Proverbs 17
1 Better [is] a dry morsel, and rest with it, Than a house full of the sacrifices of strife.
Melior est buccella sicca cum gaudio, quam domus plena victimis cum iurgio.
2 A wise servant ruleth over a son causing shame, And in the midst of brethren He apportioneth an inheritance.
Servus sapiens dominabitur filiis stultis, et inter fratres hereditatem dividet.
3 A refining pot [is] for silver, and a furnace for gold, And the trier of hearts [is] Jehovah.
Sicut igne probatur argentum, et aurum camino: ita corda probat Dominus.
4 An evil doer is attentive to lips of vanity, Falsehood is giving ear to a mischievous tongue.
Malus obedit linguæ iniquæ: et fallax obtemperat labiis mendacibus.
5 Whoso is mocking at the poor Hath reproached his Maker, Whoso is rejoicing at calamity is not acquitted.
Qui despicit pauperem, exprobrat factori eius: et qui ruina lætatur alterius, non erit impunitus.
6 Sons' sons [are] the crown of old men, And the glory of sons [are] their fathers.
Corona senum filii filiorum: et gloria filiorum patres eorum.
7 Not comely for a fool is a lip of excellency, Much less for a noble a lip of falsehood.
Non decent stultum verba composita: nec principem labium mentiens.
8 A stone of grace [is] the bribe in the eyes of its possessors, Whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
Gemma gratissima, expectatio præstolantis: quocumque se vertit, prudenter intelligit.
9 Whoso is covering transgression is seeking love, And whoso is repeating a matter Is separating a familiar friend.
Qui celat delictum, quærit amicitias: qui altero sermone repetit, separat fœderatos.
10 Rebuke cometh down on the intelligent More than a hundred stripes on a fool.
Plus proficit correptio apud prudentem, quam centum plagæ apud stultum.
11 An evil man seeketh only rebellion, And a fierce messenger is sent against him.
Semper iurgia quærit malus: angelus autem crudelis mittetur contra eum.
12 The meeting of a bereaved bear by a man, And — not a fool in his folly.
Expedit magis ursæ occurrere raptis fœtibus, quam fatuo confidenti in stultitia sua.
13 Whoso is returning evil for good, Evil moveth not from his house.
Qui reddit mala pro bonis, non recedet malum de domo eius.
14 The beginning of contention [is] a letting out of waters, And before it is meddled with leave the strife.
Qui dimittit aquam, caput est iurgiorum: et antequam patiatur contumeliam, iudicium deserit.
15 Whoso is justifying the wicked, And condemning the righteous, Even both of these [are] an abomination to Jehovah.
Qui iustificat impium, et qui condemnat iustum, abominabilis est uterque apud Deum.
16 Why [is] this — a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, And a heart there is none?
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 At all times is the friend loving, And a brother for adversity is born.
Omni tempore diligit qui amicus est: et frater in angustiis comprobatur.
18 A man lacking heart is striking hands, A surety he becometh before his friend.
Stultus homo plaudet manibus cum spoponderit pro amico suo.
19 Whoso is loving transgression is loving debate, Whoso is making high his entrance is seeking destruction.
Qui meditatur discordias, diligit rixas: et qui exaltat ostium, quærit ruinam.
20 The perverse of heart findeth not good, And the turned in his tongue falleth into evil.
Qui perversi cordis est, non inveniet bonum: et qui vertit linguam, incidet in malum.
21 Whoso is begetting a fool hath affliction for it, Yea, the father of a fool rejoiceth not.
Natus est stultus in ignominiam suam: sed nec pater in fatuo lætabitur.
22 A rejoicing heart doth good to the body, And a smitten spirit drieth the bone.
Animus gaudens ætatem floridam facit: spiritus tristis exiccat ossa.
23 A bribe from the bosom the wicked taketh, To turn aside the paths of judgment.
Munera de sinu impius accipit, ut pervertat semitas iudicii.
24 The face of the intelligent [is] to wisdom, And the eyes of a fool — at the end of the earth.
In facie prudentis lucet sapientia: oculi stultorum in finibus terræ.
25 A provocation to his father [is] a foolish son, And bitterness to her that bare him.
Ira patris, filius stultus: et dolor matris quæ genuit eum.
26 Also, to fine the righteous is not good, To smite nobles for uprightness.
Non est bonum, damnum inferre iusto: nec percutere principem, qui recta iudicat.
27 One acquainted with knowledge is sparing his words, And the cool of temper [is] a man of understanding.
Qui moderatur sermones suos, doctus et prudens est: et pretiosi spiritus vir eruditus.
28 Even a fool keeping silence is reckoned wise, He who is shutting his lips intelligent!
Stultus quoque si tacuerit, sapiens reputabitur: et si compresserit labia sua, intelligens.
