| 箴言 | Proverbs |
|---|
| 1智慧不是在呼唤，明智不是在发出她的呼声吗﹖ | 1Who calls? Is it not Wisdom?
Who lifts up her voice? |
| 2她站在高岗上，站在通衢大道上， | 2Is it not Knowledge?
She shouts from the hilltops
and waits by the crossroads; |
| 3她在城门口，在城入口处大声喊说： | 3in the vicinity of the city gates she speaks, |
| 4人呀！我在向你们呼唤，我在对人子发出呼声： | 4"It is you, O men, I address
for my message is directed to all mankind, |
| 5幼稚的人，你们应学习机智；愚昧的人，你们应学习聪明。 | 5so that the ignorant may learn
and the thoughtless come to their senses. |
| 6你们且听，因为我要讲论卓绝的事，开口述说正直的事。 | 6Listen to me for I speak of vital things
and everything I say is true. |
| 7的确，我的口只畅谈真理，我厌恶虚诈的唇舌。 | 7Truthful words come from my mouth
and my lips do not lend themselves to evil. |
| 8凡我口述的，无不正直，毫无歪曲或乖僻。 | 8All my words are right,
none are twisted or deceitful. |
| 9我的话为明白的人是诚实的，为有智识的人是正确的。 | 9The intelligent will verify their truth,
the wise perceive their sincerity. |
| 10你们应听取我的教训，而不要银子；应汲取智识，而不取纯金； | 10Prefer my teaching to silver
and seek wisdom rather than gold, |
| 11因为智慧胜过任何珍珠，任何可贪恋的事都不能与她伦比。 | 11because wisdom has more value than any jewel
and none of men's desires can equal it. |
| 12我─智慧─与机智同居，拥有知识和见识。 | 12I, Wisdom, dwell with discretion
and count prudence among my friends. |
| 13敬畏上主，就是憎恨邪恶傲慢骄横，邪恶的行径和欺诈的口舌，我都憎恶。 | 13The fear of Yahweh is rejection of evil.
I hate all pride, arrogance, wicked ways and lies, |
| 14机谋才智，属我所有；聪明勇敢，亦属于我。 | 14but I love counsel, discretion, prudence and strength. |
| 15藉着我，君王执政，元首秉公行义； | 15Kings reign by my power,
their ministers issue just laws; |
| 16藉着我，统治者统治，王侯治理邦土。 | 16by me princes govern,
and the great and noble of the earth as well. |
| 17我爱那爱我的人；凡寻求我的，必找着我。 | 17I love those who love me
and go to meet those who seek me. |
| 18富贵荣誉，恒产正义，都属我有。 | 18Riches and honor are with me,
true well-being and upright living. |
| 19我的果实，胜过黄金纯金；我的出产，比净银还要宝贵。 | 19More precious than silver and gold
are my fruit and my yield. |
| 20我走在正义的路上，走在公平的路上， | 20I proceed on the path of righteousness
and make use of the ways of justice, |
| 21使爱我者获得产业，充满他们的宝库。 | 21giving riches to those who love me,
and filling their cellars. |
| 22上主自始即拿我作他行动的起始，作他作为的开端： | 22Yahweh created me first,
at the beginning of his works. |
| 23大地还没有形成以前，远自太古，从无始我已被立； | 23He formed me from of old,
from eternity, even before the earth. |
| 24深渊还没有存在，水泉还没有涌出以前，我已受生； | 24The abyss did not exist when I was born,
the springs of the sea had not gushed forth, |
| 25山岳还没有奠定，丘陵还没有存在以前，我已受生。 | 25the mountains were still not set in their place
nor the hills, when I was born |
| 26那时，上主还没有创造大地、原野、和世上土壤的原质； | 26before he made the earth or countryside,
or the first grains of the world's dust. |
| 27当他建立高天时，我已在场；当他在深渊之上划出穹苍时， | 27I was there when he made the skies
and drew the earth's compass on the abyss, |
| 28当他上使穹苍稳立，下使渊源固定时， | 28when he formed the clouds above
and when the springs of the ocean emerged; |
| 29当他为沧海划定界限，令水不要越境，给大地奠定基础时， | 29when he made the sea with its limits,
that it might not overflow.
When he laid the foundations of the earth, |
| 30我已在他身旁，充作技师。那时，我天天是他的喜悦，不断在他前欢跃， | 30I was close beside him,
the designer of his works,
and I was his daily delight,
forever playing in his presence, |
| 31欢跃于尘寰之间，乐与世人共处。 | 31playing throughout the world
and delighting to be with the sons of men. |
| 32那么，我儿，你们且听我：遵循我道路的人是有福的。 | 32Now then, my sons, listen to me:
happy are those who follow my ways. |
| 33你们该听从教训，做一智慧人，不要把她抛弃。 | 33Listen to my teaching and gain wisdom;
do not ignore it. |
| 34凡听从我言，天天在我门前守候，在我门框旁侍立的人，是有福的。 | 34Happy are those who listen to me
and wait at my gates every day,
watching, close to my threshold. |
| 35因为谁找到我，便是找到生命，他必由上主获得恩宠。 | 35Those who find me find life:
theirs is Yahweh's blessing. |
| 36但是那得罪我的，等于伤害自己；凡憎恨我的，是自找死亡。 | 36Those who offend me will undergo affliction;
they hate me for they love death. |
