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KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

Proverbs 17:18–23

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.
He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.
He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.
A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.
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PASSAGE SELECTION

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SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

All 63 ranked passages are available for comparison.

From verse 18

  1. Proverbs 11:15Rank 1 from verse 18
    Open

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

  2. Proverbs 6:1–5Rank 2 from verse 18
    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. Proverbs 22:26–27Rank 3 from verse 18
    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. Proverbs 20:16Rank 4 from verse 18
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    16Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.

  5. Proverbs 22:16Rank 5 from verse 18
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    16He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.

From verse 19

  1. Proverbs 16:18Rank 1 from verse 19
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    18Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

  2. Proverbs 18:12Rank 2 from verse 19
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    12Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.

  3. 1 Samuel 25:36–38Rank 3 from verse 19
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    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. James 3:14–16Rank 4 from verse 19
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    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. 1 Kings 1:5Rank 5 from verse 19
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    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. 2 Samuel 15:1Rank 6 from verse 19
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    1AND it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.

  7. James 1:20Rank 7 from verse 19
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    20For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

  8. Proverbs 17:14Rank 8 from verse 19
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    14The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.

  9. Proverbs 24:27Rank 9 from verse 19
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    27Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.

  10. Proverbs 29:22–23Rank 10 from verse 19
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    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. Proverbs 29:9Rank 11 from verse 19
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    9If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest.

  12. 2 Corinthians 12:20Rank 12 from verse 19
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    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. Daniel 4:20–21Rank 13 from verse 19
    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. Jeremiah 22:13–15Rank 14 from verse 19
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    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?

From verse 20

  1. James 3:6–8Rank 1 from verse 20
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    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. Proverbs 10:31Rank 2 from verse 20
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    31The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out.

  3. Ecclesiastes 10:12Rank 3 from verse 20
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    12The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.

  4. Proverbs 10:10Rank 4 from verse 20
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    10He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow: but a prating fool shall fall.

  5. Proverbs 10:14Rank 5 from verse 20
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    14Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.

  6. Proverbs 18:6–7Rank 6 from verse 20
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    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. Proverbs 3:32Rank 7 from verse 20
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    32For the froward is abomination to the Lord: but his secret is with the righteous.

  8. Proverbs 6:12–15Rank 8 from verse 20
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    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. Proverbs 8:13Rank 9 from verse 20
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    13The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

  10. Psalms 18:26Rank 10 from verse 20
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    26With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward.

From verse 21

  1. Proverbs 10:1Rank 1 from verse 21
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    1THE proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.

  2. Proverbs 19:13Rank 2 from verse 21
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    13A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.

  3. 1 Samuel 2:32–35Rank 3 from verse 21
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    32And thou shalt see an enemy in my habitation, in all the wealth which God shall give Israel: and there shall not be an old man in thine house for ever.

    33And the man of thine, whom I shall not cut off from mine altar, shall be to consume thine eyes, and to grieve thine heart: and all the increase of thine house shall die in the flower of their age.

    34And this shall be a sign unto thee, that shall come upon thy two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas; in one day they shall die both of them.

    35And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever.

  4. Genesis 26:34Rank 4 from verse 21
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    34¶ And Esau was forty years old when he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite:

  5. Proverbs 15:20Rank 5 from verse 21
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    20A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother.

  6. Proverbs 17:25Rank 6 from verse 21
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    25A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.

  7. Proverbs 23:15–16Rank 7 from verse 21
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    15My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine.

    16Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things.

  8. 2 Corinthians 2:3Rank 8 from verse 21
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    3And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.

  9. 2 Samuel 18:33Rank 9 from verse 21
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    33¶ And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!

  10. 3 John 1:4Rank 10 from verse 21
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    4I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

  11. Philemon 1:19–20Rank 11 from verse 21
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    19I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.

    20Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.

  12. 1 Samuel 8:3Rank 12 from verse 21
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    3And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.

From verse 22

  1. Proverbs 15:13Rank 1 from verse 22
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    13A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

  2. Proverbs 12:25Rank 2 from verse 22
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    25Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.

  3. Proverbs 18:14Rank 3 from verse 22
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    14The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?

  4. 2 Corinthians 7:10Rank 4 from verse 22
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    10For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

  5. Ecclesiastes 9:7–9Rank 5 from verse 22
    Open

    7¶ Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works.

    8Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment.

    9Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun.

  6. Romans 5:2–5Rank 6 from verse 22
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    2By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

    3And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

    4And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

    5And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

  7. 2 Corinthians 2:7Rank 7 from verse 22
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    7So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.

  8. Psalms 102:3–5Rank 8 from verse 22
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    3For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth.

    4My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread.

    5By reason of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave to my skin.

  9. Psalms 22:15Rank 9 from verse 22
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    15My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.

  10. Psalms 32:3–4Rank 10 from verse 22
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    3When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.

    4For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.

From verse 23

  1. Deuteronomy 16:19Rank 1 from verse 23
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    19Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.

  2. Exodus 23:8Rank 2 from verse 23
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    8¶ And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous.

  3. Micah 7:3Rank 3 from verse 23
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    3¶ That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asketh, and the judge asketh for a reward; and the great man, he uttereth his mischievous desire: so they wrap it up.

  4. Proverbs 17:8Rank 4 from verse 23
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    8A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.

  5. Isaiah 1:23Rank 5 from verse 23
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    23Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.

  6. 1 Samuel 12:3Rank 6 from verse 23
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    3Behold, here I am: witness against me before the Lord, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you.

  7. 1 Samuel 8:3Rank 7 from verse 23
    Open

    3And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.

  8. Ezekiel 22:12Rank 8 from verse 23
    Open

    12In thee have they taken gifts to shed blood; thou hast taken usury and increase, and thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbours by extortion, and hast forgotten me, saith the Lord God.

  9. Mark 14:10–11Rank 9 from verse 23
    Open

    10¶ And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them.

    11And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him.

  10. Micah 3:11Rank 10 from verse 23
    Open

    11The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the Lord, and say, Is not the Lord among us? none evil can come upon us.

  11. Proverbs 18:16Rank 11 from verse 23
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    16A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.

  12. Proverbs 21:14Rank 12 from verse 23
    Open

    14A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

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

DEFINED WORDS

Proverbs 17:21

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

sorrow

↗

Sense 1: Grief, sadness, anguish, pain, regret, distress, trouble, or heaviness. Sense 2: To grieve or cause such pain.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

father

↗

Sense 1: A male parent or begetter. Sense 2: An ancestor, forefather, founder, source, originator, chief, elder, or one bearing paternal authority and care. Sense 3: God as Father, including the Father of Jesus Christ and of those described as his children.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

joy

↗

Sense 1: Gladness, delight, or rejoicing. Sense 2: To rejoice, delight, or be glad.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Proverbs 17:22

COMBINED MEANING

merry

↗

Glad, cheerful, joyful, festive, pleased, or enlivened in heart, often in connection with eating, drinking, feasting, celebration, or favourable circumstances.

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

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

like

↗

Sense 1: Similar or of the same kind; in the same manner; likely. Sense 2: A like person or thing; an equal or counterpart. Sense 3: To please, choose, or regard with favour.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

but

↗

Sense 1: However; marking contrast or qualification. Sense 2: Except or unless; excluding all others or alternatives. Sense 3: Only; no more than what follows.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

spirit

↗

Sense 1: An immaterial living or personal being distinct from a body. Sense 2: The inward life, disposition, mind, or courage of a person. Sense 3: The Holy Spirit, the divine Spirit of God.

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

DEFINED WORDS

Proverbs 17:23

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

taketh

↗

Third-person singular present form of take: receives, seizes, carries, accepts, chooses, or lays hold of.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

gift

↗

Sense 1: Something given or bestowed; a present. Sense 2: An endowment or ability. Sense 3: A bribe.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893

COMBINED MEANING

out

↗

Outside, away from within, forth, absent, or no longer in a stated condition.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

pervert

↗

To turn aside, twist, corrupt, distort, or lead away from what is right, true, just, or intended.

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

COMBINED MEANING

judgment

↗

The act, authority, process, cause, or result of judging; discernment, legal hearing, verdict, ordinance, justice, government, vindication, condemnation, or punishment.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

FOLLOW THE THEME

Related Concepts

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READ THE PASSAGE

View in context

Nearby verses · passage boundary unavailable · Proverbs 17:17–24

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

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

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.

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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.

Selected passage

17:22A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

Selected passage

17:23A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.

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17:24Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.

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