Proverbs

箴言的價值

1以色列王大衛兒子所羅門的箴言：

2要使人曉得智慧和訓誨， 分辨通達的言語，

3使人處事領受智慧、 仁義、公平、正直的訓誨，

4使愚人靈明， 使少年人有知識和謀略，

5使智慧人聽見，增長學問， 使聰明人得着智謀，

6使人明白箴言和譬喻， 懂得智慧人的言詞和謎語。

給青年人的忠告

7敬畏耶和華是知識的開端； 愚妄人藐視智慧和訓誨。

8我兒，要聽你父親的訓誨， 不可離棄你母親的法則；

9因為這要作你頭上的華冠， 你項上的金鍊。

10我兒，惡人若引誘你， 你不可隨從。

11他們若說：你與我們同去， 我們要埋伏流人之血， 要蹲伏害無罪之人；

12我們好像陰間，把他們活活吞下； 他們如同下坑的人， 被我們囫圇吞了；

13我們必得各樣寶物， 將所擄來的，裝滿房屋；

14你與我們大家同分， 我們共用一個囊袋；

15我兒，不要與他們同行一道， 禁止你腳走他們的路。

16因為，他們的腳奔跑行惡； 他們急速流人的血，

17好像飛鳥， 網羅設在眼前仍不躲避。

18這些人埋伏，是為自流己血； 蹲伏，是為自害己命。

19凡貪戀財利的，所行之路都是如此； 這貪戀之心乃奪去得財者之命。

智慧呼喚人

20智慧在街市上呼喊， 在寬闊處發聲，

21在熱鬧街頭喊叫， 在城門口，在城中發出言語，

22說：你們愚昧人喜愛愚昧， 褻慢人喜歡褻慢， 愚頑人恨惡知識，要到幾時呢？

23你們當因我的責備回轉； 我要將我的靈澆灌你們， 將我的話指示你們。

24我呼喚，你們不肯聽從； 我伸手，無人理會；

25反輕棄我一切的勸戒， 不肯受我的責備。

26你們遭災難，我就發笑； 驚恐臨到你們，我必嗤笑。

27驚恐臨到你們，好像狂風； 災難來到，如同暴風； 急難痛苦臨到你們身上。

28那時，你們必呼求我，我卻不答應， 懇切地尋找我，卻尋不見。

29因為，你們恨惡知識， 不喜愛敬畏耶和華，

30不聽我的勸戒， 藐視我一切的責備，

31所以必吃自結的果子， 充滿自設的計謀。

32愚昧人背道，必殺己身； 愚頑人安逸，必害己命。

33惟有聽從我的，必安然居住， 得享安靜，不怕災禍。

1The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel:

2to know wisdom and instruction;to discern the words of understanding;

3to receive instruction in wise dealing,in righteousness, justice, and equity;

4to give prudence to the simple,knowledge and discretion to the young man—

5that the wise man may hear, and increase in learning;that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsel;

6to understand a proverb and parables,the words and riddles of the wise.

7The fear of the LORDis the beginning of knowledge,but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.

8My son, listen to your father’s instruction,and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching;

9for they will be a garland to grace your head,and chains around your neck.

10My son, if sinners entice you,don’t consent.

11If they say, “Come with us.Let’s lie in wait for blood. Let’s lurk secretly for the innocent without cause.

12Let’s swallow them up alive like Sheol,and whole, like those who go down into the pit.

13We’ll find all valuable wealth.We’ll fill our houses with plunder.

14You shall cast your lot among us.We’ll all have one purse”—

15my son, don’t walk on the path with them.Keep your foot from their path,

16for their feet run to evil.They hurry to shed blood.

17For the net is spread in vain in the sight of any bird;

18but these lay in wait for their own blood.They lurk secretly for their own lives.

19So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain.It takes away the life of its owners.

20Wisdom calls aloud in the street.She utters her voice in the public squares.

21She calls at the head of noisy places.At the entrance of the city gates, she utters her words:

22“How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity?How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery, and fools hate knowledge?

23Turn at my reproof.Behold,I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make known my words to you.

24Because I have called, and you have refused;I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention;

25but you have ignored all my counsel,and wanted none of my reproof;

26I also will laugh at your disaster.I will mock when calamity overtakes you,

27when calamity overtakes you like a storm,when your disaster comes on like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come on you.

28Then they will call on me, but I will not answer.They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me,

29because they hated knowledge,and didn’t choose the fear of the LORD.

30They wanted none of my counsel.They despised all my reproof.

31Therefore they will eat of the fruit of their own way,and be filled with their own schemes.

32For the backsliding of the simple will kill them.The careless ease of fools will destroy them.

33But whoever listens to me will dwell securely,and will be at ease, without fear of harm.”