Proverbs 17:1-28
17:1 Proverbs teaches us the incomparable value of peace over strife. A quiet and peaceful life is better than a rich but strife-filled life. We are encouraged to make choices that may not necessarily advance our level in society but will fulfill peace within our souls.
17:2 The person who is righteous and hard working will always be given more responsibility in God's house than a so-called believer who is corrupt and lazy.
17:3 The "refining pot" and the "furnace" are used as metaphors to explain that God is able to test the truth of a person's heart.
17:4 Evil intentions and lies jump to conclusions and are swift to listen to and fall for anything.
17:5 To mock the poor is to anger God, who has made and loved the lowly and the high.
17:6 Posterity is a gift. God has given us the ability to proliferate and know and love our offspring.
17:7 Neither is it admirable to live foolishly nor as a liar.
17:8 This word "gift" is actually bribe; temptation enthralls those who give into it corrupt dealings for gain.
17:9 To regret and subsequently change after a mistake is to seek a true relationship, but to continue to make the same harmful mistake is to break a relationship.
17:10 Constructive criticism works quickly and effectively for a person wise enough to take it. However a stubborn person who resists character growth will repeat the same mistakes over and over again.
17:11 To constantly seek destruction is evil. The righteous often seek reform and rebellion when necessary... but an evil person is constantly pushing against people and ideas.
17:12 It is more dangerous and destructive to live foolishly than incite the anger of a fierce beast.
17:13 To live evil is to receive evil. Continually.
17:14 We should not allow strife to fester; it will become a flood, a monsoon that is difficult to survive. We must be calm and wise enough to dismantle contention before it becomes a storm. To be so calm and wise, we must live in accordance with God's will and seek His counsel when we find ourselves in such situations.
17:15 God considers corruption an absolute disgrace and responds with fury.
17:16 A foolish person cannot buy wisdom, and even if he could, it would be no use to him. In order to be wise, one must be receptive to instruction, constructive criticism and even discipline.
17:17 A true friend is a support at all times, but becomes like family when they endure with you during adversity.
17:17 A true friend is a support at all times, but becomes like family when they endure with you during adversity.
17:18 Proverbs warns us against committing ourselves to people and causes which do not reflect the lifestyle God has laid out for us.
17:19 Desire and arrogance (greed and pride) lead to the destruction of a person.
17:20 Deceitful and perverse people never navigate into good situations and inevitably walk into bad ones.
17:21 We should be careful not to influence people into bad behavior; their harm in the world causes others and us strife.
17:22 A happy, kind heart is health to the body. Compassion and righteousness are medicine for a contrite spirit; therefore we must remember to emulate God, even when our lives seem difficult and sorrowful. He is able to heal us out of dark emotions.
17:23 It is wrong to accept corrupt bribes. Causing injustice is a severe sin.
17:24 The wise always seek understanding but foolish people are blinded and drugged by their obsession for acquisition of material things and power.
17:25 It pains God and our earthly parents when we are corrupt people.
17:26 It is a sin to corrupt justice... harming or thwarting righteous people and their causes.
17:27 A wise person is quiet and observes and does not need to incessantly speak. If we speak too much, we are listening too little. And if we are listening too little we are missing too much to be wise. A wise person has a calm disposition and a peaceful spirit; hope and solemnity are found in (and through) our relationship with God.
17:28 Even a foolish person has some wisdom when they know when to keep their mouth shut to avoid destruction and contention. We are better able to perceive the truth and proper course of situations when we are quiet observers.
