箴言 23
1 你若與官長坐席， 要留意在你面前的是誰。
When you sit down for a meal with a ruler, look carefully at what is placed before you,
2 你若是貪食的， 就當拿刀放在喉嚨上。
and cut down if you have a big appetite.
3 不可貪戀他的美食， 因為是哄人的食物。
Don't be greedy for his fancy food, for it's offered with deceptive motives.
4 不要勞碌求富， 休仗自己的聰明。
Don't wear yourself out trying to get rich—be wise enough not to bother!
5 你豈要定睛在虛無的錢財上嗎？ 因錢財必長翅膀，如鷹向天飛去。
It disappears in the blink of an eye, suddenly growing wings and flying off into the sky like an eagle.
6 不要吃惡眼人的飯， 也不要貪他的美味；
Don't accept meal invitations from miserly people; don't be greedy for their fancy food,
7 因為他心怎樣思量， 他為人就是怎樣。 他雖對你說，請吃，請喝， 他的心卻與你相背。
for what they're thinking inside is what they really are. They say, “Come on, eat and drink!”—but in their minds they don't really care about you.
8 你所吃的那點食物必吐出來； 你所說的甘美言語也必落空。
You'll vomit up the little pieces you've eaten, and your kind words of appreciation will be wasted.
9 你不要說話給愚昧人聽， 因他必藐視你智慧的言語。
Don't talk to stupid people because they'll ridicule your wise words.
10 不可挪移古時的地界， 也不可侵入孤兒的田地；
Don't move ancient boundary markers, and don't encroach on fields belonging to orphans,
11 因他們的救贖主大有能力， 他必向你為他們辨屈。
for their Protector is powerful and he will plead their case against you.
12 你要留心領受訓誨， 側耳聽從知識的言語。
Focus your mind on instruction; listen intently to words of knowledge.
13 不可不管教孩童； 你用杖打他，他必不至於死。
Don't keep from disciplining your children—a beating won't kill them.
If you use physical correction you can save them from death. (Sheol h7585)
15 我兒，你心若存智慧， 我的心也甚歡喜。
My son, if you think wisely then I'll be happy;
16 你的嘴若說正直話， 我的心腸也必快樂。
I'll be delighted when you say what's right.
17 你心中不要嫉妒罪人， 只要終日敬畏耶和華；
Don't think enviously of sinners, but always remember to honor the Lord,
18 因為至終必有善報， 你的指望也不致斷絕。
for there's definitely a future for you, and your hope will not be crushed.
19 我兒，你當聽，當存智慧， 好在正道上引導你的心。
Pay attention, my son, and be wise; make sure your mind concentrates on following the right way.
20 好飲酒的，好吃肉的， 不要與他們來往；
Don't join in with people who drink too much wine or who stuff themselves with meat.
21 因為好酒貪食的，必致貧窮； 好睡覺的，必穿破爛衣服。
For people who get drunk and overeat lose all they've got, and they spend so much time dozing that all they have left to wear is rags.
22 你要聽從生你的父親； 你母親老了，也不可藐視她。
Pay attention to your father, and don't disregard your mother when she's old.
23 你當買真理； 就是智慧、訓誨，和聰明也都不可賣。
Invest in truth—and don't sell it! Invest in wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
24 義人的父親必大得快樂； 人生智慧的兒子，必因他歡喜。
Children who do right make their fathers very happy; a wise son brings joy to his father.
25 你要使父母歡喜， 使生你的快樂。
Make your father and mother happy; bring joy to her who gave birth to you.
26 我兒，要將你的心歸我； 你的眼目也要喜悅我的道路。
My son, give me your undivided attention, and cheerfully follow my example.
27 妓女是深坑； 外女是窄阱。
A prostitute is like being trapped in a pit; an immoral woman is like getting stuck a narrow well,
28 她埋伏好像強盜； 她使人中多有奸詐的。
Like a robber, she lies in wait ready to ambush men and make more of them unfaithful to their wives.
29 誰有禍患？誰有憂愁？ 誰有爭鬥？誰有哀歎？ 誰無故受傷？誰眼目紅赤？
Who's in trouble? Who's in pain? Who's arguing? Who's complaining? Who's injured for no reason? Who's got bloodshot eyes?
30 就是那流連飲酒、 常去尋找調和酒的人。
—those who spend a long time drinking wine, those who are always trying some new cocktail.
31 酒發紅，在杯中閃爍， 你不可觀看， 雖然下咽舒暢， 終久是咬你如蛇，刺你如毒蛇。
Don't let the look of wine tempt you—how red it is, how it sparkles in the cup, how smooth it feels as it goes down.
In the end it bites like a serpent, it stings like a snake.
33 你眼必看見異怪的事； 你心必發出乖謬的話。
You'll hallucinate, seeing strange things, and your confused mind will make you say all kinds of craziness.
34 你必像躺在海中， 或像臥在桅杆上。
You'll stumble around like you're on the rolling ocean, you'll be tossed about like someone lying down at the top of a ship's mast, saying,
35 你必說：人打我，我卻未受傷； 人鞭打我，我竟不覺得。 我幾時清醒，我仍去尋酒。
“People punched me, but it didn't hurt me; they beat me, but I didn't feel a thing. I've got to get up because I need another drink.”
