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Sirach 1 1 The Eternal is the judge of all things without exception; the LORD alone is just. 永生的天主，一举而创造了万物，惟有上主堪称是正义的，永远是常胜的君王。 2 Whom has he made equal to describing his works, and who can probe his mighty deeds? 3 Who can measure his majestic power, or exhaust the tale of his mercies? 谁能述尽他威严的权力？谁能说完他的仁慈？ 4 One cannot lessen, nor increase, nor penetrate the wonders of the LORD. 上主的奇妙化工，人不能增损，也无法穷究。 5 When a man ends he is only beginning, and when he stops he is still bewildered. 当人以为完毕时，他却正在开始；当人以为停止时，却仍感到迷惑。 6 What is man, of what worth is he? the good, the evil in him, what are these? 人是什么，他有什么用途？对于天主，他有什么好处，有什么害处？ 7 The sum of a man's days is great if it reaches a hundred years: 人的年龄，至多一百岁， 8 Like a drop of sea water, like a grain of sand, so are these few years among the days of eternity. 就像海水的一滴，沙中的一粒，在永远的日子里，连一千年，也不过如此。 9 That is why the LORD is patient with men and showers upon them his mercy. 为此，上主忍耐他们，在他们身上倾注自己的仁慈。 10 He sees and understands that their death is grievous, and so he forgives them all the more. 他明见而且深知，他们的结局是凶恶的，知道他们的灭亡是悲惨的。为此，天主对他们大加宽恕，给他们指出正义的途径。 11 Man may be merciful to his fellow man, but the LORD'S mercy reaches all flesh, 人的慈爱只朝向自己的近人，而上主的怜爱，却临于一切有血肉的人。 12 Reproving, admonishing, teaching, as a shepherd guides his flock; 怀有仁慈的上主，劝告、惩戒、教训世人，领他们回来，正如牧人领回自己的羊群。 13 Merciful to those who accept his guidance, who are diligent in his precepts. 领受他的教导和渴慕他判断的人，他必加以怜悯。 14 2 My son, to your charity add no reproach, nor spoil any gift by harsh words. 我儿，你救济时，不要加以责斥；你施惠时，不要说使人伤心的话。 15 Like dew that abates a burning wind, so does a word improve a gift. 露水不是可以消除炎热吗？同样，一句好话比恩惠更快人心。 16 Sometimes the word means more than the gift; both are offered by a kindly man. 一句好话，不是胜过恩惠吗？但是，只有仁爱的人，才能作到这两点。 17 Only a fool upbraids before giving; a grudging gift wears out the expectant eyes. 愚人只会无礼责斥人，悭吝人的恩惠，使人目光消沉。 18 Be informed before speaking; before sickness prepare the cure. 19 3 Before you are judged, seek merit for yourself, and at the time of visitation you will have a ransom. 在审判以前，应审察自己，这样，当天主来视察你的时候，你必能寻获宽恕。 20 Before you have fallen, humble yourself; when you have sinned, show repentance. 在未病之先，你要谦卑自下；在有罪的时候，要表示忏悔。 21 Delay not to forsake sins, neglect it not till you are in distress. 不要到死都不知痛悔你的罪 22 4 Let nothing prevent the prompt payment of your vows; wait not to fulfill them when you are dying. 不要让什么阻碍你在指定的时期还愿，也不要等到临死才行义，因为天主的赏报永远存在。 23 Before making a vow have the means to fulfill it; be not one who tries the LORD. 在许愿以前，你应善自准备，免得你像是一个试探上主的人。 24 Think of wrath and the day of death, the time of vengeance when he will hide his face. 你要思念天主在末日的震怒，和他报复时，转面不顾。 25 Remember the time of hunger in the time of plenty, poverty and want in the day of wealth. 丰收时，要记得饥荒时；富裕时，要想到穷困时。 26 Between morning and evening the weather changes; before the LORD all things are fleeting. 从早到晚，时辰更替，在上主面前，一切都要迅速过去。 27 A wise man is circumspect in all things; when sin is rife he keeps himself from wrongdoing. 明智人凡事谨慎，在易犯罪的日子，必然小心而不犯罪。 28 5 Any learned man should make wisdom known, and he who attains to her should declare her praise; 凡是智慧的人，都认识智慧；找着她的人，智慧必加以称许。 29 Those trained in her words must show their wisdom, dispensing sound proverbs like life-giving waters. 明白箴言的，就是智慧人，他们懂得真理与正义，并且流露出卓绝的格言。 30 6 Go not after your lusts, but keep your desires in check. 不要顺从你的欲情，要抑制你的欲望。 31 If you satisfy your lustful appetites they will make you the sport of your enemies. 假使你满足你的情欲，它必使你成为你敌人的笑柄。 32 Have no joy in the pleasures of a moment which bring on poverty redoubled; 不要喜爱奢侈的生活，也不要加入这样的集会。在集会中，不拘人多少，你也不要找寻快乐，因为在那里，人总不免沾染罪恶。 33 Become not a glutton and a winebibber with nothing in your purse. 几时你囊中一无所有，不要借贷设宴，而使你陷于穷困；否则，便是苦害你的生命。 Footnotes（注解） 1 [1-13] Not only are God's justice and power beyond man's understanding (Sirach 18:1-5), his mercy also is boundless and surpasses all human compassion (Sirach 18:6-13). 2 [14-27] The practice of charity is an art which avoids every offense to the recipient (Sirach 18:14-18). Prudence directs the changing circumstances of daily life toward the attainment of its reward at the time of visitation, i.e., the day of reckoning (Sirach 18:19-27). 3 [19] Merit . . . ransom: almsgiving is often portrayed in the Bible as a means of approach to the forgiving mercy of God. Cf Sirach 3:29-30; 29:11-12; Tobit 12:12-13; Daniel 4:24; Luke 16:9; Acts 10:31. 4 [22-23] The usual object of a vow in Old Testament times was the offering of a bloody sacrifice. 5 [28-29] A general statement on the teaching of wisdom, serving either as a conclusion to the preceding section or as an introduction to the following one. The neighbors of the wise man are regarded as the field into which he channels the waters of wisdom to encourage growth. Cf Sirach 24:28-31. 6 [18:30-19:4] Inordinate gratification of the senses makes a man unreasonable, the slave of passion, the sport of his enemies. In the end it destroys him physically and spiritually. |
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