< Proverbs 1 >
1 The Parables of Salomon the sonne of Dauid King of Israel,
以色列王達味之子撒羅滿的箴言:
2 To knowe wisdome, and instruction, to vnderstand ye wordes of knowledge,
是為教人學習智慧和規律,叫人明瞭哲言,
3 To receiue instruction to do wisely, by iustice and iudgement and equitie,
接受明智的教訓--仁義、公平和正直,
4 To giue vnto the simple, sharpenesse of wit, and to the childe knowledge and discretion.
使無知者獲得聰明,使年少者獲得知識和慎重,
5 A wise man shall heare and increase in learning, and a man of vnderstanding shall attayne vnto wise counsels,
使智慧者聽了,增加學識;使明達人聽了,汲取智謀,
6 To vnderstand a parable, and the interpretation, the wordes of ye wise, and their darke sayings.
好能明瞭箴言和譬喻,明瞭智者的言論和他們的隱語。
7 The feare of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fooles despise wisedome and instruction.
敬畏上主是智慧的肇基;只有愚昧人蔑視智慧和規律。
8 My sonne, heare thy fathers instruction, and forsake not thy mothers teaching.
我兒,你應聽你父親的教訓,不要拒絕你母親的指教,
9 For they shalbe a comely ornament vnto thine head, and as chaines for thy necke.
因為這就是你頭上的冠冕,你頸上的珠鏈。
10 My sonne, if sinners doe intise thee, consent thou not.
我兒,如果惡人勾引你,你不要聽從;
11 If they say, Come with vs, we will lay waite for blood, and lie priuilie for the innocent without a cause:
如果他們說:「來跟我們去暗算某人,無故地陷害無辜。
12 We wil swallow them vp aliue like a graue euen whole, as those that goe downe into the pit: (Sheol )
我們要像陰府一樣活活地吞下他們,把他們整個吞下去,有如墮入深坑裏的人; (Sheol )
13 We shall finde all precious riches, and fill our houses with spoyle:
這樣,我們必獲得各種珍寶,以贓物充滿我們的房屋。
14 Cast in thy lot among vs: we will all haue one purse:
你將與我們平分秋色,我們將共有同一錢囊。」
15 My sonne, walke not thou in the way with them: refraine thy foote from their path.
我兒,你不要與他們同流合污,該使你的腳遠離他們的道路,
16 For their feete runne to euill, and make haste to shed blood.
因為他們雙腳趨向兇惡,急於傾流人血。
17 Certainely as without cause the net is spred before the eyes of all that hath wing:
在一切飛鳥眼前,張設羅網,盡屬徒然。
18 So they lay waite for blood and lie priuily for their liues.
其實,他們不外是自流己血,自害己命。
19 Such are the wayes of euery one that is greedy of gaine: he would take away the life of the owners thereof.
這就是謀財害命者的末路:他必要送掉自己的性命。
20 Wisdome cryeth without: she vttereth her voyce in the streetes.
智慧在街上吶喊,在通衢發出呼聲;
21 She calleth in the hye streete, among the prease in the entrings of the gates, and vttereth her wordes in the citie, saying,
在熱鬧的街頭呼喚,在城門和市區發表言論:「
22 O ye foolish, howe long will ye loue foolishnes? and the scornefull take their pleasure in scorning, and the fooles hate knowledge?
無知的人,你們喜愛無知;輕狂的人,你們樂意輕狂;愚昧的人,你們憎恨知識,要到何時呢﹖
23 (Turne you at my correction: loe, I will powre out my mind vnto you, and make you vnderstand my wordes)
你們應回心聽我的勸告。看,我要向你們傾吐我的心意,使你們瞭解我的言詞。
24 Because I haue called, and ye refused: I haue stretched out mine hand, and none woulde regarde.
但是,我呼喚了,你們竟予以拒絕;我伸出了手,誰也沒有理會。
25 But ye haue despised all my counsell, and would none of my correction.
你們既蔑視了我的勸告,沒有接受我的忠言;
26 I will also laugh at your destruction, and mocke, when your feare commeth.
因此,你們遭遇不幸時,我也付之一笑;災難臨到你們身上時,我也一笑置之。
27 Whe your feare cometh like sudden desolation, and your destruction shall come like a whirle wind: whe affliction and anguish shall come vpon you,
當災難如暴風似的襲擊你們,禍害如旋風似的捲去你們,困苦憂患來侵襲你們時,我也置之不顧。
28 Then shall they call vpon me, but I will not answere: they shall seeke me early, but they shall not finde me,
那時,他們呼求我,我必不答應:他們尋找我,必尋不著我;
29 Because they hated knowledge, and did not chuse the feare of the Lord.
因為他們憎恨知識,沒有揀選敬畏上主,
30 They would none of my counsell, but despised all my correction.
沒有接受我的勸告,且輕視了我的一切規諫。
31 Therefore shall they eate of ye fruite of their owne way, and be filled with their owne deuises.
所以他們必要自食其果,飽嘗獨斷獨行的滋味。
32 For ease slaieth the foolish, and the prosperitie of fooles destroyeth them.
的確,無知者的執迷不悟殺害了自己;愚昧人的漠不關心斷送了自己。
33 But he that obeyeth me, shall dwell safely, and be quiet from feare of euill.
但是,那聽從我的,必得安居,不怕災禍,安享太平。