< 箴言 17 >

1 乾餅一張而平安共食,勝於滿屋佳餚而互相爭吵。
Better is a dry morsel with quietness, than a house full of feasting with strife.
2 聰明的僕人必能管治任性的兒子,且可與弟兄們共分產業。
A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who causes shame, and shall have a part in the inheritance amongst the brothers.
3 鍋煉銀,爐煉金,上主煉人心。
The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the hearts.
4 奸詐的人,愛聽胡言亂語;說謊的人,輕信是非長短。
An evildoer heeds wicked lips. A liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
5 嘲笑窮人的是凌辱他的造主;幸災樂禍的,必不能脫免懲罰。
Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker. He who is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.
6 孫兒是老人的冠冕,父親是兒女的光榮。
Children’s children are the crown of old men; the glory of children is their parents.
7 優雅的言詞,不適宜於愚人;虛偽的狂語,更不宜於君王。
Excellent speech isn’t fitting for a fool, much less do lying lips fit a prince.
8 賄賂在饋贈者眼中,有如寶石;不論他要轉向何方,無往不利。
A bribe is a precious stone in the eyes of him who gives it; wherever he turns, he prospers.
9 掩飾他人的過錯,可獲得友愛;屢念舊日的過惡,則離間友誼。
He who covers an offence promotes love; but he who repeats a matter separates best friends.
10 對明智人一句指責,勝過對愚昧人百次杖擊。
A rebuke enters deeper into one who has understanding than a hundred lashes into a fool.
11 暴徒只求叛亂,但有殘酷使者,奉命前來對付。
An evil man seeks only rebellion; therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
12 寧願遇見失掉幼子的母熊,不願逢著正在發狂的愚人。
Let a bear robbed of her cubs meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
13 誰以怨報德,災禍必不離開他的家。
Whoever rewards evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
14 爭論的開端,如水之破堤;在激辯之前,應極加制止。
The beginning of strife is like breaching a dam, therefore stop contention before quarrelling breaks out.
15 宣判罪人無罪,判定義人有罪:二者同為上主所憎惡。
He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.
16 愚昧的人,既沒有頭腦,手執金錢買智慧,又何益之有﹖
Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, since he has no understanding?
17 朋友平時常相愛,唯在難中見兄弟。
A friend loves at all times; and a brother is born for adversity.
18 常為人擊掌作保,實是個無知之徒。
A man void of understanding strikes hands, and becomes collateral in the presence of his neighbour.
19 好爭辯的人,實喜愛罪過;高舉門戶的,必自趨滅亡。
He who loves disobedience loves strife. One who builds a high gate seeks destruction.
20 誰存心欺詐,不會得幸福;誰搬弄是非,必陷於災禍。
One who has a perverse heart doesn’t find prosperity, and one who has a deceitful tongue falls into trouble.
21 生糊塗孩子的,只有悲哀;糊塗人的父親,毫無樂趣。
He who becomes the father of a fool grieves. The father of a fool has no joy.
22 愉快的心,是良好的治療;神志憂鬱,能使筋骨枯萎。
A cheerful heart makes good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
23 惡人在大衣下受賄賂,是為顛倒正義的判詞。
A wicked man receives a bribe in secret, to pervert the ways of justice.
24 精明的人,常面向智慧;愚者的眼,向地極呆望,
Wisdom is before the face of one who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.
25 愚昧的兒子,是他父親的痛苦,是他生母的憂傷。
A foolish son brings grief to his father, and bitterness to her who bore him.
26 科罰無辜,已屬不當;杖責君子,更屬不義。
Also to punish the righteous is not good, nor to flog officials for their integrity.
27 智者必沉默寡言,達人必心神鎮定。
He who spares his words has knowledge. He who is even tempered is a man of understanding.
28 愚人不發言,亦可充作智者;若謹口慎言,亦可視為哲人。
Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is counted wise. When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning.

< 箴言 17 >