Proverbs 23
1 If you sit to sup at the table of a prince, consider attentively the things set before you:
你若與官長坐席， 要留意在你面前的是誰。
2 and apply your hand, knowing that it behoves you to prepare such [meats]: but if you are very insatiable,
你若是貪食的， 就當拿刀放在喉嚨上。
3 desire not his provisions; for these belong to a false life.
不可貪戀他的美食， 因為是哄人的食物。
4 If you are poor, measure not yourself with a rich man; but refrain yourself in your wisdom.
不要勞碌求富， 休仗自己的聰明。
5 If you should fix your eye upon him, he will disappear; for wings like an eagle's are prepared for him, and he returns to the house of his master.
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。
6 Sup not with an envious man, neither desire you his meats:
不要吃惡眼人的飯， 也不要貪他的美味；
7 so he eats and drinks as if any one should swallow a hair, and do not bring him in to yourself, nor eat your morsel with him:
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。
8 for he will vomit it up, and spoil your fair words.
你所吃的那點食物必吐出來； 你所說的甘美言語也必落空。
9 Say nothing in the ears of a fool, lest at any time he sneer at your wise words.
你不要說話給愚昧人聽， 因他必藐視你智慧的言語。
10 Remove not the ancient landmarks; and enter not upon the possession of the fatherless:
不可挪移古時的地界， 也不可侵入孤兒的田地；
11 for the Lord is their redeemer; he is mighty, and will plead their cause with you.
因他們的救贖主大有能力， 他必向你為他們辨屈。
12 Apply your heart to instruction, and prepare your ears for words of discretion.
你要留心領受訓誨， 側耳聽從知識的言語。
13 Refrain not from chastening a child; for if you beat him with the rod, he shall not die.
不可不管教孩童； 你用杖打他，他必不至於死。
你要用杖打他， 就可以救他的靈魂免下陰間。 (Sheol h7585)
15 Son, if your heart be wise, you shall also gladden my heart;
我兒，你心若存智慧， 我的心也甚歡喜。
16 and your lips shall converse with my lips, if they be right.
你的嘴若說正直話， 我的心腸也必快樂。
17 Let not your heart envy sinners: but be you in the fear of the Lord all the day.
你心中不要嫉妒罪人， 只要終日敬畏耶和華；
18 For if you should keep these things, you shall have posterity; and your hope shall not be removed.
因為至終必有善報， 你的指望也不致斷絕。
19 Hear, [my] son, and be wise, and rightly direct the thoughts of your heart.
我兒，你當聽，當存智慧， 好在正道上引導你的心。
20 Be not a wine-bibber, neither continue long at feasts, and purchases of flesh:
好飲酒的，好吃肉的， 不要與他們來往；
21 for every drunkard and whoremonger shall be poor; and every sluggard shall clothe himself with tatters and ragged garments.
因為好酒貪食的，必致貧窮； 好睡覺的，必穿破爛衣服。
22 Listen, [my] son, to your father which begot you, and despise not [your mother] because she is grown old.
你要聽從生你的父親； 你母親老了，也不可藐視她。
你當買真理； 就是智慧、訓誨，和聰明也都不可賣。
24 A righteous father brings up [his children] well; and his soul rejoices over a wise son.
義人的父親必大得快樂； 人生智慧的兒子，必因他歡喜。
25 Let your father and your mother rejoice over you, and let her that bore you be glad.
你要使父母歡喜， 使生你的快樂。
26 [My] son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways.
我兒，要將你的心歸我； 你的眼目也要喜悅我的道路。
27 For a strange house is a vessel full of holes; and a strange well is narrow.
妓女是深坑； 外女是窄阱。
28 For such a one shall perish suddenly; and every transgressor shall be cut off.
她埋伏好像強盜； 她使人中多有奸詐的。
29 Who [has] woe? who trouble? who [has] quarrels? and who vexations and disputes? who [has] bruises without a cause? whose eyes are livid?
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？
30 Are not those of them that stay long at wine? [are] not [those] of them that haunt [the places] where banquets are? Be not drunk with wine; but converse with just men, and converse [with them] openly.
就是那流連飲酒、 常去尋找調和酒的人。
31 For if you should set your eyes on bowls and cups, you shall afterwards go more naked than a pestle.
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。
32 But at last [such a one] stretches himself out as one struck by a serpent, and venom is diffused through him as by a horned serpent.
33 Whenever your eyes shall behold a strange woman, then your mouth shall speak perverse things.
你眼必看見異怪的事； 你心必發出乖謬的話。
34 And you shall lie as in the midst of the sea, and as a pilot in a great storm.
你必像躺在海中， 或像臥在桅杆上。
35 And you shall say, They struck me, and I was not pained; and they mocked me, and I knew it not: when will it be morning, that I may go and seek those with whom I may go in company?
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。
