Proverbs 17

NEW JERUSALEM	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 Better a mouthful of dry bread with peace than a house fil ed with quarrelsome sacrifices.	1 Better is a dry morsel with joy, than a house full of victims with strife.
2 A shrewd servant comes off better than an unworthy child, he will share the inheritance with thebrothers.	2 A wise servant shall rule over foolish sons, and shall divide the inheritance among the brethren.
3 A furnace for silver, a foundry for gold, but Yahweh for the testing of hearts!	3 As silver is tried by fire, and gold in the furnace: so the Lord trieth the hearts.
4 An evil-doer pays heed to malicious talk, a liar listens to a slanderous tongue.	4 The evil man obeyeth an unjust tongue: and the deceitful hearkeneth to lying lips.
5 To mock the poor is to insult the Creator, no one who laughs at distress wil go unpunished.	5 He that despiseth the poor, reproacheth his Maker; and he that rejoiceth at another man's ruin, shall not be unpunished.
6 The crown of the aged is their children's children; the children's glory is their father.	6 Children's children are the crown of old men: and the glory of children are their fathers.
7 Fine words do not become the foolish, false words become a prince stil less.	7 Eloquent words do not become a fool, nor lying lips a prince.
8 A gift works like a talisman for one who holds it: it brings prosperity at every turn.	8 The expectation of him that expecteth, is a most acceptable jewel: whithersoever he turneth himself, he understandeth wisely.
9 Whoever covers an offence promotes love, whoever again raises the matter divides friends.	9 He that concealeth a transgression. seeketh friendships: he that repeateth it again, separateth friends.
10 A reproof makes more impression on a person of understanding than a hundred strokes on a fool.	10 A reproof availeth more with a wise man, than a hundred stripes with a fool.
11 The wicked person thinks of nothing but rebellion, but a cruel messenger wil be sent to such a one.	11 An evil man always seeketh quarrels: but a cruel angel shall be sent against him.
12 Rather come on a bear robbed of her cubs than on a fool in his fol y.	12 It is better to meet a bear robbed of her whelps, than a fool trusting in his own folly.
13 Disaster wil never be far from the house of one who returns evil for good.	13 He that rendereth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
14 As well unleash a flood as start a dispute; desist before the quarrel breaks out.	14 The beginning of quarrels is as when one letteth out water: before he suffereth reproach he forsaketh judgment.
15 To absolve the guilty and condemn the upright, both alike are abhorrent to Yahweh.	15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, both are abominable before God.
16 What good is money in the hand of a fool? To buy wisdom with it? The desire is not there.	16 What doth it avail a fool to have riches, seeing he cannot buy wisdom? He that maketh his house high, seeketh a downfall: and he that refuseth to learn, shall fall into evils.
17 A friend is a friend at all times, it is for adversity that a brother is born.	17 He that is a friend loveth at all times: and a brother is proved in distress.
18 Whoever offers guarantees lacks sense and goes surety for a neighbour.	18 A foolish man will clap hands, when he is surety for his friend.
19 The double-dealer loves sin, the proud courts ruin.	19 He that studieth discords, loveth quarrels: and he that exalteth his door, seeketh ruin.
20 The tortuous of heart finds no happiness, the perverse of speech fal s into misery.	20 He that is of a perverse heart, shall not find good: and he that perverteth his tongue, shall fall into evil.
21 He who fathers a stupid child does so to his sorrow, the father of a fool knows no joy.	21 A fool is born to his own disgrace: and even his father shall not rejoice in a fool.
22 A glad heart is excel ent medicine, a depressed spirit wastes the bones away.	22 A joyful mind maketh age flourishing: a sorrowful spirit drieth up the bones.
23 Under cover of his cloak a bad man takes a gift to pervert the course of justice.	23 The wicked man taketh gifts out of the bosom, that he may pervert the paths of judgment.
24 The intelligent has wisdom there before him, but the eyes of a fool range to the ends of the earth.	24 Wisdom shineth in the face of the wise: the eyes of fools are in the ends of the earth.
25 A foolish child is a father's sorrow, and the grief of her who gave the child birth.	25 A foolish son is the anger of the father: and the sorrow of the mother that bore him.
26 To fine the upright is indeed a crime, to strike the noble is an injustice.	26 It is no good thing to do hurt to the just: nor to strike the prince, who judgeth right.
27 Whoever can control the tongue knows what knowledge is, someone of understanding keeps a cooltemper.	27 He that setteth bounds to his words. is knowing and wise: and the man of understanding is of a precious spirit.
28 If the fool holds his tongue, he may pass for wise; if he seals his lips, he may pass for intel igent.	28 Even a fool, if he will hold his peace shall be counted wise: and if he close his lips, a man of understanding.