1Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.17.1 sacrifices: or, good cheer 2A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren. 3The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts. 4A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue. 5Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.17.5 unpunished: Heb. held innocent 6Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers. 7Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.17.7 Excellent…: Heb. A lip of excellency17.7 lying…: Heb. a lip of lying 8A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.17.8 a precious…: Heb. a stone of grace 9He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.17.9 seeketh: or, procureth 10A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.17.10 entereth…: or, aweth more a wise man, than to strike a fool an hundred times 11An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him. 12Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly. 13Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house. 14The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with. 15He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD. 16Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it? 17A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. 18A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.17.18 understanding: Heb. heart 19He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction. 20He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.17.20 He that hath a froward…: Heb. The froward of heart 21He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy. 22A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.17.22 like: or, to 23A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment. 24Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth. 25A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him. 26Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.
27He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.17.27 an…: or, a cool 28Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.
1粗茶淡飯但相安無事，
勝過佳餚滿桌卻勾心鬥角。
2精明的僕人必管轄主人的不肖子，
並與他們一同承受家業。
3鼎煉銀，爐煉金，
耶和華試煉人心。
4作惡者留心聽惡言，
說謊者側耳聽壞話。
5嘲笑窮人等於侮辱造物主，
幸災樂禍的人必難逃懲罰。
6子孫是老人的華冠，
父母是兒女的榮耀。
7愚人高談闊論不相稱，
統治者說謊更不合適。
8行賄者視賄賂為法寶，
可以使他無往不利。
9饒恕過犯，促進友愛；
重提舊恨，破壞友情。
10責備哲士一句，
勝過杖打愚人百下。
11惡人一心反叛，
殘忍的使者必奉命來懲罰他。
12寧願遇見丟失幼崽的母熊，
也不願碰上做蠢事的愚人。
13人若以惡報善，
家裡必禍患不斷。
14爭端爆發如洪水決堤，
當在爆發前將其制止。
15放過罪人、冤枉義人，
都為耶和華所憎惡。
16愚人無心求智慧，
手中有錢有何用？
17朋友時時彼此關愛，
手足生來患難與共。
18無知的人才會為他人作保。
19喜愛爭鬥的喜愛犯罪，
驕傲自大的自招滅亡。
20心術不正，難覓幸福；
口吐謊言，陷入禍患。
21生愚昧子帶來憂傷，
愚人之父毫無喜樂。
22喜樂的心乃是良藥，
憂傷的靈使骨枯乾。
23惡人暗中收受賄賂，
顛倒是非。
24哲士追求智慧，
愚人漫無目標。
25愚昧的孩子令父親憂慮，讓母親苦惱。
26責罰義人不妥，
杖責君子不義。
27謹言慎行的有知識，
溫和冷靜的有悟性。
28愚人緘默可算為智慧，
閉口不言可算為明智。
