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 for a meal with a ruler, look carefully at what is placed before you,
2 你若過於貪食，應在咽喉上，放上一把刀。
and cut down if you have a big appetite.
3 休要羨慕他的珍饈，因那是騙人的食品。
Don't be greedy for his fancy food, for it's offered with deceptive motives.
4 不要辛苦企求致富，反應放棄這種企圖。
Don't wear yourself out trying to get rich—be wise enough not to bother!
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。
It disappears in the blink of an eye, suddenly growing wings and flying off into the sky like an eagle.
6 不要與虎視眈眈的人進食，也不要羨慕他的山珍海味，
Don't accept meal invitations from miserly people; don't be greedy for their fancy food,
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 what they're thinking inside is what they really are. They say, “Come on, eat and drink!”—but in their minds they don't really care about 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'll vomit up the little pieces you've eaten, and your kind words of appreciation will be wasted.
9 不要與愚人交耳接談，因他必輕視你的高見。
Don't talk to stupid people because they'll ridicule your wise words.
10 不要移動孀婦的地界，不要侵佔孤兒的田地；
Don't move ancient boundary markers, and don't encroach on fields belonging to orphans,
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 Protector is powerful and he will plead their case against you.
12 你應專心接受教訓，傾耳細聽益智之言。
Focus your mind on instruction; listen intently to words of knowledge.
13 對孩童不可忽略懲戒；用棍打他，他不致死去。
Don't keep from disciplining your children—a beating won't kill them.
If you use physical correction you can save them from death. (Sheol h7585)
15 我兒，你若心懷智慧，我也誠心喜樂；
My son, if you think wisely then I'll be happy;
16 你的唇舌若談吐正義的事，我的五衷也必會踴躍歡欣。
I'll be delighted when you say what's right.
17 心裏不要羨慕罪人，卻要日日敬畏上主；
Don't think enviously of sinners, but always remember to honor the Lord,
18 這樣你的將來必然順利，你的希望絕不落空。
for there's definitely a future for you, and your hope will not be crushed.
19 我兒，你要聽話，作個明智人；且要引領你的心走上正道。
Pay attention, my son, and be wise; make sure your mind concentrates on following the right way.
20 貪嗜酒肉的人，不可與之來往；
Don't join in with people who drink too much wine or who stuff themselves with 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 people who get drunk and overeat lose all they've got, and they spend so much time dozing that all they have left to wear is rags.
22 對生養你的父親，應當聽從；對你年邁的母親，不可輕視。
Pay attention to your father, and don't disregard your mother when she's old.
23 應獲取真理，不可出賣，還有智慧、訓誨和見識。
Invest in truth—and don't sell it! Invest in wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
24 義人的父親，必欣然喜樂；生育慧子的，必為此歡騰。
Children who do right make their fathers very happy; a wise son brings joy to his father.
25 應使你的父親因你而喜悅，應使你的生母因你而快樂。
Make your father and mother happy; bring joy to her who gave birth to you.
26 我兒，將你的心交給我，注目於我的道路：
My son, give me your undivided attention, and cheerfully follow my example.
27 妓女是一個深坑，淫婦是一個陷阱；
A prostitute is like being trapped in a pit; an immoral woman is like getting stuck 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 ready to ambush men and make more of them unfaithful to their wives.
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's in trouble? Who's in pain? Who's arguing? Who's complaining? Who's injured for no reason? Who's got bloodshot eyes?
30 是那流連於醉鄉，去搜求醇酒的人。
—those who spend a long time drinking wine, those who are always trying some new cocktail.
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!
Don't let the look of wine tempt you—how red it is, how it sparkles in the cup, how smooth it feels as it goes down.
32 終究它要咬人如蛇，刺人如虺。
In the end it bites like a serpent, it stings like a snake.
33 那時，你的眼要見到奇景，你的心要吐出狂語。
You'll hallucinate, seeing strange things, and your confused mind will make you say all kinds of craziness.
34 你宛如躺在海中心，睡在桅杆頂。「
You'll stumble around like you're on the rolling ocean, you'll be tossed about like someone lying down at the top of a ship's mast, saying,
35 人打我，我不痛，人捶我，我不覺；我何時甦醒，好再去尋醉! 」
“People punched me, but it didn't hurt me; they beat me, but I didn't feel a thing. I've got to get up because I need another drink.”
