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Sirach 1 1 O death! how bitter the thought of you for the man at peace amid his possessions, For the man unruffled and always successful, who still can enjoy life's pleasures. 2 O death! how welcome your sentence to the weak man of failing strength, Tottering and always rebuffed, with no more sight, with vanished hope. 3 Fear not death's decree for you; remember, it embraces those before you, and those after. 不要怕死亡的定案，要想想你以前和你以后的人；这是上主对一切有血肉之人所下的定案， 4 Thus God has ordained for all flesh; why then should you reject the will of the Most High? Whether one has lived a thousand years, a hundred, or ten, in the nether world he has no claim on life. 至高者看着好的事，你为什么要反对？你不论活十年，百年或千年，在阴府里，对生命的长短，再没有怨尤。 5 A reprobate line are the children of sinners, and witless offspring are in the homes of the wicked. 6 Their dominion is lost to sinners' children, and reproach abides with their descendants. 罪人的子女必会倾家败产，他们的子孙常蒙羞受辱。 7 Children curse their wicked father, for they suffer disgrace through him. 子女必怨恨不虔敬的父亲，因为为了他，他们才蒙羞受辱。 8 Woe to you, O sinful men, who forsake the law of the Most High. 你们不虔敬的人，是有祸的！因为你们背弃了至高者天主的法律。 9 If you have children, calamity will seize them; you will beget them only for groaning. When you stumble, there is lasting joy; at death, you become a curse. 你们生在世上，是为受咒骂而生；你们死去，咒骂仍是你们的产业。 10 Whatever is of nought returns to nought, so too the godless from void to void. 凡从土来的，必归于土；生于诅咒的不虔敬的人，必归于丧亡。 11 Man's body is a fleeting thing, but a virtuous name will never be annihilated. 人们对死者的遗体举行丧礼，罪人的臭名必被涂去。 12 Have a care for your name, for it will stand by you better than precious treasures in the thousands; 你应注意你的名誉，因为名誉与你相处，久于千万黄金巨宝。 13 2 The boon of life is for limited days, but a good name, for days without number. 优越的生活，日子是有限的；但良好的名誉，却流芳百世。 14 3 My children, heed my instruction about shame; judge of disgrace only according to my rules, For it is not always well to be ashamed, nor is it always the proper thing to blush: 我儿，你们要安心遵守纪律。隐藏的智慧，和看不见的宝贝，二者究竟有什么用？ 15 Before father and mother be ashamed of immorality, before master and mistress, of falsehood; 你们在父母前，对于奸淫的事，应该羞愧；在王侯和有权势的人前，对于说谎的事，应该羞愧； 16 Before prince and ruler, of flattery; before the public assembly, of crime; 在判官和领袖前，对于犯罪的事，应该羞愧；在集会和民众前，对于犯法的事，应该羞愧； 17 Before friend and companion, of disloyalty, and of breaking an oath or agreement. 在伴侣和朋友前，对于不义的事，应该羞愧； 18 Be ashamed of theft from the people where you settle, and of stretching out your elbow when you dine; 在你们所住的地方，对于偷窃的事，应该羞愧；应将肘放在食桌上而羞愧； 19 Of refusing to give when asked, of defrauding another of his appointed share, 20 Of failing to return a greeting, and of rebuffing a friend; 21 Of gazing at a married woman, and of entertaining thoughts about another's wife; Of trifling with a servant girl you have, and of violating her couch; 应为凝视别人的妇女而羞愧；应为对你的婢女分外献殷勤，甚或走近她的床前而羞愧； 22 Of using harsh words with friends, and of following up your gifts with insults; 应为你对朋友出言不恭，对加惠与人后又责斥人而羞愧； 23 Of repeating what you hear, and of betraying secrets— 应为重述听来的闲话而羞愧。应为泄露别人秘密的话而羞愧。 24 These are the things you should rightly avoid as shameful if you would be looked upon by everyone with favor. 你若真有羞恶之心，就必能受到众人的爱戴。 Footnotes（注解） 1 [1-13] Whether death seems bitter to one who enjoys peace, success and pleasure, or welcome to one who is weak and in despair, it comes to all and must be accepted as the will of God (Sirach 41:1-4). As the human body passes away (Sirach 41:11), so do those who have sinned through the body and their offspring alike, who, needy and accursed, pass on with their parents as if they had never been (Sirach 41:5-10). Only the good name of the virtuous endures (Sirach 41:11-13). 2 [13] After this verse many texts repeat Sirach 20:29-30. 3 [41:14-42:8] The author illustrates the subject of true and false shame with numerous and detailed examples of sin (Sirach 41:14-22) and virtue (Sirach 42:1-8), following the norm of the commandments. |
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