箴言 17

1 设筵满屋，大家相争， 不如有块干饼，大家相安。

It is better to have quiet with a dry morsel of bread than a house full of feasting with strife.

2 仆人办事聪明，必管辖贻羞之子， 又在众子中同分产业。

A wise servant will rule over a son who acts shamefully and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.

3 鼎为炼银，炉为炼金； 惟有耶和华熬炼人心。

The crucible is for silver and the furnace is for gold, but Yahweh refines hearts.

4 行恶的，留心听奸诈之言； 说谎的，侧耳听邪恶之语。

The evildoer pays attention to wicked lips; a liar gives ear to a destructive tongue.

5 戏笑穷人的，是辱没造他的主； 幸灾乐祸的，必不免受罚。

Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker and the one who rejoices at misfortune will not go unpunished.

6 子孙为老人的冠冕； 父亲是儿女的荣耀。

Grandchildren are the crown of the aged and parents bring honor to their children.

7 愚顽人说美言本不相宜， 何况君王说谎话呢？

Eloquent speech is not suitable for a fool; much less are lying lips suitable for royalty.

8 贿赂在馈送的人眼中看为宝玉， 随处运动都得顺利。

A bribe is like a magic stone to the one who gives it; wherever he turns, he succeeds.

9 遮掩人过的，寻求人爱； 屡次挑错的，离间密友。

Whoever overlooks an offense seeks love, but the one who repeats a matter alienates close friends.

10 一句责备话深入聪明人的心， 强如责打愚昧人一百下。

A rebuke goes deeper into a person who has understanding than a hundred blows go into a fool.

11 恶人只寻背叛， 所以必有严厉的使者奉差攻击他。

An evil person only seeks rebellion, so a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

12 宁可遇见丢崽子的母熊， 不可遇见正行愚妄的愚昧人。

It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than to meet a fool in his foolishness.

13 以恶报善的， 祸患必不离他的家。

When someone returns evil for good, evil will never leave his house.

14 纷争的起头如水放开， 所以，在争闹之先必当止息争竞。

The beginning of conflict is like one who releases water everywhere, so walk away from the dispute before it has broken out.

15 定恶人为义的，定义人为恶的， 这都为耶和华所憎恶。

The person who acquits the wicked person and the person who condemns the righteous person— both are an abomination to Yahweh.

16 愚昧人既无聪明， 为何手拿价银买智慧呢？

Why should a fool pay money to learn about wisdom, when he has no ability to learn it?

17 朋友乃时常亲爱， 弟兄为患难而生。

A friend is loving at all times and a brother is born for times of trouble.

18 在邻舍面前击掌作保 乃是无知的人。

A man having no sense makes binding promises and becomes responsible for his neighbor's debts.

19 喜爱争竞的，是喜爱过犯； 高立家门的，乃自取败坏。

Whoever loves conflict loves sin; the one who makes the threshold of his door too high causes bones to be broken.

20 心存邪僻的，寻不着好处； 舌弄是非的，陷在祸患中。

A person who has a crooked heart finds nothing that is good; the one who has a perverse tongue falls into calamity.

21 生愚昧子的，必自愁苦； 愚顽人的父毫无喜乐。

Whoever is the parent of a fool brings grief to himself; and the father of a fool has no joy.

22 喜乐的心乃是良药； 忧伤的灵使骨枯干。

A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.

23 恶人暗中受贿赂， 为要颠倒判断。

A wicked man accepts a secret bribe to pervert the ways of justice.

24 明哲人眼前有智慧； 愚昧人眼望地极。

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 愚昧子使父亲愁烦， 使母亲忧苦。

A foolish son is a grief to his father and bitterness to the woman who bore him.

26 刑罚义人为不善； 责打君子为不义。

Also, it is never good to punish the righteous person; neither is it good to flog noble men who have integrity.

27 寡少言语的，有知识； 性情温良的，有聪明。

One who has knowledge uses few words and one with understanding is even-tempered.

28 愚昧人若静默不言也可算为智慧； 闭口不说也可算为聪明。

Even a fool is thought to be wise if he keeps silent; when he keeps his mouth shut, he is considered to be intelligent.