箴言 21
1 王的心在耶和華手中， 好像隴溝的水隨意流轉。
The Lord directs the king's decisions like a stream of water that he sends whichever way he wants.
2 人所行的，在自己眼中都看為正； 惟有耶和華衡量人心。
People think that whatever they do is fine, but the Lord looks at their motives.
3 行仁義公平 比獻祭更蒙耶和華悅納。
Doing what's right and fair pleases the Lord more than sacrifices.
4 惡人發達，眼高心傲， 這乃是罪。
Pride and arrogance are the sins the wicked live by.
5 殷勤籌劃的，足致豐裕； 行事急躁的，都必缺乏。
Those who plan ahead and work hard will have plenty, while those who act rashly end up poor.
6 用詭詐之舌求財的，就是自己取死； 所得之財乃是吹來吹去的浮雲。
Money made by lies is like smoke in the wind—a chase that ends in death.
7 惡人的強暴必將自己掃除， 因他們不肯按公平行事。
The destruction caused by the wicked will destroy them, for they refuse to do what's right.
8 負罪之人的路甚是彎曲； 至於清潔的人，他所行的乃是正直。
Guilty people live crooked lives, but the innocent follow straight paths.
9 寧可住在房頂的角上， 不在寬闊的房屋與爭吵的婦人同住。
It's better to live in a corner of a housetop than to share a whole house with an argumentative wife.
10 惡人的心樂人受禍； 他眼並不憐恤鄰舍。
Evil people love to do wrong, they don't care what pain they cause anyone.
11 褻慢的人受刑罰，愚蒙的人就得智慧； 智慧人受訓誨，便得知識。
When a mocker is punished, an immature person can learn wisdom. When the wise are educated, they gain knowledge.
12 義人思想惡人的家， 知道惡人傾倒，必致滅亡。
The God of justice sees what happens in the homes of the wicked, and brings the wicked down in disaster.
13 塞耳不聽窮人哀求的， 他將來呼籲也不蒙應允。
If you refuse to hear the cries of the poor, your cries won't be heard either.
14 暗中送的禮物挽回怒氣； 懷中搋的賄賂止息暴怒。
A gift given in secret calms down anger, and a hidden bribe soothes furious rage.
15 秉公行義使義人喜樂， 使作孽的人敗壞。
When justice is done, the good are happy, but it brings terror to those who do evil.
16 迷離通達道路的， 必住在陰魂的會中。
Anyone who wanders away from the path of understanding ends up with the dead.
17 愛宴樂的，必致窮乏； 好酒，愛膏油的，必不富足。
If you love pleasure you'll become poor; if you love wine and olive oil you won't ever be rich.
18 惡人作了義人的贖價； 奸詐人代替正直人。
The wicked pay the price and not the good; those who are deceitful and not those who live right.
19 寧可住在曠野， 不與爭吵使氣的婦人同住。
It's better to live in a desert than with an argumentative and bad-tempered wife.
20 智慧人家中積蓄寶物膏油； 愚昧人隨得來隨吞下。
The wise hold on to their wealth and olive oil, but stupid people use up everything they have.
21 追求公義仁慈的， 就尋得生命、公義，和尊榮。
If you pursue goodness and trustworthy love, you'll find life, prosperity, and honor.
22 智慧人爬上勇士的城牆， 傾覆他所倚靠的堅壘。
The wise can overcome a city belonging to strong warriors, and tear down the fortress they trusted to protect them.
23 謹守口與舌的， 就保守自己免受災難。
If you watch what you say, you can save yourself a lot of trouble.
24 心驕氣傲的人名叫褻慢； 他行事狂妄，都出於驕傲。
A proud, conceited, mocker—that's the name of those who act with insolent arrogance.
25 懶惰人的心願將他殺害， 因為他手不肯做工。
Slackers die hungry because they refuse to work.
26 有終日貪得無饜的； 義人施捨而不吝惜。
Some people only want more and more all the time, but the good give generously.
27 惡人的祭物是可憎的； 何況他存惡意來獻呢？
The sacrifices given by the wicked are obnoxious, worse still when they're offered with evil motives.
28 作假見證的必滅亡； 惟有聽真情而言的，其言長存。
The lies of a false witness vanish away, but the words of a reliable witness will stand.
29 惡人臉無羞恥； 正直人行事堅定。
The wicked act as bold as brass, but those who live right consider carefully what they're doing.
30 沒有人能以智慧、聰明、 謀略敵擋耶和華。
Whatever wisdom, understanding, or guidance you may have is nothing before the Lord.
31 馬是為打仗之日預備的； 得勝乃在乎耶和華。
You can get your horse ready for battle, but the victory is the Lord's.
