What does Proverbs 17:17-18:24 really mean?

¹⁷ A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for adversity.
¹⁸ One who lacks sense gives a pledge
and puts up security in the presence of his neighbor.
¹⁹ Whoever loves transgression loves strife; he who makes his door high seeks destruction.
²⁰ A man of crooked heart does not discover good, and one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity.
²¹ Whoever sires a fool gets himself sorrow,
and the father of a fool has no joy.
²² A joyful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
²³ The wicked accepts a bribe in secret to pervert the ways of justice.
²⁴ The discerning sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
²⁵ A foolish son is a grief to his father
and bitterness to her who bore him.
²⁶ To impose a fine on a righteous man is not good, nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.
²⁷ Whoever restrains his words has knowledge,
and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
²⁸ Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise;
when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.
¹ Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment.
² A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,
but only in expressing his opinion.
³ When wickedness comes, contempt comes also,
and with dishonor comes disgrace.
⁴ The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
⁵ It is not good to be partial to the wicked or to deprive the righteous of justice.
⁶ A fool’s lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites a beating.
⁷ A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
⁸ The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.
⁹ Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys.
¹⁰ The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
the righteous man runs into it and is safe.
¹¹ A rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and like a high wall in his imagination.
¹² Before destruction a man’s heart is haughty,
but humility comes before honor.
¹³ If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.
¹⁴ A man’s spirit will endure sickness,
but a crushed spirit who can bear?
¹⁵ An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
¹⁶ A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before the great.
¹⁷ The one who states his case first seems right,
until the other comes and examines him.
¹⁸ The lot puts an end to quarrels and decides between powerful contenders.
¹⁹ A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city,
and quarreling is like the bars of a castle.
²⁰ From the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach is satisfied; he is satisfied by the yield of his lips.
²¹ Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.
²² He who finds a wife finds a good thing
and obtains favor from the Lord.
²³ The poor use entreaties, but the rich answer roughly.
²⁴ A man of many companions may come to ruin,
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.