< Proverbs 17 >
1 Better is a dry morsel with quietness, than a house full of feasting with strife.
κρείσσων ψωμὸς μεθ’ ἡδονῆς ἐν εἰρήνῃ ἢ οἶκος πλήρης πολλῶν ἀγαθῶν καὶ ἀδίκων θυμάτων μετὰ μάχης
2 A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who causes shame, and shall have a part in the inheritance among the brothers.
οἰκέτης νοήμων κρατήσει δεσποτῶν ἀφρόνων ἐν δὲ ἀδελφοῖς διελεῖται μέρη
3 The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the hearts.
ὥσπερ δοκιμάζεται ἐν καμίνῳ ἄργυρος καὶ χρυσός οὕτως ἐκλεκταὶ καρδίαι παρὰ κυρίῳ
4 An evildoer heeds wicked lips. A liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
κακὸς ὑπακούει γλώσσης παρανόμων δίκαιος δὲ οὐ προσέχει χείλεσιν ψευδέσιν
5 Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker. He who is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.
ὁ καταγελῶν πτωχοῦ παροξύνει τὸν ποιήσαντα αὐτόν ὁ δὲ ἐπιχαίρων ἀπολλυμένῳ οὐκ ἀθῳωθήσεται ὁ δὲ ἐπισπλαγχνιζόμενος ἐλεηθήσεται
6 Children’s children are the crown of old men; the glory of children is their parents.
στέφανος γερόντων τέκνα τέκνων καύχημα δὲ τέκνων πατέρες αὐτῶν τοῦ πιστοῦ ὅλος ὁ κόσμος τῶν χρημάτων τοῦ δὲ ἀπίστου οὐδὲ ὀβολός
7 Excellent speech is not fitting for a fool, much less do lying lips fit a prince.
οὐχ ἁρμόσει ἄφρονι χείλη πιστὰ οὐδὲ δικαίῳ χείλη ψευδῆ
8 A bribe is a precious stone in the eyes of him who gives it; wherever he turns, he prospers.
μισθὸς χαρίτων ἡ παιδεία τοῖς χρωμένοις οὗ δ’ ἂν ἐπιστρέψῃ εὐοδωθήσεται
9 He who covers an offense promotes love; but he who repeats a matter separates best friends.
ὃς κρύπτει ἀδικήματα ζητεῖ φιλίαν ὃς δὲ μισεῖ κρύπτειν διίστησιν φίλους καὶ οἰκείους
10 A rebuke enters deeper into one who has understanding than a hundred lashes into a fool.
συντρίβει ἀπειλὴ καρδίαν φρονίμου ἄφρων δὲ μαστιγωθεὶς οὐκ αἰσθάνεται
11 An evil man seeks only rebellion; therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
ἀντιλογίας ἐγείρει πᾶς κακός ὁ δὲ κύριος ἄγγελον ἀνελεήμονα ἐκπέμψει αὐτῷ
12 Let a bear robbed of her cubs meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
ἐμπεσεῖται μέριμνα ἀνδρὶ νοήμονι οἱ δὲ ἄφρονες διαλογιοῦνται κακά
13 Whoever rewards evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
ὃς ἀποδίδωσιν κακὰ ἀντὶ ἀγαθῶν οὐ κινηθήσεται κακὰ ἐκ τοῦ οἴκου αὐτοῦ
14 The beginning of strife is like breaching a dam, therefore stop contention before quarreling breaks out.
ἐξουσίαν δίδωσιν λόγοις ἀρχὴ δικαιοσύνης προηγεῖται δὲ τῆς ἐνδείας στάσις καὶ μάχη
15 He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.
ὃς δίκαιον κρίνει τὸν ἄδικον ἄδικον δὲ τὸν δίκαιον ἀκάθαρτος καὶ βδελυκτὸς παρὰ θεῷ
16 Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, since he has no understanding?
ἵνα τί ὑπῆρξεν χρήματα ἄφρονι κτήσασθαι γὰρ σοφίαν ἀκάρδιος οὐ δυνήσεται ὃς ὑψηλὸν ποιεῖ τὸν ἑαυτοῦ οἶκον ζητεῖ συντριβήν ὁ δὲ σκολιάζων τοῦ μαθεῖν ἐμπεσεῖται εἰς κακά
17 A friend loves at all times; and a brother is born for adversity.
εἰς πάντα καιρὸν φίλος ὑπαρχέτω σοι ἀδελφοὶ δὲ ἐν ἀνάγκαις χρήσιμοι ἔστωσαν τούτου γὰρ χάριν γεννῶνται
18 A man void of understanding strikes hands, and becomes collateral in the presence of his neighbor.
ἀνὴρ ἄφρων ἐπικροτεῖ καὶ ἐπιχαίρει ἑαυτῷ ὡς καὶ ὁ ἐγγυώμενος ἐγγύῃ τὸν ἑαυτοῦ φίλον
19 He who loves disobedience loves strife. One who builds a high gate seeks destruction.
φιλαμαρτήμων χαίρει μάχαις
20 One who has a perverse heart does not find prosperity, and one who has a deceitful tongue falls into trouble.
ὁ δὲ σκληροκάρδιος οὐ συναντᾷ ἀγαθοῖς ἀνὴρ εὐμετάβολος γλώσσῃ ἐμπεσεῖται εἰς κακά
21 He who becomes the father of a fool grieves. The father of a fool has no joy.
καρδία δὲ ἄφρονος ὀδύνη τῷ κεκτημένῳ αὐτήν οὐκ εὐφραίνεται πατὴρ ἐπὶ υἱῷ ἀπαιδεύτῳ υἱὸς δὲ φρόνιμος εὐφραίνει μητέρα αὐτοῦ
22 A cheerful heart makes good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
καρδία εὐφραινομένη εὐεκτεῖν ποιεῖ ἀνδρὸς δὲ λυπηροῦ ξηραίνεται τὰ ὀστᾶ
23 A wicked man receives a bribe in secret, to pervert the ways of justice.
λαμβάνοντος δῶρα ἐν κόλπῳ ἀδίκως οὐ κατευοδοῦνται ὁδοί ἀσεβὴς δὲ ἐκκλίνει ὁδοὺς δικαιοσύνης
24 Wisdom is before the face of one who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.
πρόσωπον συνετὸν ἀνδρὸς σοφοῦ οἱ δὲ ὀφθαλμοὶ τοῦ ἄφρονος ἐπ’ ἄκρα γῆς
25 A foolish son brings grief to his father, and bitterness to her who bore him.
ὀργὴ πατρὶ υἱὸς ἄφρων καὶ ὀδύνη τῇ τεκούσῃ αὐτοῦ
26 Also to punish the righteous is not good, nor to flog officials for their integrity.
ζημιοῦν ἄνδρα δίκαιον οὐ καλόν οὐδὲ ὅσιον ἐπιβουλεύειν δυνάσταις δικαίοις
27 He who spares his words has knowledge. He who is even tempered is a man of understanding.
ὃς φείδεται ῥῆμα προέσθαι σκληρόν ἐπιγνώμων μακρόθυμος δὲ ἀνὴρ φρόνιμος
28 Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is counted wise. When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning.
ἀνοήτῳ ἐπερωτήσαντι σοφίαν σοφία λογισθήσεται ἐνεὸν δέ τις ἑαυτὸν ποιήσας δόξει φρόνιμος εἶναι