Sirach 1 1 Say nothing harmful, small or great; be not a foe instead of a friend; A bad name and disgrace will you acquire: "That for the evil man with double tongue!" 不要因言语不慎,将友谊变成仇恨;因为,有恶名的人,必蒙羞受辱;一口两舌的罪人,也是如此。 2 Fall not into the grip of desire, lest, like fire, it consume your strength; 3 Your leaves it will eat, your fruits destroy, and you will be left a dry tree, 吃尽你的叶子,摧残你的果实,拋弃你,如同一棵旷野里的枯树。 4 For contumacious desire destroys its owner and makes him the sport of his enemies. 邪恶的情欲,要灭绝怀有情欲的人,使他成为仇人的话柄,使他的命运与不虔敬者相同。 5 2 A kind mouth multiplies friends, and gracious lips prompt friendly greetings. 亲切温柔的言语,能使友人增多,并能感化仇人;同情的话,能使友好的往来敦厚。 6 Let your acquaintances be many, but one in a thousand your confidant. 与你要好的人应多,然而作你参谋的,只千中取一。 7 When you gain a friend, first test him, and be not too ready to trust him 如要交友,先要考验,不要立刻信任他。 8 For one sort of friend is a friend when it suits him, but he will not be with you in time of distress. 因为有的人,只是一时的朋友;在你困难的日子,就不见了。 9 Another is a friend who becomes an enemy, and tells of the quarrel to your shame. 有的朋友,一旦变成仇人,就把你争执的事和仇恨,泄露出来,为凌辱你。 10 Another is a friend, a boon companion, who will not be with you when sorrow comes. 有的人是酒肉朋友,在你困难的日子,就不见了。 11 When things go well, he is your other self, and lords it over your servants; 你幸福的时候,他和你同心,对你的仆婢,也任意使唤; 12 But if you are brought low, he turns against you and avoids meeting you. 若你遭了难,他就翻脸攻击你,回避你。但对于良好的友谊,你应恒一不变。 13 Keep away from your enemies; be on your guard with your friends. 你当远离你的仇人,慎重对待你的朋友。 14 A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter; he who finds one finds a treasure. 忠实的朋友,是稳固的保障;谁寻得了他,就是寻得了宝藏。 15 A faithful friend is beyond price, no sum can balance his worth. 忠实的朋友,是无价之宝,他的高贵无法衡量:金银也比不上他忠实的美好。 16 A faithful friend is a life-saving remedy, such as he who fears God finds; 忠实的朋友,是生命和不死的妙药;惟有敬畏上主的人,才能寻得。 17 For he who fears God behaves accordingly, and his friend will be like himself. 敬畏上主的人,才有真正的友谊,因为他怎样,他的朋友也怎样。 18 3 My son, from your youth embrace discipline; thus will you find wisdom with graying hair. 我儿,从你幼年时起,就应接受教训;如此,直到老年,必能寻得智慧。 19 As though plowing and sowing, draw close to her; then await her bountiful crops. 你要亲近她,就如耕田和播种的人,等待她的美果; 20 For in cultivating her you will labor but little, and soon you will eat of her fruits. 因为,你用智慧去工作,用功不久,很快就可吃她的出产。 21 How irksome she is to the unruly! The fool cannot abide her. 智慧为不肯受教的人,是酸苦的;愚昧的人,不会与智慧常久相处, 22 She will be like a burdensome stone to test him, and he will not delay in casting her aside. 因为,智慧有如放在愚昧人身上的重石,他决不会迟延拋弃她。 23 4 For discipline is like her name, she is not accessible to many. 原来智慧的含义,正如她的名字,许多人不明白;但认识她的人,她必与他相处,直到天主面前。 24 Listen, my son, and heed my advice; refuse not my counsel. 我儿,你当听取和接受我的智谋,不要拒绝我的忠告。 25 Put your feet into her fetters, and your neck under her yoke. 把她的脚镣扣在你的脚上,将她的枷锁套在你的颈上。 26 Stoop your shoulders and carry her and be not irked at her bonds. 要放低你的肩膀,肩起她来,不要因她的束缚而烦恼。 27 With all your soul draw close to her; with all your strength keep her ways. 要全心亲近她,全力遵循她的道路。 28 Search her out, discover her; seek her and you will find her. Then when you have her, do not let her go; 要研究她,寻求她,她必把自己显示给你;你一得了她,总不要离弃她; 29 Thus will you afterward find rest in her, and she will become your joy. 因为,你终究要在她内寻着平安,她必变成你的喜乐。 30 Her fetters will be your throne of majesty; her bonds, your purple cord. 于是,她的脚镣,要成为你有力的护卫,坚固的基础;她的枷锁,要成为你光荣的服饰。 31 5 You will wear her as your robe of glory, bear her as your splendid crown. 32 My son, if you wish, you can be taught; if you apply yourself, you will be shrewd. 33 If you are willing to listen, you will learn; if you give heed, you will be wise. 你若爱听,就必得到智慧;你若侧耳静听,必成为智慧的人。 34 Frequent the company of the elders; whoever is wise, stay close to him. 你当常居于明智的长老之中,遇到有智慧的人,你应结识他。 35 Be eager to hear every godly discourse; let no wise saying escape you. 凡是天主的言语,你都要喜欢恭听;对明哲的格言,不要轻忽。 36 If you see a man of prudence, seek him out; let your feet wear away his doorstep! 假使你看见一个有智慧的人,你要及早前去拜访,你的脚要磨光他的门限。 37 Reflect on the precepts of the LORD, let his commandments be your constant meditation; Then he will enlighten your mind, and the wisdom you desire he will grant. 你当默想上主的诫命,时常留心他的法令;如此他必会坚固你的心,赐给你所希望的智慧。 Footnotes(注解) 1 [1] "That . . . double tongue!": people will say this against the man whose deceitful tongue has brought him to disgrace. 2 [5-17] True friends are discerned not by prosperity (Sirach 6:11), but through the trials of adversity: distress, quarrels (Sirach 6:9), sorrow (Sirach 6:10) and misfortune (Sirach 6:12). Such friends are rare and their value is beyond estimation, a gift from God (Sirach 6:14-17). 3 [18-37] The various figures in each of the three strophes urge the search for wisdom through patience (Sirach 6:19-23), docility (Sirach 6:32-37), and perseverance in trials (Sirach 6:25-27), promising rich rewards (Sirach 6:28-31). Cf Sirach 4:11-19. 4 [23] Discipline (musar, in the sense of wisdom) is a perfect homonym for musar, "removed, withdrawn"; thus the path of discipline is inaccessible to many. 5 [31] Some forms of the text speak also of the "yoke" of wisdom under the imagery of golden ornaments. |