Proverbs 17
1 Better is a dry morsell, if peace be with it, then an house full of sacrifices with strife.
乾餅一張而平安共食，勝於滿屋佳餚而互相爭吵。
2 A discrete seruant shall haue rule ouer a lewde sonne, and hee shall deuide the heritage among the brethren.
聰明的僕人必能管治任性的兒子，且可與弟兄們共分產業。
3 As is the fining pot for siluer, and the fornace for golde, so the Lord trieth the heartes.
鍋煉銀，爐煉金，上主煉人心。
4 The wicked giueth heed to false lippes, and a lyer hearkeneth to the naughtie tongue.
奸詐的人，愛聽胡言亂語；說謊的人，輕信是非長短。
5 Hee that mocketh the poore, reprocheth him, that made him: and he that reioyceth at destruction, shall not be vnpunished.
嘲笑窮人的是凌辱他的造主；幸災樂禍的，必不能脫免懲罰。
6 Childres children are the crowne of the elders: and the glory of ye children are their fathers.
孫兒是老人的冠冕，父親是兒女的光榮。
7 Hie talke becommeth not a foole, much lesse a lying talke a prince.
優雅的言詞，不適宜於愚人；虛偽的狂語，更不宜於君王。
8 A rewarde is as a stone pleasant in the eyes of them that haue it: it prospereth, whithersoeuer it turneth.
賄賂在饋贈者眼中，有如寶石；不論他要轉向何方，無往不利。
9 Hee that couereth a transgression, seeketh loue: but hee that repeateth a matter, separateth the prince.
掩飾他人的過錯，可獲得友愛；屢念舊日的過惡，則離間友誼。
10 A reproofe entereth more into him that hath vnderstanding, then an hundreth stripes into a foole.
對明智人一句指責，勝過對愚昧人百次杖擊。
11 A sedicious person seeketh onely euill, and a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
暴徒只求叛亂，但有殘酷使者，奉命前來對付。
12 It is better for a man to meete a beare robbed of her whelpes, then a foole in his follie.
寧願遇見失掉幼子的母熊，不願逢著正在發狂的愚人。
13 He that rewardeth euil for good, euil shall not depart from his house.
誰以怨報德，災禍必不離開他的家。
14 The beginning of strife is as one that openeth the waters: therefore or the contention be medled with, leaue off.
爭論的開端，如水之破堤；在激辯之前，應極加制止。
15 He that iustifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the iust, euen they both are abomination to the Lord.
宣判罪人無罪，判定義人有罪：二者同為上主所憎惡。
16 Wherefore is there a price in the hand of the foole to get wisdome, and he hath none heart?
愚昧的人，既沒有頭腦，手執金錢買智慧，又何益之有﹖
17 A friende loueth at all times: and a brother is borne for aduersitie.
朋友平時常相愛，唯在難中見兄弟。
18 A man destitute of vnderstanding, toucheth the hande, and becommeth suretie for his neighbour.
常為人擊掌作保，實是個無知之徒。
19 He loueth transgression, that loueth strife: and he that exalteth his gate, seeketh destruction.
好爭辯的人，實喜愛罪過；高舉門戶的，必自趨滅亡。
20 The froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a naughtie tongue, shall fall into euill.
誰存心欺詐，不會得幸福；誰搬弄是非，必陷於災禍。
21 He that begetteth a foole, getteth himselfe sorow, and the father of a foole can haue no ioy.
生糊塗孩子的，只有悲哀；糊塗人的父親，毫無樂趣。
22 A ioyfull heart causeth good health: but a sorowfull minde dryeth the bones.
愉快的心，是良好的治療；神志憂鬱，能使筋骨枯萎。
23 A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosome to wrest the wayes of iudgement.
惡人在大衣下受賄賂，是為顛倒正義的判詞。
24 Wisdome is in the face of him that hath vnderstanding: but the eyes of a foole are in the corners of the world.
精明的人，常面向智慧；愚者的眼，向地極呆望，
25 A foolish sonne is a griefe vnto his father, and a heauines to her that bare him.
愚昧的兒子，是他父親的痛苦，是他生母的憂傷。
26 Surely it is not good to condemne the iust, nor that ye princes should smite such for equitie.
科罰無辜，已屬不當；杖責君子，更屬不義。
27 Hee that hath knowledge, spareth his wordes, and a man of vnderstanding is of an excellent spirit.
智者必沉默寡言，達人必心神鎮定。
28 Euen a foole (when he holdeth his peace) is counted wise, and hee that stoppeth his lips, prudent.
愚人不發言，亦可充作智者；若謹口慎言，亦可視為哲人。
