箴言 17

1 設筵滿屋，大家相爭， 不如有塊乾餅，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 僕人辦事聰明，必管轄貽羞之子， 又在眾子中同分產業。

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

3 鼎為煉銀，爐為煉金； 惟有耶和華熬煉人心。

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

4 行惡的，留心聽奸詐之言； 說謊的，側耳聽邪惡之語。

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

5 戲笑窮人的，是辱沒造他的主； 幸災樂禍的，必不免受罰。

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

6 子孫為老人的冠冕； 父親是兒女的榮耀。

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

7 愚頑人說美言本不相宜， 何況君王說謊話呢？

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

8 賄賂在餽送的人眼中看為寶玉， 隨處運動都得順利。

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

9 遮掩人過的，尋求人愛； 屢次挑錯的，離間密友。

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

10 一句責備話深入聰明人的心， 強如責打愚昧人一百下。

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

11 惡人只尋背叛， 所以必有嚴厲的使者奉差攻擊他。

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

12 寧可遇見丟崽子的母熊， 不可遇見正行愚妄的愚昧人。

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

13 以惡報善的， 禍患必不離他的家。

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

14 紛爭的起頭如水放開， 所以，在爭鬧之先必當止息爭競。

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

15 定惡人為義的，定義人為惡的， 這都為耶和華所憎惡。

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

16 愚昧人既無聰明， 為何手拿價銀買智慧呢？

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

17 朋友乃時常親愛， 弟兄為患難而生。

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

18 在鄰舍面前擊掌作保 乃是無知的人。

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

19 喜愛爭競的，是喜愛過犯； 高立家門的，乃自取敗壞。

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，尋不着好處； 舌弄是非的，陷在禍患中。

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； 愚頑人的父毫無喜樂。

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

22 喜樂的心乃是良藥； 憂傷的靈使骨枯乾。

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

23 惡人暗中受賄賂， 為要顛倒判斷。

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

24 明哲人眼前有智慧； 愚昧人眼望地極。

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 愚昧子使父親愁煩， 使母親憂苦。

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

26 刑罰義人為不善； 責打君子為不義。

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

27 寡少言語的，有知識； 性情溫良的，有聰明。

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

28 愚昧人若靜默不言也可算為智慧； 閉口不說也可算為聰明。

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