1When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee: 2And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite. 3Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.
4Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. 5Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.23.5 set…: Heb. cause thine eyes to fly upon
6Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats: 7For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee. 8The morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, and lose thy sweet words. 9Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.
10Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless:23.10 landmark: or, bound 11For their redeemer is mighty; he shall plead their cause with thee.
12Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge. 13Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. 14Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell. 15My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine.23.15 even…: or, even I will rejoice 16Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things.
17Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long. 18For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.23.18 end: or, reward
19Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way. 20Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:23.20 of flesh: Heb. of their flesh 21For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags. 22Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old. 23Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding. 24The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him. 25Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice. 26My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways. 27For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit. 28She also lieth in wait as for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men.23.28 as for…: or, as a robber
29Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? 30They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. 31Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. 32At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.23.32 an…: or, a cockatrice 33Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things. 34Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.23.34 the midst…: Heb. the heart of the sea 35They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.23.35 I felt…: Heb. I knew it not
1你若與官長同席，
要注意面對的是誰。
2如果你是貪吃的人，
就要節制食慾23·2 「節制食慾」希伯來文是「把刀放在喉嚨上」。；
3不可貪戀他的美食，
這美食是圈套。
4別為錢財耗盡心力，
要明智，適可而止。
5錢財眨眼之間消逝無蹤，
它必長出翅膀如鷹飛去。
6不要吃吝嗇人的飯，
不可貪圖他的美味。
7因為他總是精於算計，
嘴上說「請吃，請喝」，
心裡卻另有盤算。
8你必嘔出所吃的那點飯，
你說的美言都必枉費。
9不要和愚人說話，
他必藐視你的智言。
10不可挪移古時的界石，
不可侵佔孤兒的田地。
11因他們的救贖主強大，
祂必對付你，替他們伸冤。
12你要專心接受教誨，
側耳傾聽智言。
13不要疏於管教孩子，
杖責不會使他斃命，
14杖責能救他脫離死亡。
15孩子啊，
你若心裡有智慧，
我心裡也會歡喜。
16你的口若說正直的話，
我的內心也歡暢不已。
17不要心裡羡慕罪人，
要終日敬畏耶和華。
18這樣，你必前途光明，
你的盼望不會幻滅。
19孩子啊，聽我的話，
要有智慧，心守正道。
20不要結交酒肉朋友，
21因為好酒貪吃者必窮困，
貪睡的人必穿破衣爛衫。
22要聽從生養你的父親，
不可輕視年老的母親。
23要買真理、智慧、教誨和悟性，
不可賣掉。
24義人的父親喜樂無限，
智慧之子使父母歡欣。
25你要使父母快樂，
叫生你的人歡欣。
26孩子啊，把你的心交給我，
歡然走我的道路。
27妓女是深坑，淫婦是陷阱；
28她像強盜般埋伏，
使世間增添奸徒。
29誰有災禍？誰有憂傷？
誰有爭吵？誰有怨言？
誰無故受傷？誰兩眼發紅？
30就是那些沉迷醉鄉，
品嚐醇和之酒的人！
31雖然鮮紅的酒在杯中閃爍，
喝下去痛快，但不要盯著它。
32它終必像蛇一樣傷你，
像毒蛇一樣咬你。
33你的眼會看見怪異的景象，
你會神智不清，胡言亂語。
34你好像躺在怒海中，
又像臥在桅杆頂上。
35你會說：「人打我，我不痛；
人揍我，我不知。
什麼時候醒了，再乾一杯！」
