17 粗茶淡飯但相安無事,
    勝過佳餚滿桌卻勾心鬥角。
精明的僕人必管轄主人的不肖子,
    並與他們一同承受家業。
鼎煉銀,爐煉金,
    耶和華試煉人心。
作惡者留心聽惡言,
    說謊者側耳聽壞話。
嘲笑窮人等於侮辱造物主,
    幸災樂禍的人必難逃懲罰。
子孫是老人的華冠,
    父母是兒女的榮耀。
愚人高談闊論不相稱,
    統治者說謊更不合適。
行賄者視賄賂為法寶,
    可以使他無往不利。
饒恕過犯,促進友愛;
    重提舊恨,破壞友情。
10 責備哲士一句,
    勝過杖打愚人百下。
11 惡人一心反叛,
    殘忍的使者必奉命來懲罰他。
12 寧願遇見丟失幼崽的母熊,
    也不願碰上做蠢事的愚人。
13 人若以惡報善,
    家裡必禍患不斷。
14 爭端爆發如洪水決堤,
    當在爆發前將其制止。
15 放過罪人、冤枉義人,
    都為耶和華所憎惡。
16 愚人無心求智慧,
    手中有錢有何用?
17 朋友時時彼此關愛,
    手足生來患難與共。
18 無知的人才會為他人作保。
19 喜愛爭鬥的喜愛犯罪,
    驕傲自大的自招滅亡。
20 心術不正,難覓幸福;
    口吐謊言,陷入禍患。
21 生愚昧子帶來憂傷,
    愚人之父毫無喜樂。
22 喜樂的心乃是良藥,
    憂傷的靈使骨枯乾。
23 惡人暗中收受賄賂,
    顛倒是非。
24 哲士追求智慧,
    愚人漫無目標。
25 愚昧的孩子令父親憂慮,讓母親苦惱。
26 責罰義人不妥,
    杖責君子不義。
27 謹言慎行的有知識,
    溫和冷靜的有悟性。
28 愚人緘默可算為智慧,
    閉口不言可算為明智。

17 Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.

A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.

The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the Lord trieth the hearts.

A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.

Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.

Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.

Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.

A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.

He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.

10 A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.

11 An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

12 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.

13 Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

14 The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.

15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the Lord.

16 Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?

17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

18 A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.

19 He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.

20 He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.

21 He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.

22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

23 A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.

24 Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.

25 A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.

26 Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.

27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.

28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

The Lord Tests Hearts

17 Better is (A)a dry morsel with quietness,
Than a house full of [a]feasting with strife.

A wise servant will rule over (B)a son who causes shame,
And will share an inheritance among the brothers.

The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold,
(C)But the Lord tests the hearts.

An evildoer gives heed to false lips;
A liar listens eagerly to a [b]spiteful tongue.

(D)He who mocks the poor reproaches his Maker;
(E)He who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.

(F)Children’s children are the crown of old men,
And the glory of children is their father.

Excellent speech is not becoming to a fool,
Much less lying lips to a prince.

A present is a precious stone in the eyes of its possessor;
Wherever he turns, he prospers.

(G)He who covers a transgression seeks love,
But (H)he who repeats a matter separates friends.

10 (I)Rebuke is more effective for a wise man
Than a hundred blows on a fool.

11 An evil man seeks only rebellion;
Therefore a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

12 Let a man meet (J)a bear robbed of her cubs,
Rather than a fool in his folly.

13 Whoever (K)rewards evil for good,
Evil will not depart from his house.

14 The beginning of strife is like releasing water;
Therefore (L)stop contention before a quarrel starts.

15 (M)He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just,
Both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord.

16 Why is there in the hand of a fool the purchase price of wisdom,
Since he has no heart for it?

17 (N)A friend loves at all times,
And a brother is born for adversity.

18 (O)A man devoid of [c]understanding [d]shakes hands in a pledge,
And becomes [e]surety for his friend.

19 He who loves transgression loves strife,
And (P)he who exalts his gate seeks destruction.

20 He who has a [f]deceitful heart finds no good,
And he who has (Q)a perverse tongue falls into evil.

21 He who begets a scoffer does so to his sorrow,
And the father of a fool has no joy.

22 A (R)merry heart [g]does good, like medicine,
But a broken spirit dries the bones.

23 A wicked man accepts a bribe [h]behind the back
To pervert the ways of justice.

24 (S)Wisdom is in the sight of him who has understanding,
But the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.

25 A (T)foolish son is a grief to his father,
And bitterness to her who bore him.

26 Also, to punish the righteous is not good,
Nor to strike princes for their uprightness.

27 (U)He who has knowledge spares his words,
And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.
28 (V)Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace;
When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:1 Or sacrificial meals
  2. Proverbs 17:4 Lit. destructive
  3. Proverbs 17:18 Lit. heart
  4. Proverbs 17:18 Lit. strikes the hands
  5. Proverbs 17:18 guaranty or collateral
  6. Proverbs 17:20 crooked
  7. Proverbs 17:22 Or makes medicine even better
  8. Proverbs 17:23 Under cover, lit. from the bosom