| 智慧篇 |
Wisdom |
| 1智慧保護了最初受造，世界上惟一的原祖， |
1 She preserved the first-formed father of the world when he alone had been created; And she raised him up from his fall, |
| 2救他脫離了本身的罪過，給了他統治萬物的能力。 |
2and gave him power to rule all things. |
| 3但當不義者在憤怒中背棄了智慧，遂怒殺兄弟而自取滅亡。 |
3 But when the unjust man withdrew from her in his anger, he perished through his fratricidal wrath. |
| 4因他的緣故，洪水淹沒了世界，仍是智慧指引義人，藉着賤價的木材，拯救了世界。 |
4 When on his account the earth was flooded, Wisdom again saved it, piloting the just man on frailest wood. |
| 5當列國同謀作惡而混亂時，智慧又辨別出義人來，加以保護，使他在天主前無瑕可指；當他痛惜兒子時，又堅強了他。 |
5 She, when the nations were sunk in universal wickedness, knew the just man, kept him blameless before God, and preserved him resolute against pity for his child. |
| 6當不虔敬的人被毀滅時，智慧救了義人，逃脫了那降在五城的天火； |
6 She delivered the just man from among the wicked who were being destroyed, when he fled as fire descended upon Pentapolis-- |
| 7為證明他們的邪惡，這塊荒地還在冒煙；樹木結果，卻不成熟；鹽柱留在那裡，以作那無信的靈魂的紀念碑。 |
7 Where as a testimony to its wickedness, there yet remain a smoking desert, Plants bearing fruit that never ripens, and the tomb of a disbelieving soul, a standing pillar of salt. |
| 8因為他們離棄了智慧，不但害得自己不認識善事，而且還給世人留下了他們愚妄的紀念，致使他們的過犯一點也不能隱瞞。 |
8For those who forsook Wisdom first were bereft of knowledge of the right, And then they left mankind a memorial of their folly-- so that they could not even be hidden in their fall. |
| 9但是，智慧卻從因難中拯救了崇拜她的人。 |
9But Wisdom delivered from tribulations those who served her. |
| 10智慧引導逃避長兄憤怒的義人，走上了正路；將天主的國指示給他，叫他明白神聖的事；在困苦之中使他順利，令他的勸勞效果豐滿。 |
10 She, when the just man fled from his brother's anger, guided him in direct ways, Showed him the kingdom of God and gave him knowledge of holy things; She prospered him in his labors and made abundant the fruit of his works, |
| 11有人由於貪婪，窘迫他時，智慧又在旁協助，使他致富。 |
11Stood by him against the greed of his defrauders, and enriched him; |
| 12智慧保護他脫離仇敵，使他安全，不受暗算；在他搏鬥時，使他獲勝，叫他明瞭虔敬的能力，高於一切。 |
12 She preserved him from foes, and secured him against ambush, And she gave him the prize for his stern struggle that he might know that devotion to God is mightier than all else. |
| 13智慧沒有離棄被賣的義人，反而救他免於罪惡； |
13 She did not abandon the just man when he was sold, but delivered him from sin. |
| 14與他同入坑獄，在縲絏之中，也沒有捨棄他，直到令他取得王權，統治欺壓他的人們，證明誣謗他的人說的盡是謊言；賞給了他永垂不朽的光榮。 |
14She went down with him into the dungeon, and did not desert him in his bonds, Until she brought him the scepter of royalty and authority over his oppressors, Showed those who had defamed him false, and gave him eternal glory. |
| 15智慧拯救了聖潔的民族，使無瑕可指的種族，脫離壓迫他們的異民。 |
15The holy people and blameless race--it was she who delivered them from the nation that oppressed them. |
| 16她進入了上主僕人的靈魂，藉異能和奇跡，對抗可畏的君王。 |
16 She entered the soul of the LORD'S servant, and withstood fearsome kings with signs and portents; |
| 17她酬報了聖徒的勞苦，領他們走上了奇妙的道路：日間作他們的蔭涼，夜裡作他們的星光； |
17she gave the holy ones the recompense of their labors, Conducted them by a wondrous road, and became a shelter for them by day and a starry flame by night. |
| 18領他們走過了紅海，引他們穿過了洪濤， |
18She took them across the Red Sea and brought them through the deep waters-- |
| 19卻淹沒了他們的仇敵，又將他們從海底拋出；因此，義人反奪得了不虔敬者的戰利品。 |
19 But their enemies she overwhelmed, and cast them up from the bottom of the depths. |
| 20上主！他們遂稱頌了你的聖名，同心讚美了你施展衛護的手臂； |
20Therefore the just despoiled the wicked; and they sang, O LORD, your holy name |
| 21因為，智慧開了啞巴的口，使嬰兒的舌伶俐善言。 |
21Because Wisdom opened the mouths of the dumb, and gave ready speech to infants. |
