If only we would spend more time listening to all of God's commandments.....and learning to obey them.
It seems 17 is the number of the day, so in keeping with my earlier post and at risk of breaking this observation I'd ask that we look more carefully at the ancient wisdom found here.....
Pro 17:28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.
Our text...
Pro 17:1 Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.
Pro 17:2 A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.
Pro 17:3 The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.
Pro 17:4 A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
Pro 17:5 Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.
Pro 17:6 Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.
Pro 17:7 Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
Pro 17:8 A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
Pro 17:9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth veryfriends.
Pro 17:10 A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.
Pro 17:11 An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
Pro 17:12 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
Pro 17:13 Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
Pro 17:14 The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.
Pro 17:15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.
Pro 17:16 Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?
Pro 17:17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Pro 17:18 A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.
Pro 17:19 He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.
Pro 17:20 He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
Pro 17:21 He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.
Pro 17:22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
Pro 17:23 A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.
Pro 17:24 Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
Pro 17:25 A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.
Pro 17:26 Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.
Pro 17:27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
Pro 17:28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemeda man of understanding.
John Gill bookends the beginning and ending of this reading with these comments...
Proverbs 17:1
Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith,.... A small quantity of bread; a broken piece of bread, as the word (w) signifies; which has been long broken off, and become "dry" (x); a dry crust of bread; old bread, as the Arabic version; an old, mouldy, dry piece of bread: and the word used has the signification of destruction in it: bread that has lost its taste and virtue; or, however, a mere piece of bread is meant, without anything to eat with it, as Gersom, butter, cheese, or flesh: this, with quietness and peace among those that partake of it, peace in the family, in a man's own mind, especially if he has the peace of God, which passeth all understanding; this is better
than a house full of sacrifices with strife; than a house ever so well furnished with good cheer, or a table ever so richly spread; or where there is plenty of slain beasts for food, or for sacrifice, which were usually the best, and part of which the people had to eat, and at which times feasts used to be made; but the meanest food, with tranquillity and contentment, is preferable to the richest entertainment where there is nothing but strife and contention among the guests; for, where that is, there is confusion and every evil work: peace and joy in the Holy Ghost are better than meats and drinks. Mr. Dod used to say,
"brown bread and the Gospel are good fare;''
see Pro 15:17.
(w) פת "frustrum", a פתת, "fregit", Gejerus. (x) חרבה "siccum frustum panis", Tigurine version; "cibi sicci" Junius & Tremellius; "brucella sicca", V. L. Mercerus, Piscator; "buccea sicca", Cocceuis; "frustum sicci, sc. cibi", Michaelis, "frustum siccae buccellae, Schultens, so Ben Melech.
Proverbs 17:28
Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise,.... Not only one that is sparing of his words, and is really a man of knowledge and understanding; but even a fool, if he is but silent, and does not betray his folly by his words, will be reckoned a wise man by those that do not know him; and, whatever fool he may be in other respects, yet in this he acts the wise part, that he holds his peace and says nothing;
and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding; and keeps them shut, lest he should say anything rashly and hastily; a man that has so much command of himself as not to speak unadvisedly, through the heat of his own passions, and through the provocations of others, will pass for a man that understands himself, and knows how to behave well before others.
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