Proverbs 16

1 The preparations of the heart belong to man: but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.

內心策劃在於人，應允卻在於上主。

2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes: but the LORD weigheth the spirits.

對自己的行為，人都自覺無瑕；但審察心靈的，卻是上主。

3 Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.

將你的作為委託於上主，這樣你的計劃必會成功。

4 The LORD hath made every thing for its own end: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

上主所造的各有其用意，連惡人也有不幸的一日。

5 Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: [though] hand [join] in hand, he shall not be unpunished.

居心傲慢的，上主必厭惡；這一類的人，逃不掉懲罰。

6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.

藉慈善忠誠，可補贖罪過；藉敬畏上主，可避免罪惡。

7 When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.

世人的行徑，若中悅上主，他必使仇敵，再與他和好。

8 Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice.

收入少而守正義，勝於進款多而行不義。

9 A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.

人心裏都策劃自己的行徑；但他的步伐卻由上主支配。

10 A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth shall not transgress in judgment.

神明的斷語，出自君王口；他口下判斷，必不致差錯。

11 A just balance and scales are the LORD’S: all the weights of the bag are his work.

天秤和稱盤，屬上主所有；囊中的法碼，全由他制定。

12 It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness.

君王最厭惡的是作惡，因為王位賴正義而立。

13 Righteous lips are the delight or kings; and they love him that speaketh right.

正義的唇舌，為君王所喜悅；說話正直者，為君王所愛戴。

14 The wrath of a king is [as] messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it.

君王的震怒，是死訊的使者；但是智慧人，能平息王怒。

15 In the light of the king’s countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain.

君王容光煥發，人即可活命；君王的恩澤，有如春雲時雨。

16 How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! yea, to get understanding is rather to be chosen than silver.

獲得智慧，勝於獲得黃金；獲得智慧，勝於獲得白銀。

17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.

正直人的行徑遠離邪惡，謹守行為的人必確保生命。

18 Pride [goeth] before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

驕橫是滅亡的先聲，傲慢是隕落的前導。

19 Better it is to be of a lowly spirit with the poor, than to divide the spoil with the proud.

謙下與貧民共處，勝於與驕傲人分贓。

20 He that giveth heed unto the word shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.

細聽勸言的，必將受益；信賴上主的，真是有福。

21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.

有慧心的人，被稱為哲人；溫和的口吻，更具說服力。

22 Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the correction of fools is [their] folly.

為有智識的人，智識是生命的泉源；然而糊塗愚昧，卻是愚昧人的懲罰。

23 The heart of the wise instructeth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.

智慧人的心，使自己的嘴靈巧，使自己的唇舌，更具說服力。

24 Pleasant words are [as] an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

親切的言語，有如蜂蜜，使心靈愉快，使筋骨舒暢。

25 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

有些道路，看來正直；走到盡頭，卻是死路。

26 The appetite of the labouring man laboureth for him; for his mouth craveth it of him.

工人的胃口，催他勞作；工人的口腹，迫他工作。

27 A worthless man deviseth mischief: and in his lips there is as a scorching fire.

無賴之徒，圖謀邪惡；他的嘴上，似有火燒。

28 A froward man scattereth abroad strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.

乖戾的人，撒播爭端；告密的人，離間友情。

29 A man of violence enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him in a way that is not good.

強橫的人，誘惑朋友；引他走入不正之徒。

30 He that shutteth his eyes, [it is] to devise froward things: he that compresseth his lips bringeth evil to pass.

誰緊閉眼睛，是在策劃陰謀；誰緊咬口唇，邪惡業已完成。

31 The hoary head is a crown of glory, it shall be found in the way of righteousness.

皓首白髮，是尊榮的冠冕；只在正義的道上，方可獲得。

32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

有涵養的人，勝於勇士；克服自己的人，勝於克城的人。

33 The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.

人儘可在懷中抽籤，但決斷卻在乎上主。