Proverbs 29

1 He who is often rebuked and stiffens his neck will be destroyed suddenly, with no remedy.

人若屢受譴責，仍然頑固，他必突然喪亡，無法挽救。

2 When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; but when the wicked rule, the people groan.

義人執政，人民喜慶；惡人專權，人民嘆息。

3 Whoever loves wisdom brings joy to his father; but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.

喜愛智慧的，使父親喜悅；尋花問柳的，必傾家蕩產。

4 The king by justice makes the land stable, but he who takes bribes tears it down.

君王秉公行義，必將興邦；但若暴斂橫徵，必將喪邦。

5 A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet.

對自己的友伴阿諛的人，是在他腳下張設羅網。

6 An evil man is snared by his sin, but the righteous can sing and be glad.

作惡的人，滿路絆索；正義的人，載欣載奔。

7 The righteous care about justice for the poor. The wicked aren’t concerned about knowledge.

義人關注窮人的案情，但是惡人卻毫不知情。

8 Mockers stir up a city, but wise men turn away anger.

輕狂的人，煽動城市作亂；明智的人，設法挽回狂瀾。

9 If a wise man goes to court with a foolish man, the fool rages or scoffs, and there is no peace.

智愚爭辯，或怒或笑，終無結果。

10 The bloodthirsty hate a man of integrity; and they seek the life of the upright.

嗜殺的人，常憎恨正人君子；正直的人，卻關懷他的性命。

11 A fool vents all of his anger, but a wise man brings himself under control.

愚人忿怒，必盡情發洩；明智的人，必自知抑制。

12 If a ruler listens to lies, all of his officials are wicked.

作首長的，如聽信讒言，他的臣僕，必盡屬小人。

13 The poor man and the oppressor have this in common: Yahweh gives sight to the eyes of both.

窮人與壓迫者彼此相遇，二者皆由主獲得光明。

14 The king who fairly judges the poor, his throne shall be established forever.

君王如秉公審判窮人，他的寶座必永久穩立。

15 The rod of correction gives wisdom, but a child left to himself causes shame to his mother.

杖責與懲戒，賜予人智慧；嬌縱的孩子，使母親受辱。

16 When the wicked increase, sin increases; but the righteous will see their downfall.

惡人掌權，罪惡隨之增多；正義的人，必親見其崩潰。

17 Correct your son, and he will give you peace; yes, he will bring delight to your soul.

懲戒你的兒子，他必使你安心，令你心曠神怡。

18 Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but one who keeps the law is blessed.

神視缺乏時，人民必放縱；遵守法律的，纔蒙受祝福。

19 A servant can’t be corrected by words. Though he understands, yet he will not respond.

要糾正奴才，不宜用言語；即使他明白，他仍不服從。

20 Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

你是否見過信口開河的人﹖寄望於愚人勝於寄望於他。

21 He who pampers his servant from youth will have him become a son in the end.

對奴才自幼加以嬌養，他日後終必反僕為主。

22 An angry man stirs up strife, and a wrathful man abounds in sin.

易怒的人，極易引起紛爭；性急的人，必犯很多過錯。

23 A man’s pride brings him low, but one of lowly spirit gains honor.

驕傲自大，使人屈辱；虛心謙下，使人受榮。

24 Whoever is an accomplice of a thief is an enemy of his own soul. He takes an oath, but dares not testify.

誰與盜賊合夥，實是痛恨自己；他雖聽見咀咒，卻不敢發一言。

25 The fear of man proves to be a snare, but whoever puts his trust in Yahweh is kept safe.

對人畏懼，必陷入羈絆；信賴上主，必獲得安全。

26 Many seek the ruler’s favor, but a man’s justice comes from Yahweh.

許多人尋求王侯的慈惠，但每人的判決出自上主。

27 A dishonest man detests the righteous, and the upright in their ways detest the wicked.

為非作歹的人，為義人所憎惡；行為正直的人，為惡人所憎惡。