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Proverbs 17 · Grade 4

Faithful Friends

Name Date

Read and Think

Proverbs 17 opens, Better is a dry morsel with quietness, than a house full of feasting with strife. The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, but Yahweh tests the hearts. God looks at what is inside us.

Several sayings deal with quarrels. He who covers an offense promotes love; but he who repeats a matter separates best friends. The beginning of strife is like breaching a dam, therefore stop contention before quarreling breaks out. A small leak in a dam quickly becomes a flood.

Verse 17 describes true friendship: A friend loves at all times; and a brother is born for adversity. Adversity means hard times. A cheerful heart makes good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. He who spares his words has knowledge.

Show What You Know

  1. Who tests the hearts?

  2. What is the beginning of strife like?

  3. When should we stop contention?

  4. What does adversity mean?

  5. Who has knowledge?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

cheerfulfriendtimesquietnessGod
  1. Proverbs 17 opens, Better is a dry morsel with , than a house full of feasting with strife.
  2. looks at what is inside us.
  3. Verse 17 describes true friendship: A loves at all times; and a brother is born for adversity.
  4. Adversity means hard .
  5. A heart makes good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

Think About It

  1. The beginning of strife is like breaching a dam. How can you stop an argument before it grows?

  2. A friend loves at all times. Who has been a faithful friend to you in a hard time?

Memory Verse

“A friend loves at all times; and a brother is born for adversity.”

Proverbs 17:17 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for good friends. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

  • When is a fool counted wise?
  • Who is born for adversity?

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.