< Proverbs 17 >

1 Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.
Melior est buccella sicca cum gaudio, quam domus plena victimis cum iurgio.
2 A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causes shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.
Servus sapiens dominabitur filiis stultis, et inter fratres hereditatem dividet.
3 The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD tries the hearts.
Sicut igne probatur argentum, et aurum camino: ita corda probat Dominus.
4 A wicked doer gives heed to false lips; and a liar gives ear to a naughty tongue.
Malus obedit linguæ iniquæ: et fallax obtemperat labiis mendacibus.
5 Whoso mocks the poor reproaches his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.
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 are their fathers.
Corona senum filii filiorum: et gloria filiorum patres eorum.
7 Excellent speech becomes not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
Non decent stultum verba composita: nec principem labium mentiens.
8 A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that has it: anywhere it turns, it prospers.
Gemma gratissima, expectatio præstolantis: quocumque se vertit, prudenter intelligit.
9 He that covers a transgression seeks love; but he that repeats a matter separates very friends.
Qui celat delictum, quærit amicitias: qui altero sermone repetit, separat fœderatos.
10 A reproof enters more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.
Plus proficit correptio apud prudentem, quam centum plagæ apud stultum.
11 An evil man seeks only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
Semper iurgia quærit malus: Angelus autem crudelis mittetur contra eum.
12 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
Expedit magis ursæ occurrere raptis fœtibus, quam fatuo confidenti in stultitia sua.
13 Whoso rewards evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
Qui reddit mala pro bonis, non recedet malum de domo eius.
14 The beginning of strife is as when one lets out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.
Qui dimittit aquam, caput est iurgiorum: et antequam patiatur contumeliam, iudicium deserit.
15 He that justifies the wicked, and he that condemns the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.
Qui iustificat impium, et qui condemnat iustum, abominabilis est uterque apud Deum.
16 Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he has no heart to it?
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 loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Omni tempore diligit qui amicus est: et frater in angustiis comprobatur.
18 A man void of understanding strikes hands, and becomes guarantor in the presence of his friend.
Stultus homo plaudet manibus cum spoponderit pro amico suo.
19 He loves transgression that loves strife: and he that exalts his gate seeks destruction.
Qui meditatur discordias, diligit rixas: et qui exaltat ostium, quærit ruinam.
20 He that has a perverse heart finds no good: and he that has a perverse tongue falls into mischief.
Qui perversi cordis est, non inveniet bonum: et qui vertit linguam, incidet in malum.
21 He that bring forths a fool does it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool has no joy.
Natus est stultus in ignominiam suam: sed nec pater in fatuo lætabitur.
22 A merry heart does good like a medicine: but a broken spirit dries the bones.
Animus gaudens ætatem floridam facit: spiritus tristis exiccat ossa.
23 A wicked man takes a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.
Munera de sinu impius accipit, ut pervertat semitas iudicii.
24 Wisdom is before him that has understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in 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 bitterness to her that bare him.
Ira patris, filius stultus: et dolor matris quæ genuit eum.
26 Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.
Non est bonum, damnum inferre iusto: nec percutere principem, qui recta iudicat.
27 He that has knowledge spares his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
Qui moderatur sermones suos, doctus et prudens est: et pretiosi spiritus vir eruditus.
28 Even a fool, when he holds his peace, is counted wise: and he that shuts his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.
Stultus quoque si tacuerit, sapiens reputabitur: et si compresserit labia sua, intelligens.

< Proverbs 17 >