Proverbs 17:3-16

English Standard Version

^3 (A)The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold,
    ^(B)and the Lord tests hearts.
⁴ An evildoer listens to wicked lips,
    and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
⁵ Whoever mocks the poor ^(C)insults his Maker;
    he who is ^(D)glad at calamity will not go ^(E)unpunished.
^6 (F)Grandchildren are ^(G)the crown of the aged,
    and the glory of children is their fathers.
⁷ Fine speech is not ^(H)becoming to a fool;
    still less is ^(I)false speech to a prince.
^8 (J)A bribe is like a magic^[a] stone in the eyes of the one who gives it;
    wherever he turns he prospers.
⁹ Whoever ^(K)covers an offense seeks love,
    but he who repeats a matter ^(L)separates close friends.
¹⁰ A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding
    than a hundred blows into a fool.
¹¹ An evil man seeks only rebellion,
    and ^(M)a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
¹² Let a man meet ^(N)a she-bear robbed of her cubs
    ^(O)rather than a fool in his folly.
¹³ If anyone ^(P)returns evil for good,
    ^(Q)evil will not depart from his house.
¹⁴ The beginning of strife is like letting out water,
    so ^(R)quit before the quarrel breaks out.
¹⁵ He who ^(S)justifies the wicked and he who ^(T)condemns the righteous
    are both alike an abomination to the Lord.
¹⁶ Why should a fool have money in his hand ^(U)to buy wisdom
    when he has no sense?