| 德訓篇 | Sirach |
|---|
| 1謙虛人的智慧，必使他抬頭，也必使他坐於偉人之中。 | 1The poor man's wisdom lifts his head high and sets him among princes. |
| 2不要因人美便讚美他，也不要因一個人的外表而輕視他。 | 2Praise not a man for his looks; despise not a man for his appearance. |
| 3飛蟲中，蜜蜂是微小的，但她的產品，卻是最甘飴的。 | 3Least is the bee among winged things, but she reaps the choicest of all harvests. |
| 4在穿衣上，不要打扮；光榮之日，不要自大；因為上主的工程雖是驚人的，光榮的，但他的行動在人間，卻是隱而不現的。 | 4Mock not the worn cloak and jibe at no man's bitter day: For strange are the works of the LORD, hidden from men his deeds. |
| 5許多暴君竟坐在地下；人不介意的人，反戴上了王冠。 | 5 The oppressed often rise to a throne, and some that none would consider wear a crown. |
| 6許多有權勢的人，遭受了極大的淩辱；許多有聲望的人，陷落在外邦人的手裡。 | 6The exalted often fall into utter disgrace; the honored are given into enemy hands. |
| 7未詢問以前，不可責斥人；先要問明白，然後公正地加以責斥。 | 7 Before investigating, find no fault; examine first, then criticize. |
| 8未聽以前，不可作覆；人家正在談論中，你不要插嘴。 | 8Before hearing, answer not, and interrupt no one in the middle of his speech. |
| 9與你無關的事，你不要爭辯，也不要參加罪人的訴訟。 | 9Dispute not about what is not your concern; in the strife of the arrogant take no part. |
| 10我兒，你的工作不要繁多，若事情太多，難免沒有過失；如果你急於進取，就什麼也得不到；如你過於急進，就免不了受害。 | 10My son, why increase your cares, since he who is avid for wealth will not be blameless? Even if you run after it, you will never overtake it; however you seek it, you will not find it. |
| 11有一個不虔敬的人勞苦，殷勤操作，忍痛耐勞，卻更加貧乏。 | 11One may toil and struggle and drive, and fall short all the more. |
| 12又有一個瘦弱的人，需要援助，缺乏力量，萬分可憐； | 12Another goes his way a weakling and a failure, with little strength and great misery-- Yet the eyes of the LORD look favorably upon him; he raises him free of the vile dust, |
| 13然而上主卻以仁慈的眼眷顧他，從卑賤中提拔他，使他抬頭，使許多人對他表示驚奇，因而尊敬天主。 | 13Lifts up his head and exalts him to the amazement of the many. |
| 14幸福、災禍、生死、貧富，都來自上主。 | 14 Good and evil, life and death, poverty and riches, are from the LORD. |
| 15智慧、學識及法律的知識，來自上主；愛情與行善的工作，也是從他那裡來的。 | 15 Wisdom and understanding and knowledge of affairs, love and virtuous paths are from the LORD. |
| 16錯謬與黑暗，是為罪人而造的；以惡為榮的，越老越惡。 | 16Error and darkness were formed with sinners from their birth, and evil grows old with evildoers. |
| 17上主的恩惠，常是留給虔敬的人；他的恩寵使虔敬的人永遠順利。 | 17The LORD'S gift remains with the just; his favor brings continued success. |
| 18有人因節儉而成了富翁，這算是他應得的賞報： | 18A man may become rich through a miser's life, and this is his allotted reward: |
| 19於是他說：「我找著了安息，現在我要享用我的財物了。」 | 19 When he says: "I have found rest, now I will feast on my possessions," He does not know how long it will be till he dies and leaves them to others. |
| 20但是，他不知道自己還生存多少日子，死亡便臨近了，他就該把這一切留給別人而死去。 | 20My son, hold fast to your duty, busy yourself with it, grow old while doing your task. |
| 21你當遵守你與天主結的盟約，按照盟約生活，老於你的職守。 | 21Admire not how sinners live, but trust in the LORD and wait for his light; For it is easy with the LORD suddenly, in an instant, to make a poor man rich. |
| 22不要驚奇罪人的成就，只該信賴上主，堅持你的工作。 | 22God's blessing is the lot of the just man, and in due time his hopes bear fruit. |
| 23因為，使窮人忽然變為富翁，在上主眼中，是一件容易的事。 | 23Say not: "What do I need? What further pleasure can be mine?" |
| 24上主的祝福，是虔敬人的賞報；上主使自己的祝福傾刻之間即能開花。 | 24Say not: "I am independent. What harm can come to me now?" |
| 25不要說：我在世上還有什麼用處？今後，我還能有什麼幸福？ | 25The day of prosperity makes one forget adversity; the day of adversity makes one forget prosperity. |
| 26不要說：我所有的夠用的了，今後，還能有什麼不幸降到我身上？ | 26 For it is easy with the LORD on the day of death to repay man according to his deeds. |
| 27在幸福的日子，人忘卻了不幸；在不幸的時候，人忘卻了幸福。 | 27A moment's affliction brings forgetfulness of past delights; when a man dies, his life is revealed. |
| 28然而在死亡之日，依照人的行徑報應人，為上主是一件容易事。 | 28Call no man happy before his death, for by how he ends, a man is known. |
| 29一時的憂苦，能使人忘掉已往的幸福；人一到臨終，他的行為就暴露出來。 | 29Bring not every man into your house, for many are the snares of the crafty one; |
| 30任何人未死以前，不要稱他是有福的，因為從他的子女，纔能認識他的為人。 | 30Though he seem like a bird confined in a cage, yet like a spy he will pick out the weak spots. |
| 31不要引人進入你的家庭，因為欺詐人的奸計，花樣百出。 | 31The talebearer turns good into evil; with a spark he sets many coals afire. |
| 32驕傲人的心，像臭腐了的五臟，發洩臭氣，像被誘進樊籠裡的鷓鴣，像陷在羅網裡的山羊，像窺探別人，使他落網的偵探。 | 32The evil man lies in wait for blood, and plots against your choicest possessions. |
| 33他設法把好事變成壞事，連最好的事，他也要非難。 | 33Avoid a wicked man, for he breeds only evil, lest you incur a lasting stain. |
| 34一星之火，可以釀成燎原之火，由於一個詭計多諯的人，流血的事件增多了；犯罪的人圖謀傾流人血。 | 34Lodge a stranger with you, and he will subvert your course, and make a stranger of you to your own household. |
| 35要謹防作惡的人，因為他圖謀邪惡的事，免得他加給你永遠的恥辱。 | 35 |
| 36若你在家收留外人，他必作亂推翻你，奪取你的家產。 | 36 |
