箴言 25
1 以下也是所羅門的箴言，是猶大王希西家的人所謄錄的。
These also, are proverbs of Solomon, —which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah transcribed.
2 將事隱祕乃上帝的榮耀； 將事察清乃君王的榮耀。
The glory of God, is to conceal a thing, but, the glory of kings, is to search out a thing.
3 天之高，地之厚， 君王之心也測不透。
The heavens for height, and the earth for depth, but, the heart of kings, cannot be searched.
4 除去銀子的渣滓就有銀子出來， 銀匠能以做器皿。
Remove the dross from the silver, and there cometh forth, to the refiner, a vessel:
5 除去王面前的惡人， 國位就靠公義堅立。
Remove a lawless man from before the king, that his throne, may be established in righteousness.
6 不要在王面前妄自尊大； 不要在大人的位上站立。
Do not honour thyself before a king, nor, in the place of great men, do thou stand;
7 寧可有人說：請你上來， 強如在你覲見的王子面前叫你退下。
For better it be said to thee, Come up hither, —than that thou be put lower down before a noble, whom thine own eyes, have beheld.
8 不要冒失出去與人爭競， 免得至終被他羞辱， 你就不知道怎樣行了。
Do not go forth to strive in haste, —lest [thou know not] what to do in the latter end thereof, when thy neighbour, hath put thee to shame.
9 你與鄰舍爭訟， 要與他一人辯論， 不可洩漏人的密事，
Thy contention, urge thou with thy neighbour, and, the secret of another, do not reveal:
10 恐怕聽見的人罵你， 你的臭名就難以脫離。
Lest he that heareth expose thee, and, the report concerning thee, turn not away.
11 一句話說得合宜， 就如金蘋果在銀網子裏。
Golden fruit in figured silver baskets, is a word spoken on fitting occasion.
12 智慧人的勸戒，在順從的人耳中， 好像金耳環和精金的妝飾。
A ring of gold, and a vessel of precious metal, is a wise reprover, on a hearing ear.
13 忠信的使者叫差他的人心裏舒暢， 就如在收割時有冰雪的涼氣。
As the cold of snow in the day of harvest, is a faithful messenger to them who send him, —when, the life of his masters, he restoreth.
14 空誇贈送禮物的， 好像無雨的風雲。
Clouds and wind, when rain there is none, is the man who boasteth himself of a pretended gift.
15 恆常忍耐可以勸動君王； 柔和的舌頭能折斷骨頭。
By long patience, is a judge persuaded, and, a soft tongue, breaketh the bone.
16 你得了蜜嗎？只可吃夠而已， 恐怕你過飽就嘔吐出來。
Honey having found, eat to suffice thee, lest thou loathe it, and vomit it forth.
17 你的腳要少進鄰舍的家， 恐怕他厭煩你，恨惡你。
Withhold thy foot from the house of thy neighbour, —lest he be weary of thee, and hate thee.
18 作假見證陷害鄰舍的， 就是大槌，是利刀，是快箭。
A hammer and a sword, and a sharpened arrow, is a man becoming a false witness against his neighbour.
19 患難時倚靠不忠誠的人， 好像破壞的牙，錯骨縫的腳。
A broken tooth and a faltering foot, is confidence in the treacherous, in the day of danger.
20 對傷心的人唱歌， 就如冷天脫衣服， 又如鹼上倒醋。
As splendour of dress on a cold day—vinegar upon nitre, so is a singer with songs, unto a sad heart.
21 你的仇敵若餓了，就給他飯吃； 若渴了，就給他水喝；
If he that hateth thee hunger, give him bread to eat, and, if he be thirsty, give him water to drink;
22 因為，你這樣行就是把炭火堆在他的頭上； 耶和華也必賞賜你。
For, burning coals, shalt thou be heaping upon his head, —and, Yahweh, will repay thee.
23 北風生雨， 讒謗人的舌頭也生怒容。
A north wind, bringeth forth rain, and, a face stirred with indignation, a secretive tongue.
24 寧可住在房頂的角上， 不在寬闊的房屋與爭吵的婦人同住。
Better to dwell on the corner of the roof, than a quarrelsome wife, and a house in common.
25 有好消息從遠方來， 就如拿涼水給口渴的人喝。
As cold water to a thirsty soul, so is a good report from a far country.
26 義人在惡人面前退縮， 好像詵渾之泉，弄濁之井。
A fountain fouled, a spring spoiled, is a righteous man tottering before one who is lawless.
27 吃蜜過多是不好的； 考究自己的榮耀也是可厭的。
To eat honey in abundance, is not good, nor is, searching out their own honour, an honourable thing.
28 人不制伏自己的心， 好像毀壞的城邑沒有牆垣。
A city broken down without a wall, is a man who hath no control over his own spirit.
