箴言 25
1 以下也是撒羅滿的箴言，由猶大王希則克雅的人所蒐集：
These are the miscellaneous instructions of Solomon, which the friends of Ezekias king of Judea copied out.
2 將事隱蔽，是天主的光榮；清察事實，是君王的光榮。
The glory of God conceals a matter: but the glory of a king honours business.
3 天有多高，地有多厚，王有何心，不可測量。
Heaven is high, and earth is deep, and a king's heart is unsearchable.
4 若將銀渣除去淨盡，銀匠必會造出銀器；
Beat the drossy silver, and it shall be made entirely pure.
5 若將君王前的惡人除掉，王座即可因正義而穩立。
Slay the ungodly from before the king, and his throne shall prosper in righteousness.
6 你在君王前不可炫耀，不可佔有權貴的座位；
Be not boastful in the presence of the king, and remain not in the places of princes;
7 因為人對你說「請上座! 」比在貴前受抑更好。
for [it is] better for you that it should be said, Come up to me, than that [one] should humble you in the presence of the prince; speak of that which your eyes have seen.
8 你眼若有所見，不可冒然訴訟；人若使你難堪，你將何以善後﹖
Get not suddenly into a quarrel, lest you repent at last.
9 與你的近人，可自決爭端；他人的秘密，切不可洩漏；
Whenever your friend shall reproach you, retreat backward, despise [him] not;
10 免得人聽見了而譏笑你，使你的聲譽一敗塗地。
lest your friend continue to reproach you, so your quarrel and enmity shall not depart, but shall be to you like death. Favour and friendship set [a man] free, which do you keep for yourself, lest you be made liable to reproach; but take heed to your ways peaceably.
11 一句簡單話，若說得適當，有如銀盤中，放上金蘋果。
[As] a golden apple in a necklace of sardius, so [is it] to speak a [wise] word.
12 明智的勸戒，對受教的人，無異於金環，或純金美飾。
In an ear-ring of gold a precious sardius is also set; [so is] a wise word to an obedient ear.
13 忠誠的使者，對遣他的人，有如秋收時，吹來的涼風，使他主人的心感到愉快。
As a fall of snow in the time of harvest is good against heat, so a faithful messenger [refreshes] those that send him; for he helps the souls of his employers.
14 許諾而不實踐的人，只好似無雨的風雲。
As winds and clouds and rains are most evident [objects], so is he that boasts of a false gift.
15 容忍可以折服公侯，柔語能以粉碎硬骨。
In longsuffering is prosperity to kings, and a soft tongue breaks the bones.
16 你找到蜂蜜，應按食量吃；怕吃的過多，反要吐出來。
Having found honey, eat [only] what is enough, lest haply you be filled, and vomit it up.
17 鄰舍的住家，你應少踏入；怕他討厭你，反而憎恨你。
Enter sparingly into your friend's house, lest he be satiated with your company, and hate you.
18 作假見證陷害鄰舍的人，無異是鐵鎚、刀劍和利箭。
[As] a club, and a dagger, and a pointed arrow, so also is a man who bears false witness against his friend.
19 在患難之日，信賴無信用的人，有如信賴蛀壞的牙，脫節的腳。
The way of the wicked and the foot of the transgressor shall perish in an evil day.
20 對憂傷的心靈詠唱詩歌，無異在傷口處倒上酸醋。
As vinegar is bad for a sore, so trouble befalling the body afflicts the heart. As a moth in a garment, and a worm in wood, so the grief of a man hurts the heart.
21 若仇人餓了，你要給他吃；若是他渴了，應給他水喝：
If your enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink;
22 這是將火炭堆在他頭上，上主也必要因此還報你。
for so doing you shall heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward you [with] good.
23 北風帶來時雨；讒言易惹怒容。
The north wind raises clouds; so an impudent face provokes the tongue.
24 寧願住在屋頂的一角，不願與吵婦同居一室。
[It is] better to dwell on a corner of the roof, than with a railing woman in an open house.
25 來自遠方的喜信，無異口渴獲清泉。
As cold water is agreeable to a thirsting soul, so is a good message from a land far off.
26 義人如在惡人面前失足，無異弄混的水泉，弄濁的水井。
As if one should stop a well, and corrupt a spring of water, so [is it] unseemly for a righteous man to fall before an ungodly man.
27 吃蜂蜜過多，有損無益；過於求光榮，反而受累。
[It is] not good to eat much honey; but it is right to honour venerable sayings.
28 人若不控制自己的脾氣，就如一座無牆無防的城市。
As a city whose walls are broken down, and which is unfortified, so is a man who does anything without counsel.
