Proverbs 17

设筵满屋，大家相争， 不如有块干饼，大家相安。

shè yán mǎn wū ， dà jiā xiāng zhēng ， bù rú yǒu kuài gān bǐng ， dà jiā xiāng ān 。

Better is a dry morsel with quietness, than a house full of feasting with strife.

仆人办事聪明，必管辖贻羞之子， 又在众子中同分产业。

pú rén bàn shì cōng ming ， bì guǎn xiá yí xiū zhī zǐ ， yòu zài zhòng zǐ zhōng tóng fèn chǎn yè 。

A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who causes shame, and shall have a part in the inheritance among the brothers.

鼎为炼银，炉为炼金； 惟有耶和华熬炼人心。

dǐng wèi liàn yín ， lú wèi liàn jīn ； wéi yǒu yē hé huá áo liàn rén xīn 。

The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the hearts.

行恶的，留心听奸诈之言； 说谎的，侧耳听邪恶之语。

xíng è de ， liú xīn tīng jiān zhà zhī yán ； shuō huǎng de ， cè ěr tīng xié è zhī yǔ 。

An evildoer heeds wicked lips. A liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.

戏笑穷人的，是辱没造他的主； 幸灾乐祸的，必不免受罚。

xì xiào qióng rén de ， shì rǔ mò zào tā de zhǔ ； xìng zāi lè huò de ， bì bù miǎn shòu fá 。

Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker. He who is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.

子孙为老人的冠冕； 父亲是儿女的荣耀。

zǐ sūn wéi lǎo rén de guān miǎn ； fù qīn shì ér nǚ de róng yào 。

Children’s children are the crown of old men; the glory of children is their parents.

愚顽人说美言本不相宜， 何况君王说谎话呢？

yú wán rén shuō měi yán běn bù xiāng yí ， hé kuàng jūn wáng shuō huǎng huà ne ？

Excellent speech isn’t fitting for a fool, much less do lying lips fit a prince.

贿赂在馈送的人眼中看为宝玉， 随处运动都得顺利。

huì lù zài kuì sòng de rén yǎn zhōng kàn wéi bǎo yù ， suí chù yùn dòng dōu dé shùn lì 。

A bribe is a precious stone in the eyes of him who gives it; wherever he turns, he prospers.

遮掩人过的，寻求人爱； 屡次挑错的，离间密友。

zhē yǎn rén guò de ， xún qiú rén ài ； lǚ cì tiāo cuò de ， lí jiàn mì yǒu 。

He who covers an offense promotes love; but he who repeats a matter separates best friends.

一句责备话深入聪明人的心， 强如责打愚昧人一百下。

yí jù zé bèi huà shēn rù cōng ming rén de xīn ， qiáng rú zé dǎ yú mèi rén yì bǎi xià 。

A rebuke enters deeper into one who has understanding than a hundred lashes into a fool.

恶人只寻背叛， 所以必有严厉的使者奉差攻击他。

è rén zhī xún bèi pàn ， suǒ yǐ bì yǒu yán lì de shǐ zhě fèng chāi gōng jī tā 。

An evil man seeks only rebellion; therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

宁可遇见丢崽子的母熊， 不可遇见正行愚妄的愚昧人。

nìng kě yù jiàn diū zǎi zi de mǔ xióng ， bù kě yù jiàn zhèng xíng yú wàng de yú mèi rén 。

Let a bear robbed of her cubs meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.

以恶报善的， 祸患必不离他的家。

yǐ è bào shàn de ， huò huàn bì bù lí tā de jiā 。

Whoever rewards evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

纷争的起头如水放开， 所以，在争闹之先必当止息争竞。

fēn zhēng de qǐ tóu rú shuǐ fàng kāi ， suǒ yǐ ， zài zhēng nào zhī xiān bì dāng zhǐ xī zhēng jìng 。

The beginning of strife is like breaching a dam, therefore stop contention before quarreling breaks out.

定恶人为义的，定义人为恶的， 这都为耶和华所憎恶。

dìng è rén wéi yì de ， dìng yì rén wéi è de ， zhè dōu wéi yē hé huá suǒ zēng wù 。

He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.

愚昧人既无聪明， 为何手拿价银买智慧呢？

yú mèi rén jì wú cōng ming ， wèi hé shǒu ná jià yín mǎi zhì huì ne ？

Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, since he has no understanding?

朋友乃时常亲爱， 弟兄为患难而生。

péng you nǎi shí cháng qīn ài ， dì xiong wèi huàn nàn ér shēng 。

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

在邻舍面前击掌作保 乃是无知的人。

zài lín shè miàn qián jī zhǎng zuò bǎo nǎi shì wú zhī de rén 。

A man void of understanding strikes hands, and becomes collateral in the presence of his neighbor.

喜爱争竞的，是喜爱过犯； 高立家门的，乃自取败坏。

xǐ ài zhēng jìng de ， shì xǐ ài guò fàn ； gāo lì jiā mén de ， nǎi zì qǔ bài huài 。

He who loves disobedience loves strife. One who builds a high gate seeks destruction.

心存邪僻的，寻不着好处； 舌弄是非的，陷在祸患中。

xīn cún xié pì de ， xún bù zháo hǎo chù ； shé nòng shì fēi de ， xiàn zài huò huàn zhōng 。

One who has a perverse heart doesn’t find prosperity, and one who has a deceitful tongue falls into trouble.

生愚昧子的，必自愁苦； 愚顽人的父毫无喜乐。

shēng yú mèi zǐ de ， bì zì chóu kǔ ； yú wán rén de fù háo wú xǐ lè 。

He who becomes the father of a fool grieves. The father of a fool has no joy.

喜乐的心乃是良药； 忧伤的灵使骨枯干。

xǐ lè de xīn nǎi shì liáng yào ； yōu shāng de líng shǐ gǔ kū gān 。

A cheerful heart makes good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

恶人暗中受贿赂， 为要颠倒判断。

è rén àn zhōng shòu huì lù ， wèi yào diān dǎo pàn duàn 。

A wicked man receives a bribe in secret, to pervert the ways of justice.

明哲人眼前有智慧； 愚昧人眼望地极。

míng zhé rén yǎn qián yǒu zhì huì ； yú mèi rén yǎn wàng dì jí 。

Wisdom is before the face of one who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.

愚昧子使父亲愁烦， 使母亲忧苦。

yú mèi zǐ shǐ fù qīn chóu fán ， shǐ mǔ qīn yōu kǔ 。

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

刑罚义人为不善； 责打君子为不义。

xíng fá yì rén wéi bú shàn ； zé dǎ jūn zǐ wèi bú yì 。

Also to punish the righteous is not good, nor to flog officials for their integrity.

寡少言语的，有知识； 性情温良的，有聪明。

guǎ shǎo yán yǔ de ， yǒu zhī shi ； xìng qíng wēn liáng de ， yǒu cōng ming 。

He who spares his words has knowledge. He who is even tempered is a man of understanding.

愚昧人若静默不言也可算为智慧； 闭口不说也可算为聪明。

yú mèi rén ruò jìng mò bù yán yě kě suàn wéi zhì huì ； bì kǒu bù shuō yě kě suàn wéi cōng ming 。

Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is counted wise. When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning.