箴言 25

1 以下也是撒羅滿的箴言，由猶大王希則克雅的人所蒐集：

These, too, are parables of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, transferred.

2 將事隱蔽，是天主的光榮；清察事實，是君王的光榮。

It is to the glory of God to conceal a word, and it is to the glory of kings to investigate speech.

3 天有多高，地有多厚，王有何心，不可測量。

Heaven above, and earth below, and the heart of kings are each unsearchable.

4 若將銀渣除去淨盡，銀匠必會造出銀器；

Take away the tarnish from silver, and a most pure vessel will go forth.

5 若將君王前的惡人除掉，王座即可因正義而穩立。

Take away impiety from the face of the king, and his throne shall be made firm by justice.

6 你在君王前不可炫耀，不可佔有權貴的座位；

Do not appear glorious before the king, and do not stand in the place of the great.

7 因為人對你說「請上座! 」比在貴前受抑更好。

For it is better that it should be said to you, “Ascend to here,” than that you should be humbled before the prince.

8 你眼若有所見，不可冒然訴訟；人若使你難堪，你將何以善後﹖

The things that your eyes have seen, do not offer hastily in a quarrel, lest afterward you may not be able to make amends, when you have dishonored your friend.

9 與你的近人，可自決爭端；他人的秘密，切不可洩漏；

Argue your case with your friend, and do not reveal the secret to an outsider,

10 免得人聽見了而譏笑你，使你的聲譽一敗塗地。

lest perhaps he may insult you, when he has heard it, and he might not cease to reproach you. Grace and friendship free a man; preserve these for yourself, lest you fall under reproach.

11 一句簡單話，若說得適當，有如銀盤中，放上金蘋果。

Whoever speaks a word at an opportune time is like apples of gold on beds of silver.

12 明智的勸戒，對受教的人，無異於金環，或純金美飾。

Whoever reproves the wise and obedient ear is like an earring of gold with a shining pearl.

13 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。

Just like the cold of snow in a time of harvest, so also is a faithful messenger to him who sent him: he causes his soul to rest.

14 許諾而不實踐的人，只好似無雨的風雲。

A man who boasts and does not fulfill his promises is like clouds and wind, when rain does not follow.

15 容忍可以折服公侯，柔語能以粉碎硬骨。

By patience, a leader shall be appeased, and a soft tongue shall break hardness.

16 你找到蜂蜜，應按食量吃；怕吃的過多，反要吐出來。

You have discovered honey; eat what is sufficient for you, lest perhaps, being filled up, you may vomit it.

17 鄰舍的住家，你應少踏入；怕他討厭你，反而憎恨你。

Withdraw your feet from the house of your neighbor, lest, when he has had his fill, he may hate you.

18 作假見證陷害鄰舍的人，無異是鐵鎚、刀劍和利箭。

A man who speaks false testimony against his neighbor is like a dart and a sword and a sharp arrow.

19 在患難之日，信賴無信用的人，有如信賴蛀壞的牙，脫節的腳。

Whoever sets his hopes on the unfaithful in a day of anguish is like a rotten tooth and weary foot,

20 對憂傷的心靈詠唱詩歌，無異在傷口處倒上酸醋。

and like one who loosens his garment in cold weather. Whoever sings verses to a wicked heart is like vinegar on baking soda. Just like a moth to a garment, and a worm to wood, so too does the sadness of a man do harm to the heart.

21 若仇人餓了，你要給他吃；若是他渴了，應給他水喝：

If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him water to drink.

22 這是將火炭堆在他頭上，上主也必要因此還報你。

For you will gather hot coals upon his head, and the Lord will repay you.

23 北風帶來時雨；讒言易惹怒容。

The north wind brings forth the rain, and a sorrowful face brings forth a detracting tongue.

24 寧願住在屋頂的一角，不願與吵婦同居一室。

It is better to sit in a corner of the attic, than with an argumentative woman and in a shared house.

25 來自遠方的喜信，無異口渴獲清泉。

Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so too are good reports from a far away land.

26 義人如在惡人面前失足，無異弄混的水泉，弄濁的水井。

The just falling down before the impious is like a fountain stirred up by feet and like a corrupted spring.

27 吃蜂蜜過多，有損無益；過於求光榮，反而受累。

Just as whoever eats too much honey, it is not good for him, so also whoever is an investigator of what is majestic will be overwhelmed by glory.

28 人若不控制自己的脾氣，就如一座無牆無防的城市。

Just like a city lying in the open and without surrounding walls, so also is a man who is unable to restrain his own spirit in speaking.