Proverbs 18

1 Whoever has a will to withdraw from a friend, seeks occasions; he shall be reproached at all times.

與眾寡合的，只求私意；對任何指教，都表忿恨。

2 The foolish do not accept words of prudence, unless you say what is already turning in his heart.

愚昧的人不喜愛受教，只愛顯露自己的心意。

3 The impious, when he has arrived within the depths of sin, thinks little of it. But ill repute and disgrace follow him.

邪惡一來，輕視隨到；侮辱也隨無恥而至。

4 Words from the mouth of a man are deep waters. And the fountain of wisdom is a torrent overflowing.

哲人口中的言語有如深水，又如洶湧的溪流，生命的泉源。

5 It is not good to accept the character of the impious, so as to turn away from true judgment.

在判案時，徇惡人之私，加害於義人，實屬不公。

6 The lips of the foolish meddle in disputes. And his mouth provokes conflicts.

愚人的唇舌，常引起爭端；愚人的口舌，常自招責打。

7 The mouth of the foolish is his destruction, and his own lips are the ruin of his soul.

愚人的舌，使自己喪亡；他的嘴唇，是害己的陷阱。

8 The words of the double-tongued seem simple. And they reach even to the interior of the gut. Fear casts down the lazy, but the souls of the effeminate shall go hungry.

進讒者的話，如可口美味，能深深透入肺腑的深處。

9 Whoever is dissolute and slack in his work is the brother of him who wastes his own works.

懶於操勞的人，是敗子的弟兄。

10 The name of the Lord is a very strong tower. The just one rushes to it, and he shall be exalted.

上主的名號，是堅固保壘；義人投入內，必得享安全。

11 The substance of the wealthy is the city of his strength, and it is like a strong wall encircling him.

富人的財產，是他的堅城；在他意想中，像座高牆垣。

12 The heart of a man is exalted before it is crushed and humbled before it is glorified.

心傲是滅亡的前導，心謙是光榮的前驅。

13 Whoever responds before he listens, demonstrates himself to be foolish and deserving of confusion.

未聽而先答，實愚昧可恥。

14 The spirit of a man sustains his weakness. Yet who can sustain a spirit that is easily angered?

剛毅的精神，能忍受病苦；精神萎靡，有誰能支持﹖

15 A prudent heart shall possess knowledge. And the ear of the wise seeks doctrine.

明智人的心，必獲得學問；智慧人的耳，必探求知識。

16 A man’s gift expands his way and makes space for him before leaders.

禮物能給人大開門路，引人晉謁權貴。

17 The just is the first accuser of himself; his friend arrives and shall investigate him.

先訴理者似有理，對手來時再審斷。

18 Casting a lot suppresses contentions and passes judgment, even among the powerful.

抽籤可以使爭端平息，也能調解權貴的糾紛。

19 A brother who is helped by a brother is like a reinforced city, and judgments are like the bars of cities.

兄弟若不和，比堅城還難攻克；他們的爭辯，有如碉堡的門閂。

20 From the fruit of a man’s mouth shall his belly be filled. And the harvest of his own lips shall satisfy him.

人必以口中果實充滿肚腹，必飽嘗自己唇舌的出產。

21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue. Whoever values it shall eat from its fruits.

死亡和生命，全在乎唇舌；放縱唇舌的，必自食其果。

22 He who has found a good wife has found goodness, and he shall draw contentment from the Lord. He who expels a good wife expels goodness. But he who holds on to an adulteress is foolish and impious.

誰覓得了賢妻，便覓得了幸福，得了上主恩眷。

23 The poor will speak with supplications. And the rich will express themselves roughly.

貧窮的人哀懇乞憐；富貴的人厲聲以對。

24 A man amiable to society shall be more friendly than a brother.

交朋友過多，必會有損害；但有些朋友，遠勝親兄弟。