< 箴言 23 >

1 幾時你與首長坐席,應記著,在你面前的是誰。
When you sit down to dine with a ruler, consider carefully what is set before you,
2 你若過於貪食,應在咽喉上,放上一把刀。
and put a knife to your throat if you possess a great appetite.
3 休要羨慕他的珍饈,因那是騙人的食品。
Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive.
4 不要辛苦企求致富,反應放棄這種企圖。
Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to restrain yourself.
5 你向之一注目,即不再存在了:它會生出翅膀,如鷹向天飛去。
When you glance at wealth, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky.
6 不要與虎視眈眈的人進食,也不要羨慕他的山珍海味,
Do not eat the bread of a stingy man, and do not crave his delicacies;
7 因為他原是只顧自己的人,他口頭雖對你說「請吃請喝! 」但他的心中並不與你友善;
for he is keeping track, inwardly counting the cost. “Eat and drink,” he says to you, but his heart is not with you.
8 你吃下的那口食物,還得吐出;你婉轉悅耳的言辭,盡屬枉費。
You will vomit up what little you have eaten and waste your pleasant words.
9 不要與愚人交耳接談,因他必輕視你的高見。
Do not speak to a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
10 不要移動孀婦的地界,不要侵佔孤兒的田地;
Do not move an ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
11 因為他們的辯護者是大能的,他必為他們的案件與你爭辯。
for their Redeemer is strong; He will take up their case against you.
12 你應專心接受教訓,傾耳細聽益智之言。
Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge.
13 對孩童不可忽略懲戒;用棍打他,他不致死去。
Do not withhold discipline from a child; although you strike him with a rod, he will not die.
14 你用棍杖打他,是救他的靈魂免下陰府。 (Sheol h7585)
Strike him with a rod, and you will deliver his soul from Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
15 我兒,你若心懷智慧,我也誠心喜樂;
My son, if your heart is wise, my own heart will indeed rejoice.
16 你的唇舌若談吐正義的事,我的五衷也必會踴躍歡欣。
My inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.
17 心裏不要羨慕罪人,卻要日日敬畏上主;
Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always continue in the fear of the LORD.
18 這樣你的將來必然順利,你的希望絕不落空。
For surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.
19 我兒,你要聽話,作個明智人;且要引領你的心走上正道。
Listen, my son, and be wise, and guide your heart on the right course.
20 貪嗜酒肉的人,不可與之來往;
Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat.
21 因為嗜酒貪食的人,必陷於窮困;貪懶好睡的人,必衣著襤褸。
For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe them in rags.
22 對生養你的父親,應當聽從;對你年邁的母親,不可輕視。
Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.
23 應獲取真理,不可出賣,還有智慧、訓誨和見識。
Invest in truth and never sell it— in wisdom and instruction and understanding.
24 義人的父親,必欣然喜樂;生育慧子的,必為此歡騰。
The father of a righteous man will greatly rejoice, and he who fathers a wise son will delight in him.
25 應使你的父親因你而喜悅,應使你的生母因你而快樂。
May your father and mother be glad, and may she who gave you birth rejoice!
26 我兒,將你的心交給我,注目於我的道路:
My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes delight in my ways.
27 妓女是一個深坑,淫婦是一個陷阱;
For a prostitute is a deep pit, and an adulteress is a narrow well.
28 她潛伏著,實如強盜,使人世間,增添奸夫。
Like a robber she lies in wait and multiplies the faithless among men.
29 是誰將哀鳴,是誰將悲嘆﹖是誰將爭吵,是誰將抱怨﹖是誰將無故受傷,是誰將雙目赤紅﹖
Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has needless wounds? Who has bloodshot eyes?
30 是那流連於醉鄉,去搜求醇酒的人。
Those who linger over wine, who go to taste mixed drinks.
31 你不要注視酒色怎樣紅,在杯中怎樣閃耀,飲下去怎樣痛快!
Do not gaze at wine while it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly.
32 終究它要咬人如蛇,刺人如虺。
In the end it bites like a snake and stings like a viper.
33 那時,你的眼要見到奇景,你的心要吐出狂語。
Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will utter perversities.
34 你宛如躺在海中心,睡在桅杆頂。「
You will be like one sleeping on the high seas or lying on the top of a mast:
35 人打我,我不痛,人捶我,我不覺;我何時甦醒,好再去尋醉! 」
“They struck me, but I feel no pain! They beat me, but I did not know it! When can I wake up to search for another drink?”

< 箴言 23 >