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Sirach 1 1 He does a kindness who lends to his neighbor, and he fulfills the precepts who holds out a helping hand. 行慈善的人，必贷款与人；以手扶助人的，必遵守法律。 2 Lend to your neighbor in his hour of need, and pay back your neighbor when a loan falls due; 人在急难中，你应借钱给他；期限一到，你应把所欠的钱还给人。 3 Keep your promise, be honest with him, and you will always come by what you need. 你要坚守所言，对人忠实；这样，你需要的，必常能得到。 4 Many a man who asks for a loan adds to the burdens of those who help him; 许多人将借债，当作拾来的钱，而使帮助他们的人，感到为难。 5 When he borrows, he kisses the lender's hand and speaks with respect of his creditor's wealth; But when payment is due he disappoints him and says he is helpless to meet the claim. 6 If the lender is able to recover barely half, he considers this an achievement; If not, he is cheated of his wealth and acquires an enemy at no extra charge; With curses and insults the borrower pays him back, with abuse instead of honor. 7 Many refuse to lend, not out of meanness, but from fear of being cheated. 许多人不肯出借，并非出于恶意，而是怕白白受骗。 8 To a poor man, however, be generous; keep him not waiting for your alms; 但是，对于贫苦人，你当心胸宽大，不可叫他久等你的救济。 9 Because of the precept, help the needy, and in their want, do not send them away empty-handed. 为守诫命，你应援助穷人；为了他的需要，你不可让他空手而归。 10 Spend your money for your brother and friend, and hide it not under a stone to perish; 你宁可为兄弟和朋友，耗费你的银钱，也不要让它在石头底下生锈坏了。 11 Dispose of your treasure as the Most High commands, for that will profit you more than the gold. 要按照至高者的诫命，处理你的财宝；这比黄金为你更有益处。 12 Store up almsgiving in your treasure house, and it will save you from every evil; 应将施舍存在你的宝库里，它必能救你脱免一切灾难； 13 Better than a stout shield and a sturdy spear it will fight for you against the foe. 施舍胜于坚甲利器，它要替你攻打仇敌。 14 A good man goes surety for his neighbor, and only the shameless would play him false; 15 Forget not the kindness of your backer, for he offers his very life for you. 不要忘掉保人的恩义，因为他为你交出自己的性命。 16 The wicked turn a pledge on their behalf into misfortune, and the ingrate abandons his protector; 17 Going surety has ruined many prosperous men and tossed them about like waves of the sea, 18 Has exiled men of prominence and sent them wandering through foreign lands. 使有权势的人，流离失所，漂泊异乡。 19 The sinner through surety comes to grief, and he who undertakes too much falls into lawsuits. 违犯上主命令的罪人，好作不当的保证；图谋包揽事情的人，必吃官司。 20 Go surety for your neighbor according to your means, but take care lest you fall thereby. 你当按你的力量扶助近人，但要谨慎，不要因此跌倒。 21 2 Life's prime needs are water, bread, and clothing, a house, too, for decent privacy. 生活的主要物品，是水、食粮、和遮羞的衣服房屋。 22 Better a poor man's fare under the shadow of one's own roof than sumptuous banquets among strangers. 在自己茅舍里，度穷人的生活，比在别人家里常有盛宴更好，因为那里不是自己的家。 23 Be it little or much, be content with what you have, and pay no heed to him who would disparage your home; 东西或多或少，你要知足；如此你就不会听到客人听到的责斥。 24 A miserable life it is to go from house to house, for as a guest you dare not open your mouth. 无聊的生活，是挨户作客；在那里作客，行动既不自由，也不敢开口。 25 The visitor has no thanks for filling the cups; besides, you will hear these bitter words: 即便你款待了主人，给他酒喝，他并不领情；此外，你还要听到一些伤心的话： 26＂Come here, stranger, set the table, give me to eat the food you have! “客人，过来，你去摆设宴席，把你手中所有的，拿来给我吃！ 27 Away, stranger, for one more worthy; for my brother's visit I need the room!" 客人，看我朋友的情面，请你走罢！因为，我的兄弟到我这里来作客，要住这间房屋。” 28 Painful things to a sensitive man are abuse at home and insults from his creditors. 客人受家主的责斥，债户受债主的辱骂：这等事为有感觉的人是难堪的。 Footnotes（注解） 1 [1-20] Some practical maxims concerning the use of wealth. Give to a poor man (Sirach 29:8, 9), lend to a needy neighbor, but repay when a loan falls due lest the lender's burden be increased (Sirach 29:1-5) and his kindness abused (Sirach 29:6- 7); through charity build up defense against evil (Sirach 29:10-13). Go surety for your neighbor according to your means, but take care (Sirach 29:20) not to fall, for the shameless play false and bring their protectors and themselves to misfortune and ruin (Sirach 29:14-19). 2 [21-28] The man who provides his own basic needs of food, clothing and dwelling, and is content with what he has, preserves his freedom and self-respect (Sirach 29:21-23). But if he lives as a guest, even among the rich, he exposes himself to insult and abuse (Sirach 29:24-28). |
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