Proverbs 17:17-18:5 (Vespers, 2nd reading)
- 17
- A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
- 18
- A man devoid of understanding shakes hands in a pledge, and becomes surety for his friend.
- 19
- He who loves transgression loves strife, and he who exalts his gate seeks destruction.
- 20
- He who has a deceitful heart finds no good, and he who has a perverse tongue falls into evil.
- 21
- He who begets a scoffer does so to his sorrow, and the father of a fool has no joy.
- 22
- A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones.
- 23
- A wicked man accepts a bribe behind the back to pervert the ways of justice.
- 24
- Wisdom is in the sight of him who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
- 25
- A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her who bore him.
- 26
- Also, to punish the righteous is not good, nor to strike princes for their uprightness.
- 27
- He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.
- 28
- Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; when he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.
- 1
- A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; he rages against all wise judgment.
- 2
- A fool has no delight in understanding, but in expressing his own heart.
- 3
- When the wicked comes, contempt comes also; and with dishonor comes reproach.
- 4
- The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook.
- 5
- It is not good to show partiality to the wicked, or to overthrow the righteous in judgment.