箴言 7
1 我兒，你要遵守我的言語， 將我的命令存記在心。
My son, guard my words and conceal my precepts within you.
2 遵守我的命令就得存活； 保守我的法則， 好像保守眼中的瞳人，
Son, preserve my commandments, and you shall live. And keep my law as the pupil of your eye.
3 繫在你指頭上， 刻在你心版上。
Bind it with your fingers; write it on the tablets of your heart.
4 對智慧說：你是我的姊妹， 稱呼聰明為你的親人，
Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call prudence your friend.
5 她就保你遠離淫婦， 遠離說諂媚話的外女。
So may she guard you from the woman who is an outsider, and from the stranger who sweetens her words.
6 我曾在我房屋的窗戶內， 從我窗欞之間往外觀看：
For I gaze from the window of my house, through the lattice,
7 見愚蒙人內，少年人中， 分明有一個無知的少年人，
and I see little ones. I consider a frenzied youth,
8 從街上經過，走近淫婦的巷口， 直往通她家的路去，
who crosses the street at the corner and close to the way of that house.
9 在黃昏，或晚上， 或半夜，或黑暗之中。
He steps into shadows, as day becomes evening, into the darkness and gloom of the night.
10 看哪，有一個婦人來迎接他， 是妓女的打扮，有詭詐的心思。
And behold, a woman meets him, dressed like a harlot, prepared to captivate souls: chattering and rambling,
11 這婦人喧嚷，不守約束， 在家裏停不住腳，
unwilling to bear silence, unable to keep her feet at home,
12 有時在街市上，有時在寬闊處， 或在各巷口蹲伏，
now outside, now in the streets, now lying in ambush near the corners.
13 拉住那少年人，與他親嘴， 臉無羞恥對他說：
And overtaking the youth, she kisses him, and with a provocative face, she flatters him, saying:
14 平安祭在我這裏， 今日才還了我所許的願。
“I vowed sacrifices for well-being. Today I have repaid my vows.
15 因此，我出來迎接你， 懇切求見你的面，恰巧遇見了你。
Because of this, I have gone out to meet you, desiring to see you, and I have found you.
16 我已經用繡花毯子 和埃及線織的花紋布鋪了我的床。
I have woven my bed with cords. I have strewn it with embroidered tapestries from Egypt.
17 我又用沒藥、沉香、桂皮 薰了我的榻。
I have sprinkled my bed with myrrh, aloe, and cinnamon.
18 你來，我們可以飽享愛情，直到早晨； 我們可以彼此親愛歡樂。
Come, let us be inebriated in abundance, and let us delight in the embraces of desire, until the day begins to dawn.
19 因為我丈夫不在家，出門行遠路；
For my husband is not in his house. He has gone away on a very long journey.
20 他手拿銀囊，必到月望才回家。
He took with him a bag of money. He will return to his house on the day of the full moon.”
21 淫婦用許多巧言誘他隨從， 用諂媚的嘴逼他同行。
She enmeshed him with many words, and she drew him forward with the flattery of her lips.
22 少年人立刻跟隨她，好像牛往宰殺之地； 又像愚昧人帶鎖鍊去受刑罰，
Immediately, he follows her, like an ox being led to the sacrifice, and like a lamb acting lasciviously, and not knowing that he is being drawn foolishly into chains,
23 直等箭穿他的肝； 如同雀鳥急入網羅，卻不知是自喪己命。
until the arrow pierces his liver. It is just as if a bird were to hurry into the snare. And he does not know that his actions endanger his own soul.
24 眾子啊，現在要聽從我， 留心聽我口中的話。
Therefore, my son, hear me now, and attend to the words of my mouth.
25 你的心不可偏向淫婦的道， 不要入她的迷途。
Do not let your mind be pulled into her ways. And do not be deceived by her paths.
26 因為，被她傷害仆倒的不少； 被她殺戮的而且甚多。
For she has tossed aside many wounded, and some of those who were very strong have been slain by her.
