Proverbs 20
1 Wine is a mocker and strong drink is a brawler; whoever is led astray by drink is not wise.
清酒令人輕狂，醇酒使人發瘋；凡沉溺於酒的，必不是明智人。
2 The fear of a king is like the fear of a young lion that is roaring; the one who makes him angry forfeits his life.
君王震怒，有如獅子的咆哮；觸怒他的，危害自己的性命。
3 It is an honor for anyone to avoid conflict, but every fool jumps into an argument.
平息爭端，是人的光榮；凡是愚人，都喜愛爭論。
4 The lazy person does not plow in autumn; he seeks a crop at harvest time but will have nothing.
懶惰人一寒冷，便不耕作；收獲之時，他必一無所獲。
5 The purpose in a human heart is like deep water, but someone with understanding will draw it out.
人心的謀略，有如深水，唯有聰明人，纔能汲取。
6 Many a person proclaims he is loyal, but who can find one who is faithful?
自命為仁者，比比皆是；但有誰找到忠貞的人﹖
7 The righteous person walks in his integrity, and his sons who follow after him will be blessed.
正義的人，必然為人正直；他的後代子孫，必然有福。
8 A king who sits on the throne performing the duties of a judge is winnowing with his eyes all the evil that is before him.
君王高坐在判座上，所有邪惡一目了然。
9 Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am clean from my sin”?
有誰能說：「我保持了心靈的潔淨，我是純潔無罪的﹖」
10 Differing weights and unequal measures— Yahweh hates them both.
不同的衡量，不同的升斗：二者皆為上主同樣厭惡。
11 Even a youth is known by his actions, by whether his conduct is pure and upright.
孩童的行為，潔淨正執直與否，由他的舉動便可認出。
12 Ears that hear and eyes that see— Yahweh made them both.
能聽的耳朵，能看的眼睛：二者皆為上主所造。
13 Do not love sleep or you will come to poverty; open your eyes and you will have plenty to eat.
不要貪睡眠，免得你受窮；兩眼睜開，纔能得飽食。
14 “Bad! Bad!” says the buyer, but when he goes away he boasts.
顧客常說：「不好，不好! 」但一離去，讚不絕口。
15 There is gold and an abundance of costly stones, but lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
雖有大批黃金寶石，但最寶貴的，還是明智的唇舌。
16 Take a garment of one who has put up security for a stranger, and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for an immoral woman.
誰為外方人作保，拿去他的衣服；誰為異邦人作保，以他本人作質。
17 Bread gained by deceit tastes sweet, but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel.
騙來的食物頗覺香甜，事後口中卻滿是砂礫。
18 Plans are established by advice and only with wise guidance should you wage war.
運籌帷幄，必先要商討；進行戰事，必該憑智謀。
19 A gossip reveals secrets and so you should not associate with people who talk too much.
遊蕩閒談的，必洩露秘密；張口饒舌的，別與他交結。
20 If a person curses his father or his mother, his lamp will be snuffed out in the middle of darkness.
凡是辱罵自己父母的人，他的燈必在幽暗中熄滅。
21 An inheritance gained quickly at the beginning will do less good in the end.
起初容易得來的財物，最後也不會得到祝福。
22 Do not say, “I will pay you back for this wrong!” Wait for Yahweh and he will rescue you.
你切不可說：「我以惡報惡；」應信賴上主，他必拯救你。
23 Yahweh hates unequal weights and dishonest scales are not good.
不同的衡量，為上主所惡；不同的天秤，實屬不道德。
24 A person's steps are directed by Yahweh; how then can he understand his way?
世人的腳步，由上主支配；人那能了解自己的道路﹖
25 It is a snare for a person to say rashly, “This thing is holy,” and begin to think about what it means only after making his vow.
人若冒然說「聖，」許願後纔反省，這是自投羅網。
26 A wise king winnows the wicked and he turns a threshing wheel over them.
智慧的君王簸揚惡人，且用車輪來壓軋他們。
27 The spirit of a person is the lamp of Yahweh, searching all his inmost parts.
人的靈魂是天主的燈，探照肺腑的一切隱密。
28 Covenant faithfulness and trustworthiness preserve the king; his throne is made secure by love.
仁愛和忠誠，是君王的保障；他的寶座，是賴慈愛而支撐。
29 The glory of young men is their strength and the splendor of old people is their gray hair.
少年人的光榮，在於他們的魄力；老年人的榮耀，在於他們的白髮。
30 Blows that make a wound cleanse away evil and beatings make the innermost parts clean.
見傷的鞭打能清除邪惡，杖擊能觸及肺腑的深處。
