箴言 24
1 你不要嫉妒惡人， 也不要起意與他們相處；
Don’t be envious of evil men, neither desire to be with them;
2 因為，他們的心圖謀強暴， 他們的口談論奸惡。
for their hearts plot violence and their lips talk about mischief.
3 房屋因智慧建造， 又因聰明立穩；
Through wisdom a house is built; by understanding it is established;
4 其中因知識充滿各樣美好寶貴的財物。
by knowledge the rooms are filled with all rare and beautiful treasure.
5 智慧人大有能力； 有知識的人力上加力。
A wise man has great power. A knowledgeable man increases strength,
6 你去打仗，要憑智謀； 謀士眾多，人便得勝。
for by wise guidance you wage your war, and victory is in many advisors.
7 智慧極高，非愚昧人所能及， 所以在城門內不敢開口。
Wisdom is too high for a fool. He doesn’t open his mouth in the gate.
8 設計作惡的， 必稱為奸人。
One who plots to do evil will be called a schemer.
9 愚妄人的思念乃是罪惡； 褻慢者為人所憎惡。
The schemes of folly are sin. The mocker is detested by men.
10 你在患難之日若膽怯， 你的力量就微小。
If you falter in the time of trouble, your strength is small.
11 人被拉到死地，你要解救； 人將被殺，你須攔阻。
Rescue those who are being led away to death! Indeed, hold back those who are staggering to the slaughter!
12 你若說：這事我未曾知道， 那衡量人心的豈不明白嗎？ 保守你命的豈不知道嗎？ 他豈不按各人所行的報應各人嗎？
If you say, “Behold, we didn’t know this,” doesn’t he who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, doesn’t he know it? Shall he not render to every man according to his work?
13 我兒，你要吃蜜，因為是好的； 吃蜂房下滴的蜜便覺甘甜。
My son, eat honey, for it is good, the droppings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to your taste;
14 你心得了智慧，也必覺得如此。 你若找着，至終必有善報； 你的指望也不致斷絕。
so you shall know wisdom to be to your soul. If you have found it, then there will be a reward: Your hope will not be cut off.
15 你這惡人，不要埋伏攻擊義人的家； 不要毀壞他安居之所。
Don’t lay in wait, wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous. Don’t destroy his resting place;
16 因為，義人雖七次跌倒，仍必興起； 惡人卻被禍患傾倒。
for a righteous man falls seven times and rises up again, but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.
17 你仇敵跌倒，你不要歡喜； 他傾倒，你心不要快樂；
Don’t rejoice when your enemy falls. Don’t let your heart be glad when he is overthrown,
18 恐怕耶和華看見就不喜悅， 將怒氣從仇敵身上轉過來。
lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
19 不要為作惡的心懷不平， 也不要嫉妒惡人；
Don’t fret yourself because of evildoers, neither be envious of the wicked;
20 因為，惡人終不得善報； 惡人的燈也必熄滅。
for there will be no reward to the evil man. The lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.
21 我兒，你要敬畏耶和華與君王， 不要與反覆無常的人結交，
My son, fear the LORD and the king. Don’t join those who are rebellious,
22 因為他們的災難必忽然而起。 耶和華與君王所施行的毀滅， 誰能知道呢？
for their calamity will rise suddenly. Who knows what destruction may come from them both?
23 以下也是智慧人的箴言： 審判時看人情面是不好的。
These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judgement is not good.
24 對惡人說「你是義人」的， 這人萬民必咒詛，列邦必憎惡。
He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous,” peoples will curse him, and nations will abhor him—
25 責備惡人的，必得喜悅； 美好的福也必臨到他。
but it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and a rich blessing will come on them.
26 應對正直的，猶如與人親嘴。
An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.
27 你要在外頭預備工料， 在田間辦理整齊， 然後建造房屋。
Prepare your work outside, and get your fields ready. Afterwards, build your house.
28 不可無故作見證陷害鄰舍， 也不可用嘴欺騙人。
Don’t be a witness against your neighbour without cause. Don’t deceive with your lips.
29 不可說：人怎樣待我，我也怎樣待他； 我必照他所行的報復他。
Don’t say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will repay the man according to his work.”
30 我經過懶惰人的田地、 無知人的葡萄園，
I went by the field of the sluggard, by the vineyard of the man void of understanding.
31 荊棘長滿了地皮， 刺草遮蓋了田面， 石牆也坍塌了。
Behold, it was all grown over with thorns. Its surface was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down.
32 我看見就留心思想； 我看着就領了訓誨。
Then I saw, and considered well. I saw, and received instruction:
33 再睡片時，打盹片時， 抱着手躺臥片時，
a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep,
34 你的貧窮就必如強盜速來， 你的缺乏彷彿拿兵器的人來到。
so your poverty will come as a robber and your want as an armed man.
