< 箴言 4 >
Listen, sons, to a father's instruction. Pay attention and know understanding;
for I give you sound learning. Do not forsake my law.
3 我在父親面前為孝子, 在母親眼中為獨一的嬌兒。
For I was a son to my father, tender and an only child in the sight of my mother.
4 父親教訓我說:你心要存記我的言語, 遵守我的命令,便得存活。
He taught me, and said to me: "Let your heart retain my words. Keep my commandments, and live.
5 要得智慧,要得聰明,不可忘記, 也不可偏離我口中的言語。
Get wisdom. Get understanding. Do not forget, neither swerve from the words of my mouth.
6 不可離棄智慧,智慧就護衛你; 要愛她,她就保守你。
Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you. Love her, and she will keep you.
7 智慧為首; 所以,要得智慧。 在你一切所得之內必得聰明。
Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding.
8 高舉智慧,她就使你高升; 懷抱智慧,她就使你尊榮。
Esteem her, and she will exalt you. She will bring you to honor, when you embrace her.
She will give to your head a garland of grace. She will deliver a crown of splendor to you."
Listen, my son, and receive my sayings. The years of your life will be many.
I have taught you in the way of wisdom. I have led you in straight paths.
12 你行走,腳步必不致狹窄; 你奔跑,也不致跌倒。
When you go, your steps will not be hampered. When you run, you will not stumble.
13 要持定訓誨,不可放鬆; 必當謹守,因為它是你的生命。
Take firm hold of instruction. Do not let her go. Keep her, for she is your life.
Do not enter into the path of the wicked. Do not walk in the way of evil men.
Avoid it, and do not pass by it. Turn from it, and pass on.
16 這等人若不行惡,不得睡覺; 不使人跌倒,睡臥不安;
For they do not sleep, unless they do evil. Their sleep is taken away, unless they make someone fall.
For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
18 但義人的路好像黎明的光, 越照越明,直到日午。
But the path of the righteous is like a shining light, that shines brighter and brighter until the full day.
The way of the wicked is like darkness. They do not know what they stumble over.
My son, attend to my words. Turn your ear to my sayings.
Let them not depart from your eyes. Keep them in the midst of your heart.
22 因為得着它的,就得了生命, 又得了醫全體的良藥。
For they are life to him who finds them, and health to all of his body.
23 你要保守你心,勝過保守一切, 因為一生的果效是由心發出。
Guard your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life.
Put away from yourself a perverse mouth. Put corrupt lips far from you.
Let your eyes look straight ahead. Fix your gaze directly before you.
Make the path of your feet level. Let all of your ways be established.
Do not turn to the right hand nor to the left. Remove your foot from evil.