offered to him. God makes the opportunity for us to learn and gain wisdom and yes money will help pay for the teachers and the books we need to achieve this goal we still must make the choice to except it. We must go in to the world with an open mind and then we will be able to say we are truly wise.
2. In (v. 22) we read “A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones”
   1. I am a firm believer that healing is 2/3 about our mind set. If we go in to a health issue with an attitude of I will never get better then you will not. But if you attack the illness with the attitude that you will heal your chances are much better. No one lives long unless they are willing to live.
3. And we will finish today with (v.28) “Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; when he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive”
1. How do we know the fool? When he opens his mouth (Eccl. 5:2-3), while the lips of a wise man stay closed.  A fool will soon show himself because he can only last so long and then he will open his mouth and show the world he nature. Someone once said that “we cannot learn when our lips are moving”, sounds right to me.

Thought of the Day

“When you spend time with God, you invest in a forever friendship”

Page through an old-time hymnal and notice how often the songwriters referred to the blessing of God’s friendship. Stop and think about what that really means. Yes, it’s a blessing to have human friends who enrich our lives. A devoted friend, as Proverbs 17:17 tells us, “loves at all times,” standing with us steadfastly through life’s sunshine and storm.

Indeed, some of us know gratefully by our own experience that “there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24). We identify with David and Jonathan when we read about the bond between them (1Samuel 18:1).

Friendship on a human level is wonderful, but what about friendship with God? It’s an incredible blessing to have the Creator and Sustainer of our universe as a friend. Although worshiped by countless heavenly hosts, He takes great joy in His relationship with us.

Are we neglecting the privilege of walking with God, the greatest of all friends? Today, with gratitude and awe, let’s spend time with Him in prayer and in reading His Word.

Remember that Jesus called His followers friends (John 15:15). What an honor that we can enjoy friendship with God!—Vernon C Grounds

I’ve found a Friend, oh, such a Friend!

He loved me ere I knew Him;

He drew me with the cords of love,

And thus He bound me to Him. —Small

Personal Reflection and Discussion

1. What do you think (v. 3) is saying?
2. What other things do you see in the text?

Prayer Activities

1. Call your Partner and discuss this devotional.
2. Continue to have a prayer list and continue to praying for them.
3. Pray with them and ask for the following;
   1. For God to give us the wisdom to keep our lips closed when needed.
   2. For God to walk with us on our daily walk.
   3. For the individuals on your pray list.
4. Let’s use (Matt 15:10-11) for today’s prayer verse.