旧约 - 箴言(Proverbs)第21章

The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.
All a man's ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart.
To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin!
The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.
A fortune made by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.
The violence of the wicked will drag them away, for they refuse to do what is right.
The way of the guilty is devious, but the conduct of the innocent is upright.
Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
The wicked man craves evil; his neighbor gets no mercy from him.
When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom; when a wise man is instructed, he gets knowledge.
The Righteous One takes note of the house of the wicked and brings the wicked to ruin.
If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered.
A gift given in secret soothes anger, and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath.
When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers.
A man who strays from the path of understanding comes to rest in the company of the dead.
He who loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and oil will never be rich.
The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the unfaithful for the upright.
Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and ill-tempered wife.
In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has.
He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.
A wise man attacks the city of the mighty and pulls down the stronghold in which they trust.
He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity.
The proud and arrogant man--"Mocker" is his name; he behaves with overweening pride.
The sluggard's craving will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work.
All day long he craves for more, but the righteous give without sparing.
The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable--how much more so when brought with evil intent!
A false witness will perish, and whoever listens to him will be destroyed forever.
A wicked man puts up a bold front, but an upright man gives thought to his ways.
There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD.
The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the LORD.
箴言第廿一章   第 21 章 

  箴 21:1> 世上掌权的都在神掌握中吗?连那些独裁的暴君也在内? 

  21:1 在所罗门王时期,君王拥有绝对的权柄,甚至被视为神一样。但这节箴言指出,只有神才有终极的权柄管治全球。或许很多君王并没有意识到这点,但世上有权势的君王确实都在神掌管之下(有关神藉君王完成祂旨意的例子,请参赛 10:5-8 )。 

  箴 21:2> 这事我做得没错,动机呢?动机……这…… 

  21:2 人常会为自己所做的事找藉口,但神能透过人的藉口看穿人行事的动机。在不易辨明所做的是否正确的时候,我们常需要慎重地抉择,可以先找出自己的动机,再问“神会不会喜欢我做这件事的动机呢”,最后再作抉择。神并不喜欢我们为了得报答而行善。 

  箴 21:3> 你看重自己对义行的追求过于你的奉献吗? 

  21:3 献祭并不是用来贿赂神,遮祂的眼不看我们的过错。如果我们待人处世不符合公义的原则的话,不管怎样慷慨地奉献,也不能赎罪。 

  箴 21:5> 你有没有急于行事、筹划不足而导致失败的教训? 

  21:5 能忠心地完成属世的任务是一项伟大的成就。这需要人按照计划,耐心地实行才成。勤奋不是大多数人的天性,而是出于坚强的性格。不要寻求轻易快捷的解决方法,要作神殷勤的仆人。 

  义人与恶人 

  箴 21:11-12> 别人犯错有没有为你敲响警钟?你是否觉得与己无关? 

  21:11-12 以别人的过错作借鉴,强过自己犯错后才得教训。我们应该先听别人的劝告,从中汲取教训,以免自己冒冒失失地在困难中摸索,弄得焦头烂额。 

  箴 21:13> 我们做在穷人身上的,原来不只是做在他们身上…… 

  21:13 我们应帮助穷人,为他们服务,并保护他们的权益,因为可能有一天我们也会有同样的需要。 

  箴 21:20> “今天有钱今天花,反正神不会叫我缺乏……” 

  21:20 这是一节论积谷防饥的箴言。现时的信用贷款服务,令许多人面临破产的边缘,消费的欲望使他们用尽所赚的钱。凡花尽他所有的人,他的消费已超过了他所能负担的。聪明人会量入为出,留下一部分,以备不时之需。神悦纳有远见、能节制的人。属祂的子民应当省察自己的生活方式和支出,看看是神所喜悦的,还是自己所喜悦的。 

  21:27 这一节经文所描述的献祭和贿赂不相上下。人怎样贿赂神呢?他们去教会参加聚会,作十一奉献,或做义务工作,但这些事奉并不是出于对神的爱和委身,而是盼望神报答他们。但是神说得很清楚,祂盼望人顺服祂、爱祂,胜过守宗教仪式( 21:3 ;参撒上 15:22 )。神不单要我们牺牲时间、精力与金钱,祂更要我们献上内心──完全的爱与虔敬。我们能够贿赂人( 21:14 ),却不能贿赂神。 

  箴 21:31> 神的掌权和人的本分是成功的两方面,应如何看待? 

  21:31 这是一节有关备战的经文。如果没有神,即使你准备好一切也是徒劳。当然,有了神的帮助,我们也须尽上自己本分作好准备。成事固然在神,但这并不免除我们的责任。祂可能要你出版一本巨着,但事前你必须学习写作;祂可能使用你到海外作宣教士,但事前你必须学会外国语言。如果你能尽你的本分好好准备的话,祂就能使用你来成全祂的旨意。──《灵修版圣经注释》