Proverbs 17:2 (ASV)

Passage

A servant that dealeth wisely shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, And shall have part in the inheritance among the brethren.

Nearby Context

Proverbs 17:1 Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, Than a house full of feasting with strife.

Proverbs 17:2 A servant that dealeth wisely shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, And shall have part in the inheritance among the brethren.

Proverbs 17:3 The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; But Jehovah trieth the hearts.

Proverbs 17:4 An evil-doer giveth heed to wicked lips; [And] a liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "servant", "dealeth", "wisely", "shall", "rule", "over", "causeth", and "shame". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "servant" and "dealeth", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 1's "Better is a dry morsel and quietness..." into verse 3's "The refining pot is for silver and...", so "servant" and "dealeth" belong inside that flow. In Proverbs context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "servant" and "dealeth" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.