Proverbs 23

1 When you sit down to dine with a ruler, consider carefully what is set before you,

1 你若与官长同席， 要注意面对的是谁。

2 and put a knife to your throat if you possess a great appetite.

2 如果你是贪吃的人， 就要节制食欲 ；

3 Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive.

3 不可贪恋他的美食， 这美食是圈套。

4 Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to restrain yourself.

4 别为钱财耗尽心力， 要明智，适可而止。

5 When you glance at wealth, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky.

5 钱财眨眼之间消逝无踪， 它必长出翅膀如鹰飞去。

6 Do not eat the bread of a stingy man, and do not crave his delicacies;

6 不要吃吝啬人的饭， 不可贪图他的美味。

7 for he is keeping track, inwardly counting the cost. “Eat and drink,” he says to you, but his heart is not with you.

7 因为他总是精于算计， 嘴上说“请吃，请喝”， 心里却另有盘算。

8 You will vomit up what little you have eaten and waste your pleasant words.

8 你必呕出所吃的那点饭， 你说的美言都必枉费。

9 Do not speak to a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.

9 不要和愚人说话， 他必藐视你的智言。

10 Do not move an ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of the fatherless,

10 不可挪移古时的界石， 不可侵占孤儿的田地。

11 for their Redeemer is strong; He will take up their case against you.

11 因他们的救赎主强大， 祂必对付你，替他们申冤。

12 Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge.

12 你要专心接受教诲， 侧耳倾听博学之言。

13 Do not withhold discipline from a child; although you strike him with a rod, he will not die.

13 不要疏于管教孩子， 杖责不会使他毙命，

14 Strike him with a rod, and you will deliver his soul from Sheol.

14 杖责能救他脱离死亡。

15 My son, if your heart is wise, my own heart will indeed rejoice.

15 孩子啊， 你若心里有智慧， 我心里也会欢喜。

16 My inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.

16 你的口若说正直的话， 我的内心也欢畅不已。

17 Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always continue in the fear of the LORD.

17 不要心里羡慕罪人， 要终日敬畏耶和华。

18 For surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.

18 这样，你必前途光明， 你的盼望不会幻灭。

19 Listen, my son, and be wise, and guide your heart on the right course.

19 孩子啊，听我的话， 要有智慧，心守正道。

20 Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat.

20 不要结交酒肉朋友，

21 For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe them in rags.

21 因为好酒贪吃者必穷困， 贪睡的人必穿破衣烂衫。

22 Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.

22 要听从生养你的父亲， 不可轻视年老的母亲。

23 Invest in truth and never sell it—in wisdom and instruction and understanding.

23 要买真理，不可卖掉， 要买智慧、教诲和悟性。

24 The father of a righteous man will greatly rejoice, and he who fathers a wise son will delight in him.

24 义人的父亲喜乐无限， 智慧之子使父母欢欣。

25 May your father and mother be glad, and may she who gave you birth rejoice!

25 愿你使父母快乐， 叫生你的人欢欣。

26 My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes delight in my ways.

26 孩子啊，把你的心交给我， 双目要紧盯我的道路。

27 For a prostitute is a deep pit, and an adulteress is a narrow well.

27 妓女是深坑，淫妇是陷阱；

28 Like a robber she lies in wait and multiplies the faithless among men.

28 她像强盗般埋伏， 使世间增添奸徒。

29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has needless wounds? Who has bloodshot eyes?

29 谁有灾祸？谁有忧伤？ 谁有争吵？谁有怨言？ 谁无故受伤？谁两眼发红？

30 Those who linger over wine, who go to taste mixed drinks.

30 就是那些沉迷醉乡， 品尝调和酒的人！

31 Do not gaze at wine while it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly.

31 虽然鲜红的酒在杯中闪烁， 喝下去痛快，但不要注视。

32 In the end it bites like a snake and stings like a viper.

32 它终必像蛇一样伤你， 像毒蛇一样咬你。

33 Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will utter perversities.

33 你的眼会看见怪异的景象， 你会神智不清，胡言乱语。

34 You will be like one sleeping on the high seas or lying on the top of a mast:

34 你好像躺在怒海中， 又像卧在桅杆顶上。

35 “They struck me, but I feel no pain! They beat me, but I did not know it! When can I wake up to search for another drink?”

35 你会说：“人打我，我不痛； 人揍我，我不知。 什么时候醒了，再干一杯！”