Proverbs 17:1-10

CHAPTER 17
TEXT Proverbs 17:1-10

1.

Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith,

Than a house full of feasting with strife.

2.

A servant that dealeth wisely shall have rule over a son that causeth shame,

And shall have part in the inheritance among the brethren.

3.

The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold;

But Jehovah trieth the hearts.

4.

An evil-doer giveth heed to wicked lips;

And a liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue.

5.

Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker;

And he that is glad at calamity 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 bribe is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it;

Whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.

9.

He that covereth a transgression seeketh love;

But he that harpeth on a matter separateth chief friends.

10.

A rebuke entereth deeper into one that hath understanding

Than a hundred stripes into a fool.

STUDY QUESTIONS OVER 17:1-10

1.

What does quietness stand for in Proverbs 17:1?

2.

Cite the two contrasts in Proverbs 17:2.

3.

What does Jehovah do when He trieth the hearts (Proverbs 17:3)?

4.

Why will a liar give heed to a mischievous tongue (Proverbs 17:4)?

5.

What are some common examples of laughing at calamity (Proverbs 17:5)?

6.

Reproacheth whose Maker (Proverbs 17:5)?

7.

What is meant in Proverbs 17:6 by the glory of children are their fathers?

8.

What is excellent speech (Proverbs 17:7)?

9.

What does becometh mean in Proverbs 17:7?

10.

What is the meaning of a bribe's being a precious stone to its possessor (Proverbs 17:8)?

11.

What is the it in Proverbs 17:8?

12.

Covers his or somebody else's transgression (Proverbs 17:9)?

13.

What is harping on a matter (Proverbs 17:9)?

14.

What will help a man if one hundred stripes won-'t (Proverbs 17:10)?

PARAPHRASE OF 17:1-10

1.

A dry crust eaten in peace is better than steak every day along with argument and strife.

2.

A wise slave will rule his master's wicked sons and share their estate.

3.

Silver and gold are purified by fire, but God purifies hearts.

4.

The wicked enjoy fellowship with others who are wicked; liars enjoy liars.

5.

Mocking the poor is mocking the God who made them. He will punish those who rejoice at others-' misfortunes.

6.

An old man's grandchildren are his crowning glory. A child's glory is his father.

7.

Truth from a rebel or lies from a king are both unexpected.

8.

A bribe works like magic. Whoever uses it will prosper!

9.

Love forgets mistakes; nagging about them parts the best of friends.

10.

A rebuke to a man of common sense is more effective than a hundred lashes on the back of a rebel.

COMMENTS ON 17:1-10

Proverbs 17:1. Because their bread was dry, they dipped it in water and other softening fluids (Ruth 2:14; John 13:36). And having only a dry morsel to eat could be the sign of extreme poverty. So taken, the verse means that poverty and peace are to be preferred to prosperity and problems (such as strife). The rich have troubles and problems that the poor do not have. This statement should be a comfort to people who have only the barest of necessities. Proverbs 15:17 is very similar.

Proverbs 17:2. Pulpit Commentary: Here is intimated the supremacy of wisdom over folly and vise...Slaves were often raised to high honor and might inherit their master's possessions. Thus Abraham's servant...was at one time considered the patriarch's heir (Genesis 15:2-3); Ziba, Saul's servant, obtained the inheritance of his lord Mephibosheth (2 Samuel 16:4); Joseph was advanced to the highest post in Egypt. In European history when the sons of Clovis, king of the Franks, did not really care to rule but merely to enjoy the pleasures of the palace, they had mayors of the palace who did the actual ruling, and in time the mayors became the heirs of the throne itself. (For further reading consult the Merovingian and Carolingian dynasties in church history books or encyclopedias.) For a son that causeth shame, see Proverbs 10:5; Proverbs 19:26.

Proverbs 17:3. Just as men refine gold and silver (Proverbs 27:21), so does God refine men. Through the Word (John 15:3), but especially through chastening (Isaiah 48:10; Hebrews 12:11) and persecution (1 Peter 1:6-7; James 1:2-3; and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18), does He refine us. Malachi 3:2-3 aptly predicted this refining in the Christian dispensation.

Proverbs 17:4. It is common for perverse people to believe the wrong thing about others. They want to. They get enjoyment from it. They derive satisfaction in thinking the righteous are not really righteous. This verse is a case of Hebrew parallelism in which the second line restates the truth of the first statement. Thus the liar is the evil-doer, giveth ear is the same as giveth heed, and a mischievous tongue is the same as wicked lips The liar will have something more to lie about.

Proverbs 17:5. Proverbs 14:31 talked of oppressing the poor; this verse of mocking the poor. People mock the poor when they make fun of them, laugh at them, mimic them, and make life harder for them. God is the Maker of the poor as well as the rich (Proverbs 22:2); when we mock them, we mock Him; when we give to them, we are making a loan to the Lord (Proverbs 19:17). We should not be glad at any calamity, whether that calamity be poverty (as in this context) or any other. Job said he was free from this (Job 31:29), but Edom wasn-'t (Obadiah 1:12). God will punish us if we do (Proverbs 24:17).

Proverbs 17:6. When one's own health begins to fail, and it seems there is less and less purpose for one's earthly life, along come the births of grandchildren to inject a new dimension into one's living. They crown one's life near one's bowing-out years. The last statement shows that good children not only respect their parents but actually glory in them. How they will brag about them (sometimes even exaggerate concerning what he can do, what he knows, how much money he has, etc.).

For the blessing that children can be, see Psalms 127:3-5; Psalms 128:3.

Proverbs 17:7. Excellent speech is speaking only the facts, speaking them at the right time, at the right place, to the right person, in the right spirit, and for the right purpose (to mention a few of its characteristics). As we don-'t expect good speech from a fool, neither should we expect bad speech from a ruler. It is a shame that so many of our present-day ruling-class, even though elected to their offices, are known for being politicians (policy-men) more than statesmen (doing what is right under all conditions).

Proverbs 17:8. The various translations face the problem of whether it should be bribe, gift, or stone of grace, and whether the it after whithersoever should be it or he. Of all the translations the New World gives as understandable a message on this verse as any: The gift is a stone winning favor in the eyes of its grand owner. Everywhere that he turns he has success. If the foregoing is correct, both Proverbs 18:16; Proverbs 19:6 verify the truth of its statement. If bribe is correct, Living Bible has, A bribe works like magic. Whoever uses it will prosper and it adds this footnote: This is a fact, but the writer strictly forbids this perversion of justice. See Proverbs 17:23

Proverbs 17:9. Septuagint: He who concealeth injuries seeketh friendship. One's sense of love will cause him not to repeat many things he has heard, even if true, if they are not in the best interests of the one involved (Proverbs 10:12). Harping on a matter is just the opposite of concealing it, for it utilizes every opportunity to bring it up, to mention it, or to ramble on and on about it. This can be the end of friendship.

Proverbs 17:10. The contrast here does not mean to elevate rebuke (words of correction) and eliminate stripes (Physical punishments). It merely shows that some words do a wise man more good than stripes do a fool. What a pity that there are some whom neither words nor stripes will help! Peter was a man who was helped by rebuke, by both Jesus and Paul (Matthew 16:23; Matthew 26:75; Galatians 2:11-15).

Proverbs 17:11. An evil man is one who will not be guided and governed by that which is right. He is a law-breaker, both in heart and in act. He seeks only rebellion against properly constituted authority (parents, school, government, manners, etc.). He, thus, is a liability and not an asset. Because he will not obey, will not respect the rights and property of others, he is often confined in prison at a great outlay of citizens money. Better for society if he had never been born!

TEST QUESTIONS OVER 17:1-10

1.

In Proverbs 17:1 a dry morsel stands in contrast with .................. and quietness stands in contrast with ...................

2.

Cite instances illustrating the truth of Proverbs 17:2.

3.

Men work at refining gold and silver; God works at refining ........................ (Proverbs 17:3).

4.

Why do evil people give heed to wicked lips (Proverbs 17:3)?

5.

Cite the three parallels in Proverbs 17:4.

6.

Why is mocking the poor tantamount to mocking God Proverbs 17:5)?

7.

What about being glad at others-' calamities (Proverbs 17:5)?

8.

What is a great blessing of old age (Proverbs 17:6)?

9.

Comment on the fathers being the glory of children (Proverbs 17:6)?

10.

What is the double contrast in Proverbs 17:7?

11.

What is the problem of understanding Proverbs 17:8?

12.

What will love cause one to do concerning the faults of others (Proverbs 17:9)?

13.

Is Proverbs 17:10 a contrast between rebuking and whipping or what?