Proverbs 4

1 Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.

1 眾子啊，要聽父親的教訓， 留心得知聰明。

2 For I give you sound teaching; do not abandon my directive.

2 因我所給你們的是好教訓； 不可離棄我的法則 。

3 When I was a son to my father, tender and the only child of my mother,

3 我在父親面前為孝子， 在母親眼中為獨一的嬌兒。

4 he taught me and said, “Let your heart lay hold of my words; keep my commands and you will live.

4 父親教訓我說：你心要存記我的言語， 遵守我的命令，便得存活。

5 Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn from them.

5 要得智慧，要得聰明，不可忘記， 也不可偏離我口中的言語。

6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will guard you.

6 不可離棄智慧，智慧就護衛你； 要愛她，她就保守你。

7 Wisdom is supreme; so acquire wisdom. And whatever you may acquire, gain understanding.

7 智慧為首； 所以，要得智慧。 在你一切所得之內必得聰明 。

8 Prize her, and she will exalt you; if you embrace her, she will honor you.

8 高舉智慧，她就使你高升； 懷抱智慧，她就使你尊榮。

9 She will set a garland of grace on your head; she will present you with a crown of beauty.”

9 她必將華冠加在你頭上， 把榮冕交給你。

10 Listen, my son, and receive my words, and the years of your life will be many.

10 我兒，你要聽受我的言語， 就必延年益壽。

11 I will guide you in the way of wisdom; I will lead you on straight paths.

11 我已指教你走智慧的道， 引導你行正直的路。

12 When you walk, your steps will not be impeded; when you run, you will not stumble.

12 你行走，腳步必不致狹窄； 你奔跑，也不致跌倒。

13 Hold on to instruction; do not let go. Guard it, for it is your life.

13 要持定訓誨，不可放鬆； 必當謹守，因為它是你的生命。

14 Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers.

14 不可行惡人的路； 不要走壞人的道。

15 Avoid it; do not travel on it. Turn from it and pass on by.

15 要躲避，不可經過； 要轉身而去。

16 For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; they are deprived of slumber until they make someone fall.

16 這等人若不行惡，不得睡覺； 不使人跌倒，睡臥不安；

17 For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.

17 因為他們以奸惡吃餅， 以強暴喝酒。

18 The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday.

18 但義人的路好像黎明的光， 越照越明，直到日午。

19 But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom; they do not know what makes them stumble.

19 惡人的道好像幽暗， 自己不知因甚麼跌倒。

20 My son, pay attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.

20 我兒，要留心聽我的言詞， 側耳聽我的話語，

21 Do not lose sight of them; keep them within your heart.

21 都不可離你的眼目， 要存記在你心中。

22 For they are life to those who find them, and health to the whole body.

22 因為得着它的，就得了生命， 又得了醫全體的良藥。

23 Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.

23 你要保守你心，勝過保守一切 ， 因為一生的果效是由心發出。

24 Put away deception from your mouth; keep your lips from perverse speech.

24 你要除掉邪僻的口， 棄絕乖謬的嘴。

25 Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead.

25 你的眼目要向前正看； 你的眼睛 當向前直觀。

26 Make a level path for your feet, and all your ways will be sure.

26 要修平你腳下的路， 堅定你一切的道。

27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your feet away from evil.

27 不可偏向左右； 要使你的腳離開邪惡。