Proverbs 25

1 These are more wise sayings of Solomon, copied out by the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah.

以下也是撒羅滿的箴言，由猶大王希則克雅的人所蒐集：

2 It is the glory of God to keep a thing secret: but the glory of kings is to have it searched out.

將事隱蔽，是天主的光榮；清察事實，是君王的光榮。

3 The heaven is high and the earth is deep, and the hearts of kings may not be searched out.

天有多高，地有多厚，王有何心，不可測量。

4 Take away the waste from silver, and a vessel will come out for the silver-worker.

若將銀渣除去淨盡，銀匠必會造出銀器；

5 Take away evil-doers from before the king, and the seat of his power will be made strong in righteousness.

若將君王前的惡人除掉，王座即可因正義而穩立。

6 Do not take glory for yourself before the king, and do not put yourself in the place of the great:

你在君王前不可炫耀，不可佔有權貴的座位；

7 For it is better to have it said to you, Come up here; than for you to be put down in a lower place before the ruler.

因為人對你說「請上座! 」比在貴前受抑更好。

8 Do not be quick to go to law about what you have seen, for what will you do in the end, when your neighbour has put you to shame?

你眼若有所見，不可冒然訴訟；人若使你難堪，你將何以善後﹖

9 Have a talk with your neighbour himself about your cause, but do not give away the secret of another:

與你的近人，可自決爭端；他人的秘密，切不可洩漏；

10 Or your hearer may say evil of you, and your shame will not be turned away.

免得人聽見了而譏笑你，使你的聲譽一敗塗地。

11 A word at the right time is like apples of gold in a network of silver.

一句簡單話，若說得適當，有如銀盤中，放上金蘋果。

12 Like a nose-ring of gold and an ornament of the best gold, is a wise man who says sharp words to an ear ready to give attention.

明智的勸戒，對受教的人，無異於金環，或純金美飾。

13 As the cold of snow in the time of grain-cutting, so is a true servant to those who send him; for he gives new life to the soul of his master.

忠誠的使者，對遣他的人，有如秋收時，吹來的涼風，使他主人的心感到愉快。

14 As clouds and wind without rain, so is one who takes credit for an offering he has not given.

許諾而不實踐的人，只好似無雨的風雲。

15 A judge is moved by one who for a long time undergoes wrongs without protest, and by a soft tongue even bone is broken.

容忍可以折服公侯，柔語能以粉碎硬骨。

16 If you have honey, take only as much as is enough for you; for fear that, being full of it, you may not be able to keep it down.

你找到蜂蜜，應按食量吃；怕吃的過多，反要吐出來。

17 Let not your foot be frequently in your neighbour's house, or he may get tired of you, and his feeling be turned to hate.

鄰舍的住家，你應少踏入；怕他討厭你，反而憎恨你。

18 One who gives false witness against his neighbour is a hammer and a sword and a sharp arrow.

作假見證陷害鄰舍的人，無異是鐵鎚、刀劍和利箭。

19 Putting one's faith in a false man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth and a shaking foot.

在患難之日，信賴無信用的人，有如信賴蛀壞的牙，脫節的腳。

20 Like one who takes off clothing in cold weather and like acid on a wound, is he who makes melody to a sad heart.

對憂傷的心靈詠唱詩歌，無異在傷口處倒上酸醋。

21 If your hater is in need of food, give him bread; and if he is in need of drink, give him water:

若仇人餓了，你要給他吃；若是他渴了，應給他水喝：

22 For so you will put coals of fire on his head, and the Lord will give you your reward.

這是將火炭堆在他頭上，上主也必要因此還報你。

23 As the north wind gives birth to rain, so is an angry face caused by a tongue saying evil secretly.

北風帶來時雨；讒言易惹怒容。

24 It is better to be living in an angle of the house-top, than with a bitter-tongued woman in a wide house.

寧願住在屋頂的一角，不願與吵婦同居一室。

25 As cold water to a tired soul, so is good news from a far country.

來自遠方的喜信，無異口渴獲清泉。

26 Like a troubled fountain and a dirty spring, is an upright man who has to give way before evil-doers.

義人如在惡人面前失足，無異弄混的水泉，弄濁的水井。

27 It is not good to take much honey: so he who is not looking for honour will be honoured.

吃蜂蜜過多，有損無益；過於求光榮，反而受累。

28 He whose spirit is uncontrolled is like an unwalled town which has been broken into.

人若不控制自己的脾氣，就如一座無牆無防的城市。