Pregovori 17
1 Boljši je suh košček in z njim spokojnost, kakor hiša polna klavnih daritev s prepirom.
Better [is] a dry morsel, and rest with it, Than a house full of the sacrifices of strife.
2 Moder služabnik bo imel vladarstvo nad sinom, ki povzroča sramoto in bo imel delež dediščine med brati.
A wise servant ruleth over a son causing shame, And in the midst of brethren He apportioneth an inheritance.
3 Talilni lonec je za srebro in talilna peč za zlato, toda Gospod preizkuša srca.
A refining pot [is] for silver, and a furnace for gold, And the trier of hearts [is] Jehovah.
4 Zloben storilec daje prednost nepravim ustnicam in lažnivec pazljivo prisluhne nespodobnemu jeziku.
An evil doer is attentive to lips of vanity, Falsehood is giving ear to a mischievous tongue.
5 Kdorkoli zasmehuje ubogega, graja njegovega Stvarnika in kdor je ob katastrofah vesel, ne bo nekaznovan.
Whoso is mocking at the poor Hath reproached his Maker, Whoso is rejoicing at calamity is not acquitted.
6 Otrok otroci so krona starcem in slava otrok so njihovi očetje.
Sons' sons [are] the crown of old men, And the glory of sons [are] their fathers.
7 Odličen govor se ne spodobi bedaku, veliko manj lažnive ustnice princu.
Not comely for a fool is a lip of excellency, Much less for a noble a lip of falsehood.
8 Darilo je kakor dragocen kamen v očeh tistega, ki ga ima, kamor ga obrača, to uspeva.
A stone of grace [is] the bribe in the eyes of its possessors, Whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
9 Kdor taji prestopek, išče ljubezni, toda kdor ponavlja zadevo, ločuje prave prijatelje.
Whoso is covering transgression is seeking love, And whoso is repeating a matter Is separating a familiar friend.
10 Opomin bolj prodira v modrega kakor sto udarcev z bičem v bedaka.
Rebuke cometh down on the intelligent More than a hundred stripes on a fool.
11 Hudoben človek išče samo upor, zato bo zoper njega poslan krut poslanec.
An evil man seeketh only rebellion, And a fierce messenger is sent against him.
12 Naj medvedka, oropana svojih mladičev, sreča človeka, raje kakor bedak v svoji neumnosti.
The meeting of a bereaved bear by a man, And — not a fool in his folly.
13 Kdorkoli nagrajuje zlo za dobro, se zlo ne bo ločilo od njegove hiše.
Whoso is returning evil for good, Evil moveth not from his house.
14 Začetek prepira je kakor kadar nekdo izpušča vodo, zato prenehaj s sporom, preden se vmešaš vanj.
The beginning of contention [is] a letting out of waters, And before it is meddled with leave the strife.
15 Kdor opravičuje zlobnega in kdor obsoja pravičnega, celo oba sta Gospodu ogabnost.
Whoso is justifying the wicked, And condemning the righteous, Even both of these [are] an abomination to Jehovah.
16 Zakaj je denarna vsota v bedakovi roki, da pridobi modrost, glede na to, da on nima srca za to?
Why [is] this — a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, And a heart there is none?
17 Prijatelj ljubi ob vseh časih in brat je rojen za stisko.
At all times is the friend loving, And a brother for adversity is born.
18 Človek brez razumevanja udarja v roke in postaja pôrok v prisotnosti svojega prijatelja.
A man lacking heart is striking hands, A surety he becometh before his friend.
19 Kdor ljubi prestopek, ta ljubi prepir in kdor povišuje svoja velika vrata, išče uničenje.
Whoso is loving transgression is loving debate, Whoso is making high his entrance is seeking destruction.
20 Kdor ima kljubovalno srce, ne najde dobrega in kdor ima sprevržen jezik, pada v vragolijo.
The perverse of heart findeth not good, And the turned in his tongue falleth into evil.
21 Kdor zaplodi bedaka, to počne v svojo bridkost in oče bedaka nima radosti.
Whoso is begetting a fool hath affliction for it, Yea, the father of a fool rejoiceth not.
22 Veselo srce dela dobro, podobno kot zdravilo, toda zlomljen duh suši kosti.
A rejoicing heart doth good to the body, And a smitten spirit drieth the bone.
23 Zloben človek iz naročja izvleče darilo, da izkrivlja poti sodbe.
A bribe from the bosom the wicked taketh, To turn aside the paths of judgment.
24 Modrost je pred tistim, ki ima razumevanje, toda oči bedaka so na koncih zemlje.
The face of the intelligent [is] to wisdom, And the eyes of a fool — at the end of the earth.
25 Nespameten sin je žalost svojemu očetu in grenkoba njej, ki ga je rodila.
A provocation to his father [is] a foolish son, And bitterness to her that bare him.
26 Tudi kaznovati pravičnega ni dobro niti udariti prince zaradi nepristranskosti.
Also, to fine the righteous is not good, To smite nobles for uprightness.
27 Kdor ima spoznanje, prizanaša svojim besedam in razumevajoč človek je iz odličnega duha.
One acquainted with knowledge is sparing his words, And the cool of temper [is] a man of understanding.
28 Celo bedak, ko molči, velja kot moder in kdor zapira svoje ustnice, je cenjen kot razumevajoč človek.
Even a fool keeping silence is reckoned wise, He who is shutting his lips intelligent!
