Sprueche 17
1 Es ist ein trockner Bissen, daran man sich genügen läßt, besser denn ein Haus voll Geschlachtetes mit Hader.
It is better [to eat] a dry piece [of bread] and not have strife/quarrels than to have a big feast in a house where [everyone] is quarreling.
2 Ein kluger Knecht wird herrschen über unfleißige Erben und wird unter den Brüdern das Erbe austeilen.
A slave who acts wisely will [some day] be the boss of his master’s disgraceful son and when his master dies, the slave will receive part of his master’s possessions.
3 Wie das Feuer Silber und der Ofen Gold, also prüfet der HERR die Herzen.
[Workers put] silver and gold in a very hot furnace [to burn out what is impure], and Yahweh [similarly] examines people’s inner beings [to see if they are pure].
4 Ein Böser achtet auf böse Mäuler, und ein Falscher gehorcht gerne schädlichen Zungen.
Those who do what is evil pay attention to people who say [MTY] what is evil, and liars pay attention to [other people’s] lies.
5 Wer des Dürftigen spottet, der höhnet desselben Schöpfer; und wer sich seines Unfalls freuet, wird nicht ungestraft bleiben.
Those who make fun of poor [people] insult God, the one who made the poor [people], [and] those who are happy when [someone else has] troubles will certainly be punished [LIT] [by God].
6 Der Alten Krone sind Kindeskinder, und der Kinder Ehre sind ihre Väter.
Old [people] are [usually] proud of [MET] their grandchildren, [just like] children are [usually] proud of their parents.
7 Es stehet einem Narren nicht wohl an, von hohen Dingen reden, viel weniger einem Fürsten, daß er gerne lüget.
Fine/Eloquent speech is not suitable for foolish people to say, just like lies are not suitable for rulers [to say].
8 Wer zu schenken hat, dem ist's wie ein Edelstein; wo er sich hinkehret, ist er klug geachtet.
People think that a bribe is like a magic stone [to persuade someone to do what they want him to do]; they think that because of the bribe, that person will do whatever they want him to do.
9 Wer Sünde zudeckt, der macht Freundschaft; wer aber die Sache aufrührt, der macht Fürsten uneins.
If you want people to like/love you, forgive them for the wrong things that they do to you. If you continue to remind them about those wrong things, they will no longer be your friends.
10 Schelten schreckt mehr an dem Verständigen denn hundert Schläge an dem Narren.
Rebuking people who have good sense will accomplish more for them than hitting them 100 times [with a stick].
11 Ein bitterer Mensch trachtet Schaden zu tun; aber es wird ein grausamer Engel über ihn kommen.
[Because] wicked people are always trying to cause trouble, someone will be sent to severely punish them.
12 Es ist besser, einem Bären begegnen, dem die Jungen geraubet sind, denn einem Narren in seiner Narrheit.
A mother bear whose cubs have been taken away from her is dangerous, but it is more dangerous to confront a foolish person who is doing something foolish.
13 Wer Gutes mit Bösem vergilt, von des Hause wird Böses nicht lassen.
If someone does something evil in return for something good being done to him, evil/trouble will never leave that person’s family.
14 Wer Hader anfähet, ist gleich, als der dem Wasser den Damm aufreißt. Laß du vom Hader, ehe du drein gemenget wirst.
Starting a quarrel is like allowing water to start to leak out of a dam; they both need to be stopped before they get worse.
15 Wer den Gottlosen recht spricht und den Gerechten verdammet, die sind beide dem HERRN ein Greuel.
There are two things that Yahweh hates: (Condemning innocent [people]/Saying that people who have done nothing wrong must be punished), and declaring that people who have done wicked things should not be punished.
16 Was soll dem Narren Geld in der Hand, Weisheit zu kaufen, so er doch ein Narr ist?
It is useless to allow foolish people [RHQ] to try to become wise by paying for it, because they do not have enough good sense to become wise.
17 Ein Freund liebet allezeit, und ein Bruder wird in der Not erfunden.
Friends love [others] all the time, and relatives are able to help us when we have troubles.
18 Es ist ein Narr, der an die Hand gelobet und Bürge wird für seinen Nächsten.
[If someone borrows money from another person], it is foolish for you to promise [IDM] that you will pay the money back if that other person is unable to pay back the money that he borrowed.
19 Wer Zank liebt, der liebt Sünde; und wer seine Tür hoch macht, ringet nach Unglück.
Those who like to sin [also] like to cause strife/trouble; [and] those who build fancy doors in their houses [to show that they are very wealthy] (OR, speak proudly) are inviting disaster.
20 Ein verkehrt Herz findet nichts Gutes, und der verkehrter Zunge ist, wird in Unglück fallen.
Those who (have perverse minds/are always thinking about doing evil things) will not prosper, and disasters will happen to those who always tell lies.
21 Wer einen Narren zeuget, der hat Grämen, und eines Narren Vater hat keine Freude.
Children who are foolish [soon] cause their parents to be very sad; their parents will not be joyful at all.
22 Ein fröhlich Herz macht das Leben lustig; aber ein betrübter Mut vertrocknet das Gebeine.
Being cheerful is [like swallowing] good medicine; being discouraged/gloomy [all the time will] (drain away your energy/cause you to become weak) [MTY].
23 Der Gottlose nimmt heimlich gern Geschenke, zu beugen den Weg des Rechts.
Wicked people/judges accept bribes that are given to them secretly, and as a result they do not decide matters justly/fairly.
24 Ein Verständiger gebärdet weislich; ein Narr wirft die Augen hin und her.
Those who have good sense determine to do what is wise, but foolish people are always thinking about many different things [and never decide what they should do].
25 Ein närrischer Sohn ist seines Vaters Trauern und Betrübnis seiner Mutter, die ihn geboren hat.
Children who are foolish cause their father to be sad and [also] cause their mother to be very sorrowful.
26 Es ist nicht gut, daß man den Gerechten schindet, den Fürsten zu schlagen, der recht regieret.
It is not right to force someone who has done nothing wrong to pay a fine; it is wrong to punish good/respected people.
27 Ein Vernünftiger mäßiget seine Rede, und ein verständiger Mann ist eine teure Seele.
Those who have good sense do not talk a lot, and those who (control their tempers/keep themselves from becoming very angry) are [truly] wise.
28 Ein Narr, wenn er schwiege, würde auch weise gerechnet und verständig, wenn er das Maul hielte.
People [may] think that foolish people who do not say anything are wise; if foolish people (do not say anything/keep their mouths shut), others will think that they are [very] intelligent.
