德訓篇:Chapter 21

德訓篇:Chapter 21

德訓篇	Sirach
¹我兒，你犯了罪麼？不要再犯；你應為你過去的罪祈禱，以獲得寬赦。	¹ My son, if you have sinned, do so no more, and for your past sins pray to be forgiven.
²你該躲避罪惡，如同躲避毒蛇一樣；你若親近它，它必會咬傷你。	²Flee from sin as from a serpent. that will bite you if you go near it; Its teeth are lion's teeth, destroying the souls of men.
³罪惡的牙有如獅子的牙，能咬死人的靈魂。	³Every offense is a two-edged sword; when it cuts, there can be no healing.
⁴一切邪惡，好像雙刃的利劍；它的創傷，無法醫治。	⁴Violence and arrogance wipe out wealth; so too a proud man's home is destroyed.
⁵怒斥與驕傲，能蕩盡財富；傲慢人的家庭，必成為廢墟。驕傲人的財產，也必如此蕩盡。	⁵Prayer from a poor man's lips is heard at once, and justice is quickly granted him.
⁶貧窮人的祈禱，從他口中直達上主的耳裏，上主必迅速為他伸冤。	⁶He who hates correction walks the sinner's path, but he who fears the LORD repents in his heart.
⁷厭惡懲戒的，正是追隨罪人的足跡；敬畏上主的，是從心裏歸向他。	⁷Widely known is the boastful speaker but the wise man knows his own faults.
⁸雄辯的人遠近皆知，但明智人卻知道自己失足的地方。	⁸He who builds his house with another's money is collecting stones for his funeral mound.
⁹誰用別人的錢財，建築自己的房屋，就如同堆積石頭，為自己修蓋墳墓。	⁹A band of criminals is like a bundle of tow; they will end in a flaming fire.
¹⁰罪人的集團，有如堆積的麻屑；他們的結局，不外是烈火。	¹⁰ The path of sinners is smooth stones that end in the depths of the nether world.
¹¹罪人的道路，是用石頭舖平的；但道路的末端，卻是陰府的深坑、黑暗與刑罪。	¹¹ He who keeps the law controls his impulses; he who is perfect in fear of the LORD has wisdom.
¹²遵守法律的，必能控制自己的傾向。	¹²He can never be taught who is not shrewd, but one form of shrewdness is thoroughly bitter.
¹³敬畏上主的最後結果，是智慧與明智。	¹³A wise man's knowledge wells up in a flood, and his counsel, like a living spring;
¹⁴不聰明的，不易受教；	¹⁴A fool's mind is like a broken jar-- no knowledge at all can it hold.
¹⁵但有一種聰明，卻是充滿辛苦的，而那裏有辛苦，那裏就沒有真實的明智。	¹⁵When an intelligent man hears words of wisdom, he approves them and adds to them; The wanton hears them with scorn and casts them behind his back.
¹⁶賢人的知識，如洪水洋溢；他的計謀，有如活泉。	¹⁶A fool's chatter is like a load on a journey, but there is charm to be found upon the lips of the wise.
¹⁷愚人的內心，像一個破碎的器皿，任何知識都保存不住。	¹⁷The views of a prudent man are sought in an assembly, and his words are considered with care.
¹⁸賢人聽見一句智慧的話，就一面讚賞，一面從中取益；淫蕩的人聽見，卻不滿意，把它拋在腦後。	¹⁸Like a house in ruins is wisdom to a fool; the stupid man knows it only as inscrutable words.
¹⁹愚人的敘述，像行路所背的重擔；明智人的談吐，卻優雅中聽。	¹⁹Like fetters on the legs is learning to a fool, like a manacle on his right hand.
²⁰在集會中，人都尋求明智人的言論；對他的話，人都用心思維。	²⁰A fool raises his voice in laughter, but the prudent man at the most smiles gently.
²¹明智為愚人，就如一座倒塌的房屋；無知之輩的知識，是一團表達不清的言語。	²¹Like a chain of gold is learning to a wise man, like a bracelet on his right arm.
²²紀律為愚昧人，就如腳鐐，和右手上的手銬。	²²The fool steps boldly into a house, while the well-bred man remains outside;
²³愚昧人笑，是放聲大笑；聰明人笑，是低聲微笑。	²³A boor peeps through the doorway of a house, but a cultured man keeps his glance cast down.
²⁴紀律為明智人，有如金飾品，又如右臂上的手鐲。	²⁴It is rude for one to listen at a door; a cultured man would be overwhelmed by the disgrace of it.
²⁵愚人的腳，鹵莽闖進人家的房屋；富有經驗的人，卻害羞怕進去。	²⁵The lips of the impious talk of what is not their concern, but the words of the prudent are carefully weighed.
²⁶愚人從門外窺探室內；有教養的人，卻站在外邊等候。	²⁶Fools' thoughts are in their mouths, wise men's words are in their hearts.
²⁷一個人在門外偷聽，是未受好教育的憑據；明智人恥於這樣作。	²⁷ When a godless man curses his adversary he really curses himself.
²⁸愚人只會信口開河；明智人的話，卻是經過權衡思量的。	²⁸A slanderer besmirches himself, and is hated by his neighbors.
²⁹愚人的心在口上，明智人的口卻在心裏。	²⁹
³⁰不虔敬的人咒罵對方，實是咒罵自己。	³⁰
³¹搬弄是非的人，是污辱他自己，為眾人所憎惡，與他相近的人也憎恨他；緘默而明智的人，反要受人尊敬。	³¹