Sirach 1 But of these things be not ashamed, lest you sin through human respect: 对于下列的事,你不应该羞愧:不该因顾情面而犯罪过; 2 Of the law of the Most High and his precepts, or of the sentence to be passed upon the sinful; 3 Of sharing the expenses of a business or a journey, or of dividing an inheritance or property; 同伴侣和旅客算账;分产业与亲友; 4 Of accuracy of scales and balances, or of tested measures and weights; 论天秤和斤量的准确;厘定利润的多寡; 5 Of acquiring much or little, or of bargaining in dealing with a merchant; Of constant training of children, or of beating the sides of a disloyal servant; 讲求贸易的获利;严厉管教儿女;鞭打恶仆腰部流血; 6 Of a seal to keep an erring wife at home, or of a lock placed where there are many hands; 7 Of numbering every deposit, or of recording all that is given or received; 你交给别人什么物体,事前数一数,量一量;出入的款项,详细记账; 8 Of chastisement of the silly and the foolish, or of the aged and infirm answering for wanton conduct. Thus you will be truly cautious and recognized by all men as discreet. 惩戒无知和迟钝的人,或与少年人吵嘴的老年人:在这些事上,都不该害羞,因为如此,你才真是知礼的人,必能赢得众人的敬重。 9 1 A daughter is a treasure that keeps her father wakeful, and worry over her drives away rest: Lest she pass her prime unmarried, or when she is married, lest she be disliked; 女儿虽不知,却使父亲不寐,因为挂虑她,而不能安眠:怕她误了青春的年华,又怕她结婚之后,为丈夫所憎恶; 10 While unmarried, lest she be seduced, or, as a wife, lest she prove unfaithful; Lest she conceive in her father's home, or be sterile in that of her husband. 怕她失去童贞,而在父亲家中怀孕;出嫁之后,又怕她不忠于丈夫,或同居之后,而不能怀孕。 11 Keep a close watch on your daughter, lest she make you the sport of your enemies, A byword in the city, a reproach among the people, an object of derision in public gatherings. See that there is no lattice in her room, no place that overlooks the approaches to the house. 任性的女儿,你应严加监视,免得你为了她,而成为敌人的笑柄,遭受本城人的非议,招致人民的讥笑,当众蒙羞。 12 Let her not parade her charms before men, or spend her time with married women; 你不要让她对任何人显示自己的美丽;不要让她与妇女闲谈; 13 For just as moths come from garments, so harm to women comes from women: 因为,蠹虫来自衣服,妇女的邪恶也是来自妇女。 14 Better a man's harshness than a woman's indulgence, and a frightened daughter than any disgrace. 男人的邪恶,胜于施惠的妇女,因为不名誉的女人,能给人带来耻辱。 15 2 Now will I recall God's works; what I have seen, I will describe. At God's word were his works brought into being; they do his will as he has ordained for them. 现在,我要提念上主的化工,要称述我见过的事迹:上主的化工因自己的话而完成,他的教训是他恩宠的作为。 16 As the rising sun is clear to all, so the glory of the LORD fills all his works; 光辉的太阳照耀万物,上主的化工,也充满了他的光荣。 17 Yet even God's holy ones must fail in recounting the wonders of the LORD, Though God has given these, his hosts, the strength to stand firm before his glory. 上主并未允许圣者讲论他的一切奇事,全能的上主建立了这些奇事,为叫天地万物愈发显扬自己的光荣。 18 He plumbs the depths and penetrates the heart; their innermost being he understands. The Most High possesses all knowledge, and sees from of old the things that are to come: 19 He makes known the past and the future, and reveals the deepest secrets. 陈述过去和未来的世事,揭露隐秘的事迹; 20 No understanding does he lack; no single thing escapes him. 任何思想不能逃过他,连一句话也不能隐瞒他。 21 Perennial is his almighty wisdom; he is from all eternity one and the same, 他井然布置了自己智慧的伟业,他从永远直到永远常常存在; 22 With nothing added, nothing taken away; no need of a counselor for him! 对他,什么也不能增加,什么也不能减少;他不需要任何人的计谋。 23 How beautiful are all his works! even to the spark and the fleeting vision! 他的一切化工,是多么美妙!所能见到的,只是一点火花。 24 The universe lives and abides forever; to meet each need, each creature is preserved. 这一切都要生活,且永远存在,任何环境下,都服从他。 25 All of them differ, one from another, yet none of them has he made in vain, For each in turn, as it comes, is good; can one ever see enough of their splendor? Footnotes(注解) 1 [9-14] The author considers a daughter to be a source of anxiety to her father, lest she fail to marry, or be seduced, or lest, marrying, she be disliked, prove unfaithful, or find herself sterile (Sirach 42:9-10). He is advised to keep a close watch on her at home, and on her companionship while abroad, lest he suffer on her account among the people (Sirach 42:11-14). 2 [42:15-43:35] These verses comprise a new section. In them the author contemplates God's power, beauty and goodness as manifested in the mighty work of creating and preserving the universe (Sirach 42:15-17, 23, 25; 43:1-27), his omniscience (Sirach 42:18-20), his perfect wisdom (Sirach 42:21-22), his eternity (Sirach 42:24). The conclusion is a fervent hymn of praise (Sirach 43:28-33). Cf Sirach 16:22-18:13. |