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 ruleth over a son causing shame, And in the midst of brethren He apportioneth an inheritance.
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] Jehovah.
4 Malus obedit linguae iniquae: et fallax obtemperat labiis mendacibus.
An evil doer 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.
Whoso is mocking at the poor Hath reproached his Maker, Whoso 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.
Not comely for a fool is a lip of excellency, Much less for a noble a lip of falsehood.
8 Gemma gratissima, expectatio praestolantis: quocumque se vertit, prudenter intelligit.
A stone of grace [is] the bribe in the eyes of its possessors, Whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
9 Qui celat delictum, quaerit amicitias: qui altero sermone repetit, separat foederatos.
Whoso is covering transgression is seeking love, And whoso is repeating a matter Is separating a familiar friend.
10 Plus proficit correptio apud prudentem, quam centum plagae apud stultum.
Rebuke cometh down on the intelligent More than a hundred stripes on a fool.
11 Semper iurgia quaerit malus: angelus autem crudelis mittetur contra eum.
An evil man seeketh 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.
Whoso is returning evil for good, Evil moveth not 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 before it is meddled with leave the strife.
15 Qui iustificat impium, et qui condemnat iustum, abominabilis est uterque apud Deum.
Whoso is justifying the wicked, And condemning the righteous, Even both of these [are] an abomination to Jehovah.
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.
At all times is the friend loving, And a brother for adversity is born.
18 Stultus homo plaudet manibus cum spoponderit pro amico suo.
A man lacking heart is striking hands, A surety he becometh before his friend.
19 Qui meditatur discordias, diligit rixas: et qui exaltat os suum, quaerit ruinam.
Whoso is loving transgression is loving debate, Whoso is making high his entrance is seeking destruction.
20 Qui perversi cordis est, non inveniet bonum: et qui vertit linguam, incidet in malum.
The perverse of heart findeth not good, And the turned in his tongue falleth into evil.
21 Natus est stultus in ignominiam suam: sed nec pater in fatuo laetabitur.
Whoso is begetting a fool hath affliction for it, Yea, the father of a fool rejoiceth not.
22 Animus gaudens aetatem floridam facit: spiritus tristis exiccat ossa.
A rejoicing heart doth good to the body, And a smitten spirit drieth the bone.
23 Munera de sinu impius accipit, ut pervertat semitas iudicii.
A bribe from the bosom the wicked taketh, 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 provocation to his father [is] a foolish son, And bitterness to her that bare him.
26 Non est bonum, damnum inferre iusto: nec percutere principem, qui recta iudicat.
Also, to fine the righteous is not good, To smite 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 intelligent!
