Proverbs 21
1 The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of Yahweh; he turns it wherever he pleases.
君王的心在上主手裏，有如水流，可隨意轉移。
2 Every person's way is right in his own eyes, but it is Yahweh who 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 what is right and just is more acceptable to Yahweh than sacrifice.
秉公行義，比獻祭獻更悅上主。
4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the lamp of the wicked—are 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 lead only to prosperity, but everyone who acts too quickly comes only to poverty.
熟思的人，必足以致富；草率的人，必貧困纏身。
6 Acquiring riches by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a snare that kills.
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 drag them away, for they refuse to do what is just.
惡人的暴戾，必殃及自身，因他們不肯去履行正義。
8 The way of a guilty person is crooked, but the one who is pure does what is right.
惡人的道路，歪曲邪僻；正人的行為，正直適中。
9 It is better to live on a corner of the roof than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.
寧願住在屋頂的一角，不願與吵婦同居一室。
10 The appetite of the wicked craves evil; his neighbor finds no favor 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 naive become wise, and when the wise person is instructed, he lays hold of 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 person watches the house of the wicked person; he brings wicked people to disaster.
正義的上主監視惡人的家，且使惡人們都陷於災禍中。
13 The one who shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he also will cry out, but he will not be answered.
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 appeases anger and a concealed gift appeases 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 When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous person, but it brings terror to evildoers.
秉公行義，能叫義人喜樂；但為作惡的人，卻是恐懼。
16 The one who wanders from the way of understanding, he will 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 Whoever loves pleasure will become poor; the one who loves wine and oil will 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 A wicked person is ransom for the righteous person, and the treacherous person is ransom for upright people.
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 live in the desert than with a quarreling and angry wife.
與好爭易怒的女人同居，倒不如獨自住在曠野裏。
20 Desirable treasure and oil are kept in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish person swallows it all 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 The one who does right and is kind— this person 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 ones, and he brings down the stronghold in which they trusted.
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 tongue keeps himself out of trouble.
誰謹守自己的口舌，心靈必能免受煩惱。
24 The proud and haughty person—”Mocker” is his name— acts with arrogant pride.
高傲的人名叫「狂人」，他行事必極端蠻橫。
25 The desire of the lazy kills him, for his hands refuse to work.
怠惰人的手不肯操作，必為他的願望所扼殺。
26 All day long he craves and craves more, but the righteous person gives and does not hold back.
貪婪的人，終日貪婪；正義的人，廣施不吝。
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable; it is even more detestable when he brings it with evil motives.
惡人的祭獻，已是可憎；若懷惡而獻，更將如何﹖
28 A false witness will perish, but the one who listens will speak for all time.
作假見證的人，必要滅亡；但善於聽的人，纔可常言。
29 A wicked man makes his face hard, but an upright person is certain about 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, there is no understanding, and there is no advice that can stand against Yahweh.
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 the victory belongs to Yahweh.
招兵買馬，是為作作戰之日；但是勝利，卻由上主指使。
