17:3It takes intense heat to purify gold and silver. Similarly, it often takes the heat of trials for the Christian to be purified. Through trials, God shows us what is in us and clears out anything that gets in the way of complete trust in him. Peter says, “These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold” (1 Peter 1:7). So when tough times come your way, reatize that God wants to use them to refine your faith and purify your heart.
Life Application Study BibleProverbsChapter 17
Proverbs 17
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 1031, 1032
A few verse numbers on this page were hard to read in the scan and are marked with a dotted underline — compare with the original page image if in doubt.
17Proverbs 17
1than a house filled with feasting—and conflict.
2A wise servant will rule over the master’s disgraceful sonand will share the inheritance of the master’s children.
3Fire tests the purity of silver and gold,but the LORD tests the heart.
4Wrongdoers eagerly listen to gossip;liars pay close attention to slander.
5Those who mock the poor insult their Maker; those who rejoice at the misfortune of others will be punished. 6Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged; parents* are the pride of their children.
7Eloquent words are not fitting for a fool;even less are lies fitting for a ruler.
8A bribe is like a lucky charm,whoever gives one will prosper!
9Love prospers when a fault is forgiven,but dwelling on it separates close friends.
10A single rebuke does more for a person of understanding than a hundred lashes on the back of a fool.
11Evil people are eager for rebellion,but they will be severely punished.
12It is safer to meet a bear robbed of her cubsthan to confront a fool caught in foolishness.
13Tf you repay good with evil,evil will never leave your house.
14Starting a quarrel is like opening a floodgate,so stop before a dispute breaks out.
15Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent— both are detestable to the LORD.
16It is senseless to pay tuition to educate a fool,since he has no heart for learning.
17A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need. 18It’s poor judgment to guarantee another person’s debt or put up security for a friend. 19Anyone who loves to quarrel loves sin; anyone who trusts in high walls invites disaster.
20The crooked heart will not prosper;the lying tongue tumbles into troubie.
21It is painful to be the parent of a fool;there is no joy for the father of a rebel.
22A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.
23The wicked take secret bribesto pervert the course of justice.
24Sensible people keep their eyes glued on wisdom, but a fool's eyes wander to the ends of the earth. 25Foolish children* bring grief to their father and bitterness to the one who gave them birth. 26It is wrong to punish the godly for being good or to flog leaders for being honest. 27A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered. 28Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent.
Textual footnotes
- 17:6 Hebrew fathers.
Life Application Notes 7 notes
17:5Few acts are as cruel as making fun of the less fortunate, but many people do this because it makes them feel good to be better off or more successful than someone else. Mocking the poor is mocking the God who made them. We also ridicule God when we mock the weak, those who are different, or anyone else. When you catch yourself putting others down just for fun, stop and think about who created them.
17:8Solomon is not condoning bribery (see 17:15, 23), but he is making an observation about the way the world operates.
17:17What kind of friend are you? There is a vast difference between knowing someone well and being a true friend. The greatest evidence of genuine friendship is loyalty (see 1 Corinthians 13:7)—-being available ta help in times of distress or personal struggle. Too many people are fair-weather friends. They stick around when the friendship helps them and leave when they’re not getting anything out of the relationship. Think of your friends and assess your loyalty to them. Be the kind of true friend the Bible encourages.
17:22To be cheerful is to be ready to greet others with a welcome, a word of encouragement, an enthusiasm for the task at hand, and a positive outlook on the future. Such people are as welcome as pain-relieving medicine.
17:24While there is something to be said for having big dreams, this proverb points out the folly of chasing fantasies (having eyes that “wander to the ends of the earth,” see 12:11). How much better to align your goals with God’s, being the kind of person he wants you to be! Such goals (wisdom, honesty, patience, love} may not seem exciting, but they will determine your eternal future. Take time to think about your dreams and goals, and make sure they cover the really important areas of life.
17:27,28This proverb highlights several benefits of keeping quiet: (1) It is the best policy if you have nothing worthwhile to say; (2) it allows you the opportunity to listen and learn; (3) it gives you something in common with those who are wiser. Make sure you pause to think and to listen so that when you do speak, you will have something important to say.