| 智慧篇 |
Wisdom |
| 1義人的靈魂在天主手裏，痛苦不能傷害他們。 |
1 But the souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them. |
| 2在愚人看來，他們算是死了，認為他們去世是受了懲罰， |
2They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead; and their passing away was thought an affliction |
| 3離我們而去，彷彿是歸於泯滅；其實，他們是處於安寧中； |
3and their going forth from us, utter destruction. But they are in peace. |
| 4雖然在人看來，他們是受了苦；其實，卻充滿着永生的希望。 |
4For if before men, indeed, they be punished, yet is their hope full of immortality; |
| 5他們受了些許的痛苦，卻要蒙受絕大的恩惠，因為天主試驗了他們，發覺他們配作自己的人： |
5Chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed, because God tried them and found them worthy of himself. |
| 6他試煉了他們，好像爐中的黃金；悅納了他們，有如悅納全燔祭。 |
6 As gold in the furnace, he proved them, and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself. |
| 7他們蒙眷顧時，必要閃爍發光，有如禾稭間往來飛馳的火花。 |
7 In the time of their visitation they shall shine, and shall dart about as sparks through stubble; |
| 8他們要審判萬國，統治萬民，上主要永遠作他們的君王。 |
8They shall judge nations and rule over peoples, and the LORD shall be their King forever. |
| 9倚恃上主的人，必明白真理；忠信於上主之愛的人，必與他同住，因為恩澤與仁慈，原歸於他所選拔的人。 |
9Those who trust in him shall understand truth, and the faithful shall abide with him in love: Because grace and mercy are with his holy ones, and his care is with the elect. |
| 10但是不虔敬的人，必因他們的思念而遭受懲罰，因為他們蔑視了義人，離棄了上主。 |
10 But the wicked shall receive a punishment to match their thoughts, since they neglected justice and forsook the LORD. |
| 11輕視智慧和教訓的人是有禍的：他們的希望只有落空，勞苦只有徒勞，工作只有失敗； |
11For he who despises wisdom and instruction is doomed. Vain is their hope, fruitless are their labors, and worthless are their works. |
| 12他們的妻子愚蠢，子女邪惡，後裔可咒罵。 |
12Their wives are foolish and their children wicked; accursed is their brood. |
| 13荒胎無罪，而又不知床笫罪惡的婦女，是有福的；到靈魂受眷顧的時候，她必富有果實。 |
13 Yes, blessed is she who, childless and undefiled, knew not transgression of the marriage bed; she shall bear fruit at the visitation of souls. |
| 14同樣，不生育的男人，手若不作非法的行為，心不思念相反上主的惡事，是有福的；天主見他忠貞，必賜給他特賞，在上主的聖殿中，賜給他更稱心的一份。 |
14 So also the eunuch whose hand wrought no misdeed, who held no wicked thoughts against the LORD- For he shall be given fidelity's choice reward and a more gratifying heritage in the LORD'S temple. |
| 15因為高尚的勞苦必結榮譽的果實，智慧的根蒂絕不會中斷。 |
15For the fruit of noble struggles is a glorious one; and unfailing is the root of understanding. |
| 16淫亂的兒子長不到成年，苟合而生的子孫必將滅絕。 |
16But the children of adulterers will remain without issue, and the progeny of an unlawful bed will disappear. |
| 17他們縱使長命，也不值一文；就是到了高年，也無人尊敬； |
17For should they attain long life, they will be held in no esteem, and dishonored will their old age be at last; |
| 18假若他們早死，也沒有什麼希望，在審判之日，也沒有安慰。 |
18While should they die abruptly, they have no hope nor comfort in the day of scrutiny; |
| 19惡人後裔的結局實在悲慘。 |
19for dire is the end of the wicked generation. |
