Proverbs 17
1 Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, Than a house full of flesh-banquets with strife.
Melior est buccella sicca cum gaudio, quam domus plena victimis cum iurgio.
2 A prudent servant shall rule over a son who causeth shame; Yea, with brothers he shall share the inheritance.
Servus sapiens dominabitur filiis stultis, et inter fratres hereditatem dividet.
3 The refining-pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; But the LORD trieth hearts.
Sicut igne probatur argentum, et aurum camino: ita corda probat Dominus.
4 An evil-doer listeneth to mischievous lips; And a liar giveth ear to a destructive tongue.
Malus obedit linguae iniquae: et fallax obtemperat labiis mendacibus.
5 Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker; He that is glad at calamities shall not go unpunished.
Qui despicit pauperem, exprobrat factori eius: et qui ruina laetatur alterius, non erit impunitus.
6 Children's children are the crown of the aged, And their fathers the glory of sons.
Corona senum filii filiorum: et gloria filiorum patres eorum.
7 Excellent speech becometh not the base; How much less lying lips the noble!
Non decent stultum verba composita: nec principem labium mentiens.
8 A gift is a precious stone in the eyes of him who taketh it; Whithersoever it turneth it hath success.
Gemma gratissima, expectatio praestolantis: quocumque se vertit, prudenter intelligit.
9 He who covereth an offence seeketh love; But he who recurreth to a matter removeth a friend.
Qui celat delictum, quaerit amicitias: qui altero sermone repetit, separat foederatos.
10 A reproof will penetrate deeper into a wise man Than a hundred stripes into a fool.
Plus proficit correptio apud prudentem, quam centum plagae apud stultum.
11 An evil man seeketh only rebellion; Therefore shall a cruel messenger be sent against him.
Semper iurgia quaerit malus: angelus autem crudelis mittetur contra eum.
12 Let a man meet a bear robbed of her whelps, Rather than a fool in his folly.
Expedit magis ursae occurrere raptis foetibus, quam fatuo confidenti in stultitia sua.
13 Whoso returneth 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 letteth out water; Therefore leave off contention before it rolleth onward.
Qui dimittit aquam, caput est iurgiorum: et antequam patiatur contumeliam, iudicium deserit.
15 He that justifieth the wicked, And he that condemneth the just, Both alike are an abomination to the LORD.
Qui iustificat impium, et qui condemnat iustum, abominabilis est uterque apud Deum.
16 Why should a price be in the hand of a fool To get wisdom, seeing he hath no sense?
Quid prodest stulto habere divitias, cum sapientiam emere non possit? Qui altum facit domum suam, quaerit ruinam: et qui evitat discere, incidet in mala.
17 A friend loveth at all times; But in adversity he is born a brother.
Omni tempore diligit qui amicus est: et frater in angustiis comprobatur.
18 A man who lacketh understanding striketh hands, And becometh surety in the presence of his friend.
Stultus homo plaudet manibus cum spoponderit pro amico suo.
19 He who loveth strife loveth transgression; He who raiseth high his gate seeketh ruin.
Qui meditatur discordias, diligit rixas: et qui exaltat os suum, quaerit ruinam.
20 He that is of a deceitful heart shall find no good; And he that turneth about with his tongue shall fall into mischief.
Qui perversi cordis est, non inveniet bonum: et qui vertit linguam, incidet in malum.
21 Whoso begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow; Yea, the father of the fool hath no joy.
Natus est stultus in ignominiam suam: sed nec pater in fatuo laetabitur.
22 A merry heart doeth good to the body; But a broken spirit drieth up the bones.
Animus gaudens aetatem floridam facit: spiritus tristis exiccat ossa.
23 The wicked man taketh 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 the face of him that hath understanding; But the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
In facie prudentis lucet sapientia: oculi stultorum in finibus terrae.
25 A foolish son is a grief to his father, And bitterness to her that bore him.
Ira patris, filius stultus: et dolor matris quae genuit eum.
26 Moreover, to punish the righteous is not good, Nor to smite the noble for their equity.
Non est bonum, damnum inferre iusto: nec percutere principem, qui recta iudicat.
27 He that spareth his words is imbued with knowledge; And he that is of a cool 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 is silent, is accounted wise; He that shutteth his lips is a man of understanding.
Stultus quoque si tacuerit, sapiens reputabitur: et si compresserit labia sua, intelligens.
