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 more proverbs of Solomon, collected by the scribes of Hezekiah, king of Judah.
2 將事隱蔽，是天主的光榮；清察事實，是君王的光榮。
God's greatness is in doing things that can't be known, while the greatness of kings is in revealing things.
3 天有多高，地有多厚，王有何心，不可測量。
Just as the height of the heavens or the depth of the earth can't be known, the king's thinking can't be known.
4 若將銀渣除去淨盡，銀匠必會造出銀器；
Remove the waste from the silver, and the silversmith has pure silver to work with.
5 若將君王前的惡人除掉，王座即可因正義而穩立。
Remove the wicked from the king's presence and the king will rule securely and justly.
6 你在君王前不可炫耀，不可佔有權貴的座位；
Don't try to make yourself look great before the king, and don't pretend to be among the important people,
7 因為人對你說「請上座! 」比在貴前受抑更好。
for it's better to be told, “Come up here,” than to be humiliated before a nobleman. Even though you've seen something with your own eyes,
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﹖
don't rush to take legal action, for what are you going to do in the end when your neighbor shows you're wrong and humiliates you?
9 與你的近人，可自決爭端；他人的秘密，切不可洩漏；
Discuss the case with your neighbor himself, and don't betray someone else's secret,
10 免得人聽見了而譏笑你，使你的聲譽一敗塗地。
otherwise whoever hears it will make you ashamed and you'll never lose your bad reputation.
11 一句簡單話，若說得適當，有如銀盤中，放上金蘋果。
Advice given at the right time is like golden apples set in silver.
12 明智的勸戒，對受教的人，無異於金環，或純金美飾。
Constructive criticism from the wise to someone who listens is like a gold ring and a necklace of fine gold.
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。
Faithful messengers are as refreshing to their master as cold snow on a hot harvest day.
14 許諾而不實踐的人，只好似無雨的風雲。
Someone who boasts about a gift they never give is like cloud and wind without rain.
15 容忍可以折服公侯，柔語能以粉碎硬骨。
If you're patient you can persuade your superior, and soft words can break down opposition.
16 你找到蜂蜜，應按食量吃；怕吃的過多，反要吐出來。
If you find honey, eat just enough, for if you eat too much, you'll be sick.
17 鄰舍的住家，你應少踏入；怕他討厭你，反而憎恨你。
Don't set foot in your neighbors' homes too often, otherwise they'll get fed up with you and hate you.
18 作假見證陷害鄰舍的人，無異是鐵鎚、刀劍和利箭。
Telling lies in court against a friend is like attacking them with a mace, or a sword, or an arrow.
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。
Trusting in unreliable people in times of trouble is like eating with a broken tooth or walking on a bad foot.
20 對憂傷的心靈詠唱詩歌，無異在傷口處倒上酸醋。
Singing happy songs to someone who's broken-hearted is like taking off your coat on a cold day, or pouring vinegar onto an open wound.
21 若仇人餓了，你要給他吃；若是他渴了，應給他水喝：
If your enemy is hungry, give him something to eat; if he's thirsty, give him a drink of water.
22 這是將火炭堆在他頭上，上主也必要因此還報你。
This will make him ashamed as if he had burning coals piled on his head, and the Lord will reward you.
23 北風帶來時雨；讒言易惹怒容。
In the same way that the north wind brings rain, slandering people makes them angry.
24 寧願住在屋頂的一角，不願與吵婦同居一室。
It's better to live in a corner of a housetop than to share a whole house with an argumentative wife.
25 來自遠方的喜信，無異口渴獲清泉。
Good news from a distant country is like cold water to an exhausted traveler.
26 義人如在惡人面前失足，無異弄混的水泉，弄濁的水井。
Good people who give in to the wicked are like a muddied spring or a polluted well.
27 吃蜂蜜過多，有損無益；過於求光榮，反而受累。
It's not good to eat too much honey, or to want too much praise.
28 人若不控制自己的脾氣，就如一座無牆無防的城市。
Someone without control is as exposed as a town whose walls have been breached.
