Proverbs 26

1 As snow in summer, and rain in harvest, so glory is not seemly for a fool.

有如夏日下雪，秋收降雨，不合時令；同樣愚昧的人獲得光榮，亦不適宜。

2 As a bird flying to other places, and a sparrow going here or there: so a curse uttered without cause shall come upon a man.

有如麻雀逃走，燕子飛去：無端的咒罵，也一去無蹤。

3 A whip for a horse, and a snaffle for an ass, and a rod for the back of fools.

馬需要皮鞭，驢需要轡頭，愚昧人的脊背需要棍棒。

4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou be made like him.

回答愚昧人，別照樣愚昧，免得你也像他一樣；

5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he imagine himself to be wise.

回答愚昧人，有時應愚昧，免得他自以為聰明。

6 He that sendeth words by a foolish messenger, is lame of feet and drinketh iniquity.

派遣愚昧人，去作傳話者，是自斷己足，是自尋苦惱。

7 As a lame man hath fair legs in vain: so a parable is unseemly in the mouth of fools.

猶如跛子的腳虛懸無力，箴言在愚人口中也是如此。

8 As he that casteth a stone into the heap of Mercury: so is he that giveth honour to a fool.

將光榮體面授給愚昧人，無異將寶石投在石堆裏。

9 As if a thorn should grow in the hand of a drunkard: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

箴言在愚人口中，猶如荊棘在醉漢手中。

10 Judgment determineth causes: and he that putteth a fool to silence, appeaseth anger.

雇用愚人或過路人的人，無異射傷眾人的弓箭手。

11 As a dog that returneth to his vomit, so is the fool that repeateth his folly.

愚人一再重複他的愚行，猶如狗再來吃牠嘔吐之物。

12 Hast thou seen a man wise in his own conceit? there shall be more hope of a fool than of him.

你是否見過自作聰明的人﹖寄望於愚人必寄望於他更好。

13 The slothful man saith: There is a lion in the way, and a lioness in the roads.

懶惰人常說：「路上有猛獅，街市有壯獅。」

14 As the door turneth upon its hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.

懶人在床榻上輾轉，猶如門扇在樞紐上旋轉。

15 The slothful hideth his hand under his armpit, and it grieveth him to turn it to his mouth.

懶人伸手在盤中取食，送到口邊也感到辛苦。

16 The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit, than seven men that speak sentences.

懶惰人自認為聰明人，遠勝過七個善於應對的人。

17 As he that taketh a dog by the ears, so is he that passeth by in anger, and meddleth with another man’s quarrel.

干涉與己無關的爭端，有如抓過路狗的尾巴。

18 As he is guilty that shooteth arrows, and lances unto death:

誰騙了人而後說：「我只開玩笑! 」

19 So is the man that hurteth his friend deceitfully: and when he is taken, saith: I did it in jest.

猶如狂人投擲火把、利箭和死亡。

20 When the wood faileth, the fire shall go out: and when the talebearer is taken away, contentions shall cease.

沒有木柴，火即熄滅；沒有讒言，爭端即息。

21 As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire, so an angry man stirreth up strife.

誰惹事生非，挑撥爭端，是在火炭上加炭，火上加柴。

22 The words of a talebearer are as it were simple, but they reach to the innermost parts of the belly.

進讒者的話，如可口美味，能深深透入肺腑的深處。

23 Swelling lips joined with a corrupt heart, are like an earthen vessel adorned with silver dross.

口蜜腹劍的人，有如塗上銀的陶器。

24 An enemy is known by his lips, when in his heart he entertaineth deceit.

懷恨他人的，善措詞掩飾；但在他心底，卻藏有陰險。

25 When he shall speak low, trust him not: because there are seven mischiefs in his heart.

誰聲調過柔，你不要相信；因在他心中，藏有七種惡。

26 He that covereth hatred deceitfully, his malice shall be laid open in the public assembly.

仇恨雖可以詭計來掩飾，但在集會中險惡必敗露。

27 He that diggeth a pit, shall fall into it: and he that rolleth a stone, it shall return to him.

挖掘陷阱的必自陷其中，滾轉石頭的必為石所壓。

28 A deceitful tongue loveth not truth: and a slippery mouth worketh ruin.

撒謊的唇舌，必痛恨真理；諂媚的嘴臉必製造喪亡。