| 德訓篇 |
Sirach |
| 1行慈善的人，必貸款與人；以手扶助人的，必遵守法律。 |
1 He does a kindness who lends to his neighbor, and he fulfills the precepts who holds out a helping hand. |
| 2人在急難中，你應借錢給他；期限一到，你應把所欠的錢還給人。 |
2Lend to your neighbor in his hour of need, and pay back your neighbor when a loan falls due; |
| 3你要堅守所言，對人忠實；這樣，你需要的，必常能得到。 |
3Keep your promise, be honest with him, and you will always come by what you need. |
| 4許多將借債，當作拾來的錢，而使幫助他們的人，感到為難。 |
4Many a man who asks for a loan adds to the burdens of those who help him; |
| 5到他接錢時，他不斷親人家的手，並且因人家有錢，就低聲下氣； |
5When he borrows, he kisses the lender's hand and speaks with respect of his creditor's wealth; But when payment is due he disappoints him and says he is helpless to meet the claim. |
| 6但是，到了還債的時候，他就一再拖延，還說出無禮生厭和怨恨的話，而怪自己時運不濟。 |
6If the lender is able to recover barely half, he considers this an achievement; If not, he is cheated of his wealth and acquires an enemy at no extra charge; With curses and insults the borrower pays him back, with abuse instead of honor. |
| 7假使他能償還，仍和人為難，而謹還一半，還認為這為債主，是拾來的錢； |
7Many refuse to lend, not out of meanness, but from fear of being cheated. |
| 8假使不能，就詐取債主的錢，無故與債主成了仇人， |
8To a poor man, however, be generous; keep him not waiting for your alms; |
| 9且報之以咒罵和嘲笑；對尊重和恩惠，而報以凌辱。 |
9Because of the precept, help the needy, and in their want, do not send them away empty-handed. |
| 10許多人不肯出借，並非出於惡意，而是怕白白受騙。 |
10Spend your money for your brother and friend, and hide it not under a stone to perish; |
| 11但是，對於貧苦人，你當心胸寬大，不可叫他久等你的救濟。 |
11Dispose of your treasure as the Most High commands, for that will profit you more than the gold. |
| 12為守誡命，你應援助窮人；為了他的需要，你不可讓他空手而歸。 |
12Store up almsgiving in your treasure house, and it will save you from every evil; |
| 13你寧可為兄弟和朋友，耗費你的銀錢，也不要讓它在石頭底下生銹壞了。 |
13Better than a stout shield and a sturdy spear it will fight for you against the foe. |
| 14要按照至高者的誡命，處理你的財寶；這比黃金為你更有益處。 |
14A good man goes surety for his neighbor, and only the shameless would play him false; |
| 15應將施捨存在你的寶庫裏，它必能救你脫免一切災難； |
15Forget not the kindness of your backer, for he offers his very life for you. |
| 16施捨勝於堅甲利器，它要替你攻打仇敵。 |
16The wicked turn a pledge on their behalf into misfortune, and the ingrate abandons his protector; |
| 17（缺） |
17Going surety has ruined many prosperous men and tossed them about like waves of the sea, |
| 18善人為自己的近人作保，而失去廉恥的人，卻棄而不顧。 |
18Has exiled men of prominence and sent them wandering through foreign lands. |
| 19不要忘掉保人的恩義，因為他為你交出自己的性命。 |
19The sinner through surety comes to grief, and he who undertakes too much falls into lawsuits. |
| 20罪人與不潔的人，畏避保人。 |
20Go surety for your neighbor according to your means, but take care lest you fall thereby. |
| 21罪人蕩盡自己保人的財產；毫不知恩地背棄救助自己的人。 |
21 Life's prime needs are water, bread, and clothing, a house, too, for decent privacy. |
| 22人為自己的近人作保，但這近人失掉廉恥之後，要背棄他。 |
22Better a poor man's fare under the shadow of one's own roof than sumptuous banquets among strangers. |
| 23擔保太不謹慎，使許多生活幸福的人喪亡，顛簸他們有如海濤； |
23Be it little or much, be content with what you have, and pay no heed to him who would disparage your home; |
| 24使有權勢的人，流離失所，漂泊異鄉。 |
24A miserable life it is to go from house to house, for as a guest you dare not open your mouth. |
| 25違犯上主命令的罪人，好作不當的保証；圖謀包攬事情的人，必吃官司。 |
25The visitor has no thanks for filling the cups; besides, you will hear these bitter words: |
| 26你當按你的力量扶助近人，但要謹慎，不要因此跌倒。 |
26"Come here, stranger, set the table, give me to eat the food you have! |
| 27生活的主要物品，是水、食糧、和遮羞的衣服房屋。 |
27Away, stranger, for one more worthy; for my brother's visit I need the room!" |
| 28在自己茅舍裏，度窮人的生活，比在別人家裏常有盛宴更好，因為那裏不是自己的家。 |
28Painful things to a sensitive man are abuse at home and insults from his creditors. |
| 29東西或多或少，你要知足；如此你就不會聽到客人聽到的責斥。 |
29 |
| 30無聊的生活，是挨戶作客；在那裏作客，行動既不自由，也不敢開口。 |
30 |
| 31即便你款待了主人，給他酒喝，他並不領情；此外，你還要聽到一些傷心的話： |
31 |
| 32「客人，過來，你去擺設宴席，把你手中所有的，拿來給我吃！ |
32 |
| 33客人，看我朋友的情面，請你走罷！因為，我的兄弟到我這裏來作客，要住這間房屋。」 |
33 |
| 34客人受家主的責斥，債戶受債主的辱罵：這等事為有感覺的人是難堪的。 |
34 |
