Sirach 1 1 Wisdom sings her own praises, before her own people she proclaims her glory; 智慧要称扬自己,因天主而受光荣,在她的民族中,要取得荣耀; 2 In the assembly of the Most High she opens her mouth, in the presence of his hosts she declares her worth: 在至高者的集会中,要开启自己的口;在他的军旅前,要夸耀自己; 3 "From the mouth of the Most High I came forth, and mistlike covered the earth. 4 In the highest heavens did I dwell, my throne on a pillar of cloud. 5 The vault of heaven I compassed alone, through the deep abyss I wandered. 惟有我绕行周天,走遍深渊的深处; 6 Over waves of the sea, over all the land, over every people and nation I held sway. 7 Among all these I sought a resting place; in whose inheritance should I abide? 在这一切当中,我曾寻找安息之处,但我究竟应住在谁家? 8 "Then the Creator of all gave me his command, and he who formed me chose the spot for my tent, Saying, ‘In Jacob make your dwelling, in Israel your inheritance.' 9 Before all ages, in the beginning, he created me, and through all ages I shall not cease to be. 起初,当世界未有以前,他就造了我,我永远不会消灭。 10 In the holy tent I ministered before him, and in Zion I fixed my abode. 在神圣的帐幕里,我曾在他面前供职。 11 Thus in the chosen city he has given me rest, in Jerusalem is my domain. 这样,我就定居在熙雍山上;同样,他使我在他钟爱的城里安息,使我在耶路撒冷有权势。 12 I have struck root among the glorious people, in the portion of the LORD, his heritage. 我在显耀的民族中,就是在上主的地域,他的家业内生根;我的居所,是在满是圣者的中间。 13 "Like a cedar on Lebanon I am raised aloft, like a cypress on Mount Hermon, 我长高,如黎巴嫩的香柏,又如赫尔孟山上的扁柏; 14 Like a palm tree in En-gedi, like a rosebush in Jericho, Like a fair olive tree in the field, like a plane tree growing beside the water. 15 2 Like cinnamon, or fragrant balm, or precious myrrh, I give forth perfume; Like galbanum and onycha and sweet spices, like the odor of incense in the holy place. 16 I spread out my branches like a terebinth, my branches so bright and so graceful. 我如同笃耨香树,伸展了我的枝叶;我的枝叶壮丽而雅致。 17 I bud forth delights like the vine, my blossoms become fruit fair and rich. 我如同葡萄树,发出美丽的枝芽;我的花结的果实,光鲜而味美。 18 3 Come to me, all you that yearn for me, and be filled with my fruits; 19 You will remember me as sweeter than honey, better to have than the honeycomb. 因为,我的记念,比蜜还甜;我的遗产,胜过蜂蜜和蜂房; 20 4 He who eats of me will hunger still, he who drinks of me will thirst for more; 21 He who obeys me will not be put to shame, he who serves me will never fail." 听从我的,不会蒙羞;因我而行事的,不会犯罪; 22 5 All this is true of the book of the Most High's covenant, the law which Moses commanded us as an inheritance for the community of Jacob. 23 It overflows, like the Pishon, with wisdom-- like the Tigris in the days of the new fruits. 这法律充满智慧,有如丕雄,又如收成期间的底格里斯; 24 It runs over, like the Euphrates, with understanding, like the Jordan at harvest time. 洋溢智慧,有如幼发拉的,又如收割之日的约但; 25 6 It sparkles like the Nile with knowledge, like the Gihon at vintage time. 阐明教诲,有如尼罗,又如收葡萄时的基红。 26 The first man never finished comprehending wisdom, nor will the last succeed in fathoming her. 最初那个领悟她的人,还没有完全洞悉;最后的一个,也没有完全领会; 27 For deeper than the sea are her thoughts; her counsels, than the great abyss. 因为她的思想,比海洋还广;她的智谋,比深渊还深, 28 7 Now I, like a rivulet from her stream, channeling the waters into a garden, 29 Said to myself, "I will water my plants, my flower bed I will drench"; And suddenly this rivulet of mine became a river, then this stream of mine, a sea. 30 Thus do I send my teachings forth shining like the dawn, to become known afar off. 我还要使圣道发光,有如晨曦;使它照耀,直到远方。 31 Thus do I pour out instruction like prophecy and bestow it on generations to come. Footnotes(注解) 1 [1-27] In this chapter Wisdom speaks in the first person, describing her origin, her dwelling place in Israel, and the reward she gives her followers. As in Prov 8 Wisdom is described as a being who comes from God and is distinct from him. While we do not say with certainty that this description applies to a personal being, it does foreshadow the beautiful doctrine of the Word of God later developed in St. John's Gospel (John 1:1-14). In the liturgy this chapter is applied to the Blessed Virgin because of her constant and intimate association with Christ, the Incarnate Wisdom. 2 [15] These substances were associated with worship, being mentioned in Exodus 30:22, 23, 34 as the ingredients of the anointing oil and the sacred incense. Israel was a priestly nation. 3 [18] Compare the words of the Savior in Matthew 11:28-30. 4 [20] So pleasing is wisdom to man that, far from being satiated, he will always desire more. 5 [22] Here the author begins to speak once more, Wisdom having ended her discourse in the preceding verse. Wisdom and the law of Moses are now identified. 6 [25] Gihon: understood by some to have been a name for the Nile: cf Genesis 2:13. 7 [28-31] Spoken by the author. He had at first drawn a small portion of the water of wisdom for his own private benefit, but finding it so useful, he soon began to let others share in this boon by teaching them the lessons of wisdom. |