Proverbs 17

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Better a mouthful of dry bread with peace than a house fil ed with quarrelsome sacrifices.	1 A dry morsel with gladness is better than a house full of sacrifices along with conflict.
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 he will divide the inheritance among brothers.
3 A furnace for silver, a foundry for gold, but Yahweh for the testing of hearts!	3 Just as silver is tested by fire, and gold is tested in the furnace, so also does the Lord test hearts.
4 An evil-doer pays heed to malicious talk, a liar listens to a slanderous tongue.	4 The evil obey an unjust tongue. And the false are submissive to lying lips.
5 To mock the poor is to insult the Creator, no one who laughs at distress wil go unpunished.	5 Whoever despises the poor rebukes his Maker. And whoever rejoices in the ruin of another will not go unpunished.
6 The crown of the aged is their children's children; the children's glory is their father.	6 Sons of sons are the crown of old age. And the glory of sons is their fathers.
7 Fine words do not become the foolish, false words become a prince stil less.	7 Well-chosen words are not fitting for the foolish, nor are lying lips fitting for a leader.
8 A gift works like a talisman for one who holds it: it brings prosperity at every turn.	8 The expectation of those who stand ready is a most pleasing jewel. Whichever way he turns himself, he understands prudently.
9 Whoever covers an offence promotes love, whoever again raises the matter divides friends.	9 Whoever conceals an offense seeks friendships. Whoever repeats the words of another separates allies.
10 A reproof makes more impression on a person of understanding than a hundred strokes on a fool.	10 A correction benefits 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 The evil one continually seeks conflicts. 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 more expedient to meet a bear robbed of her young, than the foolish trusting in his own folly.
13 Disaster wil never be far from the house of one who returns evil for good.	13 Whoever repays evil for good, evil shall not withdraw from his house.
14 As well unleash a flood as start a dispute; desist before the quarrel breaks out.	14 Whoever releases the water is the head of the conflict. And just before he suffers contempt, he abandons judgment.
15 To absolve the guilty and condemn the upright, both alike are abhorrent to Yahweh.	15 Those who justify the impious, and those who condemn the just, both are abominable with God.
16 What good is money in the hand of a fool? To buy wisdom with it? The desire is not there.	16 What does it profit the foolish to have riches, when he is not able to buy wisdom? Whoever makes his house high seeks ruin. And whoever shuns learning shall fall into evils.
17 A friend is a friend at all times, it is for adversity that a brother is born.	17 Whoever is a friend loves at all times. And a brother is proved by distress.
18 Whoever offers guarantees lacks sense and goes surety for a neighbour.	18 A foolish man will clap his hands, when he makes a pledge for his friend.
19 The double-dealer loves sin, the proud courts ruin.	19 Whoever dwells on discord loves disputes. And whoever exalts his door seeks ruin.
20 The tortuous of heart finds no happiness, the perverse of speech fal s into misery.	20 Whoever is of a perverse heart shall not find good. And whoever turns 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 foolish one is born into his own disgrace. But his father will not rejoice in one who is senseless.
22 A glad heart is excel ent medicine, a depressed spirit wastes the bones away.	22 A joyful soul makes a lifetime flourish. A gloomy spirit dries out the bones.
23 Under cover of his cloak a bad man takes a gift to pervert the course of justice.	23 The impious receives gifts from the bosom, so 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 Prudence shines from the face of the wise. The eyes of the foolish are on 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 grief of the mother who conceived him.
26 To fine the upright is indeed a crime, to strike the noble is an injustice.	26 It is not good to inflict damage on the just, nor to strike the leader who judges uprightly.
27 Whoever can control the tongue knows what knowledge is, someone of understanding keeps a cooltemper.	27 Whoever moderates his words is learned and prudent. And a man of learning has 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 If he would remain silent, even the foolish would be considered wise, and if he closes his lips, intelligent.