Proverbs 23
1 When you sit to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before you;
你若與官長坐席， 要留意在你面前的是誰。
2 put a knife to your throat if you are a man given to appetite.
你若是貪食的， 就當拿刀放在喉嚨上。
3 Don’t be desirous of his dainties, since they are deceitful food.
不可貪戀他的美食， 因為是哄人的食物。
4 Don’t weary yourself to be rich. In your wisdom, show restraint.
不要勞碌求富， 休仗自己的聰明。
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.
你豈要定睛在虛無的錢財上嗎？ 因錢財必長翅膀，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,
不要吃惡眼人的飯， 也不要貪他的美味；
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.
因為他心怎樣思量， 他為人就是怎樣。 他雖對你說，請吃，請喝， 他的心卻與你相背。
8 You will vomit up the morsel which you have eaten and waste your pleasant words.
你所吃的那點食物必吐出來； 你所說的甘美言語也必落空。
9 Don’t speak in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
你不要說話給愚昧人聽， 因他必藐視你智慧的言語。
10 Don’t move the ancient boundary stone. Don’t encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
不可挪移古時的地界， 也不可侵入孤兒的田地；
11 for their Defender is strong. He will plead their case against you.
因他們的救贖主大有能力， 他必向你為他們辨屈。
12 Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to the words of knowledge.
你要留心領受訓誨， 側耳聽從知識的言語。
13 Don’t withhold correction from a child. If you punish him with the rod, he will not die.
不可不管教孩童； 你用杖打他，他必不至於死。
你要用杖打他， 就可以救他的靈魂免下陰間。 (Sheol h7585)
15 My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad, even mine.
我兒，你心若存智慧， 我的心也甚歡喜。
16 Yes, my heart will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.
你的嘴若說正直話， 我的心腸也必快樂。
17 Don’t let your heart envy sinners, but rather fear the LORD all day long.
你心中不要嫉妒罪人， 只要終日敬畏耶和華；
18 Indeed surely there is a future hope, and your hope will not be cut off.
因為至終必有善報， 你的指望也不致斷絕。
19 Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path!
我兒，你當聽，當存智慧， 好在正道上引導你的心。
20 Don’t be among ones drinking too much wine, or those who gorge themselves on meat;
好飲酒的，好吃肉的， 不要與他們來往；
21 for the drunkard and the glutton shall become poor; and drowsiness clothes them in rags.
因為好酒貪食的，必致貧窮； 好睡覺的，必穿破爛衣服。
22 Listen to your father who gave you life, and don’t despise your mother when she is old.
你要聽從生你的父親； 你母親老了，也不可藐視她。
23 Buy the truth, and don’t sell it. Get wisdom, discipline, and understanding.
你當買真理； 就是智慧、訓誨，和聰明也都不可賣。
24 The father of the righteous has great joy. Whoever fathers a wise child delights in him.
義人的父親必大得快樂； 人生智慧的兒子，必因他歡喜。
25 Let your father and your mother be glad! Let her who bore you rejoice!
你要使父母歡喜， 使生你的快樂。
26 My son, give me your heart; and let your eyes keep in my ways.
我兒，要將你的心歸我； 你的眼目也要喜悅我的道路。
27 For a prostitute is a deep pit; and a wayward wife is a narrow well.
妓女是深坑； 外女是窄阱。
28 Yes, she lies in wait like a robber, and increases the unfaithful among men.
她埋伏好像強盜； 她使人中多有奸詐的。
29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
誰有禍患？誰有憂愁？ 誰有爭鬥？誰有哀歎？ 誰無故受傷？誰眼目紅赤？
30 Those who stay long at the wine; those who go to seek out mixed wine.
就是那流連飲酒、 常去尋找調和酒的人。
31 Don’t look at the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly.
酒發紅，在杯中閃爍， 你不可觀看， 雖然下咽舒暢， 終久是咬你如蛇，刺你如毒蛇。
32 In the end, it bites like a snake, and poisons like a viper.
33 Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will imagine confusing things.
你眼必看見異怪的事； 你心必發出乖謬的話。
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:
你必像躺在海中， 或像臥在桅杆上。
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.”
你必說：人打我，我卻未受傷； 人鞭打我，我竟不覺得。 我幾時清醒，我仍去尋酒。
