Proverbs 25
1 Also these are the proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah the king of Judah have collected.
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 honor of God to conceal a thing; but the honor of kings is to search out a matter.
將事隱蔽，是天主的光榮；清察事實，是君王的光榮。
3 As are the heavens for height, and the earth is for depth, so should the heart of kings be unsearchable.
天有多高，地有多厚，王有何心，不可測量。
4 Take away the dross from the silver, and there will come forth a vessel for the melter.
若將銀渣除去淨盡，銀匠必會造出銀器；
5 Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne will be firmly established 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 glorify thyself in the presence of the king, and force thyself not into the place of great men;
你在君王前不可炫耀，不可佔有權貴的座位；
7 For better it is that it be said unto thee, “Come up hither,” than that thou shouldst be put lower in the presence of the prince, which thy own eyes have [often] seen.
因為人對你說「請上座! 」比在貴前受抑更好。
8 Do not proceed to a contest hastily, lest [thou know not] what thou wilt have to do at its end, when thy neighbor hath put thee to confusion.
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 Carry on thy cause with thy neighbor; but lay not open 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 Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thy infamy never be removed.
免得人聽見了而譏笑你，使你的聲譽一敗塗地。
11 Like apples of gold among figures of silver is a word spoken in a proper manner.
一句簡單話，若說得適當，有如銀盤中，放上金蘋果。
12 As an earring of gold, and a pendant of fine gold, so is a wise reprover toward an ear that listeneth.
明智的勸戒，對受教的人，無異於金環，或純金美飾。
13 As the cooling of snow on a harvest-day, so is a faithful messenger to those that send him; for he refresheth 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 Like clouds and wind without rain, so is a man that vaunteth falsely of a gift.
許諾而不實踐的人，只好似無雨的風雲。
15 By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh bones.
容忍可以折服公侯，柔語能以粉碎硬骨。
16 Hast thou found honey: eat so much as is sufficient for thee: lest thou consume too much of it, and have to vomit it forth.
你找到蜂蜜，應按食量吃；怕吃的過多，反要吐出來。
17 Make thy foot scarce in the house of thy friend: lest he have too much of thee, and so hate thee.
鄰舍的住家，你應少踏入；怕他討厭你，反而憎恨你。
18 A battle-axe, and a sword, and a sharpened arrow is a man that testifieth as a false witness against his neighbor.
作假見證陷害鄰舍的人，無異是鐵鎚、刀劍和利箭。
19 Like a broken tooth and a foot out of joint, is confidence in a treacherous man in a time of distress.
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 [As] he that taketh off his garment on a cold day, [as] vinegar is upon natron: so is he that singeth songs before an unhappy heart.
對憂傷的心靈詠唱詩歌，無異在傷口處倒上酸醋。
21 If thy enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink;
若仇人餓了，你要給他吃；若是他渴了，應給他水喝：
22 For though thou gatherest coals of fire upon his head, yet will the Lord repay it unto thee.
這是將火炭堆在他頭上，上主也必要因此還報你。
23 The north wind bringeth forth rain: so doth secret talking, angry countenances.
北風帶來時雨；讒言易惹怒容。
24 It is better to dwell in the corner of a roof, than with a quarrelsome woman even in a roomy house.
寧願住在屋頂的一角，不願與吵婦同居一室。
25 As cold water is to a fainting soul, so are good news from a far-off country.
來自遠方的喜信，無異口渴獲清泉。
26 Like a turbid spring and a corrupt fountain, is a righteous man that giveth way before the wicked.
義人如在惡人面前失足，無異弄混的水泉，弄濁的水井。
27 To eat too much honey is not good: so is it honor to set a limit to men's honor.
吃蜂蜜過多，有損無益；過於求光榮，反而受累。
28 Like a city that is broken in, and is without walls: so is the man that hath no control over his spirit.
人若不控制自己的脾氣，就如一座無牆無防的城市。
