Proverbiorum 17
1 Melior est buccella sicca cum gaudio, quam domus plena victimis cum iurgio.
Better [is] a dry morsel, and quietness with it, than a house full of sacrifices [with] strife.
2 Servus sapiens dominabitur filiis stultis, et inter fratres hereditatem dividet.
A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.
3 Sicut igne probatur argentum, et aurum camino: ita corda probat Dominus.
The fining-pot [is] for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.
4 Malus obedit linguæ iniquæ: et fallax obtemperat labiis mendacibus.
A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips: [and] a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
5 Qui despicit pauperem, exprobrat factori eius: et qui ruina lætatur alterius, non erit impunitus.
He that mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker; [and] he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.
6 Corona senum filii filiorum: et gloria filiorum patres eorum.
Children's children [are] the crown of old men; and the glory of children [is] their fathers.
7 Non decent stultum verba composita: nec principem labium mentiens.
Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
8 Gemma gratissima, expectatio præstolantis: quocumque se vertit, prudenter intelligit.
A gift [is as] a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
9 Qui celat delictum, quærit amicitias: qui altero sermone repetit, separat fœderatos.
He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth [very] friends.
10 Plus proficit correptio apud prudentem, quam centum plagæ apud stultum.
A reproof entereth more into a wise man than a hundred stripes into a fool.
11 Semper iurgia quærit malus: angelus autem crudelis mittetur contra eum.
An evil [man] seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
12 Expedit magis ursæ occurrere raptis fœtibus, quam fatuo confidenti in stultitia sua.
Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
13 Qui reddit mala pro bonis, non recedet malum de domo eius.
Whoever rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
14 Qui dimittit aquam, caput est iurgiorum: et antequam patiatur contumeliam, iudicium deserit.
The beginning of strife [is as] when one letteth out water: therefore withdraw from contention, before it be meddled with.
15 Qui iustificat impium, et qui condemnat iustum, abominabilis est uterque apud Deum.
He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both [are] abomination to the LORD.
16 Quid prodest stulto habere divitias, cum sapientiam emere non possit? Qui altum facit domum suam, quærit ruinam: et qui evitat discere, incidet in mala.
Why [is there] a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing [he hath] no heart [to it]?
17 Omni tempore diligit qui amicus est: et frater in angustiis comprobatur.
A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
18 Stultus homo plaudet manibus cum spoponderit pro amico suo.
A man void of understanding striketh hands, [and] becometh surety in the presence of his friend.
19 Qui meditatur discordias, diligit rixas: et qui exaltat ostium, quærit ruinam.
He loveth transgression that loveth strife: [and] he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.
20 Qui perversi cordis est, non inveniet bonum: et qui vertit linguam, incidet in malum.
He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
21 Natus est stultus in ignominiam suam: sed nec pater in fatuo lætabitur.
He that begetteth a fool [doeth it] to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.
22 Animus gaudens ætatem floridam facit: spiritus tristis exiccat ossa.
A merry heart doeth good [like] a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
23 Munera de sinu impius accipit, ut pervertat semitas iudicii.
A wicked [man] taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.
24 In facie prudentis lucet sapientia: oculi stultorum in finibus terræ.
Wisdom [is] before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool [are] in the ends of the earth.
25 Ira patris, filius stultus: et dolor matris quæ genuit eum.
A foolish son [is] a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bore him.
26 Non est bonum, damnum inferre iusto: nec percutere principem, qui recta iudicat.
Also to punish the just [is] not good, [nor] to strike princes for equity.
27 Qui moderatur sermones suos, doctus et prudens est: et pretiosi spiritus vir eruditus.
He that hath knowledge spareth his words: [and] a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
28 Stultus quoque si tacuerit, sapiens reputabitur: et si compresserit labia sua, intelligens.
Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: [and] he that shutteth his lips [is esteemed] a man of understanding.
