Proverbs 18

1 Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.

與眾寡合的，只求私意；對任何指教，都表忿恨。

2 A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.

愚昧的人不喜愛受教，只愛顯露自己的心意。

3 When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach.

邪惡一來，輕視隨到；侮辱也隨無恥而至。

4 The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.

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 person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.

在判案時，徇惡人之私，加害於義人，實屬不公。

6 A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.

愚人的唇舌，常引起爭端；愚人的口舌，常自招責打。

7 A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare 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 a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

進讒者的話，如可口美味，能深深透入肺腑的深處。

9 He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.

懶於操勞的人，是敗子的弟兄。

10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

上主的名號，是堅固保壘；義人投入內，必得享安全。

11 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit.

富人的財產，是他的堅城；在他意想中，像座高牆垣。

12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.

心傲是滅亡的前導，心謙是光榮的前驅。

13 He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame to him.

未聽而先答，實愚昧可恥。

14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?

剛毅的精神，能忍受病苦；精神萎靡，有誰能支持﹖

15 The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.

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 maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.

禮物能給人大開門路，引人晉謁權貴。

17 He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.

先訴理者似有理，對手來時再審斷。

18 The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty.

抽籤可以使爭端平息，也能調解權貴的糾紛。

19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.

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 A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.

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: and they that love it shall eat the fruit of it.

死亡和生命，全在乎唇舌；放縱唇舌的，必自食其果。

22 Whoever findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour from the LORD.

誰覓得了賢妻，便覓得了幸福，得了上主恩眷。

23 The poor useth entreaties; but the rich answereth roughly.

貧窮的人哀懇乞憐；富貴的人厲聲以對。

24 A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

交朋友過多，必會有損害；但有些朋友，遠勝親兄弟。