Sirach 1 How different the man who devotes himself to the study of the law of the Most High! He explores the wisdom of the men of old and occupies himself with the prophecies; 但是,那将自己的精神,专注于敬畏至高者,专注于认识生命的法律的人,就迥然不同。明智人必考究历代古人的智慧,必专务先知的预言, 2 He treasures the discourses of famous men, and goes to the heart of involved sayings; 必保留名人的言论,必领悟比喻的妙理, 3 He studies obscure parables, and is busied with the hidden meanings of the sages. 必考究箴言的真谛,必玩味喻言的微妙。 4 He is in attendance on the great, and has entrance to the ruler. 他出入伟人之中,出现于王侯之前; 5 He travels among the peoples of foreign lands to learn what is good and evil among men. 周游异民的邦国,考察人间的善恶。 6 His care is to seek the LORD, his Maker, to petition the Most High, To open his lips in prayer, to ask pardon for his sins. Then, if it pleases the LORD Almighty, he will be filled with the spirit of understanding; He will pour forth his words of wisdom and in prayer give thanks to the LORD, 7 Who will direct his knowledge and his counsel, as he meditates upon his mysteries. 8 He will show the wisdom of what he has learned and glory in the law of the LORD'S covenant. 他必将自己所得的知识,公诸世人,并因上主盟约的法律而自豪。 9 Many will praise his understanding; his fame can never be effaced; Unfading will be his memory, through all generations his name will live; 10 Peoples will speak of his wisdom, and in assembly sing his praises. 民众要传扬他的智慧,集会要讴歌他的盛誉。 11 While he lives he is one out of a thousand, and when he dies his renown will not cease. 他在世时,名声已超过千万人,既死之后,更为显著。 12 1 Once more I will set forth my theme to shine like the moon in its fullness! 我深思之后,还要传述我的思想,因为思想使我满盈,有如月圆。 13 Listen, my faithful children: open up your petals, like roses planted near running waters; 有声音说:虔敬的子孙啊!你们要听信我,要生长,如同栽在溪水边的玫瑰; 14 Send up the sweet odor of incense, break forth in blossoms like the lily. Send up the sweet odor of your hymn of praise; bless the LORD for all he has done! 15 Proclaim the greatness of his name, loudly sing his praises, With music on the harp and all stringed instruments; sing out with joy as you proclaim: 要尊崇他的圣名,称扬赞美他;弹琴瑟,奏弦乐,唱歌曲,这样赞美他说: 16 The works of God are all of them good; in its own time every need is supplied. 上主的一切化工,都美妙绝伦;他所指定的,无不依时成就。 17 At his word the waters become still as in a flask; he had but to speak and the reservoirs were made. 他一句话,水便停留,堆积起来;他口一出令,水就成池。 18 He has but to command and his will is done; nothing can limit his achievement. 他喜爱的,一命即成;他的救恩,无人能够阻止。 19 The works of all mankind are present to him; not a thing escapes his eye. 若人的功行,都在他面前,没有什么可瞒过他的眼目。 20 His gaze spans all the ages; to him there is nothing unexpected. 他从永远看到永远,在他跟前,没有什么惊奇的事。 21 No cause then to say: "What is the purpose of this?" Everything is chosen to satisfy a need. 人不可说:"这是什么?这有什么用处?"因为一切受造物,都有自己的用途。 22 His blessing overflows like the Nile; like the Euphrates it enriches the surface of the earth. 23 Again, his wrath expels the nations and turns fertile land into a salt marsh. 同样,他必要将自己的义怒,发泄在不寻求他的异民身上, 就如他把一块肥沃的土地,变成多盐的旷野一样。 24 For the virtuous his paths are level, to the haughty they are steep; 他的道路,为圣人们是平直的;但是为罪人们,却是跌倒的原因。 25 Good things for the good he provided from the beginning, but for the wicked good things and bad. 幸福从开始就是为善人造的,祸患是为恶人造的。 26 Chief of all needs for human life are water and fire, iron and salt, The heart of the wheat, milk and honey, the blood of the grape, and oil, and cloth; 为人生命最需要的是:水、火、铁、盐、面粉、奶、蜜、血红的葡萄酒、油和衣服。 27 For the good all these are good, but for the wicked they turn out evil. 这一切为善人都是好的,为恶人却都变成不好的。 28 There are storm winds created to punish, which in their fury can dislodge mountains; When destruction must be, they hurl all their force and appease the anger of their Maker. 29 In his treasury also, kept for the proper time, are fire and hail, famine, disease, 火、冰雹、饥馑、死亡:这一切都是造了为罚人的。 30 Ravenous beasts, scorpions, vipers, and the avenging sword to exterminate the wicked; 兽牙、蝎子、青蛇和复仇的利剑,都是为毁灭恶人。 31 In doing his bidding they rejoice, in their assignments they disobey not his command. 这些受造物,都喜欢遵行天主的命令,在世上静候,准备应时而动;时机一到,没有不执行天主的号令的。 32 So from the first I took my stand, and wrote down as my theme: 因此,我起初就决定了,经过一番计划和沉思后,要把这些事写出来。 33 The works of God are all of them good; every need when it comes he fills. 上主的一切化工都是美好的,到了时候,必然供应它们的需要。 34 No cause then to say: "This is not as good as that"; for each shows its worth at the proper time. 你不应该说:"这一件事,不如那一件事,"因为一切事物,在适当的时候,必有它的特长。 35 So now with full joy of heart proclaim and bless the name of the Holy One. 现在,请你们万众一心,众口一词地,歌颂称扬上主的圣名。 Footnotes(注解) 1 [12-35] The sage invites his disciples to join him in joyfully proclaiming his favorite theme: The works of God are all of them good; in its own time every need is supplied (Sirach 39:12-16, 32-35). He describes God's omniscience, supreme power and wisdom, whereby all created things, good in themselves, are ever present to him, obey him, and fulfill their intended purpose (Sirach 39:17-21), bringing blessing to the virtuous, but evil and punishment to the wicked who misuse them (Sirach 39:22-31). Cf similar hymns of praise, Sirach 36:1-17; 42:15-43:35. |