< 箴言 17 >

1 設筵滿屋,大家相爭, 不如有塊乾餅,大家相安。
A dry morsel with gladness is better than a house full of sacrifices along with conflict.
2 僕人辦事聰明,必管轄貽羞之子, 又在眾子中同分產業。
A wise servant shall rule over foolish sons, and he will divide the inheritance among brothers.
3 鼎為煉銀,爐為煉金; 惟有耶和華熬煉人心。
Just as silver is tested by fire, and gold is tested in the furnace, so also does the Lord test hearts.
4 行惡的,留心聽奸詐之言; 說謊的,側耳聽邪惡之語。
The evil obey an unjust tongue. And the false are submissive to lying lips.
5 戲笑窮人的,是辱沒造他的主; 幸災樂禍的,必不免受罰。
Whoever despises the poor rebukes his Maker. And whoever rejoices in the ruin of another will not go unpunished.
6 子孫為老人的冠冕; 父親是兒女的榮耀。
Sons of sons are the crown of old age. And the glory of sons is their fathers.
7 愚頑人說美言本不相宜, 何況君王說謊話呢?
Well-chosen words are not fitting for the foolish, nor are lying lips fitting for a leader.
8 賄賂在餽送的人眼中看為寶玉, 隨處運動都得順利。
The expectation of those who stand ready is a most pleasing jewel. Whichever way he turns himself, he understands prudently.
9 遮掩人過的,尋求人愛; 屢次挑錯的,離間密友。
Whoever conceals an offense seeks friendships. Whoever repeats the words of another separates allies.
10 一句責備話深入聰明人的心, 強如責打愚昧人一百下。
A correction benefits more with a wise man, than a hundred stripes with a fool.
11 惡人只尋背叛, 所以必有嚴厲的使者奉差攻擊他。
The evil one continually seeks conflicts. But a cruel Angel shall be sent against him.
12 寧可遇見丟崽子的母熊, 不可遇見正行愚妄的愚昧人。
It is more expedient to meet a bear robbed of her young, than the foolish trusting in his own folly.
13 以惡報善的, 禍患必不離他的家。
Whoever repays evil for good, evil shall not withdraw from his house.
14 紛爭的起頭如水放開, 所以,在爭鬧之先必當止息爭競。
Whoever releases the water is the head of the conflict. And just before he suffers contempt, he abandons judgment.
15 定惡人為義的,定義人為惡的, 這都為耶和華所憎惡。
Those who justify the impious, and those who condemn the just, both are abominable with God.
16 愚昧人既無聰明, 為何手拿價銀買智慧呢?
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 朋友乃時常親愛, 弟兄為患難而生。
Whoever is a friend loves at all times. And a brother is proved by distress.
18 在鄰舍面前擊掌作保 乃是無知的人。
A foolish man will clap his hands, when he makes a pledge for his friend.
19 喜愛爭競的,是喜愛過犯; 高立家門的,乃自取敗壞。
Whoever dwells on discord loves disputes. And whoever exalts his door seeks ruin.
20 心存邪僻的,尋不着好處; 舌弄是非的,陷在禍患中。
Whoever is of a perverse heart shall not find good. And whoever turns his tongue shall fall into evil.
21 生愚昧子的,必自愁苦; 愚頑人的父毫無喜樂。
A foolish one is born into his own disgrace. But his father will not rejoice in one who is senseless.
22 喜樂的心乃是良藥; 憂傷的靈使骨枯乾。
A joyful soul makes a lifetime flourish. A gloomy spirit dries out the bones.
23 惡人暗中受賄賂, 為要顛倒判斷。
The impious receives gifts from the bosom, so that he may pervert the paths of judgment.
24 明哲人眼前有智慧; 愚昧人眼望地極。
Prudence shines from the face of the wise. The eyes of the foolish are on the ends of the earth.
25 愚昧子使父親愁煩, 使母親憂苦。
A foolish son is the anger of the father and the grief of the mother who conceived him.
26 刑罰義人為不善; 責打君子為不義。
It is not good to inflict damage on the just, nor to strike the leader who judges uprightly.
27 寡少言語的,有知識; 性情溫良的,有聰明。
Whoever moderates his words is learned and prudent. And a man of learning has a precious spirit.
28 愚昧人若靜默不言也可算為智慧; 閉口不說也可算為聰明。
If he would remain silent, even the foolish would be considered wise, and if he closes his lips, intelligent.

< 箴言 17 >