< 箴言 22 >

1 信譽比多財可取,敬仰必金銀可貴。
A good name is more desirable than great riches, and loving favor is better than silver and gold.
2 富人與窮人彼此相遇,二者皆為上主所造。
The rich and the poor have this in common: The LORD is the maker of them all.
3 精明人遇見災禍,即行隱避;無知者反向前走,自招損害。
The shrewd see danger and take cover, but the naive keep on going and suffer for it.
4 謙卑的賞報,是敬畏上主,是享有財富、尊榮和生命。
The result of humility and the fear of the LORD is wealth, honor, and life.
5 邪惡者的路上,滿佈荊棘羅網;潔身自愛的人,必能遠而避之。
Thorns and snares are in the path of the wicked: whoever guards his soul stays from them.
6 你教導孩童應行的道路,待他老年時也不會離棄。
Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
7 富人宰割窮人,債主奴役債戶。
The rich rule over the poor. The borrower is servant to the lender.
8 播種邪惡的,必收穫災禍;他辛苦工作,必全屬徒然。
He who sows wickedness reaps trouble, and the rod of his fury will fail. God blesses a cheerful and generous person, but the vanity of his deeds he will bring to an end.
9 目光慈祥的,必蒙受祝福,因他將食糧,施捨給狂人。
He who has a generous eye will be blessed; for he shares his food with the poor.
10 趕走了狂人,就除了爭執;爭訟與侮辱,亦相繼止息。
Drive out the mocker, and strife will go out; yes, quarrels and insults will stop.
11 純潔的心靈,是上主所愛;優雅的唇舌,是君王所悅。
He who loves purity of heart and speaks gracefully is the king's friend.
12 上主的眼目,常衛護知識;敗類的言論,必加以毀滅。
The eyes of the LORD watch over knowledge; but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.
13 只有懶人說:「外面有獅子,在街市之中,我會被吞噬。」
The sluggard says, "There is a lion outside. I will be killed in the streets."
14 淫婦們的口,實是個深坑;上主惱怒的,必墮入其中。
The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit: he who is under the LORD's wrath will fall into it.
15 孩童心中藏愚昧,只有戒尺能驅逐。
Folly is bound up in the heart of a child: the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
16 欺壓窮人,是使他致富;饋贈富者,是使他貧窮。
Whoever oppresses the poor for his own increase and whoever gives to the rich, both come to poverty.
17 你應當傾聽智者的訓言,應專心致意領會我的知識。
The words of the wise: Incline your ear and hear my words, and apply your heart to my instruction.
18 你若細心存想,常在口中誦念,必會令你喜悅。
For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.
19 為使你的信賴全托於上主,我今日特將道路指示給你。
That your trust may be in the LORD, I teach you today, even you.
20 關於教誨和知識,我豈未多次寫過;
Haven't I written to you thirty excellent things of counsel and knowledge,
21 使你認識真言實理,答覆前來問你的人﹖
To teach you truth, reliable words, to give sound answers to the ones who sent you?
22 你不可因為人窮而剝削窮人,亦不可在城門口欺壓弱小者;
Do not exploit the poor, because he is poor; and do not crush the needy in court;
23 因為他們的案件,上主必予以辯護;凡剝奪他們的人,上主必討其生命。
for the LORD will plead their case, and plunder the life of those who plunder them.
24 易怒的人,不可與他交結,暴躁的人,不要與他往來,
Do not befriend a hot-tempered man, and do not associate with one who harbors anger:
25 免得你沾染他的惡習,甘冒喪失性命的危險。
lest you learn his ways, and ensnare your soul.
26 不要為別人擊掌,不要為債務作保;
Do not be one of those who strike hands, of those who are collateral for debts.
27 免得你沒有什麼償還時,連你的床榻也被人奪走。
If you do not have means to pay, why should he take away your bed from under you?
28 祖先立定的舊界,你不要加以移動。
Do not move the ancient boundary stone, which your fathers have set up.
29 你曾見過辦事能幹的人嗎﹖他必侍立在君王面前,決不侍立在庸人面前。
Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve kings. He won't serve obscure men.

< 箴言 22 >