Proverbs 17
1 Better is a dry morsel with quietness, than a house full of feasting with strife.
乾餅一張而平安共食，勝於滿屋佳餚而互相爭吵。
2 A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who causes shame, and shall have a part in the inheritance among the brothers.
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 refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the hearts.
鍋煉銀，爐煉金，上主煉人心。
4 An evildoer heeds wicked lips. A liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
奸詐的人，愛聽胡言亂語；說謊的人，輕信是非長短。
5 Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker. He who is glad at calamity 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; the glory of children is their parents.
孫兒是老人的冠冕，父親是兒女的光榮。
7 Excellent speech isn’t fitting for a fool, much less do lying lips fit 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 bribe is a precious stone in the eyes of him who gives it; wherever he turns, he prospers.
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 who covers an offense promotes love; but he who repeats a matter separates best 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 rebuke enters deeper into one who has understanding than a hundred lashes 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 seeks 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 cubs 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 Whoever rewards 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 like breaching a dam, therefore stop contention before quarreling breaks out.
爭論的開端，如水之破堤；在激辯之前，應極加制止。
15 He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an 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 Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, since he has no understanding?
愚昧的人，既沒有頭腦，手執金錢買智慧，又何益之有﹖
17 A friend loves 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 strikes hands, and becomes collateral in the presence of his neighbor.
常為人擊掌作保，實是個無知之徒。
19 He who loves disobedience loves strife. One who builds a high gate seeks destruction.
好爭辯的人，實喜愛罪過；高舉門戶的，必自趨滅亡。
20 One who has a perverse heart doesn’t find prosperity, and one who has a deceitful tongue falls into trouble.
誰存心欺詐，不會得幸福；誰搬弄是非，必陷於災禍。
21 He who becomes the father of a fool grieves. The father of a fool has no joy.
生糊塗孩子的，只有悲哀；糊塗人的父親，毫無樂趣。
22 A cheerful heart makes good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up 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 receives a bribe in secret, to pervert the ways of justice.
惡人在大衣下受賄賂，是為顛倒正義的判詞。
24 Wisdom is before the face of one who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool wander to 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 brings grief to his father, and bitterness to her who bore 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 righteous is not good, nor to flog officials for their integrity.
科罰無辜，已屬不當；杖責君子，更屬不義。
27 He who spares his words has knowledge. He who is even tempered is a man of understanding.
智者必沉默寡言，達人必心神鎮定。
28 Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is counted wise. When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning.
愚人不發言，亦可充作智者；若謹口慎言，亦可視為哲人。
