Sirach 1 1 Happy the husband of a good wife, twice-lengthened are his days; 有贤妻的丈夫,是有福的!他的寿数必要增加一倍。 2 2 A worthy wife brings joy to her husband, peaceful and full is his life. 有才能的妇人,是丈夫的喜乐,使他在平安中终其天年。 3 A good wife is a generous gift bestowed upon him who fears the LORD; 有贤妇为妻,是一种福分;但是只有敬畏上主的人,因自己的善行,才能得到她。 4 Be he rich or poor, his heart is content, and a smile is ever on his face. 她不论是富是贫,心神总是快乐,时常面带笑容。 5 There are three things at which my heart quakes, a fourth before which I quail: Though false charges in public, trial before all the people, and lying testimony are harder to bear than death, 6 3 A jealous wife is heartache and mourning and a scourging tongue like the other three. 7 A bad wife is a chafing yoke; he who marries her seizes a scorpion. 恶妇有如摆动的牛轭,谁要管治她,无异是用手去捉蝎子。 8 A drunken wife arouses great anger, for she does not hide her shame. 好醉酒的妇女,是大怒的原因;她的耻辱和丑态,不能隐藏。 9 By her eyelids and her haughty stare an unchaste wife can be recognized. 眼波流动,是妇女淫荡的表示;从她的眉毛,可以认出。 10 Keep a strict watch over an unruly wife, lest, finding an opportunity, she make use of it; 对无耻的妻子,你应严加管束,怕她有机可乘,就放纵起来。 11 Follow close if her eyes are bold, and be not surprised if she betrays you: 你要留心,不要顺从无耻的眼睛;否则,她若冒犯你,你就不用惊奇。 12 As a thirsty traveler with eager mouth drinks from any water that he finds, So she settles down before every tent peg and opens her quiver for every arrow. 就如渴了的旅客,一到了水旁,不管遇到的是什么水,就张口去喝;同样,淫妇坐在任何木椿前,向射来的箭,张开箭袋,直到她疲乏为止。 13 A gracious wife delights her husband, her thoughtfulness puts flesh on his bones; 谨勤妇女的温柔,使自己的丈夫欢乐;她的明智,使丈夫骨骼丰满。 14 A gift from the LORD is her governed speech, and her firm virtue is of surpassing worth. 沉默寡言而明智的妇女,是上主的恩赐。 15 Choicest of blessings is a modest wife, priceless her chaste person. 16 Like the sun rising in the LORD'S heavens, the beauty of a virtuous wife is the radiance of her home. 17 4 Like the light which shines above the holy lampstand, are her beauty of face and graceful figure. 她那健康身材上所衬托的美貌,有如神圣灯台上发光的灯; 18 5 Golden columns on silver bases are her shapely limbs and steady feet. 她那双在结实脚跟上的美腿,有如银座上的金柱。 19 These two bring grief to my heart, and the third arouses my horror: A wealthy man reduced to want; illustrious men held in contempt; And the man who passes from justice to sin, for whom the LORD makes ready the sword. 20 6 A merchant can hardly remain upright, nor a shopkeeper free from sin; 有两件事,依我看来,又难又危险,那就是:商人很难不犯罪,店员难免不失言。 Footnotes(注解) 1 [1-4, 13-18] A good wife is as a gift from God, bringing joy and peace, happiness and contentment to her husband (Sirach 26:1-4) through her thoughtfulness, reserve, modesty and chastity, beauty, grace and virtue (Sirach 26:13-18). 2 [2] Worthy: gifted spiritually, mentally and physically. Cf Proverb 31:10. 3 [6-12] A repetition of the thought expressed in 25:12-25. 4 [17-18] The holy lampstand and the golden columns stood in the holy place of the ancient Tabernacle (Exodus 25:31-40; 26:32). 5 [18] Among the additions found here in some manuscripts are the following lines: "My son, take care in the prime of life not to surrender your strength to strangers; Single out from the land a goodly field and there with confidence sow the seed of your increase; So shall you have your offspring around you, and in confidence shall they grow up. "Through a woman for hire be thought of as a trifle, a married woman is a deadly snare for those who embrace her. [Cf Proverb 6:26] "A wife's complaint should be made in meekness, and show itself in a slight flush; But a loud-mouthed, scolding wife is a trumpet signaling for battle: Any human being who answers that challenge will spend his life amid the turbulence of war." 6 [26:20-27:15] From proper conduct in family life, the author proceeds to social morality, warning especially against injustice in commerce (Sirach 26:20-27:3), and perversity of speech in business (Sirach 26:4-7). The pursuit of justice in these matters is all the more meritorious as it is difficult (Sirach 26:8-10). The discourses of the devout are marked with wisdom, but the conversations of the wicked, with offense, swearing, cursing, quarrels and even bloodshed (Sirach 26:11-15). |