Proverbs 24

1 Do not envy wicked men or desire their company;

1 你不要嫉妒惡人， 也不要起意與他們相處；

2 for their hearts devise violence, and their lips declare trouble.

2 因為，他們的心圖謀強暴， 他們的口談論奸惡。

3 By wisdom a house is built and by understanding it is established;

3 房屋因智慧建造， 又因聰明立穩；

4 through knowledge its rooms are filled with every precious and beautiful treasure.

4 其中因知識充滿各樣美好寶貴的財物。

5 A wise man is strong, and a man of knowledge enhances his strength.

5 智慧人大有能力； 有知識的人力上加力。

6 Only with sound guidance should you wage war, and victory lies in a multitude of counselors.

6 你去打仗，要憑智謀； 謀士眾多，人便得勝。

7 Wisdom is too high for a fool; he does not open his mouth in the meeting place.

7 智慧極高，非愚昧人所能及， 所以在城門內不敢開口。

8 He who plots evil will be called a schemer.

8 設計作惡的， 必稱為奸人。

9 A foolish scheme is sin, and a mocker is detestable to men.

9 愚妄人的思念乃是罪惡； 褻慢者為人所憎惡。

10 If you faint in the day of distress, how small is your strength!

10 你在患難之日若膽怯， 你的力量就微小。

11 Rescue those being led away to death, and restrain those stumbling toward the slaughter.

11 人被拉到死地，你要解救； 人將被殺，你須攔阻。

12 If you say, “Behold, we did not know about this,” does not He who weighs hearts consider it? Does not the One who guards your life know? Will He not repay a man according to his deeds?

12 你若說：這事我未曾知道， 那衡量人心的豈不明白嗎？ 保守你命的豈不知道嗎？ 他豈不按各人所行的報應各人嗎？

13 Eat honey, my son, for it is good, and the honeycomb is sweet to your taste.

13 我兒，你要吃蜜，因為是好的； 吃蜂房下滴的蜜便覺甘甜。

14 Know therefore that wisdom is sweet to your soul. If you find it, there is a future for you, and your hope will never be cut off.

14 你心得了智慧，也必覺得如此。 你若找着，至終必有善報； 你的指望也不致斷絕。

15 Do not lie in wait, O wicked man, near the dwelling of the righteous; do not destroy his resting place.

15 你這惡人，不要埋伏攻擊義人的家； 不要毀壞他安居之所。

16 For though a righteous man may fall seven times, he still gets up; but the wicked stumble in bad times.

16 因為，義人雖七次跌倒，仍必興起； 惡人卻被禍患傾倒。

17 Do not gloat when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart rejoice when he stumbles,

17 你仇敵跌倒，你不要歡喜； 他傾倒，你心不要快樂；

18 or the LORD will see and disapprove, and turn His wrath away from him.

18 恐怕耶和華看見就不喜悅， 將怒氣從仇敵身上轉過來。

19 Do not fret over evildoers, and do not be envious of the wicked.

19 不要為作惡的心懷不平， 也不要嫉妒惡人；

20 For the evil man has no future; the lamp of the wicked will be extinguished.

20 因為，惡人終不得善報； 惡人的燈也必熄滅。

21 My son, fear the LORD and the king, and do not associate with the rebellious.

21 我兒，你要敬畏耶和華與君王， 不要與反覆無常的人結交，

22 For they will bring sudden destruction. Who knows what ruin they can bring?

22 因為他們的災難必忽然而起。 耶和華與君王所施行的毀滅， 誰能知道呢？

23 These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judgment is not good.

23 以下也是智慧人的箴言： 審判時看人情面是不好的。

24 Whoever tells the guilty, “You are innocent”—peoples will curse him, and nations will denounce him;

24 對惡人說「你是義人」的， 這人萬民必咒詛，列邦必憎惡。

25 but it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and rich blessing will come upon them.

25 責備惡人的，必得喜悅； 美好的福也必臨到他。

26 An honest answer given is like a kiss on the lips.

26 應對正直的，猶如與人親嘴。

27 Complete your outdoor work and prepare your field; after that, you may build your house.

27 你要在外頭預備工料， 在田間辦理整齊， 然後建造房屋。

28 Do not testify against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your lips.

28 不可無故作見證陷害鄰舍， 也不可用嘴欺騙人。

29 Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will repay the man according to his work.”

29 不可說：人怎樣待我，我也怎樣待他； 我必照他所行的報復他。

30 I went past the field of a slacker and by the vineyard of a man lacking judgment.

30 我經過懶惰人的田地、 無知人的葡萄園，

31 Thorns had grown up everywhere, thistles had covered the ground, and the stone wall was broken down.

31 荊棘長滿了地皮， 刺草遮蓋了田面， 石牆也坍塌了。

32 I observed and took it to heart; I looked and received instruction:

32 我看見就留心思想； 我看着就領了訓誨。

33 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,

33 再睡片時，打盹片時， 抱着手躺臥片時，

34 and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and need like a bandit.

34 你的貧窮就必如強盜速來， 你的缺乏彷彿拿兵器的人來到。