< 箴言 3 >

1 我兒,不要忘了我的法律,該誠心恪守我的誡命,
My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart guard my precepts.
2 因為這樣能使你延年益壽,也能增加你的康寧。
For they shall set before you length of days, and years of life, and peace.
3 不要讓慈祥和忠實離棄你,要將她們繫在你的頸上,刻在你的心版上;
Let not mercy and truth abandon you: encircle them around your throat, and inscribe them on the tablets of your heart.
4 這樣,你在天主和世人面前,必獲得寵幸和恩愛。
And so shall you discover grace and good discipline, in the sight of God and men.
5 你應全心信賴上主,總不要依賴自己的聰明;
Have confidence in the Lord with all your heart, and do not depend upon your own prudence.
6 應步步體會上主,他必修平你的行徑。
In all your ways, consider him, and he himself will direct your steps.
7 不要自作聰明,應敬畏上主,遠避邪惡;
Do not seem wise to yourself. Fear God, and withdraw from evil.
8 如此,你的身體必會康健,你的骨骼也會舒適。
Certainly, it shall be health to your navel, and refreshment to your bones.
9 應以你的財物和一切初熟之物,去尊崇上主;
Honor the Lord with your substance, and give to him from the first of all your fruits,
10 這樣,你的倉廩必充滿糧食,你的榨酒池必盈溢新酒。
and then your storehouses will be filled with abundance, and your presses shall overflow with wine.
11 我兒,不要輕視上主的懲戒,也不要厭惡他的譴責,
My son, do not discard the discipline of the Lord, and do not fall away when you are corrected by him.
12 因為上主譴責他所愛的,有如父親譴責他的愛子。
For whomever the Lord loves, he corrects, and just as a father does with a son, he wins him over.
13 尋得智慧和獲取睿智的人是有福的,
Blessed is the man who finds wisdom and who advances to prudence.
14 因為賺得智慧勝於賺得銀錢;智慧的果實勝於純金。
Her acquisition is better than trading in silver, and her fruit is better than the first and purest gold.
15 智慧比珍珠還要寶貴;凡你所貪求的,都不足以與她倫比。
She is more precious than all riches, and all that can be desired cannot prevail in comparison to her.
16 在她右邊是延年益壽,在她左邊是富貴榮華。
Length of days is at her right hand, and at her left hand is wealth and glory.
17 她的道路是康樂之道,她的行徑是一片安寧。
Her ways are beautiful ways, and all her paths are peaceful.
18 她為掌握她的人,是一株生命樹;凡堅持她的,必將納福。
She is a tree of life to those who overtake her, and he who shall take hold of her is blessed.
19 上主以智慧奠定了大地,以睿智堅定了高天;
The Lord founded the earth on wisdom. He secured the heavens with prudence.
20 賴他的智識,深淵纔裂口噴水,雲彩纔降下甘露。
By his wisdom, the abyss erupted and the clouds increased with dew.
21 我兒,你應保持明智和慎重,不要讓她們離開你的視線:
My son, let not these things move away from your eyes. Preserve law as well as counsel.
22 二者應是你心靈的生命,是你頸項的華飾;
And so shall there be life in your soul and grace in your voice.
23 這樣,你走路必感安全,你的腳不致絆倒。
Then you shall walk confidently in your way, and your feet will not stumble.
24 你若坐下,必無所恐懼;你若躺下,必睡得甘甜。
When you slumber, you shall not fear. When you rest, your sleep also will be sweet.
25 你決不怕驟然而來的恐怖,也不怕惡人突然而至的摧殘,
Do not fear unexpected terror, nor the power of the impious falling upon you.
26 因為上主將要護佑你,使你的腳遠離陷阱。
For the Lord will be at your side, and he will guard your feet, so that you may not be seized.
27 你若有能力作到,不要拒絕向有求於你的人行善;
Do not prevent him who is able from doing good. When you are able, do good yourself too.
28 如果你能即刻作到,不要對你的近人說:「去! 明天再來,我纔給你。」
Do not say to your friend: “Go away, and then return. Tomorrow I will give to you.” When you are able to do so, give in the present.
29 幾時你的近人安心與你居住,你不應暗算他。
Do not undertake evil against your friend, even though he has trust in you.
30 若他人沒有加害你,你不應與他無端爭辯。
Do not contend against a man without cause, even though he has done no evil to you.
31 不要羨慕強暴的人,更不要選擇他的任何行徑,
Do not rival an unjust man, and do not imitate his ways.
32 因為上主厭惡乖戾的人,摯愛正直的人。
For everyone who ridicules is an abomination to the Lord, and his communication is for the simple.
33 上主詛咒惡人的住宅,祝福義人的寓所。
Destitution in the house of the impious is from the Lord. But the habitations of the just shall be blessed.
34 上主嘲弄好愚弄的人,卻寵愛謙卑的人。
He will ridicule those who ridicule, but he will bestow grace upon the mild.
35 智慧的人必承受尊榮,愚昧的人必蒙受羞辱。
The wise will possess glory. The exaltation of the foolish is disgraceful.

< 箴言 3 >