Proverbs 17
1 Better is a piece of dry bread, and quiet therewith, than a house full of the sacrifices of contention.
Melior est buccella sicca cum gaudio, quam domus plena victimis cum iurgio.
2 An intelligent servant will have rule over a son that bringeth shame, and among the brothers will he have part of the inheritance.
Servus sapiens dominabitur filiis stultis, et inter fratres hereditatem dividet.
3 The crucible is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but the Lord probeth the hearts.
Sicut igne probatur argentum, et aurum camino: ita corda probat Dominus.
4 An evil-doer listeneth to unjust lips: falsehood giveth ear to a tongue that bringeth destruction.
Malus obedit linguæ iniquæ: et fallax obtemperat labiis mendacibus.
5 Whoso mocketh the poor blasphemeth his Maker: he that is glad at calamities will not remain unpunished.
Qui despicit pauperem, exprobrat Factori eius: et qui ruina lætatur alterius, non erit impunitus.
6 The crown of old men are children's children; and the ornament of children are their fathers.
Corona senum filii filiorum: et gloria filiorum patres eorum.
7 High-toned language is not seemly to a worthless fool: and yet much less the language of falsehood to a noble.
Non decent stultum verba composita: nec principem labium mentiens.
8 As a precious stone appeareth a bribe in the eyes of him that obtaineth it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
Gemma gratissima, expectatio præstolantis: quocumque se vertit, prudenter intelligit.
9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth confident friends.
Qui celat delictum, quærit amicitias: qui altero sermone repetit, separat fœderatos.
10 A reproof penetrateth more deeply into a wise man, than a hundred stripes into a fool.
Plus proficit correptio apud prudentem, quam centum plagæ apud stultum.
11 Only rebellion doth a bad man seek: therefore a cruel messenger will be sent out against him.
Semper iurgia quærit malus: Angelus autem crudelis mittetur contra eum.
12 A man may meet a she-bear robbed of her whelps, but not a fool in his folly.
Expedit magis ursæ occurrere raptis fœtibus, quam fatuo confidenti in stultitia sua.
13 Whoso bestoweth evil in return for good—evil shall not depart from his house.
Qui reddit mala pro bonis, non recedet malum de domo eius.
14 As one letteth loose [a stream] of water, so is the beginning of strife: therefore before it be enkindled, leave off the contest.
Qui dimittit aquam, caput est iurgiorum: et antequam patiatur contumeliam, iudicium deserit.
15 He that declareth the wicked innocent, and he that condemneth the righteous, yea, both of them are equally an abomination to the Lord.
Qui iustificat impium, et qui condemnat iustum, abominabilis est uterque apud Deum.
16 Wherefore is the purchase-money in the hand of a fool to acquire wisdom, seeing he hath 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 loveth at all times, and as a brother is he born for [the time of] distress.
Omni tempore diligit qui amicus est: et frater in angustiis comprobatur.
18 A man void of sense pledgeth his hand, and becometh surety for his friend.
Stultus homo plaudet manibus cum spoponderit pro amico suo.
19 He loveth transgression that loveth quarrel; and he that maketh high his door seeketh destruction.
Qui meditatur discordias, diligit rixas: et qui exaltat ostium, quærit ruinam.
20 He that hath a froward heart will not find happiness; and he that hath a perverse tongue will fall into evil.
Qui perversi cordis est, non inveniet bonum: et qui vertit linguam, incidet in malum.
21 He that begetteth a fool [doth it] to his sorrow; and the father of a worthless fool cannot have any joy.
Natus est stultus in ignominiam suam: sed nec pater in fatuo lætabitur.
22 A merry heart causeth a healthy appearance of the countenance, but a depressed spirit drieth up the bones.
Animus gaudens ætatem floridam facit: spiritus tristis exiccat ossa.
23 A wicked man taketh a bribe out of the bosom, to pervert the paths of justice.
Munera de sinu impius accipit, ut pervertat semitas iudicii.
24 Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are at the ends of the earth.
In facie prudentis lucet sapientia: oculi stultorum in finibus terræ.
25 A foolish son is a vexation to his father, and bitterness to her that hath born him.
Ira patris, filius stultus: et dolor matris quæ genuit eum.
26 To punish the just with a fine even is not good, nor to strike the noble [-hearted] for [their] equity.
Non est bonum, damnum inferre iusto: nec percutere principem, qui recta iudicat.
27 He that holdeth back his speeches hath knowledge; and he that is sparing of his spirit is a man of understanding.
Qui moderatur sermones suos, doctus et prudens est: et pretiosi spiritus vir eruditus.
28 Even a fool, when he keepeth silence, is counted wise: he that shutteth his lips [is esteemed] a man of understanding.
Stultus quoque si tacuerit, sapiens reputabitur: et si compresserit labia sua, intelligens.
