What does Proverbs 17:15 mean?

Solomon echoes his prior statements about God's hatred for evil and wickedness (Proverbs 6:16–19). Other remarks in Scripture make the same point as this proverb: that it's especially depraved to defend evil and to condemn goodness (Isaiah 5:20; Psalm 94:21). This applies to the individual, but it can also apply to an entire society (Proverbs 14:34). As modern cultures move further and further from biblical truth, they more readily defend sin and more quickly call biblical standards "evil" (1 Peter 4:4; John 16:1–2).

Eli's sons were priests who should have set an example of righteousness and justice, but they practiced immorality. Eli rebuked them, but they would not listen to him, therefore the Lord consigned them to die (1 Samuel 2:22–25; 3:11–14; 4:11–18). First Samuel 8:3 identifies Samuel's sons as judges in Israel that valued money above righteous justice. They "did not walk in [Samuel's] ways but turned aside after gain. They took bribes and perverted justice."