Proverbiorum 17
1 Melior est buccella sicca cum gaudio, quam domus plena victimis cum iurgio.
Better a bit of dry bread in peace, than a house full of feasting and violent behaviour.
2 Servus sapiens dominabitur filiis stultis, et inter fratres hereditatem dividet.
A servant who does wisely will have rule over a son causing shame, and will have his part in the heritage among brothers.
3 Sicut igne probatur argentum, et aurum camino: ita corda probat Dominus.
The heating-pot is for silver and the oven-fire for gold, but the Lord is the tester of hearts.
4 Malus obedit linguae iniquae: et fallax obtemperat labiis mendacibus.
A wrongdoer gives attention to evil lips, and a man of deceit gives ear to a damaging tongue.
5 Qui despicit pauperem, exprobrat factori eius: et qui ruina laetatur alterius, non erit impunitus.
Whoever makes sport of the poor puts shame on his Maker; and he who is glad because of trouble will not go free from punishment.
6 Corona senum filii filiorum: et gloria filiorum patres eorum.
Children's children are the crown of old men, and the glory of children is their fathers.
7 Non decent stultum verba composita: nec principem labium mentiens.
Fair words are not to be looked for from a foolish man, much less are false lips in a ruler.
8 Gemma gratissima, expectatio praestolantis: quocumque se vertit, prudenter intelligit.
An offering of money is like a stone of great price in the eyes of him who has it: wherever he goes, he does well.
9 Qui celat delictum, quaerit amicitias: qui altero sermone repetit, separat foederatos.
He who keeps a sin covered is looking for love; but he who keeps on talking of a thing makes division between friends.
10 Plus proficit correptio apud prudentem, quam centum plagae apud stultum.
A word of protest goes deeper into one who has sense than a hundred blows into a foolish man.
11 Semper iurgia quaerit malus: angelus autem crudelis mittetur contra eum.
An uncontrolled man is only looking for trouble, so a cruel servant will be sent against him.
12 Expedit magis ursae occurrere raptis foetibus, quam fatuo confidenti in stultitia sua.
It is better to come face to face with a bear whose young ones have been taken away than with a foolish man acting foolishly.
13 Qui reddit mala pro bonis, non recedet malum de domo eius.
If anyone gives back evil for good, evil will never go away from his house.
14 Qui dimittit aquam, caput est iurgiorum: et antequam patiatur contumeliam, iudicium deserit.
The start of fighting is like the letting out of water: so give up before it comes to blows.
15 Qui iustificat impium, et qui condemnat iustum, abominabilis est uterque apud Deum.
He who gives a decision for the evil-doer and he who gives a decision against the upright, are equally disgusting to the Lord.
16 Quid prodest stulto habere divitias, cum sapientiam emere non possit? Qui altum facit domum suam, quaerit ruinam: et qui evitat discere, incidet in mala.
How will money in the hand of the foolish get him wisdom, seeing that he has no sense?
17 Omni tempore diligit qui amicus est: et frater in angustiis comprobatur.
A friend is loving at all times, and becomes a brother in times of trouble.
18 Stultus homo plaudet manibus cum spoponderit pro amico suo.
A man without sense gives his hand in an agreement, and makes himself responsible before his neighbour.
19 Qui meditatur discordias, diligit rixas: et qui exaltat os suum, quaerit ruinam.
The lover of fighting is a lover of sin: he who makes high his doorway is looking for destruction.
20 Qui perversi cordis est, non inveniet bonum: et qui vertit linguam, incidet in malum.
Nothing good comes to him whose heart is fixed on evil purposes: and he who has an evil tongue will come to trouble.
21 Natus est stultus in ignominiam suam: sed nec pater in fatuo laetabitur.
He who has an unwise son gets sorrow for himself, and the father of a foolish son has no joy.
22 Animus gaudens aetatem floridam facit: spiritus tristis exiccat ossa.
A glad heart makes a healthy body, but a crushed spirit makes the bones dry.
23 Munera de sinu impius accipit, ut pervertat semitas iudicii.
A sinner takes an offering out of his robe, to get a decision for himself in a cause.
24 In facie prudentis lucet sapientia: oculi stultorum in finibus terrae.
Wisdom is before the face of him who has sense; but the eyes of the foolish are on the ends of the earth.
25 Ira patris, filius stultus: et dolor matris quae genuit eum.
A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitter pain to her who gave him birth.
26 Non est bonum, damnum inferre iusto: nec percutere principem, qui recta iudicat.
To give punishment to the upright is not good, or to give blows to the noble for their righteousness.
27 Qui moderatur sermones suos, doctus et prudens est: et pretiosi spiritus vir eruditus.
He who has knowledge says little: and he who has a calm spirit is a man of good sense.
28 Stultus quoque si tacuerit, sapiens reputabitur: et si compresserit labia sua, intelligens.
Even the foolish man, when he keeps quiet, is taken to be wise: when his lips are shut he is credited with good sense.
