Proverbs 23

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

1 你若與官長坐席， 要留意在你面前的是誰。

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

2 你若是貪食的， 就當拿刀放在喉嚨上。

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

3 不可貪戀他的美食， 因為是哄人的食物。

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

4 不要勞碌求富， 休仗自己的聰明。

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

5 你豈要定睛在虛無的錢財上嗎？ 因錢財必長翅膀，如鷹向天飛去。

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

6 不要吃惡眼人的飯， 也不要貪他的美味；

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 因為他心怎樣思量， 他為人就是怎樣。 他雖對你說，請吃，請喝， 他的心卻與你相背。

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

8 你所吃的那點食物必吐出來； 你所說的甘美言語也必落空。

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

9 你不要說話給愚昧人聽， 因他必藐視你智慧的言語。

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

10 不可挪移古時的地界， 也不可侵入孤兒的田地；

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

11 因他們的救贖主大有能力， 他必向你為他們辨屈。

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

12 你要留心領受訓誨， 側耳聽從知識的言語。

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，他必不至於死。

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

14 你要用杖打他， 就可以救他的靈魂免下陰間。

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

15 我兒，你心若存智慧， 我的心也甚歡喜。

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

16 你的嘴若說正直話， 我的心腸也必快樂。

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， 只要終日敬畏耶和華；

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

18 因為至終必有善報， 你的指望也不致斷絕。

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

19 我兒，你當聽，當存智慧， 好在正道上引導你的心。

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

20 好飲酒的，好吃肉的， 不要與他們來往；

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

21 因為好酒貪食的，必致貧窮； 好睡覺的，必穿破爛衣服。

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

22 你要聽從生你的父親； 你母親老了，也不可藐視她。

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

23 你當買真理； 就是智慧、訓誨，和聰明也都不可賣。

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

24 義人的父親必大得快樂； 人生智慧的兒子，必因他歡喜。

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

25 你要使父母歡喜， 使生你的快樂。

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

26 我兒，要將你的心歸我； 你的眼目也要喜悅我的道路。

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 她埋伏好像強盜； 她使人中多有奸詐的。

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

29 誰有禍患？誰有憂愁？ 誰有爭鬥？誰有哀歎 ？ 誰無故受傷？誰眼目紅赤？

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

30 就是那流連飲酒、 常去尋找調和酒的人。

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

31–32 酒發紅，在杯中閃爍， 你不可觀看， 雖然下咽舒暢， 終久是咬你如蛇，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 你眼必看見異怪的事 ； 你心必發出乖謬的話。

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， 或像臥在桅杆上。

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 你必說：人打我，我卻未受傷； 人鞭打我，我竟不覺得。 我幾時清醒，我仍去尋酒。