Proverbs 23

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

1 你若与官长坐席， 要留意在你面前的是谁。

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

2 你若是贪食的， 就当拿刀放在喉咙上。

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

3 不可贪恋他的美食， 因为是哄人的食物。

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

4 不要劳碌求富， 休仗自己的聪明。

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

5 你岂要定睛在虚无的钱财上吗？ 因钱财必长翅膀，如鹰向天飞去。

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

6 不要吃恶眼人的饭， 也不要贪他的美味；

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 因为他心怎样思量， 他为人就是怎样。 他虽对你说，请吃，请喝， 他的心却与你相背。

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

8 你所吃的那点食物必吐出来； 你所说的甘美言语也必落空。

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

9 你不要说话给愚昧人听， 因他必藐视你智慧的言语。

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

10 不可挪移古时的地界， 也不可侵入孤儿的田地；

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

11 因他们的救赎主大有能力， 他必向你为他们辨屈。

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

12 你要留心领受训诲， 侧耳听从知识的言语。

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

13 不可不管教孩童； 你用杖打他，他必不至于死。

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

14 你要用杖打他， 就可以救他的灵魂免下阴间。

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

15 我儿，你心若存智慧， 我的心也甚欢喜。

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

16 你的嘴若说正直话， 我的心肠也必快乐。

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

17 你心中不要嫉妒罪人， 只要终日敬畏耶和华；

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

18 因为至终必有善报， 你的指望也不致断绝。

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

19 我儿，你当听，当存智慧， 好在正道上引导你的心。

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

20 好饮酒的，好吃肉的， 不要与他们来往；

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

21 因为好酒贪食的，必致贫穷； 好睡觉的，必穿破烂衣服。

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

22 你要听从生你的父亲； 你母亲老了，也不可藐视她。

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

23 你当买真理； 就是智慧、训诲，和聪明也都不可卖。

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

24 义人的父亲必大得快乐； 人生智慧的儿子，必因他欢喜。

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

25 你要使父母欢喜， 使生你的快乐。

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

26 我儿，要将你的心归我； 你的眼目也要喜悦我的道路。

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

27 妓女是深坑； 外女是窄阱。

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

28 她埋伏好像强盗； 她使人中多有奸诈的。

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

29 谁有祸患？谁有忧愁？ 谁有争斗？谁有哀叹 ？ 谁无故受伤？谁眼目红赤？

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

30 就是那流连饮酒、 常去寻找调和酒的人。

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

31–32 酒发红，在杯中闪烁， 你不可观看， 虽然下咽舒畅， 终久是咬你如蛇，刺你如毒蛇。

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

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

33 你眼必看见异怪的事 ； 你心必发出乖谬的话。

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

34 你必像躺在海中， 或像卧在桅杆上。

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 你必说：人打我，我却未受伤； 人鞭打我，我竟不觉得。 我几时清醒，我仍去寻酒。