箴言 25

1 以下也是所罗门的箴言，是犹大王希西家的人所誊录的。

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

2 将事隐秘乃 神的荣耀； 将事察清乃君王的荣耀。

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

3 天之高，地之厚， 君王之心也测不透。

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

4 除去银子的渣滓就有银子出来， 银匠能以做器皿。

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

5 除去王面前的恶人， 国位就靠公义坚立。

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

6 不要在王面前妄自尊大； 不要在大人的位上站立。

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

7 宁可有人说：请你上来， 强如在你觐见的王子面前叫你退下。

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

8 不要冒失出去与人争竞， 免得至终被他羞辱， 你就不知道怎样行了。

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 你与邻舍争讼， 要与他一人辩论， 不可泄漏人的密事，

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

10 恐怕听见的人骂你， 你的臭名就难以脱离。

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 一句话说得合宜， 就如金苹果在银网子里。

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

12 智慧人的劝戒，在顺从的人耳中， 好像金耳环和精金的妆饰。

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

13 忠信的使者叫差他的人心里舒畅， 就如在收割时有冰雪的凉气。

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 空夸赠送礼物的， 好像无雨的风云。

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

15 恒常忍耐可以劝动君王； 柔和的舌头能折断骨头。

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

16 你得了蜜吗？只可吃够而已， 恐怕你过饱就呕吐出来。

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

17 你的脚要少进邻舍的家， 恐怕他厌烦你，恨恶你。

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

18 作假见证陷害邻舍的， 就是大槌，是利刀，是快箭。

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

19 患难时倚靠不忠诚的人， 好像破坏的牙，错骨缝的脚。

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

20 对伤心的人唱歌， 就如冷天脱衣服， 又如硷上倒醋。

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 你的仇敌若饿了，就给他饭吃； 若渴了，就给他水喝；

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

22 因为，你这样行就是把炭火堆在他的头上； 耶和华也必赏赐你。

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

23 北风生雨， 谗谤人的舌头也生怒容。

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

24 宁可住在房顶的角上， 不在宽阔的房屋与争吵的妇人同住。

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

25 有好消息从远方来， 就如拿凉水给口渴的人喝。

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

26 义人在恶人面前退缩， 好像趟浑之泉，弄浊之井。

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

27 吃蜜过多是不好的； 考究自己的荣耀也是可厌的。

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 人不制伏自己的心， 好像毁坏的城邑没有墙垣。

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.