箴言 17
1 乾餅一張而平安共食，勝於滿屋佳餚而互相爭吵。
A dry morsel with gladness is better than a house full of sacrifices along with conflict.
2 聰明的僕人必能管治任性的兒子，且可與弟兄們共分產業。
A wise servant shall rule over foolish sons, and he will divide the inheritance among brothers.
3 鍋煉銀，爐煉金，上主煉人心。
Just as silver is tested by fire, and gold is tested in the furnace, so also does the Lord test hearts.
4 奸詐的人，愛聽胡言亂語；說謊的人，輕信是非長短。
The evil obey an unjust tongue. And the false are submissive to lying lips.
5 嘲笑窮人的是凌辱他的造主；幸災樂禍的，必不能脫免懲罰。
Whoever despises the poor rebukes his Maker. And whoever rejoices in the ruin of another will not go unpunished.
6 孫兒是老人的冠冕，父親是兒女的光榮。
Sons of sons are the crown of old age. And the glory of sons is their fathers.
7 優雅的言詞，不適宜於愚人；虛偽的狂語，更不宜於君王。
Well-chosen words are not fitting for the foolish, nor are lying lips fitting for a leader.
8 賄賂在饋贈者眼中，有如寶石；不論他要轉向何方，無往不利。
The expectation of those who stand ready is a most pleasing jewel. Whichever way he turns himself, he understands prudently.
9 掩飾他人的過錯，可獲得友愛；屢念舊日的過惡，則離間友誼。
Whoever conceals an offense seeks friendships. Whoever repeats the words of another separates allies.
10 對明智人一句指責，勝過對愚昧人百次杖擊。
A correction benefits more with a wise man, than a hundred stripes with a fool.
11 暴徒只求叛亂，但有殘酷使者，奉命前來對付。
The evil one continually seeks conflicts. But a cruel Angel shall be sent against him.
12 寧願遇見失掉幼子的母熊，不願逢著正在發狂的愚人。
It is more expedient to meet a bear robbed of her young, than the foolish trusting in his own folly.
13 誰以怨報德，災禍必不離開他的家。
Whoever repays evil for good, evil shall not withdraw from his house.
14 爭論的開端，如水之破堤；在激辯之前，應極加制止。
Whoever releases the water is the head of the conflict. And just before he suffers contempt, he abandons judgment.
15 宣判罪人無罪，判定義人有罪：二者同為上主所憎惡。
Those who justify the impious, and those who condemn the just, both are abominable with God.
16 愚昧的人，既沒有頭腦，手執金錢買智慧，又何益之有﹖
What does it profit the foolish to have riches, when he is not able to buy wisdom? Whoever makes his house high seeks ruin. And whoever shuns learning shall fall into evils.
17 朋友平時常相愛，唯在難中見兄弟。
Whoever is a friend loves at all times. And a brother is proved by distress.
18 常為人擊掌作保，實是個無知之徒。
A foolish man will clap his hands, when he makes a pledge for his friend.
19 好爭辯的人，實喜愛罪過；高舉門戶的，必自趨滅亡。
Whoever dwells on discord loves disputes. And whoever exalts his door seeks ruin.
20 誰存心欺詐，不會得幸福；誰搬弄是非，必陷於災禍。
Whoever is of a perverse heart shall not find good. And whoever turns his tongue shall fall into evil.
21 生糊塗孩子的，只有悲哀；糊塗人的父親，毫無樂趣。
A foolish one is born into his own disgrace. But his father will not rejoice in one who is senseless.
22 愉快的心，是良好的治療；神志憂鬱，能使筋骨枯萎。
A joyful soul makes a lifetime flourish. A gloomy spirit dries out the bones.
23 惡人在大衣下受賄賂，是為顛倒正義的判詞。
The impious receives gifts from the bosom, so that he may pervert the paths of judgment.
24 精明的人，常面向智慧；愚者的眼，向地極呆望，
Prudence shines from the face of the wise. The eyes of the foolish are on the ends of the earth.
25 愚昧的兒子，是他父親的痛苦，是他生母的憂傷。
A foolish son is the anger of the father and the grief of the mother who conceived him.
26 科罰無辜，已屬不當；杖責君子，更屬不義。
It is not good to inflict damage on the just, nor to strike the leader who judges uprightly.
27 智者必沉默寡言，達人必心神鎮定。
Whoever moderates his words is learned and prudent. And a man of learning has a precious spirit.
28 愚人不發言，亦可充作智者；若謹口慎言，亦可視為哲人。
If he would remain silent, even the foolish would be considered wise, and if he closes his lips, intelligent.
