Proverbs 21
1 The king’s heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD; He directs it where He pleases.
君王的心在上主手裏，有如水流，可隨意轉移。
2 All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart.
人對自己的行為，都自覺正直；但審察人心的，卻是上主。
3 To do righteousness and justice is more desirable to the LORD than sacrifice.
秉公行義，比獻祭獻更悅上主。
4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the guides of the wicked—are sin.
傲慢的眼睛，驕傲的心靈，惡人的炫耀，無非是罪惡。
5 The plans of the diligent bring plenty, as surely as haste leads to poverty.
熟思的人，必足以致富；草率的人，必貧困纏身。
6 Making a fortune by a lying tongue is a vanishing mist, a deadly pursuit.
以謊言偽語騙得的財寶，是浮雲輕煙，死亡的羅網。
7 The violence of the wicked will sweep them away because they refuse to do what is just.
惡人的暴戾，必殃及自身，因他們不肯去履行正義。
8 The way of a guilty man is crooked, but the conduct of the innocent is upright.
惡人的道路，歪曲邪僻；正人的行為，正直適中。
9 Better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
寧願住在屋頂的一角，不願與吵婦同居一室。
10 The soul of the wicked man craves evil; his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.
惡人的心靈，只求邪惡；對自己友伴，毫不關懷。
11 When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom; and when a wise man is instructed, he acquires knowledge.
輕狂人遭受處罰，幼稚者將得明智；智慧人接受教訓，更增加自己知識。
12 The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked and brings the wicked to ruin.
正義的上主監視惡人的家，且使惡人們都陷於災禍中。
13 Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too shall cry out and receive no answer.
誰對窮人的哀求，充耳不聞，他呼求時，也不會得到應允。
14 A gift in secret soothes anger, and a covert bribe pacifies great wrath.
暗中相送的饋贈，可平息忿怒；投入懷中的禮物，可平息狂怒。
15 Justice executed is a joy to the righteous, but a terror to the workers of iniquity.
秉公行義，能叫義人喜樂；但為作惡的人，卻是恐懼。
16 The man who strays from the path of understanding will rest in the assembly of the dead.
凡遠離明智道路的人，必居於幽靈的集會中。
17 He who loves pleasure will become poor; the one who loves wine and oil will never be rich.
貪愛享樂的人，必遭受窮困；喜愛酒油的人，必不會致富。
18 The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the faithless for the upright.
惡人必將為義人作贖金，敗類也將替君子作代價。
19 Better to live in the desert than with a contentious and ill-tempered wife.
與好爭易怒的女人同居，倒不如獨自住在曠野裏。
20 Precious treasures and oil are in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man consumes them.
珍貴的寶藏和油，積藏在智者家裏；但糊塗愚昧的人，卻將之消耗淨盡。
21 He who pursues righteousness and loving devotion finds life, righteousness, and honor.
追求正義和仁慈的人，必將獲得生命與尊榮。
22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty and pulls down the stronghold in which they trust.
智者必登上勇士的城邑，攻破城邑所憑倚的保壘。
23 He who guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from distress.
誰謹守自己的口舌，心靈必能免受煩惱。
24 Mocker is the name of the proud and arrogant man— of him who acts with excessive pride.
高傲的人名叫「狂人」，他行事必極端蠻橫。
25 The craving of the slacker kills him because his hands refuse to work.
怠惰人的手不肯操作，必為他的願望所扼殺。
26 All day long he covets more, but the righteous give without restraint.
貪婪的人，終日貪婪；正義的人，廣施不吝。
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable— how much more so when brought with ill intent!
惡人的祭獻，已是可憎；若懷惡而獻，更將如何﹖
28 A lying witness will perish, but the man who listens to truth will speak forever.
作假見證的人，必要滅亡；但善於聽的人，纔可常言。
29 A wicked man hardens his face, but the upright man makes his way sure.
邪惡的人，常裝腔作勢；正直的人，卻舉止檢點。
30 There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel that can prevail against the LORD.
任何智慧、才略或計謀，都不能與上主相對抗。
31 A horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory is of the LORD.
招兵買馬，是為作作戰之日；但是勝利，卻由上主指使。
