Better is a morsel with pleasure in peace, than a house full of many good things and unjust sacrifices, with strife.
Κρείσσων ψωμὸς μεθʼ ἡδονῆς ἐν εἰρήνῃ, ἢ οἶκος πολλῶν ἀγαθῶν καὶ ἀδίκων θυμάτων μετὰ μάχης.
The Old Testament
Proverbs 17
ΠΑΡΟΙΜΙΑΙ ΣΟΛΟΜΩΝΤΟΣ · 17
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30 Brenton verses
A wise servant shall have rule over foolish masters, and shall divide portions among brethren.
Οἰκέτης νοήμων κρατήσει δεσποτῶν ἀφρόνων, ἐν δὲ ἀδελφοῖς διελεῖται μέρη.
As silver and gold are tried in a furnace, so are choice hearts with the Lord.
Ὥσπερ δοκιμάζεται ἐν καμίνῳ ἄργυρος καὶ χρυσὸς, οὕτως ἐκλεκταὶ καρδίαι παρὰ Κυρίῳ.
A bad man hearkens to the tongue of transgressors: but a righteous man attends not to false lips.
Κακὸς ὑπακούει γλώσσης παρανόμων, δίκαιος δὲ οὐ προσέχει χείλεσι ψευδέσιν.
He that laughs at the poor provokes him that made him; and he that rejoices at the destruction of another shall not be held guiltless: but he that has compassion shall find mercy.
Ὁ καταγελῶν πτωχοῦ παροξύνει τὸν ποιήσαντα αὐτὸν, ὁ δὲ ἐπιχαίρων ἀπολλυμένῳ οὐκ ἀθωωθήσεται, ὁ δὲ ἐπισπλαγχνιζόμενος ἐλεηθήσεται.
Children's children are the crown of old men; and their fathers are the glory of children.
Στέφανος γερόντων τέκνα τέκνων, καύχημα δὲ τέκνων πατέρες αὐτῶν·
The faithful has the whole world full of wealth; but the faithless not even a farthing.
τοῦ πιστοῦ ὅλος ὁ κόσμος τῶν χρημάτων, τοῦ δὲ ἀπίστου οὐδὲ ὀβολός.
Faithful lips will not suit a fool; nor lying lips a just man.
Οὐχ ἁρμόσει ἄφρονι χείλη πιστὰ, οὐδὲ δικαίῳ χείλη ψευδῆ.
Instruction is to them that use it a gracious reward: and whithersoever it may turn, it shall prosper.
Μισθὸς χαρίτων παιδεία τοῖς χρωμένοις, οὗ δʼ ἂν ἐπιστρέψῃ εὐοδωθήσεται.
He that conceals injuries seeks love; but he that hates to hide them separates friends and kindred.
Source notes (1)
- Comp. Heb.
Ὃς κρύπτει ἀδικήματα, ζητεῖ φιλίαν· ὃς δὲ μισεῖ κρύπτειν, διΐστησι φίλους καὶ οἰκείους.
A threat breaks down the heart of a wise man; but a fool, though scourged, understands not.
Συντρίβει ἀπειλὴ καρδίαν φρονίμου, ἄφρων δὲ μαστιγωθεὶς οὐκ αἰσθάνεται.
Every bad man stirs up strifes: but the Lord will send out against him an unmerciful messenger.
Ἀντιλογίας ἐγείρει πᾶς κακὸς, ὁ δὲ Κύριος ἄγγελον ἀνελεήμονα ἐκπέμψει αὐτῷ.
Care may befall a man of understanding; but fools will meditate evils.
Ἐμπεσεῖται μέριμνα ἀνδρὶ νοήμονι, οἱ δὲ ἄφρονες διαλογιοῦνται κακά.
Whoso rewards evil for good, evil shall not be removed from his house.
Ὃς ἀποδίδωσι κακὰ ἀντὶ ἀγαθῶν, οὐ κινηθήσεται κακὰ ἐκ τοῦ οἴκου αὐτοῦ.
Rightful rule gives power to words; but sedition and strife precede poverty.
Ἐξουσίαν δίδωσι λόγοις ἀρχὴ δικαιοσύνης, προηγεῖται δὲ τῆς ἐνδείας στάσις καὶ μάχη.
He that pronounces the unjust just, and the just unjust, is unclean and abominable with God.
Ὃς δίκαιον κρίνει τὸν ἄδικον, ἄδικον δὲ τὸν δίκαιον, ἀκάθαρτος καὶ βδελυκτὸς παρὰ Θεῷ.
Why has the fool wealth? for a senseless man will not be able to purchase wisdom.
Ἱνατί ὑπῆρξε χρήματα ἄφρονι; κτήσασθαι γὰρ σοφίαν ἀκάρδιος οὐ δυνήσεται·
He that exalts his own house seeks ruin; and he that turns aside from instruction shall fall into mischiefs.
ὃς ὑψηλὸν ποιεῖ τὸν ἑαυτοῦ οἶκον, ζητεῖ συντριβήν· ὁ δὲ σκολιάζων τοῦ μαθεῖν, ἐμπεσεῖται εἰς κακά.
Have thou a friend for every time, and let brethren be useful in distress; for on this account are they born.
Εἰς πάντα καιρὸν φίλος ὑπαρχέτω σοι, ἀδελφοὶ δὲ ἐν ἀνάγκαις χρήσιμοι ἔστωσαν, τούτου γὰρ χάριν γεννῶνται.
A foolish man applauds and rejoices over himself, as he also that becomes surety would make himself responsible for his own friends.
Ἀνὴρ ἄφρων ἐπικροτεῖ καὶ ἐπιχαίρει ἑαυτῷ, ὡς καὶ ὁ ἐγγυώμενος ἐγγύῃ τῶν ἑαυτοῦ φίλων.
A lover of sin rejoices in strifes;
Φιλαμαρτήμων χαίρει μάχαις,
and the hard-hearted man comes not in for good. A man of a changeful tongue will fall into mischiefs;
Source notes (1)
- Or, meets not with good men.
ὁ δὲ σκληροκάρδιος οὐ συναντᾷ ἀγαθοῖς· ἀνὴρ εὐμετάβολος γλώσσῃ ἐμπεσεῖται εἰς κακὰ,
and the heart of a fool is grief to its possessor. A father rejoices not over an uninstructed son; but a wise son gladdens his mother.
καρδία δὲ ἄφρονος ὀδύνη τῷ κεκτημένῳ αὐτήν· οὐκ εὐφραίνεται πατὴρ ἐφʼ υἱῷ ἀπαιδεύτῳ, υἱὸς δὲ φρόνιμος εὐφραίνει μητέρα αὐτοῦ.
A glad heart promotes health; but the bones of a sorrowful man dry up.
Καρδία εὐφραινομένη εὐεκτεῖν ποιεῖ, ἀνδρὸς δὲ λυπηροῦ ξηραίνεται τὰ ὀστᾶ.
The ways of a man who unjustly receives gifts in his bosom do not prosper; and an ungodly man perverts the ways of righteousness.
Λαμβάνοντος δῶρα ἀδίκως ἐν κόλποις οὐ κατευοδοῦνται ὁδοὶ, ἀσεβὴς δὲ ἐκκλίνει ὁδοὺς δικαιοσύνης.
The countenance of a wise man is sensible; but the eyes of a fool go to the ends of the earth.
Πρόσωπον συνετὸν ἀνδρὸς σοφοῦ, οἱ δὲ ὀφθαλμοὶ τοῦ ἄφρονος ἐπʼ ἄκρα γῆς.
A foolish son is a cause of anger to his father, and grief to her that bore him.
Ὀργὴ πατρὶ υἱὸς ἄφρων, καὶ ὀδύνη τῇ τεκούσῃ αὐτόν.
It is not right to punish a righteous man, nor is it holy to plot against righteous princes.
Ζημιοῦν ἄνδρα δίκαιον οὐ καλὸν, οὐδὲ ὅσιον ἐπιβουλεύειν δυνάσταις δικαίοις.
He that forbears to utter a hard word is discreet, and a patient man is wise.
Ὃς φείδεται ῥῆμα προέσθαι σκληρὸν, ἐπιγνώμων· μακρόθυμος δὲ ἀνὴρ φρόνιμος.
Wisdom shall be imputed to a fool who asks after wisdom: and he who holds his peace shall seem to be sensible.
Ἀνοήτῳ ἐπερωτήσαντι σοφίαν σοφία λογισθήσεται, ἐνεὸν δέ τις ἑαυτὸν ποιήσας, δόξει φρόνιμος εἶναι.
Brenton supplied wording, small capitals, translation notes, Greek wording, and edition-specific verse identifiers are retained. Parallel passages keep each edition's own references. Editions and sources.