| 智慧篇 |
Wisdom |
| 1智慧施展威力，從地極直達地極，從容治理萬物。 |
1 Indeed, she reaches from end to end mightily and governs all things well. |
| 2我愛慕智慧，自幼就尋求她，設法娶她作我的配偶：我實在喜愛她的美麗， |
2Her I loved and sought after from my youth; I sought to take her for my bride and was enamored of her beauty. |
| 3因她與天主共同生活，更彰顯了她出身的尊貴；萬有的主宰也喜愛她。 |
3She adds to nobility the splendor of companionship with God; even the LORD of all loved her. |
| 4她實在透徹天主的奧秘，自行抉擇天主的工程。 |
4For she is instructress in the understanding of God, the selector of his works. |
| 5如果財富是今生所極貪求的對象，有什麼比創造一切的智慧更為富足？ |
5And if riches be a desirable possession in life, what is more rich than Wisdom, who produces all things? |
| 6如果理智指導工作，那麼，在萬有中有誰比智慧更配作技師？ |
6And if prudence renders service, who in the world is a better craftsman than she? |
| 7若有人愛慕正義，應知道：德行是智慧工作的效果，因為她教訓人節制，明智、公義和勇敢：在此生沒有比這些為人更有裨益。 |
7 Or if one loves justice, the fruits of her works are virtues; For she teaches moderation and prudence, justice and fortitude, and nothing in life is more useful for men than these. |
| 8若有人希望有豐富的經驗，智慧知道往古，推測未來，通曉深言奧意，會解釋謎語，預知異蹟和奇事，年代和世紀的結局。 |
8Or again, if one yearns for copious learning, she knows the things of old, and infers those yet to come. She understands the turns of phrases and the solutions of riddles; signs and wonders she knows in advance and the outcome of times and ages. |
| 9為此，我決意娶她與我一同生活，深知她是我順境中的參謀，是我憂慮與困苦中的安慰。 |
9So I determined to take her to live with me, knowing that she would be my counselor while all was well, and my comfort in care and grief. |
| 10我雖然年幼，藉著她，我在民眾中必獲榮耀，必為長老所尊重； |
10For her sake I should have glory among the masses, and esteem from the elders, though I be but a youth. |
| 11我在斷案時，必斷獄機敏，有權勢的人見了，都對我表示欽佩。【長官見了，莫不對我驚奇。】 |
11I should become keen in judgment, and should be a marvel before rulers. |
| 12我沉默，他們就靜候；我發言，他們就側耳靜聽；我若講論不絕，他們就用手掩住自己的口。 |
12 They would abide my silence and attend my utterance; and as I spoke on further, they would place their hands upon their mouths. |
| 13藉著她，我將永垂不朽，且為我以後的人，留下永恆的記念。 |
13For her sake I should have immortality and leave to those after me an everlasting memory. |
| 14我要統治萬民，列邦都要歸順我。 |
14I should govern peoples, and nations would be my subjects- |
| 15可畏的君侯聽見我必要恐懼；在民眾前，我將顯示溫良；在戰爭時，我將顯出勇敢。 |
15terrible princes, hearing of me, would be afraid; in the assembly I should appear noble, and in war courageous. |
| 16回到家中，只有在她身旁，我纔獲得安息；因為只要與她為伴，便沒有苦惱；與她共同生活，便沒有悲哀，只有喜樂和愉快。 |
16Within my dwelling, I should take my repose beside her; For association with her involves no bitterness and living with her no grief, but rather joy and gladness. |
| 17我每一念及這些思想，心裡反覆思量：不死不滅是在於與智慧親近， |
17Thinking thus within myself, and reflecting in my heart That there is immortality in kinship with Wisdom, |
| 18純潔的喜樂是在於與智慧為友，無盡的財富是在於智慧手中的工作；明哲是在於與智慧結交，聲譽是在於與智慧交談；因此，我尋遍方法；好能將她娶到手中。 |
18and good pleasure in her friendship, and unfailing riches in the works of her hands, And that in frequenting her society there is prudence, and fair renown in sharing her discourses, I went about seeking to take her for my own. |
| 19我原是個性善的孩子，獲得了個善良的靈魂； |
19 Now, I was a well-favored child, and I came by a noble nature; |
| 20或更好說，因為我善良，我進入了一個無玷的身體內； |
20or rather, being noble, I attained an unsullied body. |
| 21但我知道，天主若不將她賜給我，我不會獲得她──連知道這是誰的恩賜，己經是由於智慧──我於是轉向上主全心祈求他說： |
21 And knowing that I could not otherwise possess her except God gave it-- and this, too, was prudence, to know whose is the gift-- I went to the LORD and besought him, and said with all my heart: |
