DAWN

     Explanation: Proverbs 17 contains comparisons and contrasts between the righteous and the wicked. Today's painting illustrates verse 1 which speaks of a dry morsel with peace being better than a feast with strife.

          [ THEMATICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY RELATED SCRIPTURES: Proverbs 10. Proverbs 11. Proverbs 12. Proverbs 13. Proverbs 14. Proverbs 15. Proverbs 16. Proverbs 17. Proverbs 18. Proverbs 19. Proverbs 20. Proverbs 21. Proverbs 22. Proverbs 23. Proverbs 24. ]

          [ CHRONOLOGY: GENERAL. Patriarchs (Traditional). Judges # 1. Judges # 2. Kings # 1. Kings # 2. Prophets # 1. Prophets # 2. NT # 1. NT # 2. NT # 3. ]

          [ MAPS: Maps # 1. Maps # 2. Maps # 3. Maps # 4. Maps # 5. ]

          [ COMMENTARIES, ETC: GENERAL: Bible Study Tools; Bible Hub: Study Light; Blue Letter Bible // PSALMS: Monergism: Precept Austin: The Treasury of David; John Gill; John Calvin - Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

          [ MUSIC: GENERAL: The Cyber Hymnal // PSALMS: Genevan Psalter (Instrumental). VARIOUS ARTISTS: Proverbs 17. ]

     The subjects of chapter 17 are these: A dry morsel with quietness is better than a house filled with slaughtered food with strife (1). A wise servant shall have rule over a son who acts shamefully; and he will share the inheritance with the brothers (2). As the crucible and the furnace refine silver and gold, so the LORD tests the hearts of men (3). An evildoer listens to vain lips; and a liar gives ear to a wicked tongue (4). Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker; and he who is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished (5). Grandchildren are the crown of old men; and the glory of children is their fathers (6). Excellent speech does not suit a fool, and much less do lying lips befit a prince (7). A bribe is like a gemstone; it makes the giver prosper (8). Whoever covers an offense seeks love; but he who repeats a matter separates close friends (9). A rebuke enters deeper into a wise man than a hundred stripes into a fool (10). An evil man seeks only rebellion; therefore a cruel messenger will be sent against him (11). It is better for a man to be met by a bear robbed of her cubs than to be met by a fool in his folly (12). Evil shall not depart from the house of one who rewards evil for good (13). The beginning of strife is like water bursting forth; therefore cease contention before it breaks out (14). Those who justify the wicked, and those who condemn the just are both abominable to the LORD (15). Why should a fool come to buy wisdom, since he has no heart for it (16). A friend loves at all times and a brother is born for adversity (17). A man who is void of understanding makes a pledge and puts up security for his friend (18). He who loves strife loves transgression; and he who exalts his gate seeks destruction. My interpretation of this proverb is that those who love strife strengthen themselves for it, but they are destroyed by it (19). He who has a distorted heart finds no good; and he who has a perverse tongue falls into evil (20). He who begets a fool finds grief; he has no joy (21). A merry heart does good like a medicine; but a broken spirit dries the bones (22). A wicked man uses a bribe to pervert justice (23). Wisdom [stands] face to face with one who has understanding; but the eyes of a fool [search in vain for it throughout] the ends of the earth (24). A foolish son is a grief to his father and bitterness to his mother (25). It is not good to punish the just or to strike princes for uprightness (26). He who has knowledge spares his words; and a man of understanding has an excellent spirit (27). Even a fool who holds his peace and shuts his lips is considered wise and understanding (28).

¹ Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.
² A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.
³ The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.
⁴ A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
⁵ Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.
⁶ Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.
⁷ Excellent speech 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 [toward all which] it turneth, it prospereth.
⁹ He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.
¹⁰ A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.
¹¹ An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
¹² Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
¹³ Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
¹⁴ The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.
¹⁵ He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.
¹⁶ Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?
¹⁷ A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
¹⁸ A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.
¹⁹ He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.
²⁰ He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
²¹ He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.
²² A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
²³ A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.
²⁴ Wisdom is before [before the face of] him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
²⁵ A foolish 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 [knowing knowledge] spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
²⁸ Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.