Proverbs 17:16 says, Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?  There is no way for a fool to buy wisdom, no matter how much he might be willing to pay for it.  Wisdom begins with accepting Christ in our lives.  Without this, we have no heart for wisdom.  Verse seventeen states, A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.  A true friend will love a person at all times, and a brother will stand with a person through adversity.  Verse eighteen adds, A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.  Matthew Henry says this is another warning about acting as surety for a friend's debt.  We act foolishly when we do so.  Verse nineteen says, He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.  If we love sin, it is always going to bring strife into our lives, whether we want to admit it or not.  Verse twenty proclaims, He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.  When our hearts, or innermost being, is not following God's direction, we will find no true good in life.  Verse twenty-one states, He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.  I don't believe this means having a child with mental problems, but means having one who will not acknowledge God and follow His guidance.  Verse twenty-two declares, A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.  I believe that this is once more referring to having a positive attitude about life as opposed to having a negative attitude.  As followers of Christ, we should always have joy in our heart.  Verse twenty-three says, A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.  Wicked people can have their judgment bought for a price.  Verse twenty-four states, Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.  Matthew Henry relates this to wise people being successful in life by being able to concentrate on what at hand, whereas foolish people are always looking in too many directions.  I believe that it can also mean that people who are wise acknowledge and follow God now, but the foolish will not acknowledge God until His judgment.  Verse twenty-five says, A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.  Foolish children disappoint their parents.  This is simple enough to understand.  Parents really want their children to be smart, but even more so Christian parents want their children to acknowledge and accept God as the guide of their lives.  Verse twenty-six states, Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.  The just, those that follow God's guidance in life, should not be struck, or punished. Sometimes though, God's people are punished because of their faith.  Verse twenty-seven declares, He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.  People who are knowledgeable do not just continually talk or bring attention to themselves.  Also, if we have understanding, or know that we are God's people forever through our faith in Christ, the we should have an excellent spirit.  Verse twenty-eight declares, Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.  This is just like the old saying that it is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt.  If we have nothing intelligent to say, then we are better off saying nothing.