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 words. Lay up my commandments within 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 commandments and live! Guard my teaching as the apple of your eye.
3 應將我的誡命繫在指間，刻在心上；
Bind them on your fingers. Write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 應對智慧說：「你是我的姊妹，」並應稱睿智為你的女友，
Tell wisdom, “You are my sister.” Call understanding your relative,
5 好能保護你遠避奸婦，即那甜言蜜語的淫婦。
that they may keep you from the strange woman, from the foreigner who flatters with her words.
6 我曾由我家的窗口，透過窗格往外觀看，
For at the window of my house, I looked out through my lattice.
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 amongst the simple ones. I discerned amongst the youths a young man void of understanding,
8 沿著淫婦屋角的街道經過，向她的住宅走去，
passing through the street near her corner, he went the way to her house,
9 那時正是黃昏，日已西沉，已入黝黑深夜。
in the twilight, in the evening of the day, in the middle of the night and in the darkness.
10 看，有一個女人向他迎面而來──她身穿妓裝，存心不軌；
Behold, there a woman met him with the attire of a prostitute, and with crafty intent.
11 她健談好蕩，不能停留家中：
She is loud and defiant. Her feet don’t stay 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 streets, now in the squares, and lurking at every corner.
13 她遂上前擁抱那少年，與他接吻，嬉皮笑臉對他說：「
So she caught him, and kissed him. With an impudent face 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。
“Sacrifices of peace offerings are with me. Today I have paid my vows.
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。
Therefore I came out to meet you, to diligently seek your face, and I have found you.
16 我的床榻已舖設了絨毯，放上了埃及的線繡臥單；
I have spread my couch with carpets of tapestry, with striped cloths of the yarn of Egypt.
17 又用沒藥、蘆薈和肉桂薰了我的睡床。
I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
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’s take our fill of loving until the morning. Let’s solace ourselves with loving.
19 因為我的丈夫現不在家，他已出外遠行，
For my husband isn’t at home. He has gone 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 will come home 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 persuasive words, she led him astray. With the flattering of her lips, she seduced him.
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，
He followed her immediately, as an ox goes to the slaughter, as a fool stepping into a noose.
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。
Until an arrow strikes through his liver, as a bird hurries to the snare, and doesn’t know that it will cost his life.
24 現在，孩子! 你們應聽從我，留意我口中的訓言：
Now therefore, sons, listen to me. Pay attention to the words of my mouth.
25 不要讓你的心傾向她的道路，不要誤入她的迷途，
Don’t let your heart turn to her ways. Don’t go astray in her paths,
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 she has thrown down many wounded. Yes, all her slain are a mighty army.
