箴言的价值

这是大卫的儿子以色列王所罗门的箴言。

为使人认识智慧和教诲,
    领悟真知灼见;
为使人接受劝诫,
    为人处事仁义、公平、正直;
使愚昧人明智,
    使青年有知识和明辨力;
使智者听了长学问,
    明哲听了得指引;
使人领悟箴言和比喻,
    明白智者的话和谜语。

知识始于敬畏耶和华,

    愚人轻视智慧和教诲。
孩子啊,
    你要听从父亲的教诲,
    不可背弃母亲的训言。
因为这要作你头上的华冠,
    颈上的项链。
10 孩子啊,恶人若引诱你,
    千万不要听从。
11 他们若说:“跟我们来吧,
    我们去埋伏杀人,
    暗害无辜者取乐;
12 我们要像阴间一样生吞他们,
    整个吞没他们,
    使他们如坠入坟墓的人;
13 我们必得到各样宝物,
    把战利品装满我们的房屋。
14 跟我们一起干吧,
    大家有福同享!”
15 孩子啊,
    不要走他们的道,
    切莫行他们的路。
16 因为他们奔向罪恶,
    急速地去杀人流血。
17 在飞鸟眼前设网罗,徒劳无功。
18 他们埋伏,却自流己血;
    他们伏击,却自害己命。
19 这就是贪爱不义之财者的结局,
    不义之财终要夺去他们的性命。

智慧的劝诫

20 智慧在大街上高喊,
    在广场上扬声,
21 在热闹的市集宣告,
    在城门口演说:
22 “你们愚昧人喜爱愚昧,
    嘲讽者以嘲弄为乐,
    无知者厌恶知识,
    要到什么时候呢?
23 你们若因我的责备而回转,
    我就向你们显明我的旨意[a]
    叫你们明白我的话语。
24 我呼唤你们,
    你们却充耳不闻;
    我向你们招手,
    你们却视若无睹。
25 你们漠视我的劝诫,
    不接受我的责备。
26 因此,
    你们遭遇灾难时,
    我必发笑;
    惊恐临到你们时,
    我必嗤笑——
27 那时,恐惧如风暴袭击你们,
    灾难如旋风临到你们,
    忧愁和苦难吞没你们。
28 你们呼求我,
    我也不回答;
    你们恳切地寻找我,
    却找不到。
29 因为你们厌恶知识,
    不愿意敬畏耶和华,
30 不接受我的劝诫,
    又藐视我的责备。
31 所以,你们必自食其果,
    因自己的恶谋而吃尽苦头。
32 愚昧人背离正道,
    自招灭亡;
    愚顽人逍遥自在,
    毁掉自己。
33 然而,那听从我的必安然居住,
    得享安宁,
    不怕灾祸。”

智慧的益处

孩子啊,
    你若接受我的教诲,
    珍爱我的诫命,
侧耳聆听智慧,
    倾心渴慕悟性;
你若呼求洞见,
    竭力追求悟性,
寻它如寻银子,
    找它如找宝藏,
你就会懂得敬畏耶和华,
    认识上帝。
因为耶和华赐人智慧,
    知识和悟性出自祂的口。
祂使正直人充满智慧,
    是行为纯全者的盾牌。
祂看守正义之路,
    护卫虔诚人的道。
这样,你就明白何为仁义、
    公平和正直,
    懂得一切美善之道。
10 因为智慧必进入你心,
    知识必令你的灵欢快。
11 明辨力必护佑你,
    悟性必看顾你。
12 智慧必救你远离恶道,
    脱离言语荒谬的人。
13 他们舍弃正道,走上黑路,
14 以行恶为乐,喜爱恶人的邪僻;
15 他们的道路歪邪,行径扭曲。

16 智慧要救你脱离淫妇,
    脱离花言巧语的妓女。
17 她撇弃了年轻时的丈夫,
    忘了在上帝面前立的约。
18 她的家通向死亡,
    她的路直达阴间。
19 到她那里的人都有去无回,
    找不到生命之道。
20 所以你要行善人的路,
    守义人的道。
21 因为在地上,
    正直人必安居,
    纯全无过的人必长存,
22 恶人必遭灭绝,
    奸徒必被铲除。

信靠耶和华

孩子啊,不要忘记我的训言,
    要把我的诫命存在心里,
因为这必使你延年益寿,
    幸福平安。
不要让慈爱和信实离开你,
    要把他们系在你的颈项上,
    刻在你的心坎上。
这样,你必蒙上帝和世人的喜悦,
    享有美誉。

你要全心信靠耶和华,
    不可倚靠自己的悟性。
凡事都要寻求祂,
    祂必指引你走正路。
不要自以为有智慧,
    要敬畏耶和华,远离恶事。
这样可医治你的身体,
    滋润你的筋骨。
你要用自己的财富和一切初熟的物产来尊崇耶和华,
10 祂必使你五谷满仓,
    榨酒池溢出新酿。
11 孩子啊,不可轻视耶和华的管教,
    也不可厌烦祂的责备。
12 因为耶和华责备祂所爱的人,
    就像父亲责备他所疼爱的孩子。
13 找到智慧、得到悟性的人有福了,
14 因为智慧比银子更有价值,
    比金子更有益处,
15 比珠宝更珍贵;
    你所喜爱的一切都难以相比。
16 智慧的右手有长寿,
    左手有富贵和尊荣。
17 她的路上有福乐,
    她的道上有平安。
18 对持守智慧的人来说,
    智慧是生命树,
    紧握智慧的人必蒙祝福。
19 耶和华以智慧奠立大地,
    以悟性铺设诸天;
20 祂的知识使深渊裂开,
    使天上降下甘霖。

21 孩子啊,你要守护智慧和明辨力,
    别让她们离开你的视线。
22 她们必给你带来生命,
    作你颈项上华美的装饰。
23 如此,你必步履稳健,不致失足;
24 你必安然躺卧,睡得香甜。
25 不要怕突来的灾祸,
    不要怕恶人遭毁灭,
26 因为耶和华是你的靠山,
    祂使你的脚不陷入网罗。

27 倘若有力量行善,
    就当帮助有需要的人,不要推托。
28 倘若可以帮忙,
    就不可对有求于你的邻人说:
    “回去吧,明天再来,我必给你!”
29 邻舍在你附近安分居住,
    不可谋害他。
30 别人若没有害你,
    不要无故与他相争。
31 不要羡慕残暴之徒,
    也不可步其后尘,
32 因为耶和华憎恶邪僻之徒,
    喜爱正直的人。
33 耶和华咒诅恶人的家,
    赐福义人的家。
34 耶和华讥笑好讥诮的人,
    恩待谦卑的人。
35 智者得尊荣,
    愚人受羞辱。

父亲的教诲

孩子们啊,
    你们要听从父亲的教诲,
    留心学习,以便领悟,
因为我给你们的训诲是美好的,
    不可背弃我的教导。
我年幼时在父亲身边,
    是母亲唯一的宠儿。
父亲教导我说:
    “要牢记我的话,
    遵守我的诫命,就必存活。
你要寻求智慧和悟性,
    不要忘记或违背我的吩咐。
不可离弃智慧,智慧必护佑你;
    你要热爱智慧,智慧必看顾你。
智慧至上,要寻求智慧,
    要不惜一切,求得悟性。
高举智慧,她必使你受尊崇;
    拥抱智慧,她必使你得尊荣。
她必为你戴上华冠,
    加上荣冕。”

10 孩子啊,你要听从我的教导,
    就必延年益寿。
11 我已经指示你走智慧之道,
    引导你行正确的路。
12 你行走,必不受妨碍;
    你奔跑,绝不会跌倒。
13 你要持守教诲,不要松懈;
    要守护好,因为那是你的生命。
14 不要涉足恶人的道,
    不要行走坏人的路;
15 要避开,不可踏足,
    要绕道而行。
16 因为他们不作恶就无法入睡,
    不绊倒人就无法安眠;
17 他们吃的是邪恶饼,
    喝的是残暴酒。
18 义人的道路好像黎明的曙光,
    越照越亮,直到大放光明。
19 恶人的道路一片幽暗,
    他们不知被何物绊倒。

20 孩子啊,你要聆听我的吩咐,
    侧耳听我的训言;
21 不要让它们离开你的视线,
    要牢记在心。
22 因为得到它们就得到生命,
    全身也必康健。
23 要一丝不苟地守护你的心,
    因为生命之泉从心中涌出。
24 不讲欺诈之言,
    不说荒谬的话。
25 眼睛要正视前方,
    双目要向前直看。
26 要铺平脚下的路,
    使所行之道稳妥。
27 不可偏右偏左,
    要远离恶事。

Footnotes

  1. 1:23 我就向你们显明我的旨意”希伯来文是“我就将我的灵浇灌你们”。

Purpose and Theme

The proverbs(A) of Solomon(B) son of David, king of Israel:(C)

for gaining wisdom and instruction;
    for understanding words of insight;
for receiving instruction in prudent behavior,
    doing what is right and just and fair;
for giving prudence to those who are simple,[a](D)
    knowledge and discretion(E) to the young—
let the wise listen and add to their learning,(F)
    and let the discerning get guidance—
for understanding proverbs and parables,(G)
    the sayings and riddles(H) of the wise.[b](I)

The fear of the Lord(J) is the beginning of knowledge,
    but fools[c] despise wisdom(K) and instruction.(L)

Prologue: Exhortations to Embrace Wisdom

Warning Against the Invitation of Sinful Men

Listen, my son,(M) to your father’s(N) instruction
    and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.(O)
They are a garland to grace your head
    and a chain to adorn your neck.(P)

10 My son, if sinful men entice(Q) you,
    do not give in(R) to them.(S)
11 If they say, “Come along with us;
    let’s lie in wait(T) for innocent blood,
    let’s ambush some harmless soul;
12 let’s swallow(U) them alive, like the grave,
    and whole, like those who go down to the pit;(V)
13 we will get all sorts of valuable things
    and fill our houses with plunder;
14 cast lots with us;
    we will all share the loot(W)”—
15 my son, do not go along with them,
    do not set foot(X) on their paths;(Y)
16 for their feet rush into evil,(Z)
    they are swift to shed blood.(AA)
17 How useless to spread a net
    where every bird can see it!
18 These men lie in wait(AB) for their own blood;
    they ambush only themselves!(AC)
19 Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain;
    it takes away the life of those who get it.(AD)

Wisdom’s Rebuke

20 Out in the open wisdom calls aloud,(AE)
    she raises her voice in the public square;
21 on top of the wall[d] she cries out,
    at the city gate she makes her speech:

22 “How long will you who are simple(AF) love your simple ways?
    How long will mockers delight in mockery
    and fools hate(AG) knowledge?
23 Repent at my rebuke!
    Then I will pour out my thoughts to you,
    I will make known to you my teachings.
24 But since you refuse(AH) to listen when I call(AI)
    and no one pays attention(AJ) when I stretch out my hand,
25 since you disregard all my advice
    and do not accept my rebuke,
26 I in turn will laugh(AK) when disaster(AL) strikes you;
    I will mock(AM) when calamity overtakes you(AN)
27 when calamity overtakes you like a storm,
    when disaster(AO) sweeps over you like a whirlwind,
    when distress and trouble overwhelm you.

28 “Then they will call to me but I will not answer;(AP)
    they will look for me but will not find me,(AQ)
29 since they hated knowledge
    and did not choose to fear the Lord.(AR)
30 Since they would not accept my advice
    and spurned my rebuke,(AS)
31 they will eat the fruit of their ways
    and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.(AT)
32 For the waywardness of the simple will kill them,
    and the complacency of fools will destroy them;(AU)
33 but whoever listens to me will live in safety(AV)
    and be at ease, without fear of harm.”(AW)

Moral Benefits of Wisdom

My son,(AX) if you accept my words
    and store up my commands within you,
turning your ear to wisdom
    and applying your heart to understanding(AY)
indeed, if you call out for insight(AZ)
    and cry aloud for understanding,
and if you look for it as for silver
    and search for it as for hidden treasure,(BA)
then you will understand the fear of the Lord
    and find the knowledge of God.(BB)
For the Lord gives wisdom;(BC)
    from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.(BD)
He holds success in store for the upright,
    he is a shield(BE) to those whose walk is blameless,(BF)
for he guards the course of the just
    and protects the way of his faithful ones.(BG)

Then you will understand(BH) what is right and just
    and fair—every good path.
10 For wisdom will enter your heart,(BI)
    and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
11 Discretion will protect you,
    and understanding will guard you.(BJ)

12 Wisdom will save(BK) you from the ways of wicked men,
    from men whose words are perverse,
13 who have left the straight paths
    to walk in dark ways,(BL)
14 who delight in doing wrong
    and rejoice in the perverseness of evil,(BM)
15 whose paths are crooked(BN)
    and who are devious in their ways.(BO)

16 Wisdom will save you also from the adulterous woman,(BP)
    from the wayward woman with her seductive words,
17 who has left the partner of her youth
    and ignored the covenant she made before God.[e](BQ)
18 Surely her house leads down to death
    and her paths to the spirits of the dead.(BR)
19 None who go to her return
    or attain the paths of life.(BS)

20 Thus you will walk in the ways of the good
    and keep to the paths of the righteous.
21 For the upright will live in the land,(BT)
    and the blameless will remain in it;
22 but the wicked(BU) will be cut off from the land,(BV)
    and the unfaithful will be torn from it.(BW)

Wisdom Bestows Well-Being

My son,(BX) do not forget my teaching,(BY)
    but keep my commands in your heart,
for they will prolong your life many years(BZ)
    and bring you peace and prosperity.(CA)

Let love and faithfulness(CB) never leave you;
    bind them around your neck,
    write them on the tablet of your heart.(CC)
Then you will win favor and a good name
    in the sight of God and man.(CD)

Trust in the Lord(CE) with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths(CF) straight.[f](CG)

Do not be wise in your own eyes;(CH)
    fear the Lord(CI) and shun evil.(CJ)
This will bring health to your body(CK)
    and nourishment to your bones.(CL)

Honor the Lord with your wealth,
    with the firstfruits(CM) of all your crops;
10 then your barns will be filled(CN) to overflowing,
    and your vats will brim over with new wine.(CO)

11 My son,(CP) do not despise the Lord’s discipline,(CQ)
    and do not resent his rebuke,
12 because the Lord disciplines those he loves,(CR)
    as a father the son he delights in.[g](CS)

13 Blessed are those who find wisdom,
    those who gain understanding,
14 for she is more profitable than silver
    and yields better returns than gold.(CT)
15 She is more precious than rubies;(CU)
    nothing you desire can compare with her.(CV)
16 Long life is in her right hand;(CW)
    in her left hand are riches and honor.(CX)
17 Her ways are pleasant ways,
    and all her paths are peace.(CY)
18 She is a tree of life(CZ) to those who take hold of her;
    those who hold her fast will be blessed.(DA)

19 By wisdom(DB) the Lord laid the earth’s foundations,(DC)
    by understanding he set the heavens(DD) in place;
20 by his knowledge the watery depths were divided,
    and the clouds let drop the dew.

21 My son,(DE) do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight,(DF)
    preserve sound judgment and discretion;
22 they will be life for you,(DG)
    an ornament to grace your neck.(DH)
23 Then you will go on your way in safety,(DI)
    and your foot will not stumble.(DJ)
24 When you lie down,(DK) you will not be afraid;(DL)
    when you lie down, your sleep(DM) will be sweet.
25 Have no fear of sudden disaster
    or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
26 for the Lord will be at your side(DN)
    and will keep your foot(DO) from being snared.(DP)

27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
    when it is in your power to act.
28 Do not say to your neighbor,
    “Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”—
    when you already have it with you.(DQ)
29 Do not plot harm against your neighbor,
    who lives trustfully near you.(DR)
30 Do not accuse anyone for no reason—
    when they have done you no harm.

31 Do not envy(DS) the violent
    or choose any of their ways.

32 For the Lord detests the perverse(DT)
    but takes the upright into his confidence.(DU)
33 The Lord’s curse(DV) is on the house of the wicked,(DW)
    but he blesses the home of the righteous.(DX)
34 He mocks(DY) proud mockers(DZ)
    but shows favor to the humble(EA) and oppressed.
35 The wise inherit honor,
    but fools get only shame.

Get Wisdom at Any Cost

Listen, my sons,(EB) to a father’s instruction;(EC)
    pay attention and gain understanding.(ED)
I give you sound learning,
    so do not forsake my teaching.
For I too was a son to my father,
    still tender, and cherished by my mother.
Then he taught me, and he said to me,
    “Take hold(EE) of my words with all your heart;
    keep my commands, and you will live.(EF)
Get wisdom,(EG) get understanding;
    do not forget my words or turn away from them.
Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;(EH)
    love her, and she will watch over you.(EI)
The beginning of wisdom is this: Get[h] wisdom.
    Though it cost all(EJ) you have,[i] get understanding.(EK)
Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
    embrace her, and she will honor you.(EL)
She will give you a garland to grace your head
    and present you with a glorious crown.(EM)

10 Listen, my son,(EN) accept what I say,
    and the years of your life will be many.(EO)
11 I instruct(EP) you in the way of wisdom
    and lead you along straight paths.(EQ)
12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
    when you run, you will not stumble.(ER)
13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
    guard it well, for it is your life.(ES)
14 Do not set foot on the path of the wicked
    or walk in the way of evildoers.(ET)
15 Avoid it, do not travel on it;
    turn from it and go on your way.
16 For they cannot rest until they do evil;(EU)
    they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.
17 They eat the bread of wickedness
    and drink the wine of violence.(EV)

18 The path of the righteous(EW) is like the morning sun,(EX)
    shining ever brighter till the full light of day.(EY)
19 But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;(EZ)
    they do not know what makes them stumble.(FA)

20 My son,(FB) pay attention to what I say;
    turn your ear to my words.(FC)
21 Do not let them out of your sight,(FD)
    keep them within your heart;
22 for they are life to those who find them
    and health to one’s whole body.(FE)
23 Above all else, guard(FF) your heart,
    for everything you do flows from it.(FG)
24 Keep your mouth free of perversity;
    keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
25 Let your eyes(FH) look straight ahead;
    fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Give careful thought to the[j] paths for your feet(FI)
    and be steadfast in all your ways.
27 Do not turn to the right or the left;(FJ)
    keep your foot from evil.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:4 The Hebrew word rendered simple in Proverbs denotes a person who is gullible, without moral direction and inclined to evil.
  2. Proverbs 1:6 Or understanding a proverb, namely, a parable, / and the sayings of the wise, their riddles
  3. Proverbs 1:7 The Hebrew words rendered fool in Proverbs, and often elsewhere in the Old Testament, denote a person who is morally deficient.
  4. Proverbs 1:21 Septuagint; Hebrew / at noisy street corners
  5. Proverbs 2:17 Or covenant of her God
  6. Proverbs 3:6 Or will direct your paths
  7. Proverbs 3:12 Hebrew; Septuagint loves, / and he chastens everyone he accepts as his child
  8. Proverbs 4:7 Or Wisdom is supreme; therefore get
  9. Proverbs 4:7 Or wisdom. / Whatever else you get
  10. Proverbs 4:26 Or Make level