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

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.

Proverbs 17:1-14

17 Better is a dry morsel with quiet
    than a house full of feasting^[a] with strife.
²A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully
    and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.
³The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold,
    and the Lord tests hearts.
⁴An evildoer listens to wicked lips,
    and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
⁵Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker;
    he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.
⁶Grandchildren are the crown of the aged,
    and the glory of children is their fathers.
⁷Fine speech is not becoming to a fool;
    still less is false speech to a prince.
⁸A bribe is like a magic^[b] stone in the eyes of the one who gives it;
    wherever he turns he prospers.
⁹Whoever covers an offense seeks love,
    but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.
¹⁰A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding
    than a hundred blows into a fool.
¹¹An evil man seeks only rebellion,
    and a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
¹²Let a man meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs
    rather than a fool in his folly.
¹³If anyone returns evil for good,
    evil will not depart from his house.
¹⁴The beginning of strife is like letting out water,
    so quit before the quarrel breaks out.

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Footnotes

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

Rev. Dr. Phil Booe

Native North Carolinian Rev. Dr. Phil Booe serves pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, and host of Thy Strong Word on KFUO Radio. His parishioners probably think he can’t teach Bible study without a mug of coffee in his hand, and he’ll always be happy to eat a plate of sushi. When he’s not shepherding his flock or teaching on the radio, you might find him watching bad movies from the 50s, 60s, and 70s, and especially binging RiffTrax and MST3K episodes. Some day he’d love to travel to the Lutheran homeland in Germany, but for now he spends time in Minnesota with his wife, son, daughter, and cat, and looks forward to Holy Week every year.