# Proverbs 17.17

<!-- type: passage | created: 2026-10-06 | updated: 2026-10-06 -->

**Book:** [Proverbs](/codex/proverbs/) · NASB95

## Immediate context (±2 verses)

**ASV** ([ASV](/codex/asv/))
> 15. He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the righteous, Both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah. 16. Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, Seeing he hath no understanding?
>
> **17. A friend loveth at all times; And a brother is born for adversity.**
>
> 18. A man void of understanding striketh hands, And becometh surety in the presence of his neighbor. 19. He loveth transgression that loveth strife: He that raiseth high his gate seeketh destruction. (Proverbs 17:15-19, ASV)

**WEB** ([WEB](/codex/web/))
> 15. He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to Yahweh. 16. Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, since he has no understanding?
>
> **17. A friend loves at all times; and a brother is born for adversity.**
>
> 18. A man void of understanding strikes hands, and becomes collateral in the presence of his neighbor. 19. He who loves disobedience loves strife. One who builds a high gate seeks destruction. (Proverbs 17:15-19, WEB)

**KJV** ([KJV](/codex/kjv/))
> 15. He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD. 16. Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?
>
> **17. A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.**
>
> 18. A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend. <sup>understanding: Heb. heart</sup> 19. He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction. (Proverbs 17:15-19, KJV)

**YLT** ([YLT](/codex/ylt/))
> 15. Whoso is justifying the wicked, And condemning the righteous, Even both of these [are] an abomination to Jehovah. 16. Why [is] this, a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, And a heart there is none?
>
> **17. At all times is the friend loving, And a brother for adversity is born.**
>
> 18. A man lacking heart is striking hands, A surety he becometh before his friend. 19. Whoso is loving transgression is loving debate, Whoso is making high his entrance is seeking destruction. (Proverbs 17:15-19, YLT)

## Setting

- **Speaker:** _TBD_
- **Audience:** _TBD_
- **Location:** _TBD_
- **Time period:** _TBD_

## Theological reading

_Patristic / early-church-father exegesis, to be added._

## Key words

_Theologically-loaded Greek or Hebrew words in this verse may have entries in the lexicon. Curated to roughly 100 contested terms across the corpus, not every word._

- _TBD_
- _TBD_
- _TBD_
- _TBD_

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## Quoted in

**Arguments and defeaters:**

- [David and Jonathan Relationship Objection Defeater](/codex/david-and-jonathan-relationship-objection-defeater/)

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## Notes

_Your annotations._

## Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the **most literal English translations available** (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the **public domain in the United States**, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

- **[ASV](/codex/asv/)** (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
- **[WEB](/codex/web/)** (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
- **[KJV](/codex/kjv/)** (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
- **[YLT](/codex/ylt/)** (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See [Bibles](/codex/bibles/) for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.
