Proverbs 1 1 Like snow in summer, or rain in harvest, honor for a fool is out of place. 有如夏日下雪,秋收降雨,不合时令;同样愚昧的人获得光荣,亦不适宜。 2 Like the sparrow in its flitting, like the swallow in its flight, a curse uncalled-for arrives nowhere. 3 The whip for the horse, the bridle for the ass, and the rod for the back of fools. 马需要皮鞭,驴需要辔头,愚昧人的脊背需要棍棒。 4 2 Answer not the fool according to his folly, lest you too become like him. 回答愚昧人,别照样愚昧,免得你也象他一样; 5 Answer the fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes. 回答愚昧人,有时应愚昧,免得他自以为聪明。 6 He cuts off his feet, he drinks down violence, who sends messages by a fool. 派遣愚昧人,去作传话人,是自断己足,是自寻苦恼。 7 3 A proverb in the mouth of a fool hangs limp, like crippled legs. 犹如跛子的脚虚悬无力,箴言在愚人口中也是如此。 8 Like one who entangles the stone in the sling is he who gives honor to a fool. 将光荣体面授给愚昧人,无异将宝石投在石堆里。 9 Like a thorn stick brandished by the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools. 箴言在愚人口中,犹如荆棘在醉汉手中。 10 Like an archer wounding all who pass by is he who hires a drunken fool. 雇用愚人或过路人的人,无异射伤众人的弓手。 11 As the dog returns to his vomit, so the fool repeats his folly. 愚人一再重复他的愚行,犹如狗再吃它呕吐之物。 12 You see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. 你是否见过自作聪明的人?寄望于愚人必寄望于他更好。 13 The sluggard says, "There is a lion in the street, a lion in the middle of the square!" 14 The door turns on its hinges, the sluggard, on his bed! 懒人在床榻上辗转,犹如门扇在枢纽上旋转。 15 The sluggard loses his hand in the dish; he is too weary to lift it to his mouth. 16 The sluggard imagines himself wiser than seven men who answer with good sense. 懒惰人自视为聪明,远胜过七个善于应对的人。 17 Like the man who seizes a passing dog by the ears is he who meddles in a quarrel not his own. 干涉与己无关的争端,有如抓过路狗的尾巴。 18 Like a crazed archer scattering firebrands and deadly arrows 谁骗了人而后说:"我只开玩笑!" 19 Is the man who deceives his neighbor, and then says, "I was only joking." 犹如狂人投掷火把、利箭和死亡。 20 For lack of wood, the fire dies out; and when there is no talebearer, strife subsides. 没有木柴,火即熄灭;没有谗言,争端即息。 21 What a bellows is to live coals, what wood is to fire, such is a contentious man in enkindling strife. 谁惹事生非,挑拨争端,是在火炭上加炭,火柴上加柴。 22 The words of a talebearer are like dainty morsels that sink into one's inmost being. 进谗者的话,如可口美味,能深深透入肺腑的深处。 23 Like a glazed finish on earthenware are smooth lips with a wicked heart. 口蜜腹剑的人,有如涂上银的陶器。 24 With his lips an enemy pretends, but in his inmost being he maintains deceit; 怀恨他人的,善措词掩饰;但在他心底,却藏有阴险。 25 4 When he speaks graciously, trust him not, for seven abominations are in his heart. 谁声调过柔,你不要相信;因在他心中,藏有七种恶。 26 A man may conceal hatred under dissimulation, but his malice will be revealed in the assembly. 仇恨虽可以诡计来掩饰,但在集会中险恶必败露。 27 He who digs a pit falls into it; and a stone comes back upon him who rolls it. 挖掘陷阱的必自陷其中,滚转石头的必为石所压。 28 The lying tongue is its owner's enemy, and the flattering mouth works ruin. 撒谎的唇舌,必痛恨真理;谄媚的嘴脸,必制造丧亡。 Footnotes(注解) 1 [1-28] Concrete images describe the vices of fools (Proverb 26:1-12), of sluggards (Proverb 26:13-16), of meddlers (Proverb 26:17-19), of talebearers (Proverb 26:20-22), and of flatterers (Proverb 26:23-28). 2 [4-5] There is no contradiction between these two proverbs. In any answer the wise man gives he must protect his own interest against the fool. 3 [7-9] The fool abuses whatever knowledge he possesses. 4 [25] Seven abominations: many evil intentions. |