Proverbs 24
1 Don’t be envious of evil men, neither desire to be with them;
你不要妒忌作惡的人，不要希求與他們共處；
2 for their hearts plot violence and their lips talk about mischief.
因為他們的心靈，只圖謀不軌；他們的嘴唇，只講論是非。
3 Through wisdom a house is built; by understanding it is established;
因著智慧，家庭得以興建；因著明智，家庭得以穩定。
4 by knowledge the rooms are filled with all rare and beautiful treasure.
各種珍奇可愛的寶物，因著智識可儲藏滿室。
5 A wise man has great power. A knowledgeable man increases strength,
智慧人勝於壯士，明智人強於勇士；
6 for by wise guidance you wage your war, and victory is in many advisors.
因為作戰須有智謀，勝利在於謀士眾多。
7 Wisdom is too high for a fool. He doesn’t open his mouth in the gate.
為愚昧的人，智慧太高妙；他在城門口，只好不開口。
8 One who plots to do evil will be called a schemer.
籌劃作惡的人，可稱為陰險家。
9 The schemes of folly are sin. The mocker is detested by men.
愚人的計謀只是罪惡；狂妄的人為人所憎惡。
10 If you falter in the time of trouble, your strength is small.
你若萎靡不振，到災難的日子，必然氣竭力盡。
11 Rescue those who are being led away to death! Indeed, hold back those who are staggering to the slaughter!
被帶去受死的人，你應拯救他；行將被殺戮的人，你要挽救他。
12 If you say, “Behold, we didn’t know this,” doesn’t he who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, doesn’t he know it? Shall he not render to every man according to his work?
或許你要說：「看! 我全不知道! 」難道那權衡人心的能不明瞭﹖難道監察你心靈的能不知道﹖他必按每人的作為還報每人。
13 My son, eat honey, for it is good, the droppings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to your taste;
我兒，你要吃蜜，因為蜜好；蜂房的蜜，香甜可口。
14 so you shall know wisdom to be to your soul. If you have found it, then there will be a reward: Your hope will not be cut off.
對你的靈魂，智慧也是這樣：你找得了她，必有好前途；你所希望的，決不會落空。
15 Don’t lay in wait, wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous. Don’t destroy his resting place;
惡惡人對義人的家，不要圖謀不軌；對他的住所，不要加以破壞；
16 for a righteous man falls seven times and rises up again, but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.
因為義人雖七次跌倒，仍然要起來；但是惡人一失足，必陷禍患中。
17 Don’t rejoice when your enemy falls. Don’t let your heart be glad when he is overthrown,
你的仇人跌倒，且不要高興；他若失足摔倒，且不要心喜；
18 lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
免得上主看見而不快，因而撤消對他的忿怒。
19 Don’t fret yourself because of evildoers, neither be envious of the wicked;
對作惡的人，你不要動怒；對乖戾之徒，也不必嫉妒；
20 for there will be no reward to the evil man. The lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.
因為惡人終沒有好前途，惡人的燈必要熄滅。
21 My son, fear the LORD and the king. Don’t join those who are rebellious,
我兒，上主和君王，你都要敬畏；對他們二者，皆不可觸怒；
22 for their calamity will rise suddenly. Who knows what destruction may come from them both?
因為他們的懲罰可突然而至；他們的摧殘，有誰能知曉﹖
23 These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judgement is not good.
以下是智者的箴言：在判案時，顧及情面，決不公平。
24 He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous,” peoples will curse him, and nations will abhor him—
誰對惡人說：「你是正義的。」人民必罵他，百姓必恨他。
25 but it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and a rich blessing will come on them.
按公道加罰的，必事事順遂；美好的祝福，必臨於其身。
26 An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.
應答適宜的人，宛如與人接吻。
27 Prepare your work outside, and get your fields ready. Afterwards, build your house.
你要先在外經營好事業，在田間將工作準備停當，然後纔可建立你的家室。
28 Don’t be a witness against your neighbour without cause. Don’t deceive with your lips.
不要輕易作證，反對你的近人；也不要以你的口舌，欺騙他人。
29 Don’t say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will repay the man according to his work.”
不可說：「人怎樣待我，我怎樣待人；照人之所行，我向他還報。」
30 I went by the field of the sluggard, by the vineyard of the man void of understanding.
我走過懶惰人的田地，經過愚昧人的葡萄園：
31 Behold, it was all grown over with thorns. Its surface was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down.
看，到處是荊棘，滿地是蒺黎，石牆也倒了!
32 Then I saw, and considered well. I saw, and received instruction:
我看了，便心下自思；我見了，取得了教訓：「
33 a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep,
再睡片刻，再假寐片刻，再抱臂躺臥片刻」──
34 so your poverty will come as a robber and your want as an armed man.
這樣，貧窮就要如同竊賊，困乏也要如同武士，向你侵襲。
