< Proverbs 27 >
1 Do not boast about tomorrow; for you do not know what a day may bring forth.
不要為明日自誇,因為你不知今天能發生什麼。
2 Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.
只應讓人讚美你,你不應開口自誇;讚你的該是他人,不該是你的唇舌。
3 A stone is heavy, and sand is a burden; but a fool's provocation is heavier than both.
石頭重,沙礫沉,愚人的忿怒,比二者都重。
4 Wrath is cruel, and anger is overwhelming; but who is able to stand before jealousy?
憤怒固然殘酷,暴怒更是猛烈;可是面對妒恨,有誰能夠抵受﹖
5 Better is open rebuke than hidden love.
公開的責斥,勝於暗中的溺愛。
6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; although the kisses of an enemy are profuse.
友人的抨擊是忠誠,仇人的擁吻是欺騙。
7 A full soul loathes a honeycomb; but to a hungry soul, every bitter thing is sweet.
人若吃飽了,蜂蜜也厭惡;若肚子饑餓,苦物也甘甜。
8 As a bird that wanders from her nest, so is a man who wanders from his home.
離家飄泊的遊子,有如無巢可歸的雀鳥。
9 Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart; so does earnest counsel from a man's friend.
香油和香料,能暢快人心;朋友的勸勉,能撫慰人靈。
10 Do not forsake your friend and your father's friend. Do not go to your brother's house in the day of your disaster: better is a neighbor who is near than a distant brother.
你的知心朋友,你父親的至交,你切不可離棄;在你憂患的時日,不要進兄弟的家。靠近的鄰舍,勝於遠地的兄弟。
11 Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart, then I can answer my tormentor.
我兒,作個智慧人,使我心高興,好叫我回答笑罵我的人。
12 A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge; but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.
精明人遇見災禍,即行隱避;無知者反向前走,自招損害。
13 Take his garment when he puts up collateral for a stranger. Hold it for a wayward woman.
誰為外方人作保,拿出他的衣服;誰為異族人作保,以他本人作質。
14 He who blesses his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be taken as a curse by him.
清晨向人高聲祝福,就等於向他人咀咒。
15 A continual dropping on a rainy day and a contentious wife are alike:
豪雨的時日,滴漏不已:好吵的女人,也是如此;
16 restraining her is like restraining the wind, or like grasping oil in his right hand.
誰願意攔阻她,無異攔阻狂風,又好似右手抓油。
17 Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens his friend's countenance.
朋友互相砥礪,有如以鐵銼鐵。
18 Whoever tends the fig tree shall eat its fruit. He who looks after his master shall be honored.
看守無花果樹的,必食其果;護守自己主人的,必受器重。
19 As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man.
人心不同,猶如其面。
20 Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied; and a man's eyes are never satisfied. (Sheol )
陰府和冥域,總填不滿;世人的眼睛,從不滿足。 (Sheol )
21 The crucible is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but man is refined by his praise.
鍋煉銀,爐煉金,諂媚煉人心。
22 Though you grind a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with grain, yet his foolishness will not be removed from him.
你盡可在臼中將愚人舂碎,但他的昏愚卻永不能剷除。
23 Know well the state of your flocks, and pay attention to your herds:
對你羊群的情況,應加注意;對你的家畜,應常留心照料;
24 for riches are not forever, nor does even the crown endure to all generations.
因為錢財並不能永存,寶藏也不能永留萬代。
25 The hay is removed, and the new growth appears, the grasses of the hills are gathered in.
割去了乾草,青草又叢生;山間的野草,也收集起來;
26 The lambs are for your clothing, and the goats are the price of a field.
那時羔羊供你衣料,山羊供你地價,
27 There will be plenty of goats' milk for your food, for your family's food, and for the nourishment of your servant girls.
羊奶足以養你,維持你的家庭,養活你的婢女。