箴言 18
1 與眾寡合的，獨自尋求心願， 並惱恨一切真智慧。
Those who separate themselves [from other people] think [only] about those things that they are interested in; [if they would continually associate with] those who have good judgment/sense, they would constantly disagree/quarrel with them.
2 愚昧人不喜愛明哲， 只喜愛顯露心意。
Foolish people do not want to understand [anything]; they only want to (express their [own] opinions/say what they think) [IDM].
3 惡人來，藐視隨來； 羞恥到，辱罵同到。
Whenever people do wicked things, others will despise them; when people do things that cause themselves to no [longer] be honored, they will be disgraced [also].
4 人口中的言語如同深水； 智慧的泉源好像湧流的河水。
What wise people say is [like] a deep ocean [that you can never get to the bottom of] [MET], and it [refreshes us like water from] a rapidly flowing stream.
5 瞻徇惡人的情面， 偏斷義人的案件，都為不善。
It is not good [for a judge] to decide matters in favor of those who (are guilty/have done wicked things) and to not do what is just for those who (are innocent/have not done what is wrong).
6 愚昧人張嘴啟爭端， 開口招鞭打。
When foolish people [SYN] start arguments, [it is as though] they [SYN] are requesting/inviting someone to flog/whip them.
7 愚昧人的口自取敗壞； 他的嘴是他生命的網羅。
What foolish people [MTY] say causes them to be ruined; their [own] words are [like] a trap [MET] [that catches/seizes] them.
8 傳舌人的言語如同美食， 深入人的心腹。
[People enjoy listening to] what gossips say like [SIM] [they enjoy] tasty food; they [accept what gossips tell them like] [MET] they swallow tasty food.
9 做工懈怠的， 與浪費人為弟兄。
People who are lazy while they work are [just as bad] as [IDM] those who destroy things.
10 耶和華的名是堅固臺； 義人奔入便得安穩。
Yahweh [MTY] is [like] a strong tower [MET]; righteous people [can] go to him and be safe [like they can run to a tower to be safe].
11 富足人的財物是他的堅城， 在他心想，猶如高牆。
Rich people [are protected because they have] a lot of money [PRS] like a city is protected because it has a high wall surrounding it [SIM].
12 敗壞之先，人心驕傲； 尊榮以前，必有謙卑。
Proud people are on the road to being ruined, but being humble leads to being honored.
13 未曾聽完先回答的， 便是他的愚昧和羞辱。
Those who reply to someone before that person has finished speaking are foolish; doing that is disgraceful.
14 人有疾病，心能忍耐； 心靈憂傷，誰能承當呢？
A desire to [continue to] live can sustain someone when he is sick; if he loses that desire, he (cannot endure it/will become very discouraged) when he is sick [RHQ].
15 聰明人的心得知識； 智慧人的耳求知識。
Intelligent people [are always wanting to] learn more; wise people [SYN] are not content with what they already know.
16 人的禮物為他開路， 引他到高位的人面前。
If you take a gift to an important person, that will open the way to allow you to talk to him.
17 先訴情由的，似乎有理； 但鄰舍來到，就察出實情。
The first person to present his case in court seems right, but when (someone else/his opponent) begins to ask him questions, [it may become clear that what he said was not true].
18 掣籤能止息爭競， 也能解散強勝的人。
If two influential/important people are arguing, [someone can] settle the matter by (casting lots/throwing marked stones to decide who is right).
19 弟兄結怨，勸他和好，比取堅固城還難； 這樣的爭競如同堅寨的門閂。
If you help relatives, they will [protect you] like [SIM] a strong wall [protects a city], but if you quarrel with them, [that will separate you from them] like bars on a city gate [separate the city from those who want to enter it] [MET].
20 人口中所結的果子，必充滿肚腹； 他嘴所出的，必使他飽足。
People are happy when they hear others say [MTY] something that is good, [like] they are happy when they eat food that is good [MET].
21 生死在舌頭的權下， 喜愛它的，必吃它所結的果子。
What you say can cause others to be killed or it can cause them to [continue to] live; [so] those who like [to talk a lot] must (accept the consequences/realize that what they say can cause much harm).
22 得着賢妻的，是得着好處， 也是蒙了耶和華的恩惠。
If you marry a [good] woman, that is [like] finding a wonderful thing; [it shows that] Yahweh is pleased with you.
23 貧窮人說哀求的話； 富足人用威嚇的話回答。
[It is necessary for] poor [people] to speak politely when they request [rich people to do something for them], but rich [people] reply very impolitely when poor people speak to them.
24 濫交朋友的，自取敗壞； 但有一朋友比弟兄更親密。
There are [some] people who [only] pretend to be friends [with us], but there are [some] friends who are more loyal than members of our families.
