Proverbs 17
1 Better [is] a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices [with] strife.
乾餅一張而平安共食，勝於滿屋佳餚而互相爭吵。
2 A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.
聰明的僕人必能管治任性的兒子，且可與弟兄們共分產業。
3 The fining pot [is] for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.
鍋煉銀，爐煉金，上主煉人心。
4 A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; [and] a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
奸詐的人，愛聽胡言亂語；說謊的人，輕信是非長短。
5 Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: [and] he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.
嘲笑窮人的是凌辱他的造主；幸災樂禍的，必不能脫免懲罰。
6 Children’s children [are] the crown of old men; and the glory of children [are] their fathers.
孫兒是老人的冠冕，父親是兒女的光榮。
7 Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
優雅的言詞，不適宜於愚人；虛偽的狂語，更不宜於君王。
8 A gift [is as] a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
賄賂在饋贈者眼中，有如寶石；不論他要轉向何方，無往不利。
9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth [very] friends.
掩飾他人的過錯，可獲得友愛；屢念舊日的過惡，則離間友誼。
10 A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.
對明智人一句指責，勝過對愚昧人百次杖擊。
11 An evil [man] seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
暴徒只求叛亂，但有殘酷使者，奉命前來對付。
12 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
寧願遇見失掉幼子的母熊，不願逢著正在發狂的愚人。
13 Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
誰以怨報德，災禍必不離開他的家。
14 The beginning of strife [is as] when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.
爭論的開端，如水之破堤；在激辯之前，應極加制止。
15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both [are] abomination to the LORD.
宣判罪人無罪，判定義人有罪：二者同為上主所憎惡。
16 Wherefore [is there] a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing [he hath] no heart [to it]?
愚昧的人，既沒有頭腦，手執金錢買智慧，又何益之有﹖
17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
朋友平時常相愛，唯在難中見兄弟。
18 A man void of understanding striketh hands, [and] becometh surety in the presence of his friend.
常為人擊掌作保，實是個無知之徒。
19 He loveth transgression that loveth strife: [and] he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.
好爭辯的人，實喜愛罪過；高舉門戶的，必自趨滅亡。
20 He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
誰存心欺詐，不會得幸福；誰搬弄是非，必陷於災禍。
21 He that begetteth a fool [doeth it] to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.
生糊塗孩子的，只有悲哀；糊塗人的父親，毫無樂趣。
22 A merry heart doeth good [like] a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
愉快的心，是良好的治療；神志憂鬱，能使筋骨枯萎。
23 A wicked [man] taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.
惡人在大衣下受賄賂，是為顛倒正義的判詞。
24 Wisdom [is] before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool [are] in the ends of the earth.
精明的人，常面向智慧；愚者的眼，向地極呆望，
25 A foolish son [is] a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.
愚昧的兒子，是他父親的痛苦，是他生母的憂傷。
26 Also to punish the just [is] not good, [nor] to strike princes for equity.
科罰無辜，已屬不當；杖責君子，更屬不義。
27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words: [and] a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
智者必沉默寡言，達人必心神鎮定。
28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: [and] he that shutteth his lips [is esteemed] a man of understanding.
愚人不發言，亦可充作智者；若謹口慎言，亦可視為哲人。
