箴言 21
1 君王的心在上主手裏，有如水流，可隨意轉移。
Just as with the dividing of the waters, so also is the heart of the king in the hand of the Lord. He shall bend it whichever way he wills.
2 人對自己的行為，都自覺正直；但審察人心的，卻是上主。
Every way of a man seems right to himself. But the Lord weighs hearts.
3 秉公行義，比獻祭獻更悅上主。
To do mercy and judgment is more pleasing to the Lord than sacrifices.
4 傲慢的眼睛，驕傲的心靈，惡人的炫耀，無非是罪惡。
To lift up the eyes is to enlarge the heart. The lamp of the impious is sin.
5 熟思的人，必足以致富；草率的人，必貧困纏身。
The intentions of the robust continually bring forth abundance. But all the lazy are continually in need.
6 以謊言偽語騙得的財寶，是浮雲輕煙，死亡的羅網。
Whoever gathers treasures by a lying tongue is vain and heartless. And he will stumble into the snares of death.
7 惡人的暴戾，必殃及自身，因他們不肯去履行正義。
The robberies of the impious will drag them down, because they were not willing to do judgment.
8 惡人的道路，歪曲邪僻；正人的行為，正直適中。
The perverse way of a man is foreign. But whoever is pure: his work is upright.
9 寧願住在屋頂的一角，不願與吵婦同居一室。
It is better to sit in a corner of the attic, than with a contentious woman and in a shared house.
10 惡人的心靈，只求邪惡；對自己友伴，毫不關懷。
The soul of the impious desires evil; he will not take pity on his neighbor.
11 輕狂人遭受處罰，幼稚者將得明智；智慧人接受教訓，更增加自己知識。
When the pestilent is punished, a little one will become wiser. And if he pursues what is wise, he will receive knowledge.
12 正義的上主監視惡人的家，且使惡人們都陷於災禍中。
The just thinks carefully about the house of the impious, so that he may draw the impious away from evil.
13 誰對窮人的哀求，充耳不聞，他呼求時，也不會得到應允。
Whoever blocks his ears to the outcry of the poor shall also cry out himself, and he will not be heeded.
14 暗中相送的饋贈，可平息忿怒；投入懷中的禮物，可平息狂怒。
A surprise gift extinguishes anger. And a gift concealed in the bosom extinguishes the greatest indignation.
15 秉公行義，能叫義人喜樂；但為作惡的人，卻是恐懼。
It is gladness for the just to do judgment; and it is dread for those who work iniquity.
16 凡遠離明智道路的人，必居於幽靈的集會中。
A man who wanders astray from the way of doctrine will linger in the company of the giants.
17 貪愛享樂的人，必遭受窮困；喜愛酒油的人，必不會致富。
Whoever loves a feast will be in deprivation. Whoever loves wine and fatness will not be enriched.
18 惡人必將為義人作贖金，敗類也將替君子作代價。
The impious is given over instead of the just, and the iniquitous is given over in place of the upright.
19 與好爭易怒的女人同居，倒不如獨自住在曠野裏。
It is better to live in a deserted land, than with a quarrelsome and emotional woman.
20 珍貴的寶藏和油，積藏在智者家裏；但糊塗愚昧的人，卻將之消耗淨盡。
There is desirable treasure, as well as oil, in the habitations of the just. And the imprudent man will waste it.
21 追求正義和仁慈的人，必將獲得生命與尊榮。
Whoever follows justice and mercy shall discover life, justice, and glory.
22 智者必登上勇士的城邑，攻破城邑所憑倚的保壘。
The wise has ascended the city of the strong, and he has torn down the bulwark of its confidence.
23 誰謹守自己的口舌，心靈必能免受煩惱。
Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue guards his soul from anguish.
24 高傲的人名叫「狂人」，他行事必極端蠻橫。
A proud and arrogant one is also called ignorant, if he, in anger, acts according to pride.
25 怠惰人的手不肯操作，必為他的願望所扼殺。
Desires kill the lazy, for his hands are not willing to work at all.
26 貪婪的人，終日貪婪；正義的人，廣施不吝。
He covets and desires all day long. But whoever is just shall distribute and shall not cease.
27 惡人的祭獻，已是可憎；若懷惡而獻，更將如何﹖
The sacrifices of the impious are abominable, because they are offered out of wickedness.
28 作假見證的人，必要滅亡；但善於聽的人，纔可常言。
A lying witness will perish. An obedient man shall speak of victory.
29 邪惡的人，常裝腔作勢；正直的人，卻舉止檢點。
The impious man insolently hardens his face. But whoever is upright corrects his own way.
30 任何智慧、才略或計謀，都不能與上主相對抗。
There is no wisdom, there is no prudence, there is no counsel, which is against the Lord.
31 招兵買馬，是為作作戰之日；但是勝利，卻由上主指使。
The horse is prepared for the day of battle. But the Lord bestows salvation.
