Proverbs 17

1 Better a dry morsel in quietness than a house full of feasting with strife.

1 設筵滿屋，大家相爭， 不如有塊乾餅，大家相安。

2 A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful son and share his inheritance as one of the brothers.

2 僕人辦事聰明，必管轄貽羞之子， 又在眾子中同分產業。

3 A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but the LORD is the tester of hearts.

3 鼎為煉銀，爐為煉金； 惟有耶和華熬煉人心。

4 A wicked man listens to evil lips; a liar gives ear to a destructive tongue.

4 行惡的，留心聽奸詐之言； 說謊的，側耳聽邪惡之語。

5 He who mocks the poor insults their Maker; whoever gloats over calamity will not go unpunished.

5 戲笑窮人的，是辱沒造他的主； 幸災樂禍的，必不免受罰。

6 Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of a son is his father.

6 子孫為老人的冠冕； 父親是兒女的榮耀。

7 Eloquent words are unfit for a fool; how much worse are lying lips to a ruler!

7 愚頑人說美言本不相宜， 何況君王說謊話呢？

8 A bribe is a charm to its giver; wherever he turns, he succeeds.

8 賄賂在餽送的人眼中看為寶玉， 隨處運動都得順利。

9 Whoever conceals an offense promotes love, but he who brings it up separates friends.

9 遮掩人過的，尋求人愛； 屢次挑錯的，離間密友。

10 A rebuke cuts into a man of discernment deeper than a hundred lashes cut into a fool.

10 一句責備話深入聰明人的心， 強如責打愚昧人一百下。

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

11 惡人只尋背叛， 所以必有嚴厲的使者奉差攻擊他。

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

12 寧可遇見丟崽子的母熊， 不可遇見正行愚妄的愚昧人。

13 If anyone returns evil for good, evil will never leave his house.

13 以惡報善的， 禍患必不離他的家。

14 To start a quarrel is to release a flood; so abandon the dispute before it breaks out.

14 紛爭的起頭如水放開， 所以，在爭鬧之先必當止息爭競。

15 Acquitting the guilty and condemning the righteous—both are detestable to the LORD.

15 定惡人為義的，定義人為惡的， 這都為耶和華所憎惡。

16 Why should the fool have money in his hand with no intention of buying wisdom?

16 愚昧人既無聰明， 為何手拿價銀買智慧呢？

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

17 朋友乃時常親愛， 弟兄為患難而生。

18 A man lacking judgment strikes hands in pledge and puts up security for his neighbor.

18 在鄰舍面前擊掌作保 乃是無知的人。

19 He who loves transgression loves strife; he who builds his gate high invites destruction.

19 喜愛爭競的，是喜愛過犯； 高立家門的，乃自取敗壞。

20 The one with a perverse heart finds no good, and he whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble.

20 心存邪僻的，尋不着好處； 舌弄是非的，陷在禍患中。

21 A man fathers a fool to his own grief; the father of a fool has no joy.

21 生愚昧子的，必自愁苦； 愚頑人的父毫無喜樂。

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

22 喜樂的心乃是良藥； 憂傷的靈使骨枯乾。

23 A wicked man takes a covert bribe to subvert the course of justice.

23 惡人暗中受賄賂， 為要顛倒判斷。

24 Wisdom is the focus of the discerning, but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.

24 明哲人眼前有智慧； 愚昧人眼望地極。

25 A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him.

25 愚昧子使父親愁煩， 使母親憂苦。

26 It is surely not good to punish the innocent or to flog a noble for his honesty.

26 刑罰義人為不善； 責打君子為不義。

27 A man of knowledge restrains his words, and a man of understanding maintains a calm spirit.

27 寡少言語的，有知識； 性情溫良的，有聰明。

28 Even a fool is considered wise if he keeps silent, and discerning when he holds his tongue.

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。