箴言 24
1 你不要妒忌作惡的人，不要希求與他們共處；
Do not envy wicked men or desire their company;
2 因為他們的心靈，只圖謀不軌；他們的嘴唇，只講論是非。
for their hearts devise violence, and their lips declare trouble.
3 因著智慧，家庭得以興建；因著明智，家庭得以穩定。
By wisdom a house is built and by understanding it is established;
4 各種珍奇可愛的寶物，因著智識可儲藏滿室。
through knowledge its rooms are filled with every precious and beautiful treasure.
5 智慧人勝於壯士，明智人強於勇士；
A wise man is strong, and a man of knowledge enhances his strength.
6 因為作戰須有智謀，勝利在於謀士眾多。
Only with sound guidance should you wage war, and victory lies in a multitude of counselors.
7 為愚昧的人，智慧太高妙；他在城門口，只好不開口。
Wisdom is too high for a fool; he does not open his mouth in the meeting place.
8 籌劃作惡的人，可稱為陰險家。
He who plots evil will be called a schemer.
9 愚人的計謀只是罪惡；狂妄的人為人所憎惡。
A foolish scheme is sin, and a mocker is detestable to men.
10 你若萎靡不振，到災難的日子，必然氣竭力盡。
If you faint in the day of distress, how small is your strength!
11 被帶去受死的人，你應拯救他；行將被殺戮的人，你要挽救他。
Rescue those being led away to death, and restrain those stumbling toward the slaughter.
12 或許你要說：「看! 我全不知道! 」難道那權衡人心的能不明瞭﹖難道監察你心靈的能不知道﹖他必按每人的作為還報每人。
If you say, “Behold, we did not know about this,” does not He who weighs hearts consider it? Does not the One who guards your life know? Will He not repay a man according to his deeds?
13 我兒，你要吃蜜，因為蜜好；蜂房的蜜，香甜可口。
Eat honey, my son, for it is good, and the honeycomb is sweet to your taste.
14 對你的靈魂，智慧也是這樣：你找得了她，必有好前途；你所希望的，決不會落空。
Know therefore that wisdom is sweet to your soul. If you find it, there is a future for you, and your hope will never be cut off.
15 惡惡人對義人的家，不要圖謀不軌；對他的住所，不要加以破壞；
Do not lie in wait, O wicked man, near the dwelling of the righteous; do not destroy his resting place.
16 因為義人雖七次跌倒，仍然要起來；但是惡人一失足，必陷禍患中。
For though a righteous man may fall seven times, he still gets up; but the wicked stumble in bad times.
17 你的仇人跌倒，且不要高興；他若失足摔倒，且不要心喜；
Do not gloat when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart rejoice when he stumbles,
18 免得上主看見而不快，因而撤消對他的忿怒。
or the LORD will see and disapprove, and turn His wrath away from him.
19 對作惡的人，你不要動怒；對乖戾之徒，也不必嫉妒；
Do not fret over evildoers, and do not be envious of the wicked.
20 因為惡人終沒有好前途，惡人的燈必要熄滅。
For the evil man has no future; the lamp of the wicked will be extinguished.
21 我兒，上主和君王，你都要敬畏；對他們二者，皆不可觸怒；
My son, fear the LORD and the king, and do not associate with the rebellious.
22 因為他們的懲罰可突然而至；他們的摧殘，有誰能知曉﹖
For they will bring sudden destruction. Who knows what ruin they can bring?
23 以下是智者的箴言：在判案時，顧及情面，決不公平。
These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judgment is not good.
24 誰對惡人說：「你是正義的。」人民必罵他，百姓必恨他。
Whoever tells the guilty, “You are innocent”— peoples will curse him, and nations will denounce him;
25 按公道加罰的，必事事順遂；美好的祝福，必臨於其身。
but it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and rich blessing will come upon them.
26 應答適宜的人，宛如與人接吻。
An honest answer given is like a kiss on the lips.
27 你要先在外經營好事業，在田間將工作準備停當，然後纔可建立你的家室。
Complete your outdoor work and prepare your field; after that, you may build your house.
28 不要輕易作證，反對你的近人；也不要以你的口舌，欺騙他人。
Do not testify against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your lips.
29 不可說：「人怎樣待我，我怎樣待人；照人之所行，我向他還報。」
Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will repay the man according to his work.”
30 我走過懶惰人的田地，經過愚昧人的葡萄園：
I went past the field of a slacker and by the vineyard of a man lacking judgment.
31 看，到處是荊棘，滿地是蒺黎，石牆也倒了!
Thorns had grown up everywhere, thistles had covered the ground, and the stone wall was broken down.
32 我看了，便心下自思；我見了，取得了教訓：「
I observed and took it to heart; I looked and received instruction:
33 再睡片刻，再假寐片刻，再抱臂躺臥片刻」──
A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,
34 這樣，貧窮就要如同竊賊，困乏也要如同武士，向你侵襲。
and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and need like a bandit.
