Proverbiorum 17
1 melior est buccella sicca cum gaudio quam domus plena victimis cum iurgio
Better a dry morsel in quietness than a house full of feasting with strife.
2 servus sapiens dominabitur filiis stultis et inter fratres hereditatem dividet
A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful son and share his inheritance as one of the brothers.
3 sicut igne probatur argentum et aurum camino ita corda probat Dominus
A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but the LORD is the tester of hearts.
4 malus oboedit linguae iniquae et fallax obtemperat labiis mendacibus
A wicked man listens to evil lips; a liar gives ear to a destructive tongue.
5 qui despicit pauperem exprobrat factori eius et qui in ruina laetatur alterius non erit inpunitus
He who mocks the poor insults their Maker; whoever gloats over calamity will not go unpunished.
6 corona senum filii filiorum et gloria filiorum patres sui
Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of a son is his father.
7 non decent stultum verba conposita nec principem labium mentiens
Eloquent words are unfit for a fool; how much worse are lying lips to a ruler!
8 gemma gratissima expectatio praestolantis quocumque se verterit prudenter intellegit
A bribe is a charm to its giver; wherever he turns, he succeeds.
9 qui celat delictum quaerit amicitias qui altero sermone repetit separat foederatos
Whoever conceals an offense promotes love, but he who brings it up separates friends.
10 plus proficit correptio apud prudentem quam centum plagae apud stultum
A rebuke cuts into a man of discernment deeper than a hundred lashes cut into a fool.
11 semper iurgia quaerit malus angelus autem crudelis mittetur contra eum
An evil man seeks only rebellion; a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
12 expedit magis ursae occurrere raptis fetibus quam fatuo confidenti sibi in stultitia sua
It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly.
13 qui reddit mala pro bonis non recedet malum de domo eius
If anyone returns evil for good, evil will never leave his house.
14 qui dimittit aquam caput est iurgiorum et antequam patiatur contumeliam iudicium deserit
To start a quarrel is to release a flood; so abandon the dispute before it breaks out.
15 et qui iustificat impium et qui condemnat iustum abominabilis est uterque apud Dominum
Acquitting the guilty and condemning the righteous— both are detestable to the LORD.
16 quid prodest habere divitias stultum cum sapientiam emere non possit
Why should the fool have money in his hand with no intention of buying wisdom?
17 omni tempore diligit qui amicus est et frater in angustiis conprobatur
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
18 homo stultus plaudet manibus cum spoponderit pro amico suo
A man lacking judgment strikes hands in pledge and puts up security for his neighbor.
19 qui meditatur discordiam diligit rixas et qui exaltat ostium quaerit ruinam
He who loves transgression loves strife; he who builds his gate high invites destruction.
20 qui perversi cordis est non inveniet bonum et qui vertit linguam incidet in malum
The one with a perverse heart finds no good, and he whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble.
21 natus est stultus in ignominiam suam sed nec pater in fatuo laetabitur
A man fathers a fool to his own grief; the father of a fool has no joy.
22 animus gaudens aetatem floridam facit spiritus tristis exsiccat ossa
A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
23 munera de sinu impius accipit ut pervertat semitas iudicii
A wicked man takes a covert bribe to subvert the course of justice.
24 in facie prudentis lucet sapientia oculi stultorum in finibus terrae
Wisdom is the focus of the discerning, but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.
25 ira patris filius stultus et dolor matris quae genuit eum
A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him.
26 non est bonum damnum inferre iusto nec percutere principem qui recta iudicat
It is surely not good to punish the innocent or to flog a noble for his honesty.
27 qui moderatur sermones suos doctus et prudens est et pretiosi spiritus vir eruditus
A man of knowledge restrains his words, and a man of understanding maintains a calm spirit.
28 stultus quoque si tacuerit sapiens putabitur et si conpresserit labia sua intellegens
Even a fool is considered wise if he keeps silent, and discerning when he holds his tongue.
