नीतिवचन 17
1 १ चैन के साथ सूखा टुकड़ा, उस घर की अपेक्षा उत्तम है, जो मेलबलि-पशुओं से भरा हो, परन्तु उसमें झगड़े-रगड़े हों।
Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.
2 २ बुद्धि से चलनेवाला दास अपने स्वामी के उस पुत्र पर जो लज्जा का कारण होता है प्रभुता करेगा, और उस पुत्र के भाइयों के बीच भागी होगा।
A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causes shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brothers.
The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD tries the hearts.
A wicked doer gives heed to false lips; and a liar gives ear to a naughty tongue.
5 ५ जो निर्धन को उपहास में उड़ाता है, वह उसके कर्त्ता की निन्दा करता है; और जो किसी की विपत्ति पर हँसता है, वह निर्दोष नहीं ठहरेगा।
Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.
Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.
Excellent speech becomes not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
8 ८ घूस देनेवाला व्यक्ति घूस को मोह लेनेवाला मणि समझता है; ऐसा पुरुष जिधर फिरता, उधर उसका काम सफल होता है।
A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that has it: wherever it turns, it prospers.
9 ९ जो दूसरे के अपराध को ढाँप देता है, वह प्रेम का खोजी ठहरता है, परन्तु जो बात की चर्चा बार बार करता है, वह परम मित्रों में भी फूट करा देता है।
He that covers a transgression seeks love; but he that repeats a matter separates very friends.
10 १० एक घुड़की समझनेवाले के मन में जितनी गड़ जाती है, उतना सौ बार मार खाना मूर्ख के मन में नहीं गड़ता।
A reproof enters more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.
An evil man seeks only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
Whoever rewards evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
The beginning of strife is as when one lets out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.
He that justifies the wicked, and he that condemns the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.
Why is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he has no heart to it?
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
A man void of understanding strikes hands, and becomes surety in the presence of his friend.
19 १९ जो झगड़े-रगड़े में प्रीति रखता, वह अपराध करने से भी प्रीति रखता है, और जो अपने फाटक को बड़ा करता, वह अपने विनाश के लिये यत्न करता है।
He loves transgression that loves strife: and he that exalts his gate seeks destruction.
He that has a fraudulent heart finds no good: and he that has a perverse tongue falls into mischief.
He that begets a fool does it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool has no joy.
A merry heart does good like a medicine: but a broken spirit dries the bones.
A wicked man takes a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.
24 २४ बुद्धि समझनेवाले के सामने ही रहती है, परन्तु मूर्ख की आँखें पृथ्वी के दूर-दूर देशों में लगी रहती हैं।
Wisdom is before him that has understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bore him.
Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.
27 २७ जो सम्भलकर बोलता है, वह ज्ञानी ठहरता है; और जिसकी आत्मा शान्त रहती है, वही समझवाला पुरुष ठहरता है।
He that has knowledge spares his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
28 २८ मूर्ख भी जब चुप रहता है, तब बुद्धिमान गिना जाता है; और जो अपना मुँह बन्द रखता वह समझवाला गिना जाता है।
Even a fool, when he holds his peace, is counted wise: and he that shuts his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.
