< Proverbs 3 >
1 My son, forget not my law; but let thy heart keep my commandments;
我兒,不要忘了我的法律,該誠心恪守我的誡命,
2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
因為這樣能使你延年益壽,也能增加你的康寧。
3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thy heart:
不要讓慈祥和忠實離棄你,要將她們繫在你的頸上,刻在你的心版上;
4 So shalt thou find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
這樣,你在天主和世人面前,必獲得寵幸和恩愛。
5 Trust in the LORD with all thy heart; and lean not to thy own understanding.
你應全心信賴上主,總不要依賴自己的聰明;
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he will direct thy paths.
應步步體會上主,他必修平你的行徑。
7 Be not wise in thy own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
不要自作聰明,應敬畏上主,遠避邪惡;
8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
如此,你的身體必會康健,你的骨骼也會舒適。
9 Honor the LORD with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of all thy increase:
應以你的財物和一切初熟之物,去尊崇上主;
10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
這樣,你的倉廩必充滿糧食,你的榨酒池必盈溢新酒。
11 My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:
我兒,不要輕視上主的懲戒,也不要厭惡他的譴責,
12 For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son [in whom] he delighteth.
因為上主譴責他所愛的,有如父親譴責他的愛子。
13 Happy [is] the man [that] findeth wisdom, and the man [that] getteth understanding.
尋得智慧和獲取睿智的人是有福的,
14 For the merchandise of it [is] better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain of it than fine gold.
因為賺得智慧勝於賺得銀錢;智慧的果實勝於純金。
15 She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared to her.
智慧比珍珠還要寶貴;凡你所貪求的,都不足以與她倫比。
16 Length of days [is] in her right hand; [and] in her left hand riches and honor.
在她右邊是延年益壽,在她左邊是富貴榮華。
17 Her ways [are] ways of pleasantness, and all her paths [are] peace.
她的道路是康樂之道,她的行徑是一片安寧。
18 She [is] a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy [is every one] that retaineth her.
她為掌握她的人,是一株生命樹;凡堅持她的,必將納福。
19 The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.
上主以智慧奠定了大地,以睿智堅定了高天;
20 By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.
賴他的智識,深淵纔裂口噴水,雲彩纔降下甘露。
21 My son, let not them depart from thy eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:
我兒,你應保持明智和慎重,不要讓她們離開你的視線:
22 So shall they be life to thy soul, and grace to thy neck.
二者應是你心靈的生命,是你頸項的華飾;
23 Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.
這樣,你走路必感安全,你的腳不致絆倒。
24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: but thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
你若坐下,必無所恐懼;你若躺下,必睡得甘甜。
25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.
你決不怕驟然而來的恐怖,也不怕惡人突然而至的摧殘,
26 For the LORD will be thy confidence, and will keep thy foot from being taken.
因為上主將要護佑你,使你的腳遠離陷阱。
27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thy hand to do [it].
你若有能力作到,不要拒絕向有求於你的人行善;
28 Say not to thy neighbor, Go, and come again, and to-morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.
如果你能即刻作到,不要對你的近人說:「去! 明天再來,我纔給你。」
29 Devise not evil against thy neighbor, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.
幾時你的近人安心與你居住,你不應暗算他。
30 Strive not with a man without cause, if he hath done thee no harm.
若他人沒有加害你,你不應與他無端爭辯。
31 Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.
不要羨慕強暴的人,更不要選擇他的任何行徑,
32 For the froward [is] abomination to the LORD: but his secret [is] with the righteous.
因為上主厭惡乖戾的人,摯愛正直的人。
33 The curse of the LORD [is] in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.
上主詛咒惡人的住宅,祝福義人的寓所。
34 Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace to the lowly.
上主嘲弄好愚弄的人,卻寵愛謙卑的人。
35 The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.
智慧的人必承受尊榮,愚昧的人必蒙受羞辱。