箴言 7
1 我兒，你要持守我的訓言，把我的誡命藏在心中；
My son, keep my sayings, and let my rules be stored up with you.
2 你要遵守我的誡命，好叫你得以生存；應恪守我的教訓，像保護你眼中的瞳人。
Keep my rules and you will have life; let my teaching be to you as the light of your eyes;
3 應將我的誡命繫在指間，刻在心上；
Let them be fixed to your fingers, and recorded in your heart.
4 應對智慧說：「你是我的姊妹，」並應稱睿智為你的女友，
Say to wisdom, You are my sister; let knowledge be named your special friend:
5 好能保護你遠避奸婦，即那甜言蜜語的淫婦。
So that they may keep you from the strange woman, even from her whose words are smooth.
6 我曾由我家的窗口，透過窗格往外觀看，
Looking out from my house, and watching through the window,
7 分明看見在愚昧人中，在少年人中，有一個無知的少年，
I saw among the young men one without sense,
8 沿著淫婦屋角的街道經過，向她的住宅走去，
Walking in the street near the turn of her road, going on the way to her house,
9 那時正是黃昏，日已西沉，已入黝黑深夜。
At nightfall, in the evening of the day, in the black dark of the night.
10 看，有一個女人向他迎面而來──她身穿妓裝，存心不軌；
And the woman came out to him, in the dress of a loose woman, with a designing heart;
11 她健談好蕩，不能停留家中：
She is full of noise and uncontrolled; her feet keep not in her house.
12 一會在街頭，一會在市場，在每個角落上兜搭──
Now she is in the street, now in the open spaces, waiting at every turning of the road.
13 她遂上前擁抱那少年，與他接吻，嬉皮笑臉對他說：「
So she took him by his hand, kissing him, and without a sign of shame she said to him:
14 我原許過願，要獻和平祭，今日纔得償還我許的願。
I have a feast of peace-offerings, for today my oaths have been effected.
15 所以我走了出來，好能與你相遇；我急切尋找你，可好現在我見了你。
So I came out in the hope of meeting you, looking for you with care, and now I have you.
16 我的床榻已舖設了絨毯，放上了埃及的線繡臥單；
My bed is covered with cushions of needlework, with coloured cloths of the cotton thread of Egypt;
17 又用沒藥、蘆薈和肉桂薰了我的睡床。
I have made my bed sweet with perfumes and spices.
18 來讓我們通宵達旦，飽享愛情；讓我們在歡愛中盡情取樂，
Come, let us take our pleasure in love till the morning, having joy in love's delights.
19 因為我的丈夫現不在家，他已出外遠行，
For the master of the house is away on a long journey:
20 隨身帶了錢囊，不到月圓不歸家。」
He has taken a bag of money with him; he is coming back at the full moon.
21 淫婦用許多花言巧語籠絡他，以諂言媚語勾引他。
With her fair words she overcame him, forcing him with her smooth lips.
22 少年遂跟她去了，好像一隻引入屠場的公牛，又像一隻自陷圈套的牡鹿，
The simple man goes after her, like an ox going to its death, like a roe pulled by a cord;
23 直至箭矢射穿他的心肝；他還像一隻跳入羅網的小鳥，不知這與他的性命有關。
Like a bird falling into a net; with no thought that his life is in danger, till an arrow goes into his side.
24 現在，孩子! 你們應聽從我，留意我口中的訓言：
So now, my sons, give ear to me; give attention to the sayings of my mouth;
25 不要讓你的心傾向她的道路，不要誤入她的迷途，
Let not your heart be turned to her ways, do not go wandering in her footsteps.
26 因為她使許多人倒地身亡，連最強健的，都作了她的犧牲。
For those wounded and made low by her are great in number; and all those who have come to their death through her are a great army.
