Proverbs 20
1 It is a luxurious thing, wine, and inebriation is tumultuous. Anyone who is delighted by this will not be 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 Just like the roaring of a lion, so also is the dread of a king. Whoever provokes him sins in his own soul.
君王震怒，有如獅子的咆哮；觸怒他的，危害自己的性命。
3 Honor is for the man who separates himself from contentions. But all the foolish meddle in altercations.
平息爭端，是人的光榮；凡是愚人，都喜愛爭論。
4 Because of the cold, the lazy one was not willing to plough. Therefore, in the summer, he will beg, and it will not be given to him.
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 a man is like deep waters. But a wise man 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 are called merciful. But who will find a faithful man?
自命為仁者，比比皆是；但有誰找到忠貞的人﹖
7 The just who walks in his simplicity shall leave behind him blessed sons.
正義的人，必然為人正直；他的後代子孫，必然有福。
8 The king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters all evil with his gaze.
君王高坐在判座上，所有邪惡一目了然。
9 Who is able to say: “My heart is clean. I am pure from sin?”
有誰能說：「我保持了心靈的潔淨，我是純潔無罪的﹖」
10 Diverse weights, diverse measures: both are abominable with God.
不同的衡量，不同的升斗：二者皆為上主同樣厭惡。
11 A child may be understood by his interests: whether his works may be clean and upright.
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 them both.
能聽的耳朵，能看的眼睛：二者皆為上主所造。
13 Do not love sleep, lest deprivation oppress you. Open your eyes and 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14 “It is bad, it is bad,” says every buyer; and when he has withdrawn, then he will boast.
顧客常說：「不好，不好! 」但一離去，讚不絕口。
15 There is gold, and there are a multitude of jewels. But lips of knowledge are a precious vessel.
雖有大批黃金寶石，但最寶貴的，還是明智的唇舌。
16 Take away the vestments of him who stands up to vouch for a stranger, and take a pledge from him instead of from outsiders.
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 The bread of lies is sweet to a man. But afterwards, his mouth will be filled with pebbles.
騙來的食物頗覺香甜，事後口中卻滿是砂礫。
18 Plans are strengthened by counsels. And wars are to be handled by governments.
運籌帷幄，必先要商討；進行戰事，必該憑智謀。
19 Do not become involved with him who reveals mysteries, and who walks deceitfully, and who enlarges 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 and mother, his lamp will be extinguished in the midst of darkness.
凡是辱罵自己父母的人，他的燈必在幽暗中熄滅。
21 When an inheritance is obtained hastily in the beginning, in the end it will be without a blessing.
起初容易得來的財物，最後也不會得到祝福。
22 Do not say, “I will repay evil.” Wait for the Lord, and he will free you.
你切不可說：「我以惡報惡；」應信賴上主，他必拯救你。
23 Diverse weights are an abomination with the Lord. A deceitful balance is not good.
不同的衡量，為上主所惡；不同的天秤，實屬不道德。
24 The steps of men are directed by the Lord. But who is the man able to understand his own way?
世人的腳步，由上主支配；人那能了解自己的道路﹖
25 It is ruin for a man to devour what is holy, or, after making vows, to retract them.
人若冒然說「聖，」許願後纔反省，這是自投羅網。
26 A wise king scatters the impious and bends an archway over them.
智慧的君王簸揚惡人，且用車輪來壓軋他們。
27 The spirit of a man is a lamp to the Lord, which investigates all the secrets of the inner self.
人的靈魂是天主的燈，探照肺腑的一切隱密。
28 Mercy and truth guard the king, and his throne is strengthened by clemency.
仁愛和忠誠，是君王的保障；他的寶座，是賴慈愛而支撐。
29 The joy of youths is their strength. And the dignity of old men is their grey hairs.
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 The bruise of a wound, as well as scourges, shall wipe away evils in the more secret places of the inner self.
見傷的鞭打能清除邪惡，杖擊能觸及肺腑的深處。
