Proverbs 4
1 My children, listen to what I am teaching you. If you pay attention, you will understand what is wise.
眾子啊，要聽父親的教訓， 留心得知聰明。
2 What I am teaching you is good, so do not turn away from it.
因我所給你們的是好教訓； 不可離棄我的法則。
3 When I was a young boy, loved by my mother,
我在父親面前為孝子， 在母親眼中為獨一的嬌兒。
4 my father told me, “Remember my words; if you obey my commandments, you will live [a long time].
父親教訓我說：你心要存記我的言語， 遵守我的命令，便得存活。
5 Obtain wisdom and understanding, and (do not abandon/hold fast to) [LIT] what I have taught you.
要得智慧，要得聰明，不可忘記， 也不可偏離我口中的言語。
6 Do not turn away from wisdom, because if you are wise, you will be protected [from all evil/danger]. If you love wisdom, wisdom [PRS] will guard you.
不可離棄智慧，智慧就護衛你； 要愛她，她就保守你。
7 The most important thing that you can do is to get wisdom. Even if you obtain many other things, the best thing is to know what things are wise.
智慧為首； 所以，要得智慧。 在你一切所得之內必得聰明。
8 If you consider being wise to be very valuable, [people] will think very highly of you. If you cling to wisdom [like you would cling to a woman you love], [many people] will honor you.
高舉智慧，她就使你高升； 懷抱智慧，她就使你尊榮。
9 If you become wise, that will for you be [like] a beautiful wreath that is put {someone puts} on your head; it will be [like] a king’s glorious crown.” [That is what my father told me].
她必將華冠加在你頭上， 把榮冕交給你。
10 [So now I say], “My son, heed what I say. If you do that, you will live a [good] long life.
我兒，你要聽受我的言語， 就必延年益壽。
11 I am teaching you the way to live wisely; I am showing you how to act justly [toward others].
我已指教你走智慧的道， 引導你行正直的路。
12 If you live wisely, when you decide to do something, you will succeed [LIT].
你行走，腳步必不致狹窄； 你奔跑，也不致跌倒。
13 Hold fast to the things I have taught you to do, and do not let them go. Guard them, because they [will be the source of a good] life.
要持定訓誨，不可放鬆； 必當謹守，因為它是你的生命。
14 Do not do the things that wicked people do; [do not behave like they do]; do not even walk on the roads that evil [people] walk on [MET].
不可行惡人的路； 不要走壞人的道。
15 Stay away from those roads; turn aside and walk on other roads;
要躲避，不可經過； 要轉身而去。
16 because evil people cannot sleep if they have not done some evil deed [on that day]. They cannot rest if they have not harmed someone.
這等人若不行惡，不得睡覺； 不使人跌倒，睡臥不安；
17 What they eat and what they drink are things that they have obtained by acting wickedly and violently.”
因為他們以奸惡吃餅， 以強暴喝酒。
18 The behavior of good/righteous [people] is like the light [that begins to shine] at dawn and then [continues to] shine brighter until the brightest time of day.
但義人的路好像黎明的光， 越照越明，直到日午。
19 [But] the behavior of wicked [people] is like deep/thick darkness. [Because it is very dark], they cannot see the things that cause them to stumble.
惡人的道好像幽暗， 自己不知因甚麼跌倒。
20 My son, pay attention to what I am saying. Listen to my words carefully.
我兒，要留心聽我的言詞， 側耳聽我的話語，
21 Keep them close to you; let them penetrate your inner being,
都不可離你的眼目， 要存記在你心中。
22 because you will have [PRS] [a good] life and [good] health if you [search for them and] find them.
因為得着它的，就得了生命， 又得了醫全體的良藥。
23 It is very important that you be careful about what you think, because what you think controls [MET] the things that you do.
你要保守你心，勝過保守一切， 因為一生的果效是由心發出。
24 Do not say anything that deceives [others] and never say what is not true.
你要除掉邪僻的口， 棄絕乖謬的嘴。
25 Keep looking straight ahead toward the events that are before you, and do not turn aside.
你的眼目要向前正看； 你的眼睛當向前直觀。
26 Plan carefully where you will go and what you will do, and then stay on that road. Then what you do will be right.
要修平你腳下的路， 堅定你一切的道。
27 Do not leave the straight road by turning to the left or to the right. [Do only what is right] and keep yourself from [doing what is] evil.
不可偏向左右； 要使你的腳離開邪惡。
