Proverbs 24
1 Do not imitate evil men, nor desire to be among them.
你不要妒忌作惡的人，不要希求與他們共處；
2 For their mind meditates on robberies, and their lips speak deceptions.
因為他們的心靈，只圖謀不軌；他們的嘴唇，只講論是非。
3 By wisdom shall a house be built, and by prudence shall it be strengthened.
因著智慧，家庭得以興建；因著明智，家庭得以穩定。
4 By doctrine, the storerooms shall be filled with every substance that is precious and most beautiful.
各種珍奇可愛的寶物，因著智識可儲藏滿室。
5 A wise man is strong, and a well-taught man is robust and valiant.
智慧人勝於壯士，明智人強於勇士；
6 For war is undertaken in an orderly manner, and safety shall be where there are many counsels.
因為作戰須有智謀，勝利在於謀士眾多。
7 Wisdom is beyond the foolish; at the gate he will not open his mouth.
為愚昧的人，智慧太高妙；他在城門口，只好不開口。
8 Whoever intends to do evil shall be called foolish.
籌劃作惡的人，可稱為陰險家。
9 The intention of the foolish is sin. And the detractor is an abomination among men.
愚人的計謀只是罪惡；狂妄的人為人所憎惡。
10 If you despair, being weary in the day of anguish, your strength will be diminished.
你若萎靡不振，到災難的日子，必然氣竭力盡。
11 Rescue those who are led away to death. And do not cease from delivering those who are dragged away to a violent death.
被帶去受死的人，你應拯救他；行將被殺戮的人，你要挽救他。
12 If you would say: “I do not have sufficient strength.” He who inspects the heart, the same one understands, and nothing slips past the one who preserves your soul. And he shall repay a man according to his works.
或許你要說：「看! 我全不知道! 」難道那權衡人心的能不明瞭﹖難道監察你心靈的能不知道﹖他必按每人的作為還報每人。
13 My son, eat honey, because it is good, and the honeycomb, because it is so sweet to your throat.
我兒，你要吃蜜，因為蜜好；蜂房的蜜，香甜可口。
14 So, too, is the doctrine of wisdom to your soul. When you have found it, you will have hope in the end, and your hope shall not perish.
對你的靈魂，智慧也是這樣：你找得了她，必有好前途；你所希望的，決不會落空。
15 Do not lie in wait, and do not seek impiety in the house of the just, nor spoil his rest.
惡惡人對義人的家，不要圖謀不軌；對他的住所，不要加以破壞；
16 For the just one will fall seven times, and he shall rise again. But the impious will fall into evil.
因為義人雖七次跌倒，仍然要起來；但是惡人一失足，必陷禍患中。
17 When your enemy will fall, do not be glad, and do not let your heart exult in his ruin,
你的仇人跌倒，且不要高興；他若失足摔倒，且不要心喜；
18 lest perhaps the Lord see, and it displease him, and he may take away his wrath from him.
免得上主看見而不快，因而撤消對他的忿怒。
19 Do not contend with the most wicked, and do not be a rival to the impious.
對作惡的人，你不要動怒；對乖戾之徒，也不必嫉妒；
20 For the evil hold no hope in the future, and the lamp of the impious will be extinguished.
因為惡人終沒有好前途，惡人的燈必要熄滅。
21 My son, fear the Lord, as well as the king. And do not mingle with detractors.
我兒，上主和君王，你都要敬畏；對他們二者，皆不可觸怒；
22 For their perdition shall rise up suddenly. And who knows what ruin will be for each of them?
因為他們的懲罰可突然而至；他們的摧殘，有誰能知曉﹖
23 Likewise, these things are for the wise. It is not good to base judgment on knowledge of character.
以下是智者的箴言：在判案時，顧及情面，決不公平。
24 Those who say to the impious, “You are just,” shall be cursed by the people, and the tribes shall detest them.
誰對惡人說：「你是正義的。」人民必罵他，百姓必恨他。
25 Those who argue against the impious shall be praised, and a blessing shall come upon them.
按公道加罰的，必事事順遂；美好的祝福，必臨於其身。
26 He shall kiss the lips, who responds with upright words.
應答適宜的人，宛如與人接吻。
27 Prepare your outdoor work, and diligently cultivate your field, so that afterward, you may build your house.
你要先在外經營好事業，在田間將工作準備停當，然後纔可建立你的家室。
28 Do not be a witness without cause against your neighbor. And do not mislead anyone with your lips.
不要輕易作證，反對你的近人；也不要以你的口舌，欺騙他人。
29 Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me.” I will repay each one according to his work.
不可說：「人怎樣待我，我怎樣待人；照人之所行，我向他還報。」
30 I passed by the field of a lazy man, and by the vineyard of a foolish man,
我走過懶惰人的田地，經過愚昧人的葡萄園：
31 and behold, it was entirely filled with nettles, and thorns had covered its surface, and the stonewall was destroyed.
看，到處是荊棘，滿地是蒺黎，石牆也倒了!
32 When I had seen this, I laid it up in my heart, and by this example, I received discipline.
我看了，便心下自思；我見了，取得了教訓：「
33 You will sleep a little,” I said. “You will slumber briefly. You will fold your hands a little, so as to rest.
再睡片刻，再假寐片刻，再抱臂躺臥片刻」──
34 And destitution will overtake you like a runner, and begging will overtake you like an armed man.”
這樣，貧窮就要如同竊賊，困乏也要如同武士，向你侵襲。
