箴言 24
1 你不要妒忌作惡的人，不要希求與他們共處；
Be not thou envious of evil men, neither desire to be with them.
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 heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.
3 因著智慧，家庭得以興建；因著明智，家庭得以穩定。
Through wisdom is a house builded; 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。
And by knowledge are the chambers filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
5 智慧人勝於壯士，明智人強於勇士；
A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.
6 因為作戰須有智謀，勝利在於謀士眾多。
For with wise advice thou shalt make thy war; and in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
7 為愚昧的人，智慧太高妙；他在城門口，只好不開口。
Wisdom is as unattainable to a fool as corals; he openeth not his mouth in the gate.
8 籌劃作惡的人，可稱為陰險家。
He that deviseth to do evil, men shall call him a mischievous person.
9 愚人的計謀只是罪惡；狂妄的人為人所憎惡。
The thought of foolishness is sin; and the scorner is an abomination to men.
10 你若萎靡不振，到災難的日子，必然氣竭力盡。
If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small indeed.
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。
Deliver them that are drawn unto death; and those that are ready to be slain wilt thou forbear to rescue?
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 thou sayest: 'Behold, we knew not this', doth not He that weigheth the hearts consider it? And He that keepeth thy soul, doth not He know it? And shall not He render to every man according to his works?
13 我兒，你要吃蜜，因為蜜好；蜂房的蜜，香甜可口。
My son, eat thou honey, for it is good, and the honeycomb is sweet to thy 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。
So know thou wisdom to be unto thy soul; if thou hast found it, then shall there be a future, and thy hope shall not 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；
Lie not in wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous, spoil not 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 a righteous man falleth seven times, and riseth up again, but the wicked stumble under adversity.
17 你的仇人跌倒，且不要高興；他若失足摔倒，且不要心喜；
Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thy heart be glad when he stumbleth;
18 免得上主看見而不快，因而撤消對他的忿怒。
Lest the LORD see it, and it displease Him, and He turn away His wrath from him.
19 對作惡的人，你不要動怒；對乖戾之徒，也不必嫉妒；
Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious at the wicked;
20 因為惡人終沒有好前途，惡人的燈必要熄滅。
For there will be no future to the evil man, the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
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 thou the LORD and the king, and meddle not with them that are given to change;
22 因為他們的懲罰可突然而至；他們的摧殘，有誰能知曉﹖
For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin from them both?
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 have respect of persons 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。
He that saith unto the wicked: 'Thou art righteous', peoples shall curse him, nations shall execrate him;
25 按公道加罰的，必事事順遂；美好的祝福，必臨於其身。
But to them that decide justly shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.
26 應答適宜的人，宛如與人接吻。
He kisseth the lips that giveth a right answer.
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。
Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thy 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。
Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy 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。」
Say not: 'I will do so to him as he hath done to me; I will render to 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 by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
31 看，到處是荊棘，滿地是蒺黎，石牆也倒了!
And, lo, it was all grown over with thistles, the face thereof was covered with nettles, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.
32 我看了，便心下自思；我見了，取得了教訓：「
Then I beheld, and considered well; I saw, and received instruction.
33 再睡片刻，再假寐片刻，再抱臂躺臥片刻」──
'Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep' —
34 這樣，貧窮就要如同竊賊，困乏也要如同武士，向你侵襲。
So shall thy poverty come as a runner, and thy want as an armed man.
