< Proverbs 17 >
1 Better is a dry morsel and quietness therewith, than a house full of feasting with strife.
設筵滿屋,大家相爭, 不如有塊乾餅,大家相安。
2 A servant that dealeth wisely shall have rule over a son that dealeth shamefully, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.
僕人辦事聰明,必管轄貽羞之子, 又在眾子中同分產業。
3 The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but the LORD trieth the hearts.
鼎為煉銀,爐為煉金; 惟有耶和華熬煉人心。
4 A evil-doer giveth heed to wicked lips; and a liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue.
行惡的,留心聽奸詐之言; 說謊的,側耳聽邪惡之語。
5 Whoso mocketh the poor blasphemeth his Maker; and he that is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.
戲笑窮人的,是辱沒造他的主; 幸災樂禍的,必不免受罰。
6 Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.
子孫為老人的冠冕; 父親是兒女的榮耀。
7 Overbearing speech becometh not a churl; much less do lying lips a prince.
愚頑人說美言本不相宜, 何況君王說謊話呢?
8 A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it; whithersoever he turneth, he prospereth.
賄賂在餽送的人眼中看為寶玉, 隨處運動都得順利。
9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that harpeth on a matter estrangeth a familiar friend.
遮掩人過的,尋求人愛; 屢次挑錯的,離間密友。
10 A rebuke entereth deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred stripes into a fool.
一句責備話深入聰明人的心, 強如責打愚昧人一百下。
11 A rebellious man seeketh only evil; therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
惡人只尋背叛, 所以必有嚴厲的使者奉差攻擊他。
12 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
寧可遇見丟崽子的母熊, 不可遇見正行愚妄的愚昧人。
13 Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
以惡報善的, 禍患必不離他的家。
14 The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water; therefore leave off contention, before the quarrel break out.
紛爭的起頭如水放開, 所以,在爭鬧之先必當止息爭競。
15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the righteous, even they both are an abomination to the LORD.
定惡人為義的,定義人為惡的, 這都為耶和華所憎惡。
16 Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, seeing he hath no understanding?
愚昧人既無聰明, 為何手拿價銀買智慧呢?
17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
朋友乃時常親愛, 弟兄為患難而生。
18 A man void of understanding is he that striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his neighbour.
在鄰舍面前擊掌作保 乃是無知的人。
19 He loveth transgression that loveth strife; he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.
喜愛爭競的,是喜愛過犯; 高立家門的,乃自取敗壞。
20 He that hath a froward heart findeth no good; and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into evil.
心存邪僻的,尋不着好處; 舌弄是非的,陷在禍患中。
21 He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow; and the father of a churl hath no joy.
生愚昧子的,必自愁苦; 愚頑人的父毫無喜樂。
22 A merry heart is a good medicine; but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
喜樂的心乃是良藥; 憂傷的靈使骨枯乾。
23 A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom, to pervert the ways of justice.
惡人暗中受賄賂, 為要顛倒判斷。
24 Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
明哲人眼前有智慧; 愚昧人眼望地極。
25 A foolish son is vexation to his father, and bitterness to her that bore him.
愚昧子使父親愁煩, 使母親憂苦。
26 To punish also the righteous is not good, nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.
刑罰義人為不善; 責打君子為不義。
27 He that spareth his words hath knowledge; and he that husbandeth his spirit is a man of discernment.
寡少言語的,有知識; 性情溫良的,有聰明。
28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise; and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed as a man of understanding.
愚昧人若靜默不言也可算為智慧; 閉口不說也可算為聰明。