箴言 21

1 王的心在耶和華手中， 好像隴溝的水隨意流轉。

The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of Yahweh; he turns it wherever he pleases.

2 人所行的，在自己眼中都看為正； 惟有耶和華衡量人心。

Every person's way is right in his own eyes, but it is Yahweh who weighs the hearts.

3 行仁義公平 比獻祭更蒙耶和華悅納。

To do what is right and just is more acceptable to Yahweh than sacrifice.

4 惡人發達，眼高心傲， 這乃是罪。

Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the lamp of the wicked—are sin.

5 殷勤籌劃的，足致豐裕； 行事急躁的，都必缺乏。

The plans of the diligent lead only to prosperity, but everyone who acts too quickly comes only to poverty.

6 用詭詐之舌求財的，就是自己取死； 所得之財乃是吹來吹去的浮雲。

Acquiring riches by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a snare that kills.

7 惡人的強暴必將自己掃除， 因他們不肯按公平行事。

The violence of the wicked will drag them away, for they refuse to do what is just.

8 負罪之人的路甚是彎曲； 至於清潔的人，他所行的乃是正直。

The way of a guilty person is crooked, but the one who is pure does what is right.

9 寧可住在房頂的角上， 不在寬闊的房屋與爭吵的婦人同住。

It is better to live on a corner of the roof than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.

10 惡人的心樂人受禍； 他眼並不憐恤鄰舍。

The appetite of the wicked craves evil; his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.

11 褻慢的人受刑罰，愚蒙的人就得智慧； 智慧人受訓誨，便得知識。

When the mocker is punished, the naive become wise, and when the wise person is instructed, he lays hold of knowledge.

12 義人思想惡人的家， 知道惡人傾倒，必致滅亡。

The righteous person watches the house of the wicked person; he brings wicked people to disaster.

13 塞耳不聽窮人哀求的， 他將來呼籲也不蒙應允。

The one who shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he also will cry out, but he will not be answered.

14 暗中送的禮物挽回怒氣； 懷中搋的賄賂止息暴怒。

A gift in secret appeases anger and a concealed gift appeases strong wrath.

15 秉公行義使義人喜樂， 使作孽的人敗壞。

When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous person, but it brings terror to evildoers.

16 迷離通達道路的， 必住在陰魂的會中。

The one who wanders from the way of understanding, he will rest in the assembly of the dead.

17 愛宴樂的，必致窮乏； 好酒，愛膏油的，必不富足。

Whoever loves pleasure will become poor; the one who loves wine and oil will not be rich.

18 惡人作了義人的贖價； 奸詐人代替正直人。

A wicked person is ransom for the righteous person, and the treacherous person is ransom for upright people.

19 寧可住在曠野， 不與爭吵使氣的婦人同住。

It is better to live in the desert than with a quarreling and angry wife.

20 智慧人家中積蓄寶物膏油； 愚昧人隨得來隨吞下。

Desirable treasure and oil are kept in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish person swallows it all up.

21 追求公義仁慈的， 就尋得生命、公義，和尊榮。

The one who does right and is kind— this person finds life, righteousness, and honor.

22 智慧人爬上勇士的城牆， 傾覆他所倚靠的堅壘。

A wise man scales the city of the mighty ones, and he brings down the stronghold in which they trusted.

23 謹守口與舌的， 就保守自己免受災難。

Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps himself out of trouble.

24 心驕氣傲的人名叫褻慢； 他行事狂妄，都出於驕傲。

The proud and haughty person—”Mocker” is his name— acts with arrogant pride.

25 懶惰人的心願將他殺害， 因為他手不肯做工。

The desire of the lazy kills him, for his hands refuse to work.

26 有終日貪得無饜的； 義人施捨而不吝惜。

All day long he craves and craves more, but the righteous person gives and does not hold back.

27 惡人的祭物是可憎的； 何況他存惡意來獻呢？

The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable; it is even more detestable when he brings it with evil motives.

28 作假見證的必滅亡； 惟有聽真情而言的，其言長存。

A false witness will perish, but the one who listens will speak for all time.

29 惡人臉無羞恥； 正直人行事堅定。

A wicked man makes his face hard, but an upright person is certain about his ways.

30 沒有人能以智慧、聰明、 謀略敵擋耶和華。

There is no wisdom, there is no understanding, and there is no advice that can stand against Yahweh.

31 馬是為打仗之日預備的； 得勝乃在乎耶和華。

The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to Yahweh.