箴言
CH. 17
1
设筵满屋,大家相争,不如有块干饼,大家相安。

Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife.
2
仆人办事聪明,必管辖贻羞之子,又在众子中,同分产业。

A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful son, and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.
3
鼎为炼银,炉为炼金。惟有耶和华熬炼人心。

The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the heart.
4
行恶的留心听奸诈之言。说谎的侧耳听邪恶之语。

A wicked man listens to evil lips; a liar pays attention to a malicious tongue.
5
戏笑穷人的,是辱没造他的主。幸灾乐祸的,必不免受罚。

He who mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker; whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished.
6
子孙为老人的冠冕。父亲是儿女的荣耀。

Children's children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.
7
愚顽人说美言本不相宜,何况君王说谎话呢?

Arrogant lips are unsuited to a fool--how much worse lying lips to a ruler!
8
贿赂在馈送的人眼中,看为宝玉。随处运动,都得顺利。

A bribe is a charm to the one who gives it; wherever he turns, he succeeds.
9
遮掩人过的,寻求人爱。屡次挑错的,离间密友。

He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.
10
一句责备话,深入聪明人的心,强如责打愚昧人一百下。

A rebuke impresses a man of discernment more than a hundred lashes a fool.
11
恶人只寻背叛,所以必有严厉的使者,奉差攻击他。

An evil man is bent only on rebellion; a merciless official will be sent against him.
12
宁可遇见丢崽子的母熊,不可遇见正行愚妄的愚昧人。

Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly.
13
以恶报善的,祸患必不离他的家。

If a man pays back evil for good, evil will never leave his house.
14
分争的起头,如水放开。所以在争闹之先,必当止息争竞。

Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.
15
定恶人为义的,定义人为恶的,这都为耶和华所憎恶。

Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent--the LORD detests them both.
16
愚昧人既无聪明,为何手拿价银买智慧呢?

Of what use is money in the hand of a fool, since he has no desire to get wisdom?
17
朋友乃时常亲爱。弟兄为患难而生。

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
18
在邻舍面前击掌作保,乃是无知的人。

A man lacking in judgment strikes hands in pledge and puts up security for his neighbor.
19
喜爱争竞的,是喜爱过犯。高立家门的,乃自取败坏。

He who loves a quarrel loves sin; he who builds a high gate invites destruction.
20
心存邪僻的,寻不着好处。舌弄是非的,陷在祸患中。

A man of perverse heart does not prosper; he whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble.
21
生愚昧子的,必自愁苦。愚顽人的父,毫无喜乐。

To have a fool for a son brings grief; there is no joy for the father of a fool.
22
喜乐的心,乃是良药。忧伤的灵,使骨枯干。

A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
23
恶人暗中受贿赂,为要颠倒判断。

A wicked man accepts a bribe in secret to pervert the course of justice.
24
明哲人眼前有智慧。愚昧人眼望地极。

A discerning man keeps wisdom in view, but a fool's eyes wander to the ends of the earth.
25
愚昧子使父亲愁烦,使母亲忧苦。

A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to the one who bore him.
26
刑罚义人为不善。责打君子为不义。

It is not good to punish an innocent man, or to flog officials for their integrity.
27
寡少言语的有知识。性情温良的有聪明。

A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered.
28
愚昧人若静默不言,也可算为智慧。闭口不说,也可算为聪明。

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