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KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

Proverbs 17:16–20

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
16Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?
17A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
18A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.
19He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.
20He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
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SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

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Proverbs 17:16Cross-references · 15 ranked passages

  1. Open

    25The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.

    26He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.

  2. Open

    23Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.

  3. Open

    26Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:

    27For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

  4. Open

    29O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!

  5. Open

    15The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.

  6. Open

    4Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.

    5O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.

  7. Open

    1WE then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

  8. Open

    46Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

  9. Open

    11Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.

  10. Open

    1HO, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

    2Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.

    3Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

  11. John 3:20Rank 11
    Open

    20For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

  12. Open

    22How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?

    23Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.

  13. Open

    6A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.

  14. Open

    4Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,

    5Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.

    6Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.

  15. Open

    11But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me.

    12So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels.

    13Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!

Proverbs 17:17Cross-references · 12 ranked passages

  1. Open

    24A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

  2. Open

    13Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

    14Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

  3. Open

    17And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul.

  4. Ruth 1:16Rank 4
    Open

    16And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:

  5. Open

    3Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.

  6. Open

    7All the brethren of the poor do hate him: how much more do his friends go far from him? he pursueth them with words, yet they are wanting to him.

  7. Open

    11For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

  8. Open

    26I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.

  9. Open

    14For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

  10. Open

    16¶ And Jonathan Saul’s son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.

  11. Open

    1AND David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?

    2And there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba. And when they had called him unto David, the king said unto him, Art thou Ziba? And he said, Thy servant is he.

    3And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may shew the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, which is lame on his feet.

    4And the king said unto him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lo-debar.

    5¶ Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lo-debar.

    6Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy servant!

    7¶ And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father’s sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.

    8And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?

    9¶ Then the king called to Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said unto him, I have given unto thy master’s son all that pertained to Saul and to all his house.

    10Thou therefore, and thy sons, and thy servants, shall till the land for him, and thou shalt bring in the fruits, that thy master’s son may have food to eat: but Mephibosheth thy master’s son shall eat bread alway at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.

    11Then said Ziba unto the king, According to all that my lord the king hath commanded his servant, so shall thy servant do. As for Mephibosheth, said the king, he shall eat at my table, as one of the king’s sons.

    12And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Micha. And all that dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants unto Mephibosheth.

    13So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat continually at the king’s table; and was lame on both his feet.

  12. Open

    2But Jonathan Saul’s son delighted much in David: and Jonathan told David, saying, Saul my father seeketh to kill thee: now therefore, I pray thee, take heed to thyself until the morning, and abide in a secret place, and hide thyself:

Proverbs 17:18Cross-references · 5 ranked passages

  1. Open

    15He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hateth suretiship is sure.

  2. Open

    1MY son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger,

    2Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.

    3Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend.

    4Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids.

    5Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.

  3. Open

    26Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts.

    27If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?

  4. Open

    16Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.

  5. Open

    16He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.

Proverbs 17:19Cross-references · 14 ranked passages

  1. Open

    18Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

  2. Open

    12Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.

  3. Open

    36¶ And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal’s heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken: wherefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light.

    37But it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became as a stone.

    38And it came to pass about ten days after, that the Lord smote Nabal, that he died.

  4. Open

    14But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

    15This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

    16For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

  5. Open

    5¶ Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.

  6. Open

    1AND it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.

  7. Open

    20For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

  8. Open

    14The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.

  9. Open

    27Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.

  10. Open

    22An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.

    23A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.

  11. Open

    9If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest.

  12. Open

    20For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:

  13. Open

    20The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;

    21Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation:

  14. Open

    13¶ Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by wrong; that useth his neighbour’s service without wages, and giveth him not for his work;

    14That saith, I will build me a wide house and large chambers, and cutteth him out windows; and it is cieled with cedar, and painted with vermilion.

    15Shalt thou reign, because thou closest thyself in cedar? did not thy father eat and drink, and do judgment and justice, and then it was well with him?

Proverbs 17:20Cross-references · 10 ranked passages

  1. Open

    6And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

    7For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:

    8But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

  2. Open

    31The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out.

  3. Open

    12The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.

  4. Open

    10He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow: but a prating fool shall fall.

  5. Open

    14Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.

  6. Open

    6A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.

    7A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.

  7. Open

    32For the froward is abomination to the Lord: but his secret is with the righteous.

  8. Open

    12¶ A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth.

    13He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers;

    14Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord.

    15Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.

  9. Open

    13The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

  10. Open

    26With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward.

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

DEFINED WORDS

Proverbs 17:16

COMBINED MEANING

wherefore

↗

1. For that reason, or as a conclusion from what precedes; therefore or consequently. 2. For what reason or purpose; why.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

hand

↗

Sense 1: The part of the body at the end of the arm. Sense 2: Figuratively, power, possession, aid, or agency.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

fool

↗

Sense 1: A person lacking wisdom or moral understanding. Sense 2: As a verb, to act foolishly or deceive.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

get

↗

To procure; to obtain; to gain possession of, by almost any means.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

wisdom

↗

Knowledge, understanding, judgment, skill, or prudence.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

seeing

↗

1. As a connective, because, since, or in view of a stated fact. 2. Perceiving with the eyes; observing. 3. Recognizing, discerning, understanding, or foreseeing.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

heart

↗

Sense 1: The bodily organ. Sense 2: The inward person: the mind, will, affections, conscience, or moral character.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Proverbs 17:17

COMBINED MEANING

friend

↗

One joined to another by affection, goodwill, or alliance; to support or befriend.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

brother

↗

Sense 1: A male sibling; a near kinsman. Sense 2: A fellow member of a people or faith.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

for

↗

1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Proverbs 17:18

COMBINED MEANING

man

↗

1. A human being or person. 2. Mankind collectively. 3. A male person.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

void

↗

Empty, unfilled, unoccupied, lacking something, invalid, cancelled, or without effect.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

understanding

↗

1. The capacity or act of perceiving, comprehending, discerning, judging, interpreting, or applying knowledge. 2. Knowledge, insight, wisdom, or prudent judgment possessed or gained. 3. Skill or ability in a work, art, subject, vision, saying, or interpretation.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

hands

↗

Sense 1: The end parts of the arms used for holding and working. Sense 2: Figures of power, possession, agency, or aid.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

surety

↗

1. A person who undertakes responsibility or gives a guarantee for another or for an obligation. 2. In the phrase ‘of a surety’: certainly or assuredly.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

friend

↗

One joined to another by affection, goodwill, or alliance; to support or befriend.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

surity

↗

1. A person who undertakes responsibility or gives a guarantee for another or for an obligation. 2. In the phrase ‘of a surety’: certainly or assuredly.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Proverbs 17:19

COMBINED MEANING

transgression

↗

The act of passing beyond or violating a law, command, or rule of duty; an offense, fault, or sin.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

exalteth

↗

Third-person singular present form of exalt. Sense 1: To raise high or elevate in position, power, dignity, or honor; to magnify and praise; to raise with pride. Sense 2: To lift up the voice.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

destruction

↗

The act, result, or state of destroying: ruin, overthrow, death, wasting, or that which brings ruin.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

DEFINED WORDS

Proverbs 17:20

COMBINED MEANING

froward

↗

1. Perverse or turned aside from what is right. 2. Contrary or opposed in conduct or response.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

heart

↗

Sense 1: The bodily organ. Sense 2: The inward person: the mind, will, affections, conscience, or moral character.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

findeth

↗

Third-person singular present form of find (to discover, meet with, obtain, perceive, or learn by search or experience).

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

good

↗

Sense 1: Right, morally upright, beneficial, pleasing, useful, suitable, sound, favourable, or excellent. Sense 2: A good thing, benefit, welfare, possession, or goods. Sense 3: In ‘make good,’ to repair, repay, fulfil, establish, or prove.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

tongue

↗

1. The organ of the mouth used for tasting and speech. 2. Speech, words, or a language. 3. A tongue-shaped projection or arm of land or water.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

falleth

↗

1. Comes or goes down, drops, collapses, bows, or is overthrown. 2. Comes upon or enters a state or condition. 3. Of a lot or portion, is assigned or belongs. 4. In ‘falleth out,’ happens or occurs. 5. In ‘falleth to,’ yields or goes over to another side.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

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READ THE PASSAGE

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Nearby verses · passage boundary unavailable · Proverbs 17:15–21

The selected passage is highlighted. Context is a study aid.

17:15He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the Lord.

17:16Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?

Selected passage

17:17A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

Selected passage

17:18A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.

Selected passage

17:19He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.

Selected passage

17:20He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.

Selected passage

17:21He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.

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