箴言 4
1 孩子，你們要聽父親的教訓，專心學習明智，
Listen, sons, to a father's instruction; pay attention and discover what makes sense,
2 因為我把好教訓授給你們，你們不要拋棄我的規勸。
for what I am passing on to you is reliable. Don't reject my teachings.
3 我也曾在父親面前作過孝子，在我母親膝下是唯一的嬌兒。
When I was a son with my father—a tender young boy, my mother's only child—
4 我父曾訓誨我說：你應留心牢記我的話，遵守我的命令，好使你生存；
he was the one who taught me. He told me, “Pay attention to the words I say and keep them in mind; do what I tell you and you will live.
5 你應緊握智慧，握住明智，不要忘記，也不要離棄我口中的教訓：
Get wisdom, find out what makes sense. Don't forget my words or reject them.
6 你若不捨棄她，她必護佑你；你若喜愛她，她必看顧你。
Don't give up on wisdom for she will keep you safe. Love wisdom and she will protect you.
7 首先應爭取的是智慧，因此你應尋求智慧，應犧牲一切去爭取明智。
The first thing in becoming wise is to get wisdom! Whatever else you gain, gain insight.
8 你若顯揚智慧，智慧也必顯揚你；你若懷抱她，她也必光榮你：
Treasure wisdom, and she will praise you; embrace her, and she will honor you.
9 將華冠加在你的頭上，將榮冕賜給你。
She will place on your head a wreath of grace; she will present to you a crown of glory.”
10 我兒，你若聽取我的訓言，你必延年益壽。
Listen, my son, if you accept what I tell you, then you will live a long life.
11 我要教給你智慧的道路，引你走上正直的途徑：
I have explained to you the way of wisdom; I have guided you along the right paths.
12 這樣，你若行走，你的腳決不會受阻礙；即便你奔馳，也決不致顛仆。
Nothing will block your way when you walk, you won't stumble when you run.
13 你要堅持教訓，切勿把她拋棄；你應保存她，因為她是你的生命。
Hold on to these instructions—don't let them go. Protect them, for they are life's foundation.
14 惡人的道路，你不要進去；壞人的途徑，你不要踏入；
Don't go the way of the wicked or follow the example of those who do evil.
15 反應躲避，不經其上；遠遠離去，繞道他往。
Avoid that way completely. Don't go there! Turn away, and walk on.
16 因為他們不作惡，不能入睡；不使人跌倒，就要失眠。
Evil people won't rest until they've done something wrong; they can't sleep unless they've tripped someone up.
17 他們吃的是邪惡的餅，飲的是暴虐的酒。
For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
18 但是，義人的途徑，像黎明的曙光，越來越明亮，直至成日中；
The way of life of the good is like the light of the sunrise, glowing brighter and brighter until the full light of day shines out.
19 惡人的道路，卻宛如幽暗，他們不知道，要跌在何處。
But the way of life of the wicked is like complete darkness; they don't even know what they're tripping over.
20 我兒，你要注意我的訓言，側耳傾聽我的教導；
My son, pay attention to what I tell you; listen to the words I'm saying.
21 不要讓她離開你的視線，卻要牢記在心中。
Don't lose sight of them; think about them deeply,
22 因為，凡找著她的，必獲得生命；他整個身軀，必獲得健康。
for they are life to anyone who finds them, and make the whole body healthy.
23 在一切之上，你要謹守你的心，因為生命是由此而生。
Most of all, protect your mind, for everything in life flows from it.
24 你應摒絕口舌的欺詐，遠避唇舌的乖謬。
Don't ever lie, and don't say anything dishonest.
25 你的眼睛應向前直視，你的視線應向前集中。
Focus on what's ahead of you; look at what's in front of you.
26 你要修平你腳下的行徑，要鞏固你一切的路途。
Pay attention to the path you decide to follow, and you'll be safe wherever you go.
27 你斷不可左傾右依，務使你的腳遠離邪惡。
Don't deviate to the right or the left, and turn away from evil.
