| 德訓篇 |
Sirach |
| 1許多人為了財利犯罪；圖謀發財的，必轉眼不顧正義。 |
1For the sake of profit many sin, and the struggle for wealth blinds the eyes. |
| 2像木橛插在兩塊石頭之間，罪惡亦鑽進買賣之中。 |
2Like a peg driven between fitted stones, between buying and selling sin is wedged in. |
| 3但罪惡與犯罪的人，都要同歸於盡。 |
3Unless you earnestly hold fast to the fear of the LORD, suddenly your house will be thrown down. |
| 4你若不用心堅持敬畏上主，你的家庭，必要迅速破落。 |
4When a sieve is shaken, the husks appear; so do a man's faults when he speaks. |
| 5篩篩子，總留下一些渣滓；人的言談，也總有一些不乾不淨。 |
5As the test of what the potter molds is in the furnace, so in his conversation is the test of a man. |
| 6爐火試煉陶人的陶器，言談試驗人的人格。 |
6The fruit of a tree shows the care it has had; so too does a man's speech disclose the bent of his mind. |
| 7一棵樹的栽培，可由它所結的果實看出；同樣，一個人的心意，可從他思想後所說的話看到。 |
7Praise no man before he speaks, for it is then that men are tested. |
| 8在人未發言以前，不要讚美他，因為人的好壞，從言談中纔可見到。 |
8If you strive after justice you will attain it, and put it on like a splendid robe. |
| 9如果你追求正義，你必能獲得，披戴她有如光榮的禮服；同她一起居住，她要永遠保護你，在審判之日，你就有了依靠。 |
9Birds nest with their own kind, and fidelity comes to those who live by it. |
| 10鳥獸與同類相聚，真理也必歸於實行真理的人。 |
10As a lion crouches in wait for prey, so do sins for evildoers. |
| 11獅子時常伏擊獵物，罪惡也同樣暗算作惡的人。 |
11Ever wise are the discourses of the devout, but the godless man, like the moon, is inconstant. |
| 12虔敬人的言論，常是智慧的；愚人的變化，好以月亮。 |
12Limit the time you spend among fools, but frequent the company of thoughtful men. |
| 13往愚人中間去，要看時間；往有思想的人那裏，卻可常去。 |
13The conversation of the wicked is offensive, their laughter is wanton guilt. |
| 14愚人的談論，令人生厭；他們在罪惡的放蕩中，纔有歡笑。 |
14Their oath-filled talk makes the hair stand on end, their brawls make one stop one's ears. |
| 15好發誓的人所說的話，使人毛髮悚然；他的爭辯，令人塞耳不聞。 |
15Wrangling among the haughty ends in bloodshed, their cursing is painful to hear. |
| 16驕傲人爭鬥，必發生流血事件；他們的辱罵，駭人聽聞。 |
16 He who betrays a secret cannot be trusted, he will never find an intimate friend. |
| 17誰洩漏朋友的秘密，就失了信任，他再不會找到一個知心的朋友。 |
17Cherish your friend, keep faith with him; but if you betray his confidence, follow him not; |
| 18你應愛你的朋友，對他要忠信， |
18For as an enemy might kill a man, you have killed your neighbor's friendship. |
| 19但若你洩漏了他的秘密，就不必再追隨他了。 |
19Like a bird released from the hand, you have let your friend go and cannot recapture him; |
| 20誰失掉近人的友誼，就如喪失了自己的產業。 |
20Follow him not, for he is far away, he has fled like a gazelle from the trap. |
| 21你拋棄了的朋友，正如從你手中放走的飛鳥，莫想他再回來。 |
21A wound can be bound up, and an insult forgiven, but he who betrays secrets does hopeless damage. |
| 22不要追趕他，因為他已遠去，他已逃走，像一隻脫了羅網的羚羊一樣；因為他的心已受了創傷， |
22He who has shifty eyes plots mischief and no one can ward him off; |
| 23你再不能和他交結。有了傷痕，還可以包紮，辱罵之後，還可以言歸好； |
23In your presence he uses honeyed talk, and admires your every word, But later he changes his tone and twists your words to your ruin. |
| 24但是，若洩漏了朋友的秘密，不幸的心靈就沒有希望了。 |
24There is nothing that I hate so much, and the LORD hates him as well. |
| 25以目示意而作惡的人，逃不了災禍。 |
25As a stone falls back on him who throws it up, so a blow struck in treachery injures more than one. |
| 26在你面前，他會口甜如蜜，欽佩你的言辭；但以後卻要改口，攻擊你的言論。 |
26As he who digs a pit falls into it, and he who lays a snare is caught in it, |
| 27我憎恨的事很多，但都不如他，連上主也要憎恨他。 |
27Whoever does harm will be involved in it without knowing how it came upon him. |
| 28那往上扔石頭的，石頭反而砸在他的頭上；那陰險打擊人的，自己反而受傷。 |
28Mockery and abuse will be the lot of the proud, and vengeance lies in wait for them like a lion. |
| 29挖掘陷阱的，自己反而跌在裏面；給人放絆腳石的，自己反被絆倒；架設羅網的，自己反被捉捕； |
29The trap seizes those who rejoice in pitfalls, and pain will consume them before they die; |
| 30作惡造孽的，自己反受其累，他還不知道禍患從何而來。 |
30Wrath and anger are hateful things, yet the sinner hugs them tight. |
| 31譏笑責斥，是驕傲人的表現，懲罰卻像埋伏的獅子在等候他。 |
31 |
| 32見虔敬的人跌倒，而喜樂的人，必要陷於羅網，並且在死以前，備受痛苦。 |
32 |
| 33憤恨與生氣，二者都是可憎恨的，但罪人卻堅持不放。 |
33 |
