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