Proverbs 18
1 Those who separate themselves [from other people] think [only] about those things that they are interested in; [if they would continually associate with] those who have good judgment/sense, they would constantly disagree/quarrel with them.
人と交わりをしない者は口実を捜し、すべてのよい考えに激しく反対する。
2 Foolish people do not want to understand [anything]; they only want to (express their [own] opinions/say what they think) [IDM].
愚かな者は悟ることを喜ばず、ただ自分の意見を言い表わすことを喜ぶ。
3 Whenever people do wicked things, others will despise them; when people do things that cause themselves to no [longer] be honored, they will be disgraced [also].
悪しき者が来ると、卑しめもまた来る、不名誉が来ると、はずかしめも共にくる。
4 What wise people say is [like] a deep ocean [that you can never get to the bottom of] [MET], and it [refreshes us like water from] a rapidly flowing stream.
人の口の言葉は深い水のようだ、知恵の泉は、わいて流れる川である。
5 It is not good [for a judge] to decide matters in favor of those who (are guilty/have done wicked things) and to not do what is just for those who (are innocent/have not done what is wrong).
悪しき者をえこひいきすることは良くない、正しい者をさばいて、悪しき者とすることも良くない。
6 When foolish people [SYN] start arguments, [it is as though] they [SYN] are requesting/inviting someone to flog/whip them.
愚かな者のくちびるは争いを起し、その口はむち打たれることを招く。
7 What foolish people [MTY] say causes them to be ruined; their [own] words are [like] a trap [MET] [that catches/seizes] them.
愚かな者の口は自分の滅びとなり、そのくちびるは自分を捕えるわなとなる。
8 [People enjoy listening to] what gossips say like [SIM] [they enjoy] tasty food; they [accept what gossips tell them like] [MET] they swallow tasty food.
人のよしあしをいう者の言葉はおいしい食物のようで、腹の奥にしみこむ。
9 People who are lazy while they work are [just as bad] as [IDM] those who destroy things.
その仕事を怠る者は、滅ぼす者の兄弟である。
10 Yahweh [MTY] is [like] a strong tower [MET]; righteous people [can] go to him and be safe [like they can run to a tower to be safe].
主の名は堅固なやぐらのようだ、正しい者はその中に走りこんで救を得る。
11 Rich people [are protected because they have] a lot of money [PRS] like a city is protected because it has a high wall surrounding it [SIM].
富める者の富はその堅き城である、それは高き城壁のように彼を守る。
12 Proud people are on the road to being ruined, but being humble leads to being honored.
人の心の高ぶりは滅びにさきだち、謙遜は栄誉にさきだつ。
13 Those who reply to someone before that person has finished speaking are foolish; doing that is disgraceful.
事をよく聞かないで答える者は、愚かであって恥をこうむる。
14 A desire to [continue to] live can sustain someone when he is sick; if he loses that desire, he (cannot endure it/will become very discouraged) when he is sick [RHQ].
人の心は病苦をも忍ぶ、しかし心の痛むときは、だれがそれに耐えようか。
15 Intelligent people [are always wanting to] learn more; wise people [SYN] are not content with what they already know.
さとき者の心は知識を得、知恵ある者の耳は知識を求める。
16 If you take a gift to an important person, that will open the way to allow you to talk to him.
人の贈り物は、その人のために道をひらき、また尊い人の前に彼を導く。
17 The first person to present his case in court seems right, but when (someone else/his opponent) begins to ask him questions, [it may become clear that what he said was not true].
先に訴え出る者は正しいように見える、しかしその訴えられた人が来て、それを調べて、事は明らかになる。
18 If two influential/important people are arguing, [someone can] settle the matter by (casting lots/throwing marked stones to decide who is right).
くじは争いをとどめ、かつ強い争い相手の間を決定する。
19 If you help relatives, they will [protect you] like [SIM] a strong wall [protects a city], but if you quarrel with them, [that will separate you from them] like bars on a city gate [separate the city from those who want to enter it] [MET].
助けあう兄弟は堅固な城のようだ、しかし争いは、やぐらの貫の木のようだ。
20 People are happy when they hear others say [MTY] something that is good, [like] they are happy when they eat food that is good [MET].
人は自分の言葉の結ぶ実によって、満ち足り、そのくちびるの産物によって自ら飽きる。
21 What you say can cause others to be killed or it can cause them to [continue to] live; [so] those who like [to talk a lot] must (accept the consequences/realize that what they say can cause much harm).
死と生とは舌に支配される、これを愛する者はその実を食べる。
22 If you marry a [good] woman, that is [like] finding a wonderful thing; [it shows that] Yahweh is pleased with you.
妻を得る者は、良き物を得る、かつ主から恵みを与えられる。
23 [It is necessary for] poor [people] to speak politely when they request [rich people to do something for them], but rich [people] reply very impolitely when poor people speak to them.
貧しい者は、あわれみを請い、富める者は、はげしい答をする。
24 There are [some] people who [only] pretend to be friends [with us], but there are [some] friends who are more loyal than members of our families.
世には友らしい見せかけの友がある、しかし兄弟よりもたのもしい友もある。
