امثال 21

1 دل پادشاه در دست خداوند است، او آن را مانند آب جوی، به هر سو که بخواهد هدایت می‌کند.

Yahweh controls what kings do [MTY] [like] he controls how streams flow; he causes kings to do just what he wants them to do.

2 تمام کارهای انسان به نظر خودش درست است، اما انگیزه‌ها را خداوند می‌بیند.

People always think that what they do is right, but Yahweh judges our (motives/reasons [for doing things)] [MTY].

3 به جا آوردن عدالت و انصاف بیشتر از تقدیم قربانیها خداوند را خشنود می‌سازد.

Doing what is right and fair is more acceptable to Yahweh than [bringing] sacrifices [to him].

4 غرور و تکبر گناهانی هستند که آدم بدکار توسط آنها شناخته می‌شود.

Being proud and arrogant [DOU] is [like] a lamp [MTY] [that guides] wicked people; being proud and arrogant characterizes (wicked people’s whole behavior/everything that wicked people do).

5 زیرکی و کوشش، انسان را توانگر می‌کند، اما شتابزدگی باعث فقر می‌شود.

People who plan carefully will surely have plenty [of what they need]; those who act too quickly [to become rich] will become poor.

6 ثروتی که با زبان دروغگو به دست آید، بخاری است بی‌دوام و تله‌ای مرگبار.

Money that people acquire [by cheating others] by lying [MTY] to them will soon disappear [like] a mist, and doing that will [soon] lead to their death.

7 ظلم بدکارانی که نمی‌خواهند راستی را به جا آورند، عاقبت به سوی خودشان باز می‌گردد و آنان را نابود می‌کند.

Wicked [people] refuse to do what is right/just, but they will be ruined because of the violent things [PRS] that they do.

8 راه آدم گناهکار کج است ولی شخص پاک در راستی گام برمی‌دارد.

Guilty [people continually do what is evil; it is as though] [MET] they are walking on a crooked road; but righteous/innocent people [always] do what is right.

9 سکونت در گوشهٔ پشت بام بهتر است از زندگی کردن با زن ستیزه‌جو در یک خانه مشترک.

It is better to live in the corner of an attic/housetop [by yourself] than to live inside the house with a wife who is always nagging.

10 آدم بدکار شرارت را دوست دارد، و همسایه‌اش نیز از دست او در امان نیست.

Wicked [people] [SYN] are always wanting [to do what is] evil; they never act mercifully toward anyone.

11 جاهلان تا تنبیه شدن مسخره‌کنندگان را نبینند درس عبرت نمی‌گیرند، اما دانایان تنها با شنیدن می‌آموزند.

When those who ridicule [others] are punished, [even] those who do not have good sense [see that, and] they become wise, and when those who are wise are taught, they become wiser.

12 خداشناسان از مشاهدهٔ خراب شدن خانهٔ بدکاران و هلاکت ایشان پند می‌گیرند.

[God], the one [who is completely] righteous, knows [what happens inside] the houses of wicked [people], and [he will cause] those people to be completely ruined/destroyed.

13 آنکه فریاد فقیران را نشنیده می‌گیرد در روز تنگدستی خود نیز فریادرسی نخواهد داشت.

There are people who refuse to listen when poor people cry out [for help]; [but some day] they themselves will cry out [for help], and no one will hear them.

14 هدیه‌ای که در خفا داده می‌شود خشم را می‌خواباند و رشوهٔ پنهانی غضب شدید را فرو می‌نشاند.

When someone is angry [with you], if you secretly give him a gift, he will stop being angry.

15 اجرای عدالت برای عادلان شادی‌بخش است، اما برای ظالمان مصیبت‌بار.

Good/Righteous [people] are happy when they [see others do] what is just/fair, but those who do what is evil are terrified [when they think about what may happen to them].

16 مرگ در انتظار کسانی است که از راه حکمت منحرف می‌شوند.

Those who stop behaving like those who have good sense behave will [soon] discover that they have gone to the place where dead people are.

17 کسی که خوشگذرانی را دوست دارد، تهیدست می‌شود و آدم میگسار و عیاش هرگز ثروتمند نخواهد شد.

Those who spend their money to buy (things that give them pleasure/things that cause them to feel happy) will become poor; those who love [to spend money to buy] wine and nice/fancy food [MTY] will never become rich.

18 بدکاران در همان دامی که برای درستکاران نهاده‌اند، گرفتار می‌شوند.

Wicked [people] bring on themselves the sufferings that they were trying to cause righteous [people] to experience [DOU].

19 سکونت در بیابان بی‌آب و علف بهتر است از زندگی کردن با زن ستیزه‌جو.

It is better to live [alone] in a desert than [to live] with a wife who is [always] nagging and complaining.

20 خانهٔ شخص دانا پر از نعمت و ثروت است، ولی آدم نادان هر چه به دست می‌آورد بر باد می‌دهد.

Wise people have many valuable things in their houses, but foolish people [quickly] spend/waste [all their money].

21 درستکار و مهربان باش تا عمر خوشی داشته باشی و از احترام و موفقیت برخوردار شوی.

Those who [always] try to act in a fair and kind way [toward others] will live [a long time] and be honored/respected.

22 یک مرد دانا می‌تواند شهر زورمندان را بگیرد و قلعه اعتمادشان را فرو بریزد.

A wise army commander [helps his troops] climb over a wall [to attack] a city that is defended by a strong army, with the result that they are able to (get over/destroy) the high walls that their enemies trusted [would protect them].

23 هر که مواظب سخنانش باشد جانش را از مصیبتها نجات خواهد داد.

Those who are very careful about what they say [MTY] are [able to] avoid trouble.

24 کسانی که دیگران را مسخره می‌کنند، مغرور و متکبرند.

Those who make fun of [everything that is good] are proud and conceited [DOU]; they [always] act in an inconsiderate way [toward others].

25 داشتن اشتیاق و آرزو برای شخص تنبل کشنده است، زیرا برای رسیدن به آن تن به کار نمی‌دهد.

Lazy people, who refuse to work, [will] die [of hunger] because they [SYN] do not earn [money to buy food].

26 او تمام روز در آرزوی گرفتن به سر می‌برد؛ ولی شخص خداشناس سخاوتمند است و از بخشیدن به دیگران دریغ نمی‌کند.

All during the day [wicked people] desire to obtain things, but righteous [people] have plenty, [with the result that] they [are able to] give things generously to others.

27 خدا از قربانیهای بدکاران نفرت دارد، بخصوص اگر با نیت بد تقدیم شده باشد.

[Yahweh] detests the sacrifices that wicked [people] offer [to him]; [but he] detests it even more when they [think that they will escape being punished for] their evil deeds because of the sacrifices that they bring.

28 شاهد دروغگو نابود خواهد شد، اما سخنان شخص امین تا ابد باقی خواهد ماند.

Those who tell lies in court will be punished; no one stops/silences witnesses who say what is truthful/reliable.

29 آدم بدکار خودسرانه عمل می‌کند، اما شخص درستکار تمام جوانب امر را می‌سنجد.

Wicked people pretend [that they know everything], but righteous people think carefully about [what will happen because of] what they do.

30 هیچ حکمت و بصیرت و نقشه‌ای نمی‌تواند علیه خداوند عمل کند.

[Thinking that we are] wise, and that we understand many things, and that we have good insight, does not help us if Yahweh is (acting against/not pleased with) us.

31 انسان اسب را برای روز جنگ آماده می‌کند، ولی پیروزی را خداوند می‌بخشد.

We [can] get horses ready to fight in a battle, but Yahweh is the one who enables us to (win victories/defeat our enemies).