< Proverbs 3 >

1 My son, forget not my teaching; but let thy heart keep my commandments;
我兒,不要忘了我的法律,該誠心恪守我的誡命,
2 For length of days, and years of life, and peace, will they add to thee.
因為這樣能使你延年益壽,也能增加你的康寧。
3 Let not kindness and truth forsake thee; bind them about thy neck, write them upon the table of thy heart;
不要讓慈祥和忠實離棄你,要將她們繫在你的頸上,刻在你的心版上;
4 So shalt thou find grace and good favour in the sight of God and man.
這樣,你在天主和世人面前,必獲得寵幸和恩愛。
5 Trust in the LORD with all thy heart, and lean not upon thine own understanding.
你應全心信賴上主,總不要依賴自己的聰明;
6 In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct thy paths.
應步步體會上主,他必修平你的行徑。
7 Be not wise in thine own eyes; fear the LORD, and depart from evil;
不要自作聰明,應敬畏上主,遠避邪惡;
8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
如此,你的身體必會康健,你的骨骼也會舒適。
9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of all thine increase;
應以你的財物和一切初熟之物,去尊崇上主;
10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy vats shall overflow with new wine.
這樣,你的倉廩必充滿糧食,你的榨酒池必盈溢新酒。
11 My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD, neither spurn thou His correction;
我兒,不要輕視上主的懲戒,也不要厭惡他的譴責,
12 For whom the LORD loveth He correcteth, even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
因為上主譴責他所愛的,有如父親譴責他的愛子。
13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that obtaineth understanding.
尋得智慧和獲取睿智的人是有福的,
14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
因為賺得智慧勝於賺得銀錢;智慧的果實勝於純金。
15 She is more precious than rubies; and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.
智慧比珍珠還要寶貴;凡你所貪求的,都不足以與她倫比。
16 Length of days is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honour.
在她右邊是延年益壽,在她左邊是富貴榮華。
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
她的道路是康樂之道,她的行徑是一片安寧。
18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her, and happy is every one that holdest her fast.
她為掌握她的人,是一株生命樹;凡堅持她的,必將納福。
19 The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding He established the heavens.
上主以智慧奠定了大地,以睿智堅定了高天;
20 By His knowledge the depths were broken up, and the skies drop down the dew.
賴他的智識,深淵纔裂口噴水,雲彩纔降下甘露。
21 My son, let not them depart from thine eyes; keep sound wisdom and discretion;
我兒,你應保持明智和慎重,不要讓她們離開你的視線:
22 So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.
二者應是你心靈的生命,是你頸項的華飾;
23 Then shalt thou walk in thy way securely, and thou shalt not dash thy foot.
這樣,你走路必感安全,你的腳不致絆倒。
24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid; yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
你若坐下,必無所恐懼;你若躺下,必睡得甘甜。
25 Be not afraid of sudden terror, neither of the destruction of the wicked, when it cometh;
你決不怕驟然而來的恐怖,也不怕惡人突然而至的摧殘,
26 For the LORD will be thy confidence, and will keep thy foot from being caught.
因為上主將要護佑你,使你的腳遠離陷阱。
27 Withhold not good from him to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thy hand to do it.
你若有能力作到,不要拒絕向有求於你的人行善;
28 Say not unto thy neighbour: 'Go, and come again, and to-morrow I will give'; when thou hast it by thee.
如果你能即刻作到,不要對你的近人說:「去! 明天再來,我纔給你。」
29 Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.
幾時你的近人安心與你居住,你不應暗算他。
30 Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.
若他人沒有加害你,你不應與他無端爭辯。
31 Envy thou not the man of violence, and choose none of his ways.
不要羨慕強暴的人,更不要選擇他的任何行徑,
32 For the perverse is an abomination to the LORD; but His counsel is with the upright.
因為上主厭惡乖戾的人,摯愛正直的人。
33 The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked; but He blesseth the habitation of the righteous.
上主詛咒惡人的住宅,祝福義人的寓所。
34 If it concerneth the scorners, He scorneth them, but unto the humble He giveth grace.
上主嘲弄好愚弄的人,卻寵愛謙卑的人。
35 The wise shall inherit honour; but as for the fools, they carry away shame.
智慧的人必承受尊榮,愚昧的人必蒙受羞辱。

< Proverbs 3 >