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Further Wise Sayings of Solomon

25 These are other proverbs of Solomon that the officials of King Hezekiah of Judah copied.(A)

It is the glory of God to conceal things,
    but the glory of kings is to search things out.(B)
Like the heavens for height, like the earth for depth,
    so the mind of kings is unsearchable.
Take away the dross from the silver,
    and the smith has material for a vessel;(C)
take away the wicked from the presence of the king,
    and his throne will be established in righteousness.(D)
Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence
    or stand in the place of the great,
for it is better to be told, “Come up here,”
    than to be put lower in the presence of a noble.

What your eyes have seen(E)
    do not hastily bring into court,
for[a] what will you do in the end,
    when your neighbor puts you to shame?(F)
Argue your case with your neighbor directly,
    and do not disclose another’s secret,(G)
10 or else someone who hears you will bring shame upon you,
    and your ill repute will have no end.

11 A word fitly spoken
    is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.(H)
12 Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold
    is a wise rebuke to a listening ear.(I)
13 Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest
    are faithful messengers to those who send them;
    they refresh the spirit of their masters.(J)
14 Like clouds and wind without rain
    is one who boasts of a gift never given.(K)
15 With patience a ruler may be persuaded,
    and a soft tongue can break bones.(L)
16 If you have found honey, eat only enough for you,
    lest, having too much, you vomit it up.(M)
17 Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house,
    lest the neighbor become weary of you and hate you.
18 Like a war club, a sword, or a sharp arrow
    is one who bears false witness against a neighbor.(N)
19 Like a bad tooth or a lame foot
    is trust in a faithless person in time of trouble.
20 Like vinegar on a wound[b]
    is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
Like a moth in clothing or a worm in wood,
    sorrow gnaws at the human heart.[c]
21 If your enemies are hungry, give them bread to eat,
    and if they are thirsty, give them water to drink,(O)
22 for you will heap coals of fire on their heads,
    and the Lord will reward you.(P)
23 The north wind produces rain,
    and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.(Q)
24 It is better to live in a corner of the housetop
    than in a house shared with a contentious wife.(R)
25 Like cold water to a thirsty soul,
    so is good news from a far country.(S)
26 Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain
    are the righteous who give way before the wicked.(T)
27 It is not good to eat much honey
    or to seek honor on top of honor.(U)
28 Like a city breached, without walls,
    is one who lacks self-control.(V)

Footnotes

  1. 25.8 Cn: Heb or else
  2. 25.20 Gk: Heb Like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, like vinegar on lye
  3. 25.20 Gk Syr Tg: Heb lacks Like a moth . . . human heart

所羅門的箴言(續)

25 以下也是所羅門的箴言,由猶大王希西迦的人抄錄。

將事隱藏是上帝的榮耀,
    把事查明是君王的光榮。
天之高,地之厚,
    君王的心測不透。
除掉銀子裡的渣滓,
    銀匠就能鑄造器皿。
清除君王身邊的惡人,
    王位必因公義而鞏固。
不可在王面前妄自尊大,
    不要佔據大人物的位子。
與其在權貴面前受羞辱,
    不如等人邀請你坐上座。
不可魯莽地打官司,
    以免敗訴、羞愧難當。
遇到跟鄰舍爭訟,
    不可洩露其秘密,
10 免得聽見的人辱罵你,
    你的惡名將永難洗刷。
11 一句話說得合宜,
    就像金蘋果放在銀器裡。
12 對受教者而言,
    智者的責備猶如金耳環和金飾物。
13 忠信的使者叫主人心裡舒暢,
    就像夏收之時有冰雪的涼氣。
14 誇口送禮物卻食言的人,
    就像沒有雨水的風和雲。
15 堅忍說服君王,
    柔舌折斷骨頭。
16 找到蜂蜜要酌量而食,
    免得吃多了嘔吐。
17 不要頻頻去鄰舍家,
    免得惹人煩、遭人厭。
18 作偽證陷害鄰舍的人,
    無異於大錘、刀和利箭。
19 危難時投靠奸詐之人,
    形同倚靠壞牙和跛腳。
20 對憂傷的人唱歌,
    如同天寒脫衣、傷口撒鹽。
21 你的仇敵若餓了,
    就給他吃的;
    若渴了,就給他水喝;
22 因為你這是把炭火堆在他頭上,
    耶和華必獎賞你。
23 北風帶來雨水,
    讒言激起憤怒。
24 寧願住在屋頂的一角,
    不跟爭鬧的妻子同屋。
25 有好消息從遠方傳來,
    如涼水滋潤乾渴的人。
26 義人向惡人低頭,
    就像清泉被攪渾,
    水井受污染。
27 蜂蜜吃得太多有害無益,
    追求自己的榮耀也不光彩。
28 無法自制的人就像被攻破的無牆之城。

More Proverbs of Solomon

25 These are more proverbs(A) of Solomon, compiled by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:(B)

It is the glory of God to conceal a matter;
    to search out a matter is the glory of kings.(C)
As the heavens are high and the earth is deep,
    so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.

Remove the dross from the silver,
    and a silversmith can produce a vessel;
remove wicked officials from the king’s presence,(D)
    and his throne will be established(E) through righteousness.(F)

Do not exalt yourself in the king’s presence,
    and do not claim a place among his great men;
it is better for him to say to you, “Come up here,”(G)
    than for him to humiliate you before his nobles.

What you have seen with your eyes
    do not bring[a] hastily to court,
for what will you do in the end
    if your neighbor puts you to shame?(H)

If you take your neighbor to court,
    do not betray another’s confidence,
10 or the one who hears it may shame you
    and the charge against you will stand.

11 Like apples[b] of gold in settings of silver(I)
    is a ruling rightly given.
12 Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold
    is the rebuke of a wise judge to a listening ear.(J)

13 Like a snow-cooled drink at harvest time
    is a trustworthy messenger to the one who sends him;
    he refreshes the spirit of his master.(K)
14 Like clouds and wind without rain
    is one who boasts of gifts never given.

15 Through patience a ruler can be persuaded,(L)
    and a gentle tongue can break a bone.(M)

16 If you find honey, eat just enough—
    too much of it, and you will vomit.(N)
17 Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house—
    too much of you, and they will hate you.

18 Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow
    is one who gives false testimony against a neighbor.(O)
19 Like a broken tooth or a lame foot
    is reliance on the unfaithful in a time of trouble.
20 Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day,
    or like vinegar poured on a wound,
    is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.

21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
    if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
22 In doing this, you will heap burning coals(P) on his head,
    and the Lord will reward you.(Q)

23 Like a north wind that brings unexpected rain
    is a sly tongue—which provokes a horrified look.

24 Better to live on a corner of the roof
    than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.(R)

25 Like cold water to a weary soul
    is good news from a distant land.(S)
26 Like a muddied spring or a polluted well
    are the righteous who give way to the wicked.

27 It is not good to eat too much honey,(T)
    nor is it honorable to search out matters that are too deep.(U)

28 Like a city whose walls are broken through
    is a person who lacks self-control.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 25:8 Or nobles / on whom you had set your eyes. / Do not go
  2. Proverbs 25:11 Or possibly apricots