Proverbs 25

1 These are additional proverbs of Solomon, which were copied by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:

以下也是所羅門的箴言，是猶大王希西家的人所謄錄的。

2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to search it out.

將事隱祕乃上帝的榮耀； 將事察清乃君王的榮耀。

3 As the heavens are high and the earth is deep, so the hearts of kings cannot be searched.

天之高，地之厚， 君王之心也測不透。

4 Remove the dross from the silver, and a vessel for a silversmith will come forth.

除去銀子的渣滓就有銀子出來， 銀匠能以做器皿。

5 Remove the wicked from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established in righteousness.

除去王面前的惡人， 國位就靠公義堅立。

6 Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, and do not stand in the place of great men;

不要在王面前妄自尊大； 不要在大人的位上站立。

7 for it is better that he says to you, “Come up here!” than that you should be demoted in the presence of the prince. Even what you have seen with your own eyes,

寧可有人說：請你上來， 強如在你覲見的王子面前叫你退下。

8 do not bring hastily to court. Otherwise, what will you do in the end when your neighbor puts you to shame?

不要冒失出去與人爭競， 免得至終被他羞辱， 你就不知道怎樣行了。

9 Argue your case with your neighbor without betraying another’s confidence,

你與鄰舍爭訟， 要與他一人辯論， 不可洩漏人的密事，

10 lest the one who hears may disgrace you, and your infamy never go away.

恐怕聽見的人罵你， 你的臭名就難以脫離。

11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.

一句話說得合宜， 就如金蘋果在銀網子裏。

12 Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is a wise man’s rebuke to a listening ear.

智慧人的勸戒，在順從的人耳中， 好像金耳環和精金的妝飾。

13 Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the soul of his masters.

忠信的使者叫差他的人心裏舒暢， 就如在收割時有冰雪的涼氣。

14 Like clouds and wind without rain is the man who boasts of gifts never given.

空誇贈送禮物的， 好像無雨的風雲。

15 Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.

恆常忍耐可以勸動君王； 柔和的舌頭能折斷骨頭。

16 If you find honey, eat just what you need, lest you have too much and vomit it up.

你得了蜜嗎？只可吃夠而已， 恐怕你過飽就嘔吐出來。

17 Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house, lest he grow weary and hate you.

你的腳要少進鄰舍的家， 恐怕他厭煩你，恨惡你。

18 Like a club or sword or sharp arrow is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor.

作假見證陷害鄰舍的， 就是大槌，是利刀，是快箭。

19 Like a broken tooth or a foot out of joint is confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble.

患難時倚靠不忠誠的人， 好像破壞的牙，錯骨縫的腳。

20 Like one who removes a garment on a cold day or vinegar poured on a wound is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.

對傷心的人唱歌， 就如冷天脫衣服， 又如鹼上倒醋。

21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.

你的仇敵若餓了，就給他飯吃； 若渴了，就給他水喝；

22 For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.

因為，你這樣行就是把炭火堆在他的頭上； 耶和華也必賞賜你。

23 As the north wind brings forth rain, so a backbiting tongue brings angry looks.

北風生雨， 讒謗人的舌頭也生怒容。

24 Better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.

寧可住在房頂的角上， 不在寬闊的房屋與爭吵的婦人同住。

25 Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land.

有好消息從遠方來， 就如拿涼水給口渴的人喝。

26 Like a muddied spring or a polluted well is a righteous man who gives way to the wicked.

義人在惡人面前退縮， 好像詵渾之泉，弄濁之井。

27 It is not good to eat too much honey or to search out one’s own glory.

吃蜜過多是不好的； 考究自己的榮耀也是可厭的。

28 Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who does not control his temper.

人不制伏自己的心， 好像毀壞的城邑沒有牆垣。