1 Better a dry morsel in quietness than a house full of feasting with strife. 2 A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful son and share his inheritance as one of the brothers. 3 A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but the LORD is the tester of hearts.
Proverbs 17:1–3
Semantically similar passages
Sirach 2:4–6
4 Accept whatever is brought upon you, and be patient when you suffer humiliation. (WEB) 5 For gold is tried in the fire, and acceptable men in the furnace of humiliation. (WEB) 6 Put your trust in him, and he will help you. Make your ways straight, and set your hope on him. (WEB)
Proverbs 15:16–18
16 Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure with turmoil. 17 Better a dish of vegetables where there is love than a fattened ox with hatred. 18 A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger calms dispute.
Proverbs 16:18–20
18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. 19 It is better to be lowly in spirit among the humble than to divide the spoil with the proud. 20 Whoever heeds instruction will find success, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.
Proverbs 19:1–2
1 Better a poor man who walks with integrity than a fool whose lips are perverse. 2 Even zeal is no good without knowledge, and he who hurries his footsteps misses the mark.
Psalms 37:15–17
15 But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken. 16 Better is the little of the righteous than the abundance of many who are wicked. 17 For the arms of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous.
Ecclesiastes 9:16–18
16 And I said, “Wisdom is better than strength, but the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are not heeded.” 17 The calm words of the wise are heeded over the shouts of a ruler among fools. 18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys m…
Proverbs 12:8–10
8 A man is praised according to his wisdom, but a twisted mind is despised. 9 Better to be lightly esteemed yet have a servant, than to be self-important but lack food. 10 A righteous man regards the life of his animal, but the tender mercies of the wicked are only cr…
Proverbs 10:19–21
19 When words are many, sin is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise. 20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked has little worth. 21 The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of judgment.
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