| 德訓篇 |
Sirach |
| 1智慧要稱揚自己，因天主而受光榮，在她的民族中，要取得榮耀； |
1 Wisdom sings her own praises, before her own people she proclaims her glory; |
| 2在至高者的集會中，要開啟自己的口；在他的軍旅前，要誇耀自己； |
2In the assembly of the Most High she opens her mouth, in the presence of his hosts she declares her worth: |
| 3在他的百姓中，要受舉揚；在聖民間，要受景仰； |
3"From the mouth of the Most High I came forth, and mistlike covered the earth. |
| 4在被選者的群眾中，要被稱讚；在蒙祝福者中，要蒙祝福；說： |
4In the highest heavens did I dwell, my throne on a pillar of cloud. |
| 5我由至高者的口中出生，我在一切化工以先，是首先出生的。 |
5The vault of heaven I compassed alone, through the deep abyss I wandered. |
| 6我使天上發出不滅的光明，彷彿是遮蓋大地的一片雲彩。 |
6Over waves of the sea, over all the land, over every people and nation I held sway. |
| 7我住在極高之處，我的寶座是在雲柱之上。 |
7Among all these I sought a resting place; in whose inheritance should I abide? |
| 8惟有我繞行周天，走遍深淵的深處； |
8"Then the Creator of all gave me his command, and he who formed me chose the spot for my tent, Saying, 'In Jacob make your dwelling, in Israel your inheritance.' |
| 9行走在滄海的波濤上，站立在普世上。 |
9Before all ages, in the beginning, he created me, and through all ages I shall not cease to be. |
| 10我在萬民和列國中，掌握無上威權。 |
10In the holy tent I ministered before him, and in Zion I fixed my abode. |
| 11我以德能，平定了一切顯貴與卑微人的心；在這一切當中，我曾尋找安息之處，但我究竟應住在誰家？ |
11Thus in the chosen city he has given me rest, in Jerusalem is my domain. |
| 12那時，創造萬物的主宰，給我出了命令，也告訴了我；那造化我的，給我的帳幕指定了位置， |
12I have struck root among the glorious people, in the portion of the LORD, his heritage. |
| 13說道：你要住在雅各伯那裏，在以色列中建立產業，在我的選民中生根。 |
13"Like a cedar on Lebanon I am raised aloft, like a cypress on Mount Hermon, |
| 14起初，當世界未有以前，他就造了我，我永遠不會消滅。在神聖的帳幕裏，我曾在他面前供職。 |
14Like a palm tree in En-gedi, like a rosebush in Jericho, Like a fair olive tree in the field, like a plane tree growing beside the water. |
| 15這樣，我就定居在熙雍山上；同樣，他使我在他鍾愛的城裏安息，使我在耶路撒冷有權勢。 |
15 Like cinnamon, or fragrant balm, or precious myrrh, I give forth perfume; Like galbanum and onycha and sweet spices, like the odor of incense in the holy place. |
| 16我在顯耀的民族中，就是在上主的地域，他的家業內生根；我的居所，是在滿是聖人的中間。 |
16I spread out my branches like a terebinth, my branches so bright and so graceful. |
| 17我長高，如黎巴嫩的香柏，又如赫爾孟山上的扁柏； |
17I bud forth delights like the vine, my blossoms become fruit fair and rich. |
| 18我高峻，如恩革狄的棕樹，又如耶里哥的玫瑰樹。 |
18 Come to me, all you that yearn for me, and be filled with my fruits; |
| 19我好像平原上一棵美麗的橄欖樹，又像一棵聳立在街道溪畔的白楊。 |
19You will remember me as sweeter than honey, better to have than the honeycomb. |
| 20我發散馨香如肉桂，如芬芳的防風；我散布甘美的芳香，有如精製的沒藥。 |
20 He who eats of me will hunger still, he who drinks of me will thirst for more; |
| 21我好像安息香樹、白松香、紅螺、安息油液，又好像帳幕裏乳香的煙氣；我的芳香像純粹的防風露。 |
21He who obeys me will not be put to shame, he who serves me will never fail." |
| 22我如同篤耨香樹，伸展了我的枝葉；我的枝葉壯麗而雅緻。 |
22 All this is true of the book of the Most High's covenant, the law which Moses commanded us as an inheritance for the community of Jacob. |
| 23我如同葡萄樹，發出美麗的枝芽；我的花結的果實，光鮮而味美。 |
23It overflows, like the Pishon, with wisdom-- like the Tigris in the days of the new fruits. |
| 24我是純愛、敬畏、智德和聖望的母親。 |
24It runs over, like the Euphrates, with understanding, like the Jordan at harvest time. |
| 25我具有真道和真理的一切優美；我具有生命和道德的一切希望。 |
25 It sparkles like the Nile with knowledge, like the Gihon at vintage time. |
| 26凡渴望我的，請到我這裏來，飽食我的果實： |
26The first man never finished comprehending wisdom, nor will the last succeed in fathoming her. |
| 27因為，我的紀念，比蜜還甜；我的遺產，勝過蜂蜜和蜂房； |
27For deeper than the sea are her thoughts; her counsels, than the great abyss. |
| 28我的紀念，萬世常存。 |
28 Now I, like a rivulet from her stream, channeling the waters into a garden, |
| 29凡食我的，還要饑餓；凡飲我的，還要飢渴。 |
29Said to myself, "I will water my plants, my flower bed I will drench"; And suddenly this rivulet of mine became a river, then this stream of mine, a sea. |
| 30聽從我的，不會蒙羞；因我而行事的，不會犯罪； |
30Thus do I send my teachings forth shining like the dawn, to become known afar off. |
| 31傳揚我的，必得常生。 |
31Thus do I pour out instruction like prophecy and bestow it on generations to come. |
| 32生命的道理和真理的知識，這一切都包含在至高天主的盟約書上。 |
32 |
| 33這約書含有梅瑟頒布給我們的法律，就是給雅各伯的會眾作產業，以色列作應許，而蘊藏正義誡命的法律。 |
33 |
| 34上主曾應許自己的僕人達味，要從他的後裔中，興起一位強而有力的君王，永遠坐在光榮的寶座上。 |
34 |
| 35這法律充滿智慧，有如丕雄，又有如收成期間的底格里斯； |
35 |
| 36洋溢智能，有如幼發拉的，又有如收割之日的約但； |
36 |
| 37闡明教誨，有如尼羅，又如收葡萄時的基紅。 |
37 |
| 38最初那個領悟她的人，還沒有完全洞悉；最後的一個，也沒有完全領會； |
38 |
| 39因為她的思想，比海洋還廣；她的智謀，比深淵還深。 |
39 |
| 40我智慧，傾瀉成河； |
40 |
| 41我如江河洪水的支流，我如從河裏引出來的水道，我如通到樂園的水渠。 |
41 |
| 42我說：我要澆灌我的花園，我要滋潤我的菜田。 |
42 |
| 43請看，我的支流，成了江河；我的江河，成了海洋。 |
43 |
| 44我還要使聖道發光，有如晨曦；使它照耀，直到遠方。 |
44 |
| 45我要浸透世上的一切窪地，垂顧一切熟睡的人，光照一切仰望上主的人。 |
45 |
| 46我還要傳播聖道，有如神諭；我要將她留給永世，留給尋求智慧的人們；我要不斷地將她留給他們的後裔，直到神聖的永世。 |
46 |
| 47你們看：我勞苦，並不是單為我自己，也是為一切尋求智慧的人們。 |
47 |
