| 智慧篇 |
Wisdom |
| 1純潔的後代，是多麼光輝，多麼美麗！更好是無子而有道德，因為道德的記念，永存不朽，常為天主和世人所賞識。 |
1 Better is childlessness with virtue; for immortal is its memory: because both by God is it acknowledged, and by men. |
| 2有道德在，人都效法；道德不在，人都期待；道德在永遠加冕奏凱，因為她在為無玷的報酬奮鬥，獲得了勝利。 |
2When it is present men imitate it, and they long for it when it is gone; And forever it marches crowned in triumph, victorious in unsullied deeds of valor. |
| 3不虔敬者的子孫，雖然眾多，一無所用，雜種的苗裔，扎根不深，根底不穩； |
3But the numerous progeny of the wicked shall be of no avail; their spurious offshoots shall not strike deep root nor take firm hold. |
| 4即使一時枝葉繁茂，但因扎根不深，風一吹即搖動；暴風一發，即連根拔出； |
4For even though their branches flourish for a time, they are unsteady and shall be rocked by the wind and, by the violence of the winds, uprooted; |
| 5嫩枝尚未長成，即被打斷；結的果實毫無益處，酸得不能吃，毫無用途。 |
5Their twigs shall be broken off untimely, and their fruit be useless, unripe for eating, and fit for nothing. |
| 6到了審判之日，凡不合法而生的子女，將作他們父母淫行的證人。 |
6For children born of lawless unions give evidence of the wickedness of their parents, when they are examined. |
| 7義人縱或夭折，亦必獲享安息。 |
7But the just man, though he die early, shall be at rest. |
| 8因為，可敬的老年並不在於高壽，也不在於以年歲來衡量； |
8For the age that is honorable comes not with the passing of time, nor can it be measured in terms of years. |
| 9其實；人的老年是在於有智慧，高壽是在於生活純潔。 |
9Rather, understanding is the hoary crown for men, and an unsullied life, the attainment of old age. |
| 10這樣的人悅樂了天主，也為天主所愛，因他生活在罪人中間，所以天主把他接去。 |
10 He who pleased God was loved; he who lived among sinners was transported-- |
| 11他被接去，免得邪惡改變了他的心意，虛偽迷惑了他的心靈； |
11Snatched away, lest wickedness pervert his mind or deceit beguile his soul; |
| 12因為罪惡的蠱惑，使人喪失天良；情慾的風暴，毀壞純樸的心靈。 |
12For the witchery of paltry things obscures what is right and the whirl of desire transforms the innocent mind. |
| 13他在短期內成為完人，與滿享高壽無異。 |
13Having become perfect in a short while, he reached the fullness of a long career; |
| 14他的靈魂使天主悅樂，因此，天主迅速將他從邪惡之中提去。世人見了，並不明瞭，也不存心細想： |
14for his soul was pleasing to the LORD, therefore he sped him out of the midst of wickedness. But the people saw and did not understand, nor did they take this into account. |
| 15他揀選的人，必獲恩寵和仁慈；對他虔誠的人，必蒙眷顧。 |
15 |
| 16死去的義人，是判定活着而不虔敬的人有罪；夭折的青年完人，是判定高壽而不義的老年人有罪。 |
16Yes, the just man dead condemns the sinful who live, and youth swiftly completed condemns the many years of the wicked man grown old. |
| 17這般人雖然看到智慧人的結局，卻不明瞭上主對他有什麼計劃，也不明瞭上主為什麼使他平安無恙； |
17For they see the death of the wise man and do not understand what the LORD intended for him, or why he made him secure. |
| 18他們見了，反而嗤笑，但上主卻要譏笑他們。 |
18They see, and hold him in contempt; but the LORD laughs them to scorn. |
| 19最後，他們將成為一具卑鄙的死屍，是亡者中的永遠的恥辱，因為上主要將他們打倒在地，使之俯首無言，連根拔除，徹底破壞，長處於痛苦中，永無記念存在。 |
19And they shall afterward become dishonored corpses and an unceasing mockery among the dead. For he shall strike them down speechless and prostrate and rock them to their foundations; They shall be utterly laid waste and shall be in grief and their memory shall perish. |
| 20在清算他們的罪惡時，他們將戰兢前來受審，他們的邪惡要起來作證，控告他們。 |
20 Fearful shall they come, at the counting up of their sins, and their lawless deeds shall convict them to their face. |
