< 箴言 23 >
If thou sit to sup at the table of a prince, consider attentively the things set before thee:
and apply thine hand, knowing that it behoves thee to prepare such [meats]: but if thou art very insatiable,
desire not his provisions; for these belong to a false life.
If thou art poor, measure not thyself with a rich man; but refrain thyself in thy wisdom.
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。
If thou shouldest fix thine eye upon him, he will disappear; for wings like an eagle's are prepared for him, and he returns to the house of his master.
6 不要與虎視眈眈的人進食,也不要羨慕他的山珍海味,
Sup not with an envious man, neither desire thou his meats:
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;
so he eats and drinks as if any one should swallow a hair, and do not bring him in to thyself, nor eat thy morsel with him:
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。
for he will vomit it up, and spoil thy fair words.
Say nothing in the ears of a fool, lest at any time he sneer at thy wise words.
Remove not the ancient landmarks; and enter not upon the possession 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 the Lord is their redeemer; he is mighty, and will plead their cause with thee.
Apply thine heart to instruction, and prepare thine ears for words of discretion.
Refrain not from chastening a child; for if thou beat him with the rod, he shall not die.
14 你用棍杖打他,是救他的靈魂免下陰府。 (Sheol )
For thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from death. (Sheol )
Son, if thy heart be wise, thou shalt also gladden my heart;
16 你的唇舌若談吐正義的事,我的五衷也必會踴躍歡欣。
and thy lips shall converse with my lips, if they be right.
Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day.
For if thou shouldest keep these things, thou shalt have posterity; and thine hope shall not be removed.
19 我兒,你要聽話,作個明智人;且要引領你的心走上正道。
Hear, [my] son, and be wise, and rightly direct the thoughts of thine heart.
Be not a wine-bibber, neither continue long at feasts, and purchases of flesh:
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 every drunkard and whoremonger shall be poor; and every sluggard shall clothe himself with tatters and ragged garments.
22 對生養你的父親,應當聽從;對你年邁的母親,不可輕視。
Hearken, [my] son, to thy father which begot thee, and despise not [thy mother] because she is grown old.
23 應獲取真理,不可出賣,還有智慧、訓誨和見識。
24 義人的父親,必欣然喜樂;生育慧子的,必為此歡騰。
A righteous father brings up [his children] well; and his soul rejoices over a wise son.
25 應使你的父親因你而喜悅,應使你的生母因你而快樂。
Let thy father and thy mother rejoice over thee, and let her that bore thee be glad.
[My] son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.
For a strange house is a vessel full of holes; and a strange well is narrow.
For such a one shall perish suddenly; and every transgressor shall be cut off.
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 trouble? who [has] quarrels? and who vexations and disputes? who [has] bruises without a cause? whose eyes are livid?
Are not those of them that stay long at wine? [are] not [those] of them that haunt [the places] where banquets are? Be not drunk with wine; but converse with just men, and converse [with them] openly.
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!
For if thou shouldest set thine eyes on bowls and cups, thou shalt afterwards go more naked than a pestle.
But at last [such a one] stretches himself out as one smitten by a serpent, and venom is diffused through him as by a horned serpent.
Whenever thine eyes shall behold a strange woman, then thy mouth shall speak perverse things.
And thou shalt lie as in the midst of the sea, and as a pilot in a great storm.
35 人打我,我不痛,人捶我,我不覺;我何時甦醒,好再去尋醉! 」
And thou shalt say, They smote me, and I was not pained; and they mocked me, and I knew it not: when will it be morning, that I may go and seek those with whom I may go in company?