Old Testament Commentary - Proverbs 17

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 17 He that is glad at calamities shall be punished—A Friend loveth at all times—Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise.
1 Better is a dry morsel, and ^aquietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with ^bstrife. 2 A wise ^aservant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren. 3 The ^afining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD ^btrieth the ^chearts.		1^a Prov. 15:17 ^b TG Strife 2^a TG Servants 3^a Mal. 3:3 (2-3); D&C 128:24 ^b TG Test, Try, Prove ^c Jer. 17:10
4 A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips^a; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue. 5 Whoso ^amocketh the ^bpoor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is ^cglad at calamities shall not be unpunished. 6 ^aChildren's children are the ^bcrown of old men; and the ^cglory of ^dchildren are their fathers.	4^a wicked doer giveth heed to false lips The wicked seek to be justified in their sins and will listen to lies that support themselves in their wickedness. There are examples today of the wicked who are legalizing sin and calling it good when it is evil. They are the abortion mongers, those that seek to legalize drugs, those who seek to justify there sexual sins, and those that believe the lie that there is no God so they do not have to be held to any standard of righteousness but seek their own will and define there own way according to their own desires.	5^a Prov. 14:31; Mosiah 4:17 (16-18); TG Mocking ^b TG Poor ^c Job 31:29 (28-29); Prov. 24:17 Obad. 1:12 6^a TG Family, Love within; TG Family, Patriarchal ^b TG Family, Children, Duties of; TG Marriage, Fatherhood ^c TG Glory ^d TG Children
7 Excellent ^aspeech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince. 8 A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth. 9 He that ^acovereth a transgression ^bseeketh ^clove; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.		7^a TG Communication 9^a IE forgives a transgression ^b IE promotes a loving relationship ^c D&C 64:9-10
10 A ^areproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool. 11 An evil man seeketh only ^arebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him. 12 Let a ^abear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.		10^a TG Reproof 11^a TG Rebellion 12^a Hosea 13:8
13 Whoso ^arewardeth ^bevil for good, evil shall not depart from his house. 14 The beginning of ^astrife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off ^bcontention, before it be meddled with. 15 He that ^ajustifieth the ^bwicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.		13^a TG Reward ^b TG Evil 14^a Prov. 25:8 ^b D&C 136:23-34 15^a TG Injustice ^b Prov. 24:24; Isa. 5:23
16 Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it? 17 A ^afriend loveth at all times, and a ^bbrother is born for adversity. 18 A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.		17^a TG Friendship ^b TG Brotherhood and Sisterhood
19 He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that ^aexalteth his gate seeketh destruction. 20 He that hath a ^afroward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief. 21 He that begetteth a ^afool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.		19^a Prov. 29:23 20^a Ps. 101:4 21^a Prov. 10:1; Prov. 17:25
22 A ^amerry ^bheart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones. 23 A wicked man taketh a ^agift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment. 24 Wisdom is before him that hath ^aunderstanding; but the ^beyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.		22^a TG Cheerfulness ^b Prov. 15:13; D&C 59:15 (14-16) 23^a TG Bribery 24^a Prov. 14:6 ^b Eccl. 2:14;
25 A ^afoolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him. 26 Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity. 27 He that hath knowledge ^aspareth his words: and a man of ^bunderstanding ^cis of an excellent spirit. 28 Even a fool, when he ^aholdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that ^bshutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.		25^a Prov. 17:21 27^a Prov. 10:19; James 1:19 ^b TG Understanding ^c HEB is cool of spirit (i.e. reserved) 28^a Job 13:5 ^b Prov. 29:11; Amos 5:13