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Sirach 1 Happy the man whose mouth brings him no grief, who is not stung by remorse for sin. 口不失言，又问心无愧的，是有福的人。 2 Happy the man whose conscience does not reproach him, who has not lost hope. 不受良心谴责，而又不失望的，是有福的人。 3 1 Wealth ill becomes the mean man; and to the miser, of what use is gold? 4 What he denies himself he collects for others, and in his possessions a stranger will revel. 过于俭省的人，是替人积蓄；他的财物，必被人浪费。 5 To whom will he be generous who is stingy with himself and does not enjoy what is his own? 虐待自己的，怎能善待他人？他决不会享受他自己的财物。 6 None is more stingy than he who is stingy with himself; he punishes his own miserliness. 没有比吝啬而自残的人，更为卑劣；这是他自作孽的报应。 7 If ever he is generous, it is by mistake; and in the end he displays his greed. 纵使他行了善事，也是出于偶然，并非自愿，最后，他的邪恶终于暴露。 8 In the miser's opinion his share is too small; 吝啬人看自己所得的一份，总是不够； 9 he refuses his neighbor and brings ruin on himself. 吝啬人见人就嫉妒，转脸轻视人。 10 The miser's eye is rapacious for bread, but on his own table he sets it stale. 11 My son, use freely whatever you have and enjoy it as best you can; 12 Remember that death does not tarry, nor have you been told the grave's appointed time. 要记住：死亡决不迟延，阴府的约期，你又无从得知。 13 Before you die, be good to your friend, and give him a share in what you possess. 未死以前，你要厚待你的朋友，按你的力量，伸手加惠于他。 14 Deprive not yourself of present good things, let no choice portion escape you. 不应取消你佳节的喜乐，连一点好希望，也不要轻易放过。 15 Will you not leave your riches to others, and your earnings to be divided by lot? 难道你把你劳碌所得的留给别人？难道把你辛苦所得的，叫别人抽签分得？ 16 Give, take, and treat yourself well, for in the nether world there are no joys to seek. 你要施舍，也要收受，总要使你的心灵愉快。死前你应履行正义，因为在阴府里，无福可寻。 17 All flesh grows old, like a garment; the age-old law is: All must die. 凡有血肉的，有如衣服，逐渐陈旧，因为自古以来的定案是：你一定要死； 18 As with the leaves that grow on a vigorous tree: one falls off and another sprouts-- So with the generations of flesh and blood: one dies and another is born. 又如葱茏的树上发的枝叶， 有雕零的，有发芽的，有血肉的种类也是如此：这人死去，那人出生。 19 All man's works will perish in decay, and his handiwork will follow after him. 各种腐败的工程，毕竟都要被遗弃，它的作者也要随之而去； （但一切优良的事业，必为人所公认，它的作者也要与它共享光荣。） 20 2 Happy the man who meditates on wisdom, and reflects on knowledge; 21 Who ponders her ways in his heart, and understands her paths; 他心中思念智慧的途径，想了解她的奥秘。 22 Who pursues her like a scout, and lies in wait at her entry way; 他彷佛一个侦探，追随在她的后边，潜伏在她的路口， 23 Who peeps through her windows, and listens at her doors; 从她的窗外窥视，在她的门口倾听， 24 Who encamps near her house, and fastens his tent pegs next to her walls; 贴近她的房屋休息，在她的墙上钉上木橛， 25 Who pitches his tent beside her, and lives as her welcome neighbor; 以便在她旁边，搭起自己的帐幕，而在那幸福的房舍内永久安息。 26 Who builds his nest in her leafage, and lodges in her branches; 他把自己的儿女，安置在智慧的荫庇下，要在她的枝叶下留宿， 27 Who takes shelter with her from the heat, and dwells in her home. 在她的阴凉下避暑，在她的光荣中安息。 Footnotes（注解） 1 [3-16] The miser does no good even to himself (Sirach 14:3-10); wealth should be wisely used during life, for it must be left behind at death (Sirach 14:11-16). In the light of the gospel, generosity has a higher motivation and promise of reward than the Old Testament writer could propose. Cf Matthew 6:19-21; Luke 12:32-34. 2 [14:20-15:20] From his social teaching the sage now turns to consider individual responsibility. Happiness is to be found in the pursuit and possession of wisdom (Sirach 14:20-15:5). Joy and honor are given, not to the sinner (Sirach 14:7-9), but to him who fears God and observes his law (Sirach 14:1-6, 10). The sinner is fully responsible for his conduct because God, who sees all things (Sirach 14:18-19), is not the author of wickedness (Sirach 15:11-13, 20): he gives to every man the liberty to choose between good and evil (Sirach 15:14-17). |
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