Proverbs 23
1 When you sit to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before you;
幾時你與首長坐席，應記著，在你面前的是誰。
2 put a knife to your throat if you are a man given to appetite.
你若過於貪食，應在咽喉上，放上一把刀。
3 Don’t be desirous of his dainties, since they are deceitful food.
休要羨慕他的珍饈，因那是騙人的食品。
4 Don’t weary yourself to be rich. In your wisdom, show restraint.
不要辛苦企求致富，反應放棄這種企圖。
5 Why do you set your eyes on that which is not? For it certainly sprouts wings like an eagle and flies in the sky.
你向之一注目，即不再存在了：它會生出翅膀，如鷹向天飛去。
6 Don’t eat the food of him who has a stingy eye, and don’t crave his delicacies,
不要與虎視眈眈的人進食，也不要羨慕他的山珍海味，
7 for as he thinks about the cost, so he is. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, but his heart is not with you.
因為他原是只顧自己的人，他口頭雖對你說「請吃請喝! 」但他的心中並不與你友善；
8 You will vomit up the morsel which you have eaten and waste your pleasant words.
你吃下的那口食物，還得吐出；你婉轉悅耳的言辭，盡屬枉費。
9 Don’t speak in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
不要與愚人交耳接談，因他必輕視你的高見。
10 Don’t move the ancient boundary stone. Don’t encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
不要移動孀婦的地界，不要侵佔孤兒的田地；
11 for their Defender is strong. He will plead their case against you.
因為他們的辯護者是大能的，他必為他們的案件與你爭辯。
12 Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to the words of knowledge.
你應專心接受教訓，傾耳細聽益智之言。
13 Don’t withhold correction from a child. If you punish him with the rod, he will not die.
對孩童不可忽略懲戒；用棍打他，他不致死去。
你用棍杖打他，是救他的靈魂免下陰府。 (Sheol h7585)
15 My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad, even mine.
我兒，你若心懷智慧，我也誠心喜樂；
16 Yes, my heart will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.
你的唇舌若談吐正義的事，我的五衷也必會踴躍歡欣。
17 Don’t let your heart envy sinners, but rather fear the LORD all day long.
心裏不要羨慕罪人，卻要日日敬畏上主；
18 Indeed surely there is a future hope, and your hope will not be cut off.
這樣你的將來必然順利，你的希望絕不落空。
19 Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path!
我兒，你要聽話，作個明智人；且要引領你的心走上正道。
20 Don’t be amongst ones drinking too much wine, or those who gorge themselves on meat;
貪嗜酒肉的人，不可與之來往；
21 for the drunkard and the glutton shall become poor; and drowsiness clothes them in rags.
因為嗜酒貪食的人，必陷於窮困；貪懶好睡的人，必衣著襤褸。
22 Listen to your father who gave you life, and don’t despise your mother when she is old.
對生養你的父親，應當聽從；對你年邁的母親，不可輕視。
23 Buy the truth, and don’t sell it. Get wisdom, discipline, and understanding.
應獲取真理，不可出賣，還有智慧、訓誨和見識。
24 The father of the righteous has great joy. Whoever fathers a wise child delights in him.
義人的父親，必欣然喜樂；生育慧子的，必為此歡騰。
25 Let your father and your mother be glad! Let her who bore you rejoice!
應使你的父親因你而喜悅，應使你的生母因你而快樂。
26 My son, give me your heart; and let your eyes keep in my ways.
我兒，將你的心交給我，注目於我的道路：
27 For a prostitute is a deep pit; and a wayward wife is a narrow well.
妓女是一個深坑，淫婦是一個陷阱；
28 Yes, she lies in wait like a robber, and increases the unfaithful amongst men.
她潛伏著，實如強盜，使人世間，增添奸夫。
29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
是誰將哀鳴，是誰將悲嘆﹖是誰將爭吵，是誰將抱怨﹖是誰將無故受傷，是誰將雙目赤紅﹖
30 Those who stay long at the wine; those who go to seek out mixed wine.
是那流連於醉鄉，去搜求醇酒的人。
31 Don’t look at the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly.
你不要注視酒色怎樣紅，在杯中怎樣閃耀，飲下去怎樣痛快!
32 In the end, it bites like a snake, and poisons like a viper.
終究它要咬人如蛇，刺人如虺。
33 Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will imagine confusing things.
那時，你的眼要見到奇景，你的心要吐出狂語。
34 Yes, you will be as he who lies down in the middle of the sea, or as he who lies on top of the rigging:
你宛如躺在海中心，睡在桅杆頂。「
35 “They hit me, and I was not hurt! They beat me, and I don’t feel it! When will I wake up? I can do it again. I will look for more.”
人打我，我不痛，人捶我，我不覺；我何時甦醒，好再去尋醉! 」
