Proverbs 17
1 Better a bit of dry bread in peace, than a house full of feasting and violent behaviour.
Melior est buccella sicca cum gaudio, quam domus plena victimis cum iurgio.
2 A servant who does wisely will have rule over a son causing shame, and will have his part in the heritage among brothers.
Servus sapiens dominabitur filiis stultis, et inter fratres hereditatem dividet.
3 The heating-pot is for silver and the oven-fire for gold, but the Lord is the tester of hearts.
Sicut igne probatur argentum, et aurum camino: ita corda probat Dominus.
4 A wrongdoer gives attention to evil lips, and a man of deceit gives ear to a damaging tongue.
Malus obedit linguæ iniquæ: et fallax obtemperat labiis mendacibus.
5 Whoever makes sport of the poor puts shame on his Maker; and he who is glad because of trouble will not go free from punishment.
Qui despicit pauperem, exprobrat Factori eius: et qui ruina lætatur alterius, non erit impunitus.
6 Children's children are the crown of old men, and the glory of children is their fathers.
Corona senum filii filiorum: et gloria filiorum patres eorum.
7 Fair words are not to be looked for from a foolish man, much less are false lips in a ruler.
Non decent stultum verba composita: nec principem labium mentiens.
8 An offering of money is like a stone of great price in the eyes of him who has it: wherever he goes, he does well.
Gemma gratissima, expectatio præstolantis: quocumque se vertit, prudenter intelligit.
9 He who keeps a sin covered is looking for love; but he who keeps on talking of a thing makes division between friends.
Qui celat delictum, quærit amicitias: qui altero sermone repetit, separat fœderatos.
10 A word of protest goes deeper into one who has sense than a hundred blows into a foolish man.
Plus proficit correptio apud prudentem, quam centum plagæ apud stultum.
11 An uncontrolled man is only looking for trouble, so a cruel servant will be sent against him.
Semper iurgia quærit malus: Angelus autem crudelis mittetur contra eum.
12 It is better to come face to face with a bear whose young ones have been taken away than with a foolish man acting foolishly.
Expedit magis ursæ occurrere raptis fœtibus, quam fatuo confidenti in stultitia sua.
13 If anyone gives back evil for good, evil will never go away from his house.
Qui reddit mala pro bonis, non recedet malum de domo eius.
14 The start of fighting is like the letting out of water: so give up before it comes to blows.
Qui dimittit aquam, caput est iurgiorum: et antequam patiatur contumeliam, iudicium deserit.
15 He who gives a decision for the evil-doer and he who gives a decision against the upright, are equally disgusting to the Lord.
Qui iustificat impium, et qui condemnat iustum, abominabilis est uterque apud Deum.
16 How will money in the hand of the foolish get him wisdom, seeing that he has no sense?
Quid prodest stulto habere divitias, cum sapientiam emere non possit? Qui altum facit domum suam, quærit ruinam: et qui evitat discere, incidet in mala.
17 A friend is loving at all times, and becomes a brother in times of trouble.
Omni tempore diligit qui amicus est: et frater in angustiis comprobatur.
18 A man without sense gives his hand in an agreement, and makes himself responsible before his neighbour.
Stultus homo plaudet manibus cum spoponderit pro amico suo.
19 The lover of fighting is a lover of sin: he who makes high his doorway is looking for destruction.
Qui meditatur discordias, diligit rixas: et qui exaltat ostium, quærit ruinam.
20 Nothing good comes to him whose heart is fixed on evil purposes: and he who has an evil tongue will come to trouble.
Qui perversi cordis est, non inveniet bonum: et qui vertit linguam, incidet in malum.
21 He who has an unwise son gets sorrow for himself, and the father of a foolish son has no joy.
Natus est stultus in ignominiam suam: sed nec pater in fatuo lætabitur.
22 A glad heart makes a healthy body, but a crushed spirit makes the bones dry.
Animus gaudens ætatem floridam facit: spiritus tristis exiccat ossa.
23 A sinner takes an offering out of his robe, to get a decision for himself in a cause.
Munera de sinu impius accipit, ut pervertat semitas iudicii.
24 Wisdom is before the face of him who has sense; but the eyes of the foolish are on the ends of the earth.
In facie prudentis lucet sapientia: oculi stultorum in finibus terræ.
25 A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitter pain to her who gave him birth.
Ira patris, filius stultus: et dolor matris quæ genuit eum.
26 To give punishment to the upright is not good, or to give blows to the noble for their righteousness.
Non est bonum, damnum inferre iusto: nec percutere principem, qui recta iudicat.
27 He who has knowledge says little: and he who has a calm spirit is a man of good sense.
Qui moderatur sermones suos, doctus et prudens est: et pretiosi spiritus vir eruditus.
28 Even the foolish man, when he keeps quiet, is taken to be wise: when his lips are shut he is credited with good sense.
Stultus quoque si tacuerit, sapiens reputabitur: et si compresserit labia sua, intelligens.
