Proverbs 24
1 Seek not to be like evil men, neither desire to be with them:
你不要妒忌作惡的人，不要希求與他們共處；
2 Because their mind studieth robberies, and their lips speak deceits.
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 the house shall be built, and by prudence it shall be strengthened.
因著智慧，家庭得以興建；因著明智，家庭得以穩定。
4 By instruction the storerooms shall be filled with all precious and most beautiful wealth.
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 knowing man, stout and valiant.
智慧人勝於壯士，明智人強於勇士；
6 Because war is managed by due ordering: and there shall be safety where there are many counsels.
因為作戰須有智謀，勝利在於謀士眾多。
7 Wisdom is too high for a fool, in the gate he shall 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 He that deviseth to do evils, shall be called a fool.
籌劃作惡的人，可稱為陰險家。
9 The thought of a fool is sin: and the detracter is the abomination of men.
愚人的計謀只是罪惡；狂妄的人為人所憎惡。
10 If thou lose hope being weary in the day of distress, thy strength shall be diminished.
你若萎靡不振，到災難的日子，必然氣竭力盡。
11 Deliver them that are led to death: and those that are drawn to death forbear not to deliver.
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 thou say: I have not strength enough: he that seeth into the heart, he understandeth, and nothing deceiveth the keeper of thy soul, and he shall render to 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 Fat honey, my son, because it is good, and the honeycomb most sweet to thy throat:
我兒，你要吃蜜，因為蜜好；蜂房的蜜，香甜可口。
14 So also is the doctrine of wisdom to thy soul: which when thou hast found, thou shalt have hope in the end, and thy 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 Lie not in wait, nor seek after wickedness 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 a just mall shall fall seven times and shall rise again: but the wicked shall fall down 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 thy enemy shall fall, be not glad, and in his ruin let not thy heart rejoice:
你的仇人跌倒，且不要高興；他若失足摔倒，且不要心喜；
18 Lest the Lord see, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
免得上主看見而不快，因而撤消對他的忿怒。
19 Contend not with the wicked, nor seek to be like the ungodly:
對作惡的人，你不要動怒；對乖戾之徒，也不必嫉妒；
20 For evil men have no hope of things to come, and the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
因為惡人終沒有好前途，惡人的燈必要熄滅。
21 My son, fear the Lord and the king: and have nothing to do with detracters.
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 destruction shall rise suddenly: and who knoweth the ruin of both?
因為他們的懲罰可突然而至；他們的摧殘，有誰能知曉﹖
23 These things also to the wise: It is not good to have respect to persons in judgment.
以下是智者的箴言：在判案時，顧及情面，決不公平。
24 They that say to the wicked man: Thou art just: shall be cursed by the people, and the tribes shall abhor them.
誰對惡人說：「你是正義的。」人民必罵他，百姓必恨他。
25 They that rebuke him, 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 answereth right words.
應答適宜的人，宛如與人接吻。
27 Prepare thy work without, and diligently till thy ground: that afterward thou mayst build thy 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 Be not witness without cause against thy neighbour: and deceive not any man with thy 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 Say not: I will do to him as he hath done to me: I will render to every 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 the slothful man, and by the vineyard of the 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 all filled with nettles, and thorns had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall was broken down.
看，到處是荊棘，滿地是蒺黎，石牆也倒了!
32 Which when I had seen, I laid it up in my heart, and by the example I received instruction.
我看了，便心下自思；我見了，取得了教訓：「
33 Thou wilt sleep a little, said I, thou wilt slumber a little, thou wilt fold thy hands a little to rest:
再睡片刻，再假寐片刻，再抱臂躺臥片刻」──
34 And poverty shall come to thee as a runner, and beggary as 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。
