箴言 8
1 智慧不是在呼喚，明智不是在發出她的呼聲嗎﹖
Doth not wisdom call, and understanding put forth her voice?
2 她站在高崗上，站在通衢大道上，
In the top of high places by the way, where the paths meet, she standeth;
3 她在城門口，在城入口處大聲喊說：
Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors, she crieth aloud:
4 人呀! 我在向你們呼喚，我在對人子發出呼聲：
'Unto you, O men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of men.
5 幼稚的人，你們應學習機智；愚昧的人，你們應學習聰明。
O ye thoughtless, understand prudence, and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
6 你們且聽，因為我要講論卓絕的事，開口述說正直的事。
Hear, for I will speak excellent things, and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
7 的確，我的口只暢談真理，我厭惡虛詐的唇舌。
For my mouth shall utter truth, and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 凡我口述的，無不正直，毫無歪曲或乖僻。
All the words of my mouth are in righteousness, there is nothing perverse or crooked in them.
9 我的話為明白的人是誠實的，為有智識的人是正確的。
They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
10 你們應聽取我的教訓，而不要銀子；應汲取智識，而不取純金；
Receive my instruction, and not silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold.
11 因為智慧勝過任何珍珠，任何可貪戀的事都不能與她倫比。
For wisdom is better than rubies, and all things desirable are not to be compared unto her.
12 我──智慧──與機智同居，擁有知識和見識。
I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of devices.
13 敬畏上主，就是憎恨邪惡傲慢驕橫，邪惡的行徑和欺詐的口舌，我都憎惡。
The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
14 機謀才智，屬我所有；聰明勇敢，亦屬於我。
Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, power is mine.
15 藉著我，君王執政，元首秉公行義；
By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
16 藉著我，統治者統治，王侯治理邦土。
By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
17 我愛那愛我的人；凡尋求我的，必找著我。
I love them that love me, and those that seek me earnestly shall find me.
18 富貴榮譽，恒產正義，都屬我有。
Riches and honour are with me; yea, enduring riches and righteousness.
19 我的果實，勝過黃金純金；我的出產，比淨銀還要寶貴。
My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my produce than choice silver.
20 我走在正義的路上，走在公平的路上，
I walk in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice;
21 使愛我者獲得產業，充滿他們的寶庫。
That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance, and that I may fill their treasuries.
22 上主自始即拿我作他行動的起始，作他作為的開端：
The LORD made me as the beginning of His way, the first of His works of old.
23 大地還沒有形成以前，遠自太古，從無始我已被立；
I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
24 深淵還沒有存在，水泉還沒有湧出以前，我已受生；
When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.
25 山嶽還沒有奠定，丘陵還沒有存在以前，我已受生。
Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth;
26 那時，上主還沒有創造大地、原野、和世上土壤的原質；
While as yet He had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the beginning of the dust of the world.
27 當他建立高天時，我已在場；當他在深淵之上劃出穹蒼時，
When He established the heavens, I was there; when He set a circle upon the face of the deep,
28 當他上使穹蒼穩立，下使淵源固定時，
When He made firm the skies above, when the fountains of the deep showed their might,
29 當他為滄海劃定界限，令水不要越境，給大地奠定基礎時，
When He gave to the sea His decree, that the waters should not transgress His commandment, when He appointed the foundations of the earth;
30 我已在他身旁，充作技師。那時，我天天是他的喜悅，不斷在他前歡躍，
Then I was by Him, as a nursling; and I was daily all delight, playing always before Him,
31 歡躍於塵寰之間，樂與世人共處。
Playing in His habitable earth, and my delights are with the sons of men.
32 那麼，我兒，你們且聽我：遵循我道路的人是有福的。
Now therefore, ye children, hearken unto me; for happy are they that keep my ways.
33 你們該聽從教訓，做一智慧人，不要把她拋棄。
Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
34 凡聽從我言，天天在我門前守候，在我門框旁侍立的人，是有福的。
Happy is the man that hearkeneth to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
35 因為誰找到我，便是找到生命，他必由上主獲得恩寵。
For whoso findeth me findeth life, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.
36 但是那得罪我的，等於傷害自己；凡憎恨我的，是自找死亡。
But he that misseth me wrongeth his own soul; all they that hate me love death.'
