1酒使人放肆，烈酒叫人吵鬧。
因酒誤事，實為不智。
2君王震怒如獅子咆哮，
觸怒他的人自尋死路。
3避免紛爭是光榮，
愚人個個愛爭吵。
4懶惰人不按時耕種，
收穫時必一無所得。
5人心的謀略如深水，
唯有哲士才能汲取。
6人都聲稱自己忠誠，
但誰能找到忠信者？
7義人行為正直，
他的後代也蒙福。
8王坐在寶座上審判，
他的眼目明察罪惡。
9誰敢說：「我心靈潔淨，純潔無罪？」
10缺斤少兩、尺寸不足，
都為耶和華所憎惡。
11孩童的舉動是否純良，
都顯明他的本性。
12能聽的耳，能看的眼，
兩者都為耶和華所造。
13不要貪睡，免得貧窮；
勤勞工作，糧食豐足。
14買主總說貨物不好，
買走後又連連自誇。
15智慧之言勝過黃金和許多珠寶。
16誰為陌生人作保，就拿去誰的外衣；
誰為外族人作保，就要承擔責任。
17騙來的餅覺得香甜，
最後卻是滿口泥沙。
18集思出良策，
征戰靠智謀。
19嚼舌的人洩露秘密，
不可結交多嘴的人。
20咒罵父母的人，
他的生命20·20 「生命」希伯來文是「燈」。必消逝在黑暗中。
21早年輕易得來之財，
最終不會成為祝福。
22不要說：「我要以惡報惡」，
要等候耶和華替你伸冤。
23耶和華憎惡缺斤少兩，
祂厭惡騙人的天平。
24人的腳步由耶和華所定，
人怎能知道自己的道路？
25人向主許願要三思，
免得事後作繭自縛。
26明君必篩出惡人，
用石磙碾軋他們。
27心靈是耶和華的燈，
鑒察人的肺腑心腸。
28君王靠慈愛和忠信護佑，
他的王位因慈愛而穩固。
29力量是青年的榮耀，
白髮是老人的尊榮。
30鞭傷能驅除罪惡，
責打能潔淨人心。
1Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler;
whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
2A king’s wrath strikes terror like the roar of a lion;
those who anger him forfeit their lives.
3It is to one’s honour to avoid strife,
but every fool is quick to quarrel.
4Sluggards do not plough in season;
so at harvest time they look but find nothing.
5The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters,
but one who has insight draws them out.
6Many claim to have unfailing love,
but a faithful person who can find?
7The righteous lead blameless lives;
blessed are their children after them.
8When a king sits on his throne to judge,
he winnows out all evil with his eyes.
9Who can say, ‘I have kept my heart pure;
I am clean and without sin’?
10Differing weights and differing measures –
the Lord detests them both.
11Even small children are known by their actions,
so is their conduct really pure and upright?
12Ears that hear and eyes that see –
the Lord has made them both.
13Do not love sleep or you will grow poor;
stay awake and you will have food to spare.
14‘It’s no good, it’s no good!’ says the buyer –
then goes off and boasts about the purchase.
15Gold there is, and rubies in abundance,
but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel.
16Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger;
hold it in pledge if it is done for an outsider.
17Food gained by fraud tastes sweet,
but one ends up with a mouth full of gravel.
18Plans are established by seeking advice;
so if you wage war, obtain guidance.
19A gossip betrays a confidence;
so avoid anyone who talks too much.
20If someone curses their father or mother,
their lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness.
21An inheritance claimed too soon
will not be blessed at the end.
22Do not say, ‘I’ll pay you back for this wrong!’
Wait for the Lord, and he will avenge you.
23The Lord detests differing weights,
and dishonest scales do not please him.
24A person’s steps are directed by the Lord.
How then can anyone understand their own way?
25It is a trap to dedicate something rashly
and only later to consider one’s vows.
26A wise king winnows out the wicked;
he drives the threshing wheel over them.
27The human spirit is20:27 Or A person’s words are the lamp of the Lord
that sheds light on one’s inmost being.
28Love and faithfulness keep a king safe;
through love his throne is made secure.
29The glory of young men is their strength,
grey hair the splendour of the old.
30Blows and wounds scrub away evil,
and beatings purge the inmost being.
