Proverbs 17:26
24 Wisdom is the focus of the discerning, but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.
25 A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him.
It is surely not good to punish the innocent or to flog a noble for his honesty.
27 A man of knowledge restrains his words, and a man of understanding maintains a calm spirit.
28 Even a fool is considered wise if he keeps silent, and discerning when he holds his tongue.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- It is surely not good to punish the innocent or to flog a noble for his honesty.
- KJV
- Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.
- WEB
- Also to punish the righteous is not good, nor to flog officials for their integrity.
- ASV
- Also to punish the righteous is not good, [Nor] to smite the noble for [their] uprightness.
- DARBY
- To punish a righteous [man] is not good, nor to strike nobles because of [their] uprightness.
- BLB
- Surely to fine the righteous [is] not good, to strike nobles for uprightness.
- ÅB
- straffe også den rettferdige er ikke godt; å slå edle menn er tvert imot all rett.
- OTB
- Det er ikke godt å straffe den uskyldige, heller ikke å piske den oppriktige for deres integritet.
- B1930
- Å straffe også den rettferdige er ikke godt; å slå edle menn er tvert imot all rett.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Proverbs 17:15
Acquitting the guilty and condemning the righteous— both are detestable to the LORD.
Read in contextProverbs 18:5
Showing partiality to the wicked is not good, nor is depriving the innocent of justice.
Read in contextJohn 18:22
When Jesus had said this, one of the officers standing nearby slapped Him in the face and said, “Is this how You answer the high priest?”
Read in contextJob 34:18–19
who says to kings, ‘You are worthless!’ and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’
Read in contextMicah 5:1
Now, O daughter of troops, mobilize your troops; for a siege is laid against us! With a rod they will strike the cheek of the judge of Israel.
Read in context2 Samuel 3:39
And I am weak this day, though anointed as king, and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too fierce for me. May the LORD repay the evildoer according to his evil!”
Read in contextGenesis 18:25
Far be it from You to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Will not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?”
Read in context2 Samuel 3:23–25
When Joab and all his troops arrived, he was informed, “Abner son of Ner came to see the king, who sent him on his way in peace.”
Read in context