20 The one with a perverse heart finds no good, and he whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble. 21 A man fathers a fool to his own grief; the father of a fool has no joy. 22 A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
Proverbs 17:20–22
Semantically similar passages
Proverbs 15:12–14
12 A mocker does not love to be reproved, nor will he consult the wise. 13 A joyful heart makes a cheerful countenance, but sorrow of the heart crushes the spirit. 14 A discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.
Proverbs 12:24–26
24 The hand of the diligent will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor. 25 Anxiety weighs down the heart of a man, but a good word cheers it up. 26 A righteous man is cautious in friendship, but the ways of the wicked lead them astray.
Proverbs 15:19–21
19 The way of the slacker is like a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway. 20 A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish man despises his mother. 21 Folly is joy to one who lacks judgment, but a man of understanding walks a straight path.
Sirach 6:3–5
3 You will eat up your leaves, destroy your fruit, and leave yourself like a dry tree. (WEB) 4 A wicked soul will destroy him who has it, and will make him a laughing stock to his enemies. (WEB) 5 Sweet words will multiply a man’s friends. A gracious tongue will multiply courtes… (WEB)
Sirach 36:19–21
19 The mouth tastes meats taken in hunting, so does an understanding heart detect false speech. (WEB) 20 A contrary heart will cause heaviness. A man of experience will pay him back. (WEB) 21 A woman will receive any man, but one daughter is better than another. (WEB)
Proverbs 18:5–7
5 Showing partiality to the wicked is not good, nor is depriving the innocent of justice. 6 A fool’s lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating. 7 A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
Proverbs 10:9–11
9 He who walks in integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out. 10 He who winks the eye causes grief, and foolish lips will come to ruin. 11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
Proverbs 18:1–3
1 He who isolates himself pursues selfish desires; he rebels against all sound judgment. 2 A fool does not delight in understanding, but only in airing his opinions. 3 With a wicked man comes contempt as well, and shame is accompanied by disgrace.
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