Warnings Against Foolish Acts
1My son, don’t promise to pay for what your neighbor owes.
Don’t agree to pay a stranger’s bill.
2Don’t be trapped by what you have said.
Don’t be caught by the words of your mouth.
3Instead, my son, do something to free yourself.
Don’t fall into your neighbor’s hands.
Go until you can’t go anymore.
Don’t let your neighbor rest.
4Don’t let your eyes go to sleep.
Don’t let your eyelids close.
5As a deer frees itself from a hunter, free yourself.
As a bird frees itself from a trapper, free yourself.
6You people who don’t want to work, think about the ant!
Consider its ways and be wise!
7It has no commander.
It has no leader or ruler.
8But it stores up its food in summer.
It gathers its food at harvest time.
9You lazy people, how long will you lie there?
When will you get up from your sleep?
10You might sleep a little or take a little nap.
You might even fold your hands and rest.
11Then you would be poor, as if someone had robbed you.
You would have little, as if someone had stolen from you.
12An evil troublemaker
goes around saying twisted things with his mouth.
13He winks with his eyes.
He makes signals with his feet.
He motions with his fingers.
14His plans are evil, and he has lies in his heart.
He is always stirring up fights.
15Trouble will catch up with him in an instant.
He will suddenly be destroyed, and nothing can save him.
16There are six things the Lord hates.
In fact, he hates seven things.
17The Lord hates proud eyes,
a lying tongue,
and hands that kill those who aren’t guilty.
18He also hates hearts that make evil plans
and feet that are quick to do evil.
19He hates any witness who pours out lies
and anyone who stirs up conflict in the community.
A Warning Against Committing Adultery
20My son, keep your father’s command.
Don’t turn away from your mother’s teaching.
21Always tie them on your heart.
Put them around your neck.
22When you walk, they will guide you.
When you sleep, they will watch over you.
When you wake up, they will speak to you.
23Your father’s command is like a lamp.
Your mother’s teaching is like a light.
And whatever instructs and corrects you
leads to life.
24It keeps you from your neighbor’s wife.
It keeps you from the smooth talk of a woman who commits adultery.
25Don’t hunger in your heart after her beauty.
Don’t let her eyes capture you.
26A prostitute can be bought for only a loaf of bread.
But another man’s wife hunts your very life.
27You can’t shovel fire into your lap
without burning your clothes.
28You can’t walk on hot coals
without burning your feet.
29It’s the same for anyone who has sex with another man’s wife.
Anyone who touches her will be punished.
30People don’t hate a thief who steals
to fill his empty stomach.
31But when he is caught, he must pay seven times as much as he stole.
It may even cost him everything he has.
32A man who commits adultery has no sense.
Anyone who does it destroys himself.
33He will be beaten up and dishonored.
His shame will never be wiped away.
34Jealousy stirs up a husband’s anger.
He will show no mercy when he gets even.
35He won’t accept any payment.
He won’t take any money, no matter how much he is offered.
日常警言
1孩子啊，你若為鄰人作保，
為外人擊掌立約；
2你若被自己口中的話套住，
被自己的諾言纏住，
3孩子啊，你已落入鄰人的手中，
你當如此自救：
要謙卑地向他求情。
4勿讓你的眼睛睡覺，
莫叫你的眼皮打盹。
5要救自己脫離困境，
像羚羊掙脫獵人的手，
飛鳥逃脫捕鳥人的手。
6懶惰的人啊，去看看螞蟻，
觀察牠的生活，就會有智慧。
7螞蟻沒有元帥，
沒有官長，
也沒有君王，
8卻在夏季儲備糧食，
在收割時積聚食物。
9懶惰的人啊，你要躺到何時？
要睡到何時才起床？
10再睡一會兒，再打個盹兒，
抱著手躺一會兒，
11貧窮要像盜賊一樣攻擊你，
缺乏要像武士一樣撲向你。
12無賴與惡人滿口詭詐，
13擠眉弄眼，手腳示意，
14心術不正，設下詭計，惹事生非。
15因此，災難必突然臨到，
他們頃刻之間遭到毀滅，
無可挽救。
16耶和華所憎惡的事有六樣，
連祂厭惡的事共有七樣：
17高傲的眼睛，
撒謊的舌頭，
殺害無辜的手，
18圖謀詭計的心，
奔跑作惡的腳，
19撒謊的假證人和在弟兄中挑起爭端的人。
20孩子啊，要遵守你父親的誡命，
不可背棄你母親的訓言。
21你要常常將這些刻在心坎上，
繫在頸項上。
22你行走，它們必引領你；
你躺臥，它們必護衛你；
你醒來，它們必與你交談。
23因為誡命是燈，訓言是光，
管教責備是生命之道，
24能使你遠離邪惡的女人，
避開油嘴滑舌的妓女。
25你的心不要貪戀她的美色，
也不要被她的媚眼所迷惑，
26因為娼妓會使人傾家蕩產6·26 「娼妓會使人傾家蕩產」或譯「娼妓的淫資不過是一個餅」。，
淫婦會獵殺人寶貴的生命。
27人若將火藏在懷中，
哪能不燒著衣服呢？
28人若行走在火炭上，
哪能不燙傷雙腳呢？
29與別人妻子通姦也是這樣，
凡靠近她的必難逃罪責。
30賊因充饑而偷，
沒有人藐視他；
31但若被抓到，他要償還七倍，
就是傾家蕩產也要償還。
32和有夫之婦通姦的，
實在愚不可及，
他是自尋死路。
33他必挨打，受辱，
他的恥辱永難抹去。
34那丈夫妒火燃燒，
報仇時絕不留情。
35賠他再多財物，他也不會接受；
送他再多禮物，他都不肯甘休。
