< Proverbs 20 >
1 Wine is a mocker and beer is a brawler. Whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
清酒令人輕狂,醇酒使人發瘋;凡沉溺於酒的,必不是明智人。
2 The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion. He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
君王震怒,有如獅子的咆哮;觸怒他的,危害自己的性命。
3 It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.
平息爭端,是人的光榮;凡是愚人,都喜愛爭論。
4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter; therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
懶惰人一寒冷,便不耕作;收獲之時,他必一無所獲。
5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.
人心的謀略,有如深水,唯有聰明人,纔能汲取。
6 Many men claim to be men of unfailing love, but who can find a faithful man?
自命為仁者,比比皆是;但有誰找到忠貞的人﹖
7 A righteous man walks in integrity. Blessed are his children after him.
正義的人,必然為人正直;他的後代子孫,必然有福。
8 A king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with his eyes.
君王高坐在判座上,所有邪惡一目了然。
9 Who can say, “I have made my heart pure. I am clean and without sin”?
有誰能說:「我保持了心靈的潔淨,我是純潔無罪的﹖」
10 Differing weights and differing measures, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.
不同的衡量,不同的升斗:二者皆為上主同樣厭惡。
11 Even a child makes himself known by his doings, whether his work is pure, and whether it is right.
孩童的行為,潔淨正執直與否,由他的舉動便可認出。
12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD has made even both of them.
能聽的耳朵,能看的眼睛:二者皆為上主所造。
13 Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty. Open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.
不要貪睡眠,免得你受窮;兩眼睜開,纔能得飽食。
14 “It’s no good, it’s no good,” says the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.
顧客常說:「不好,不好! 」但一離去,讚不絕口。
15 There is gold and abundance of rubies, but the lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.
雖有大批黃金寶石,但最寶貴的,還是明智的唇舌。
16 Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger; and hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.
誰為外方人作保,拿去他的衣服;誰為異邦人作保,以他本人作質。
17 Fraudulent food is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.
騙來的食物頗覺香甜,事後口中卻滿是砂礫。
18 Plans are established by advice; by wise guidance you wage war!
運籌帷幄,必先要商討;進行戰事,必該憑智謀。
19 He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets; therefore do not keep company with him who opens wide his lips.
遊蕩閒談的,必洩露秘密;張口饒舌的,別與他交結。
20 Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
凡是辱罵自己父母的人,他的燈必在幽暗中熄滅。
21 An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning will not be blessed in the end.
起初容易得來的財物,最後也不會得到祝福。
22 Do not say, “I will pay back evil.” Wait for the LORD, and he will save you.
你切不可說:「我以惡報惡;」應信賴上主,他必拯救你。
23 The LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales are not pleasing.
不同的衡量,為上主所惡;不同的天秤,實屬不道德。
24 A man’s steps are from the LORD; how then can man understand his way?
世人的腳步,由上主支配;人那能了解自己的道路﹖
25 It is a snare to a man to make a rash dedication, then later to consider his vows.
人若冒然說「聖,」許願後纔反省,這是自投羅網。
26 A wise king winnows out the wicked, and drives the threshing wheel over them.
智慧的君王簸揚惡人,且用車輪來壓軋他們。
27 The spirit of man is the LORD’s lamp, searching all his innermost parts.
人的靈魂是天主的燈,探照肺腑的一切隱密。
28 Love and faithfulness keep the king safe. His throne is sustained by love.
仁愛和忠誠,是君王的保障;他的寶座,是賴慈愛而支撐。
29 The glory of young men is their strength. The splendor of old men is their gray hair.
少年人的光榮,在於他們的魄力;老年人的榮耀,在於他們的白髮。
30 Wounding blows cleanse away evil, and beatings purge the innermost parts.
見傷的鞭打能清除邪惡,杖擊能觸及肺腑的深處。