Proverbiorum 17
1 melior est buccella sicca cum gaudio quam domus plena victimis cum iurgio
It is better to have quiet with a dry morsel of bread 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 son who acts shamefully and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.
3 sicut igne probatur argentum et aurum camino ita corda probat Dominus
The crucible is for silver and the furnace is for gold, but Yahweh refines hearts.
4 malus oboedit linguae iniquae et fallax obtemperat labiis mendacibus
The evildoer pays attention to wicked 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
Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker and the one who rejoices at misfortune will not go unpunished.
6 corona senum filii filiorum et gloria filiorum patres sui
Grandchildren are the crown of the aged and parents bring honor to their children.
7 non decent stultum verba conposita nec principem labium mentiens
Eloquent speech is not suitable for a fool; much less are lying lips suitable for royalty.
8 gemma gratissima expectatio praestolantis quocumque se verterit prudenter intellegit
A bribe is like a magic stone to the one who gives it; wherever he turns, he succeeds.
9 qui celat delictum quaerit amicitias qui altero sermone repetit separat foederatos
Whoever overlooks an offense seeks love, but the one who repeats a matter alienates close friends.
10 plus proficit correptio apud prudentem quam centum plagae apud stultum
A rebuke goes deeper into a person who has understanding than a hundred blows go into a fool.
11 semper iurgia quaerit malus angelus autem crudelis mittetur contra eum
An evil person only seeks rebellion, so 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 to meet a fool in his foolishness.
13 qui reddit mala pro bonis non recedet malum de domo eius
When someone returns evil for good, evil will never leave his house.
14 qui dimittit aquam caput est iurgiorum et antequam patiatur contumeliam iudicium deserit
The beginning of conflict is like one who releases water everywhere, so walk away from the dispute before it has broken out.
15 et qui iustificat impium et qui condemnat iustum abominabilis est uterque apud Dominum
The person who acquits the wicked person and the person who condemns the righteous person— both are an abomination to Yahweh.
16 quid prodest habere divitias stultum cum sapientiam emere non possit
Why should a fool pay money to learn about wisdom, when he has no ability to learn it?
17 omni tempore diligit qui amicus est et frater in angustiis conprobatur
A friend is loving at all times and a brother is born for times of trouble.
18 homo stultus plaudet manibus cum spoponderit pro amico suo
A man having no sense makes binding promises and becomes responsible for his neighbor's debts.
19 qui meditatur discordiam diligit rixas et qui exaltat ostium quaerit ruinam
Whoever loves conflict loves sin; the one who makes the threshold of his door too high causes bones to be broken.
20 qui perversi cordis est non inveniet bonum et qui vertit linguam incidet in malum
A person who has a crooked heart finds nothing that is good; the one who has a perverse tongue falls into calamity.
21 natus est stultus in ignominiam suam sed nec pater in fatuo laetabitur
Whoever is the parent of a fool brings grief to himself; and the father of a fool has no joy.
22 animus gaudens aetatem floridam facit spiritus tristis exsiccat ossa
A cheerful 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 accepts a secret bribe to pervert the ways of justice.
24 in facie prudentis lucet sapientia oculi stultorum in finibus terrae
The one who has understanding sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are set 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 bitterness to the woman who bore him.
26 non est bonum damnum inferre iusto nec percutere principem qui recta iudicat
Also, it is never good to punish the righteous person; neither is it good to flog noble men who have integrity.
27 qui moderatur sermones suos doctus et prudens est et pretiosi spiritus vir eruditus
One who has knowledge uses few words and one with understanding is even-tempered.
28 stultus quoque si tacuerit sapiens putabitur et si conpresserit labia sua intellegens
Even a fool is thought to be wise if he keeps silent; when he keeps his mouth shut, he is considered to be intelligent.
