We continue our bicolons of parallelisms:
this...,
but that....
each stressing some property of wisdom.
Proverbs 17:1, A piece of bread and peace
Better a dry crust with peace and quiet
than a house full of feasting, with strife.
Domestic peace is more important than wealth. Kidner says that traditionally a Jewish family feast might include a peace offerings to God but here the family feast has strife, not peace!
Proverbs 17:2, A fool's inheritance
A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful son,
and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.
Alter suggests that the idea here is that a fool's inheritance will not stay with him but will end up being passed on to others more deserving. Kidner says that Solomon's son Rehoboam should have paid attention to this verse! (See 1 Kings 12.)
Proverbs 17:3, Crucible
The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,
but the LORD tests the heart.
Silver and gold are tested by mechanical means but it is YHWH who tests one's motives and desires.
Proverbs 17:4, Malicious words
A wicked man listens to evil lips;
a liar pays attention to a malicious tongue.
The wicked man, the liar, the fool, inhales falsehood and passes it on.
Proverbs 17:5, Don't mock the poor
He who mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker;
whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished.
We have a responsibility, coming from God, to care for the poor and to be kind to the needy. See also Proverbs 14:31, Proverbs 17:5, and Job 31:13-15.
Proverbs 17:6, Grandchildren, a crown to the aged
Children's children are a crown to the aged,
and parents are the pride of their children.
In a stable family, good children raising good children of their own serves as a reward for their elderly parents. In the same way, those children can rejoice in their own parents. (In 16:31, the wise grandparents are rewarded with the honor of gray hair!) For the negative version of this image, see verse 21, below.
Proverbs 17:7, Nadib, not nabal
Arrogant lips are unsuited to a fool--
how much worse lying lips to a ruler!
A bribe is a charm to the one who gives it;
wherever he turns, he succeeds.
The bribe here is literally a "precious stone". Alter suggests that the point of these lines is that the one with money or treasures believes he can open doors with his wealth. Kidner says "Money talks" and points out the counterpoint in verses 15 and 23 below.
Proverbs 17:9, Forgive one's hurts
He who covers over an offense promotes love,
but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.
Repeatedly bringing up a past offense is damaging to friendship. There is a time to forget and move on in love. (See Proverbs 10:12.)
Proverbs 17:10, A simple rebuke
A rebuke impresses a man of discernment
more than a hundred lashes a fool.
A simple constructive remark is noted by the wise but a fool is blind to even punishment.
Proverbs 17:11, Rebellion put down
An evil man is bent only on rebellion;
a merciless official will be sent against him.
It is not good to rebel against the king.
Proverbs 17:12, A bear and her cubs
Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs
than a fool in his folly.
This proverb, in its vividness, suggests a riddle: "What is worse than a bear robbed of her cubs?"
Proverbs 17:13, Longterm effects
If a man pays back evil for good,
evil will never leave his house.
See the life of David after his adultery and then murder of the faithful Uriah.
Proverbs 17:14, Breaching a dam
Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam;
so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.
There is no way of predicting the damage that occurs when a dam is breached. In the same way, a quarrel can have unanticipated consequences.
Proverbs 17:15, Calling evil good and good evil
Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent--
the LORD detests them both.
Of what use is money in the hand of a fool,
since he has no desire to get wisdom?
Does the fool try to pay for wisdom? Or is his money useless since he has no intention of learning?
Proverbs 17:17, Brothers, friends
A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for adversity.
Friends and siblings are committed to caring for one at all times and are especially important in difficult times.
Proverbs 17:18, Foolish financial pledges
A man lacking in judgment strikes hands in pledge
and puts up security for his neighbor.
See Proverbs 6:1-5 for more on the foolishness of making a pledge for a neighbor (or stranger.)
Proverbs 17:19, Building walls
He who loves a quarrel loves sin;
he who builds a high gate invites destruction.
We all know people who seems to always be angry or who love to quarrel. Some literally build a tall wall to isolate themselves from others.
Proverbs 17: 20, Deceitful tongue
A man of perverse heart does not prosper;
he whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble.
A deceitful and gossiping tongue leads (eventually) to trouble.
Proverbs 17:21, Father of a fool
To have a fool for a son brings grief;
there is no joy for the father of a fool.
This is the converse of verse 6.
Proverbs 17: 22, A cheerful heart
A cheerful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
Wisdom (and thus peace) is healthy. (See Proverbs 14:30) I have found that bitterness is corrosive. I don't have a good solution to bitterness other than agreeing with this proverb that we should attempt to reject envy (and bitterness.)
Proverbs 17:23, Bribes
A wicked man accepts a bribe in secret
to pervert the course of justice.
The person who offers secret bribes to a judge is an example of the wicked man
Proverbs 17:24, Blind eyes to the ends of the earth.
A discerning man keeps wisdom in view,
but a fool's eyes wander to the ends of the earth.
Alter interprets this to say that a thoughtful person see wisdom everywhere he/she looks but a fool won't see wisdom even if he looks for it at the ends of the earth.
Proverbs 17:25, Foolish children
A foolish son brings grief to his father
and bitterness to the one who bore him.
A foolish child brings pain to both father and mother.
Proverbs 17:26, Punishing integrity
It is not good to punish an innocent man,
or to flog officials for their integrity.
Another proverb on the importance of justice. See also Proverbs 18:5.
Proverbs 17:27-28, Words with restraint
A man of knowledge uses words with restraint,
and a man of understanding is even-tempered.
Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent,
and discerning if he holds his tongue.
These two verses elaborate on the importance of thoughtful, cautious words. Abraham Lincoln supposedly had a riff on this: "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt." A similar message appears in Ecclesiastes 10:12-14.
We continue our bicolons of parallelisms: this..., but that.... in the next chapter.
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