[4] A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
False lips — To false accusations and calumnies, which give him occasion and encouragement to do mischief.
[7] Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
Excellent speech — Discourse of high and excellent things.
[8] A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
A precious stone — Pleasant and acceptable; and withal dazzles his eyes.
Whithersoever — To whomsoever it is presented. But this, as also many of her proverbs, are to be understood of most men, not of all.
[9] He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.
Covereth — That conceals as far as he may, other mens faults.
[11] An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
Rebellion — Against God.
Messenger — Or, a cruel angel, the angel of death, the devil, or some bloody men employed by God to avenge his quarrel.
[12] Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
Folly — In the heat of his lust or passion.
[14] The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.
Letteth out — By cutting the bank of a river.
Leave off — Avoid the occasions, and prevent the beginning of contention.
[16] Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?
A price — Opportunities and abilities of getting it.
No heart — Neither discretion to discern the worth of wisdom, nor any sincere desire to get it.
[17] A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Was born — Was sent into the world for this, that he might comfort and relieve his brother in adversity.
[18] A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.
Friend — Debtor, for whom being his friend, he becomes surety.
[20] He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
No good — Shall not get that advantage which he expects.
[22] A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
Doth good — Even to the body; it contributes much to bodily health and vigour.
Drieth — Wastes the marrow of the bones, and the moisture and strength of the body.
[24] Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
In the face — His wisdom appears even in his looks.
The eyes — Minding most, those things which are remotest from him, and least concern him.
[26] Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.
To strike — Nor to smite magistrates, either with the hand or tongue, for the execution of justice.
Proverbs 17 Bible Commentary
John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes
Verse 4
[4] A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
False lips — To false accusations and calumnies, which give him occasion and encouragement to do mischief.
Verse 7
[7] Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
Excellent speech — Discourse of high and excellent things.
Verse 8
[8] A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
A precious stone — Pleasant and acceptable; and withal dazzles his eyes.
Whithersoever — To whomsoever it is presented. But this, as also many of her proverbs, are to be understood of most men, not of all.
Verse 9
[9] He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.
Covereth — That conceals as far as he may, other mens faults.
Verse 11
[11] An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
Rebellion — Against God.
Messenger — Or, a cruel angel, the angel of death, the devil, or some bloody men employed by God to avenge his quarrel.
Verse 12
[12] Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
Folly — In the heat of his lust or passion.
Verse 14
[14] The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.
Letteth out — By cutting the bank of a river.
Leave off — Avoid the occasions, and prevent the beginning of contention.
Verse 16
[16] Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?
A price — Opportunities and abilities of getting it.
No heart — Neither discretion to discern the worth of wisdom, nor any sincere desire to get it.
Verse 17
[17] A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Was born — Was sent into the world for this, that he might comfort and relieve his brother in adversity.
Verse 18
[18] A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.
Friend — Debtor, for whom being his friend, he becomes surety.
Verse 20
[20] He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
No good — Shall not get that advantage which he expects.
Verse 22
[22] A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
Doth good — Even to the body; it contributes much to bodily health and vigour.
Drieth — Wastes the marrow of the bones, and the moisture and strength of the body.
Verse 24
[24] Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
In the face — His wisdom appears even in his looks.
The eyes — Minding most, those things which are remotest from him, and least concern him.
Verse 26
[26] Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.
To strike — Nor to smite magistrates, either with the hand or tongue, for the execution of justice.