Evildoers foster rebellion against God;
    the messenger of death will be sent against them.

Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs
    than a fool bent on folly.

Evil will never leave the house
    of one who pays back evil for good.

Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam;
    so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.

Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent—
    the Lord detests them both.

Proverbs 17:11-15

11 The “rebellion” here under consideration was anarchy against the existing government. With the monarchical form of government of those days, this was common and accounted for many assassinations. When any such rebellion was detected, the rebellion was immediately put down (“a messenger of death shall be sent against him”).

12 The fierceness of a bear who has lost her young (“whelps”) is also referred to in I1 Sam. 17:8 and Hos. 13:8. One who is unfortunate enough to come along to become involved in some fool’s folly may suffer all the way from embarrassment to being murdered.

13 It is contrary to nature (an extreme wrong) to reward evil for good. It is bad enough not to receive thanks from those helped, but it is even worse for the blessed to repay evil to the giver of good. When this occurs, the promise is that “evil” will abide upon such a one and his house. Instances of repaying good with evil: I Sam. 25:21; Psa. 109:4,5; Jer. 18:20.

14 AS soon as the smallest breach is made in the dike or dam, the water begins to press from all parts towards the breach; the resistance becomes too great to be successfully opposed, so the dikes and all are speedily swept away. Such is the beginning of contentions, quarrels, lawsuits, etc.

15 In God’s books the wicked are to be condemned and the righteous commended (Matt. 25:34-36; 41-43 and many, many others). In addition, Prov. 17:26 has this to say: If imposing a fine on the innocent is not good, surely to flog honest officials is not right. Cf. EX 23:7; Prov. 24:24; IS 5:20.