24Wisdom is in the sight of him who has understanding,But the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.-Proverbs 17:24As we look back, we may remember that wisdom has to do with practical life here...  Read More

23A wicked man accepts a bribe behind the backTo pervert the ways of justice.-Proverbs 17:23Since we live in a world such as the one we do, we do not see so much the kind of bribery that is being talk...  Read More

22A merry heart does good, like medicine,But a broken spirit dries the bones.-Proverbs 17:22Sometimes life does what life does and it likes to beat us up. Whether it is just a slew of minor inconvenie...  Read More

21He who begets a scoffer does so to his sorrow,And the father of a fool has no joy.-Proverbs 17:21Having worked alongside many parents in raising their children, both as a children's pastor and as a ...  Read More

20He who has a deceitful heart finds no good,And he who has a perverse tongue falls into evil.-Proverbs 17:20We must remember that it is from the overflow of the heart that the mouth speaks. I have fo...  Read More

19He who loves transgression loves strife,And he who exalts his gate seeks destruction.-Proverbs 17:19We should know well that we as believers ought not to love sin. This, however, does not mean we ar...  Read More

18A man devoid of understanding shakes hands in a pledge,And becomes surety for his friend.-Proverbs 17:18While in just the prior verse we discussed the friend that loves at all times and the brother ...  Read More

17A friend loves at all times,And a brother is born for adversity.-Proverbs 17:17Practical life advice is a trademark of the proverbs. Sometimes it is simple advice such as how to be a friend and the ...  Read More

16Why is there in the hand of a fool the purchase price of wisdom,Since he has no heart for it?-Proverbs 17:16I am sure we have all heard the saying that money cannot buy happiness. There are plenty m...  Read More

15He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just,Both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord.-Proverbs 17:15It has become a habit within our culture to identify the lesser or two evil...  Read More

14The beginning of strife is like releasing water;Therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts.-Proverbs 17:14I am sure we have all seen it happen. Tensions are high and you feel like you're at y...  Read More

13Whoever rewards evil for good,Evil will not depart from his house.-Proverbs 17:13There are indeed consequences for the things that we say and do in our lives. In fact, some calamity may very well be...  Read More

12Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs,Rather than a fool in his folly.-Proverbs 17:12This is a very strong analogy to describe the danger of foolishness. It is a safer option to encounter a bear ...  Read More

10Rebuke is more effective for a wise manThan a hundred blows on a fool.11An evil man seeks only rebellion; Therefore a cruel messenger will be sent against him.-Proverbs 17:10-11I am sure we have all...  Read More

9He who covers a transgression seeks love,But he who repeats a matter separates friends.-Proverbs 17:9What is your attitude toward an individual that sins against you? Many of us like to turn to a clo...  Read More

8A present is a precious stone in the eyes of its possessor;Wherever he turns, he prospers.-Proverbs 17:8When it comes to passages like this, it is important to remember that many Proverbs are simply ...  Read More

7Excellent speech is not becoming to a fool,Much less lying lips to a prince.-Proverbs 17:7The depth of this Proverb gets a little lost in translation. The phrasing used for excellent speech has to do...  Read More

6Children’s children are the crown of old men,And the glory of children is their father.-Proverbs 17:6Generations are seen as valuable in Scripture. While our culture likes to mock children and old me...  Read More

5He who mocks the poor reproaches his Maker;He who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.-Proverbs 17:5Verses like this make me want to dive deeper. Why would mocking the poor of all things be ca...  Read More

4An evildoer gives heed to false lips;A liar listens eagerly to a spiteful tongue.-Proverbs 17:4Rather than being one whose spirit rules over the flesh, the man who does evil gives heed to his own fle...  Read More

3The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold,But the Lord tests the hearts.-Proverbs 17:3Scripture often uses the analogy of refining pots working silver or gold to talk about how the Lord...  Read More

2A wise servant will rule over a son who causes shame,And will share an inheritance among the brothers.-Proverbs 17:2There is a value that godliness and righteousness has even in the eyes of wicked me...  Read More

Better is a dry morsel with quietness,Than a house full of feasting with strife.-Proverbs 17:1Contentedness is a necessity for us as believers. While we will not be satisfied until we awake in the Lor...  Read More

33The lot is cast into the lap,But its every decision is from the Lord.-Proverbs 16:33I cannot help but think our bend upon luck or things being lucky diminishes our understanding of the sovereignty o...  Read More