The big picture
Proverbs 17 opens in verse 1 with “Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 14 with “The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off…”, and closes in verse 28 with “Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips…” Repeated or prominent terms include fool, good, understanding, evil, heart. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Proverbs · King James Version · 28Proverbs 17:1-7
1–7: Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of…
Proverbs 17:1–7 opens with “Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.” and reaches “Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Proverbs 17 develops its own movement around fool, good, understanding, evil, heart, with particular weight carried by children, giveth, lips.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.” Naming Better keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Proverbs 17:1-7
King James Version1Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.
2A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.
3The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.
4A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
5Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.
6Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.
7Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
Proverbs 17:8-14
8–14: A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it…
Proverbs 17:8–14 opens with “A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it…” and reaches “The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Proverbs 17 develops its own movement around fool, good, understanding, evil, heart, with particular weight carried by evil, fool, seeketh.
Context that brings the passage to life
“A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.” The line’s distinctive content terms include eyes, gift, precious. Its relationship to verses 9 shows what work it does in this passage.
Proverbs 17:8-14
King James Version8A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
9He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.
10A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.
11An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
12Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
13Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
14The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.
Proverbs 17:15-21
15–21: He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even…
Proverbs 17:15–21 opens with “He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination…” and reaches “He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Proverbs 17 develops its own movement around fool, good, understanding, evil, heart, with particular weight carried by fool, loveth, friend.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD .” The line’s distinctive content terms include abomination, both, condemneth. Its relationship to verses 16 shows what work it does in this passage.
Proverbs 17:15-21
King James Version15He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD .
16Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?
17A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
18A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.
19He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.
20He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
21He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.
Proverbs 17:22-28
22–28: A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the…
Proverbs 17:22–28 opens with “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.” and reaches “Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Proverbs 17 develops its own movement around fool, good, understanding, evil, heart, with particular weight carried by understanding, fool, good.
Context that brings the passage to life
“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.” The line’s distinctive content terms include bones, broken, doeth. Its relationship to verses 23 shows what work it does in this passage.
Proverbs 17:22-28
King James Version22A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
23A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.
24Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
25A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.
26Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.
27He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
28Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Proverbs 17:1 begins with “Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.”
Where the chapter turns
Proverbs 17:16 forms a natural hinge: “Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?”
The final note
Proverbs 17:28 leaves the reader with “Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words fool, good, understanding, evil, heart, lips help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What does the covenant promise besides descendants?
Kings, land and an enduring relationship in which God is their God.
How are Isaac and Ishmael distinguished without erasing either?
Isaac carries the named covenant line; Ishmael is heard and promised fruitfulness and twelve princes.
KJV words made clear
- hath
- has
- wherefore
- for that reason
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.