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Sirach 1 1 An admonition can be inopportune, and a man may be wise to hold his peace. 2 It is much better to admonish than to lose one's temper, for one who admits his fault will be kept from disgrace. 谴责胜于发怒；凡承认过错的，必能保全自己不受损害。 3 2 Like a eunuch lusting for intimacy with a maiden is he who does right under compulsion. 4 One man is silent and is thought wise, another is talkative and is disliked. 5 One man is silent because he has nothing to say; another is silent, biding his time. 有的人不出声，是因为他不知所答；有的人不出声，是因为他知道何时该说话。 6 A wise man is silent till the right time comes, but a boasting fool ignores the proper time. 明智人缄口不言，直等相宜的时候；自夸和愚昧的人，却不看时机。 7 He who talks too much is detested; he who pretends to authority is hated. 多言的人，必招人厌恶；专权的人，必被人恼恨。 8 3 Some misfortunes bring success; some things gained are a man's loss. 有的人在患难中，得到成功；有的人在顺境中，反而失败。 9 4 Some gifts do one no good, and some must be paid back double. 有的馈赠，为你没有益处；有的馈赠，却获得双倍的酬报。 10 Humiliation can follow fame, while from obscurity a man can lift up his head. 有的屈辱来自尊荣，但也有人从卑微中抬起了头。 11 A man may buy much for little, but pay for it seven times over. 有的人用低价大批收买，然而却因此赔了七倍。 12 A wise man makes himself popular by a few words, but fools pour forth their blandishments in vain. 明智人说话，叫人喜爱；愚昧的人温和，却是白费。 13 A gift from a rogue will do you no good, for in his eyes his one gift is equal to seven. 有的人用低价大批收买，然而却因此赔了七倍。 14 He gives little and criticizes often, and like a crier he shouts aloud. He lends today, he asks it back tomorrow; hateful indeed is such a man. 15 A fool has no friends, nor thanks for his generosity; 愚人说：“我没有朋友；我做好事，也得不到感谢。” 16 Those who eat his bread have an evil tongue. How many times they laugh him to scorn! 吃他饭的人，口舌欺人。多少次，多少人要讥笑他呢？ 17 5 A fall to the ground is less sudden than a slip of the tongue; that is why the downfall of the wicked comes so quickly. 18 Insipid food is the untimely tale; the unruly are always ready to offer it. 无礼的人，好象无知的人口中，不断重述的一个乏味的故事。 19 A proverb when spoken by a fool is unwelcome, for he does not utter it at the proper time. 出自愚人口中的比喻，不受欢迎，因为他说的不合时机。 20 A man through want may be unable to sin, yet in this tranquility he cannot rest. 有人因贫乏不能犯罪，所以在安静中，不感到良心的刺激。 21 One may lose his life through shame, and perish through a fool's intimidation. 有人因害羞而损害自己，因愚昧的顾虑而牺牲自己，因顾及情面而使自己丧亡。 22 A man makes a promise to a friend out of shame, and has him for his enemy needlessly. 有人因害羞而对朋友应许过甚，无故使他成了仇人。 23 A lie is a foul blot in a man, yet it is constantly on the lips of the unruly. 谎言为人是一种可恶的污点，然而常在无知人的口里。 24 Better a thief than an inveterate liar, yet both will suffer disgrace; 盗贼也比一个常说谎的人好，但是这两等人将承受的，都是灭亡。 25 A liar's way leads to dishonor, his shame remains ever with him. 说谎人的品行，是不光彩的，耻辱常在他们身上。 26 6 A wise man advances himself by his words, a prudent man pleases the great. 智慧人在言谈上，必增高自己的身价；明智人，会使伟人喜悦。 27 He who works his land has abundant crops, he who pleases the great is pardoned his faults. 耕种田地的，必使自己的收获堆积如山；行正义的，必被举扬；使伟人喜悦的，过错必蒙宽恕。 28 Favors and gifts blind the eyes; like a muzzle over the mouth they silence reproof. 赠品与礼物昏迷明智人的眼目，就如口罩阻止责斥。 29 Hidden wisdom and unseen treasure-- of what value is either? 隐藏的智慧和埋藏的宝贝，二者究竟有什么用？ 30 Better the man who hides his folly than the one who hides his wisdom. 隐瞒自己胡涂的人，比隐瞒自己智慧的人还好。 Footnotes（注解） 1 [1-7] Wisdom indicates the proper times for speech and silence, that is, the occasions when the most benefit can be gained from them. 2 [3] The sense is that violence or force against a person can prevent an external act of sin or compel a good deed without eliminating the internal sin or desire of wrongdoing. Cf Sirach 20:20. 3 [8-16] In a series of paradoxes the author indicates how much true and lasting values differ from apparent ones. 4 [9] And some . . . double: or perhaps, "but some are doubly precious." 5 [17-25] The ill-timed speech of the wicked, the unruly and a fool is repulsive (Sirach 20:17-19); human respect exposes one to intimidation, rash promises and enmity (Sirach 20:21- 22); lies bring dishonor and lasting disgrace (Sirach 20:23, 24, 25). 6 [26-30] Unlike the fool who invites disaster through misuse of his tongue, the sage through prudent speech gains in honor and esteem among the great (Sirach 20:26-27). He must beware, however, of accepting bribes, lest he share in evil through silence when he should reprove (Sirach 20:28-30). |
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