Proverbs 8
1 Doesn’t wisdom cry out? Doesn’t understanding raise her voice?
智慧不是在呼喚，明智不是在發出她的呼聲嗎﹖
2 On the top of high places by the way, where the paths meet, she stands.
她站在高崗上，站在通衢大道上，
3 Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, at the entry doors, she cries aloud:
她在城門口，在城入口處大聲喊說：
4 “I call to you men! I send my voice to the sons of mankind.
人呀! 我在向你們呼喚，我在對人子發出呼聲：
5 You simple, understand prudence! You fools, be of an understanding heart!
幼稚的人，你們應學習機智；愚昧的人，你們應學習聰明。
6 Hear, for I will speak excellent things. The opening of my lips is for right things.
你們且聽，因為我要講論卓絕的事，開口述說正直的事。
7 For my mouth speaks truth. Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
的確，我的口只暢談真理，我厭惡虛詐的唇舌。
8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness. There is nothing crooked or perverse in them.
凡我口述的，無不正直，毫無歪曲或乖僻。
9 They are all plain to him who understands, right to those who find knowledge.
我的話為明白的人是誠實的，為有智識的人是正確的。
10 Receive my instruction rather than silver, knowledge rather than choice gold.
你們應聽取我的教訓，而不要銀子；應汲取智識，而不取純金；
11 For wisdom is better than rubies. All the things that may be desired can’t be compared to it.
因為智慧勝過任何珍珠，任何可貪戀的事都不能與她倫比。
12 “I, wisdom, have made prudence my dwelling. Find out knowledge and discretion.
我──智慧──與機智同居，擁有知識和見識。
13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil. I hate pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth.
敬畏上主，就是憎恨邪惡傲慢驕橫，邪惡的行徑和欺詐的口舌，我都憎惡。
14 Counsel and sound knowledge are mine. I have understanding and power.
機謀才智，屬我所有；聰明勇敢，亦屬於我。
15 By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
藉著我，君王執政，元首秉公行義；
16 By me princes rule, nobles, and all the righteous rulers of the earth.
藉著我，統治者統治，王侯治理邦土。
17 I love those who love me. Those who seek me diligently will find me.
我愛那愛我的人；凡尋求我的，必找著我。
18 With me are riches, honor, enduring wealth, and prosperity.
富貴榮譽，恒產正義，都屬我有。
19 My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, my yield than choice silver.
我的果實，勝過黃金純金；我的出產，比淨銀還要寶貴。
20 I walk in the way of righteousness, in the middle of the paths of justice,
我走在正義的路上，走在公平的路上，
21 that I may give wealth to those who love me. I fill their treasuries.
使愛我者獲得產業，充滿他們的寶庫。
22 “The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his work, before his deeds of old.
上主自始即拿我作他行動的起始，作他作為的開端：
23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, before the earth existed.
大地還沒有形成以前，遠自太古，從無始我已被立；
24 When there were no depths, I was born, when there were no springs abounding with water.
深淵還沒有存在，水泉還沒有湧出以前，我已受生；
25 Before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was born;
山嶽還沒有奠定，丘陵還沒有存在以前，我已受生。
26 while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the beginning of the dust of the world.
那時，上主還沒有創造大地、原野、和世上土壤的原質；
27 When he established the heavens, I was there. When he set a circle on the surface of the deep,
當他建立高天時，我已在場；當他在深淵之上劃出穹蒼時，
28 when he established the clouds above, when the springs of the deep became strong,
當他上使穹蒼穩立，下使淵源固定時，
29 when he gave to the sea its boundary, that the waters should not violate his commandment, when he marked out the foundations of the earth,
當他為滄海劃定界限，令水不要越境，給大地奠定基礎時，
30 then I was the craftsman by his side. I was a delight day by day, always rejoicing before him,
我已在他身旁，充作技師。那時，我天天是他的喜悅，不斷在他前歡躍，
31 rejoicing in his whole world. My delight was with the sons of men.
歡躍於塵寰之間，樂與世人共處。
32 “Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways.
那麼，我兒，你們且聽我：遵循我道路的人是有福的。
33 Hear instruction, and be wise. Don’t refuse it.
你們該聽從教訓，做一智慧人，不要把她拋棄。
34 Blessed is the man who hears me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at my door posts.
凡聽從我言，天天在我門前守候，在我門框旁侍立的人，是有福的。
35 For whoever finds me finds life, and will obtain favor from the LORD.
因為誰找到我，便是找到生命，他必由上主獲得恩寵。
36 But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul. All those who hate me love death.”
但是那得罪我的，等於傷害自己；凡憎恨我的，是自找死亡。
