Thy Strong Word — Proverbs 17:1-14: A Fool or a Bear? Solomon Chooses the Bear

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Solomon imparts wisdom on the virtues of peace, understanding, and the dangers of folly. He highlights the value of a quiet home over a house filled with strife, the importance of discerning lips and wise actions, and the destructive nature of quarrels and foolishness.

The Rev. David Bass, pastor of St. Michael Lutheran Church and School in Ft. Meyers, FL, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Proverbs 17:1-14.

Step into the spiritually rich landscape of the Book of Proverbs, a text divinely inspired and attributed to Solomon, the sage king endowed by God with unsurpassed wisdom. This ancient scripture begins with heartfelt lessons from a father to a son, laying a foundation of moral and ethical guidance before unfolding into a collection of timeless proverbs. It uniquely personifies wisdom and folly as two paths that stand before humanity, offering a choice between a life filled with virtue, fear of the Lord, and understanding, and one marred by shortsighted pleasures and foolishness. Proverbs serves as a compass for those seeking to walk in righteousness, offering insights that resonate deeply with the human experience, guiding us toward a life of purpose and discernment according to God’s will.

Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations.

Thy Strong Word is graciously underwritten by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation. Through the mission gifts of people like you, LHF translates, publishes, distributes and introduces books that are Bible-based, Christ-centered and Reformation-driven. Learn more at lhfmissions.org.

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Proverbs 17:1-14

17 Better is a dry morsel with quiet
than a house full of feasting^[a] with strife.
² A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully
and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.
³ The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold,
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 insults his Maker;
he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.
⁶ Grandchildren are the crown of the aged,
and the glory of children is their fathers.
⁷ Fine speech is not becoming to a fool;
still less is false speech to a prince.
⁸ A bribe is like a magic^[b] stone in the eyes of the one who gives it;
wherever he turns he prospers.
⁹ Whoever covers an offense seeks love,
but he who repeats a matter 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 a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
¹² Let a man meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs
rather than a fool in his folly.
¹³ If anyone returns evil for good,
evil will not depart from his house.
¹⁴ The beginning of strife is like letting out water,
so quit before the quarrel breaks out.

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Footnotes

1. Proverbs 17:1 Hebrew sacrifices
2. Proverbs 17:8 Or precious

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. esv.org