Proverbs 21
1 The king's heart is in the LORD's hand like the watercourses. He turns it wherever he desires.
君王的心在上主手裏，有如水流，可隨意轉移。
2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the hearts.
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 acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
秉公行義，比獻祭獻更悅上主。
4 A high look, and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, is 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 surely lead to profit; and everyone who is hasty surely rushes to poverty.
熟思的人，必足以致富；草率的人，必貧困纏身。
6 Getting treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor for those who seek death.
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 drive them away, because they refuse to do what is right.
惡人的暴戾，必殃及自身，因他們不肯去履行正義。
8 The way of the guilty is devious, 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 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than to share a house with a contentious woman.
寧願住在屋頂的一角，不願與吵婦同居一室。
10 The soul of the wicked desires evil; his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.
惡人的心靈，只求邪惡；對自己友伴，毫不關懷。
11 When the mocker is punished, the simple gains wisdom. When the wise is instructed, he receives 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 stops his ears at the cry of the poor, he will also cry out, but shall not be heard.
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 pacifies anger; and a bribe in the cloak, strong 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 It is joy to the righteous to do justice; but it is a destruction to evildoers.
秉公行義，能叫義人喜樂；但為作惡的人，卻是恐懼。
16 The man who wanders out of the way of understanding shall 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 shall be a poor man. He who loves wine and oil shall not 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 is a ransom for the righteous; the treacherous for the upright.
惡人必將為義人作贖金，敗類也將替君子作代價。
19 It is better to dwell in a desert land, than with a contentious and fretful woman.
與好爭易怒的女人同居，倒不如獨自住在曠野裏。
20 There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man swallows it up.
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 follows after righteousness and kindness 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 brings down the strength of its confidence.
智者必登上勇士的城邑，攻破城邑所憑倚的保壘。
23 Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.
誰謹守自己的口舌，心靈必能免受煩惱。
24 The proud and haughty man, "scoffer" is his name; he works in the arrogance of pride.
高傲的人名叫「狂人」，他行事必極端蠻橫。
25 The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor.
怠惰人的手不肯操作，必為他的願望所扼殺。
26 There are those who covet greedily all day long; but the righteous give and do not withhold.
貪婪的人，終日貪婪；正義的人，廣施不吝。
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination: how much more, when he brings it with a wicked mind.
惡人的祭獻，已是可憎；若懷惡而獻，更將如何﹖
28 A false witness will perish, and a man who listens speaks to eternity.
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 as for the upright, he establishes his ways.
邪惡的人，常裝腔作勢；正直的人，卻舉止檢點。
30 There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.
任何智慧、才略或計謀，都不能與上主相對抗。
31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle; but victory is with the LORD.
招兵買馬，是為作作戰之日；但是勝利，卻由上主指使。
