| 德訓篇 |
Sirach |
| 1敬畏上主的，決不會遭遇凶惡；受誘惑時，上主必一再保全他，由凶惡中拯救他。 |
1No evil can harm the man who fears the LORD; through trials, again and again he is safe. |
| 2明智人不憎惡法律和正義；佯守法律的人，卻像一隻在波濤中飄蕩的船。 |
2He who hates the law is without wisdom, and is tossed about like a boat in a storm. |
| 3聰明人信賴天主的法律，法律也忠於他，猶如「烏陵」的神諭。 |
3 The prudent man trusts in the word of the LORD, and the law is dependable for him as a divine oracle. |
| 4解答問題時，先要準備應說的話；如此，人纔聽你；先將教訓綜合起來，然後纔可作答。 |
4Prepare your words and you will be listened to; draw upon your training, and then give your answer. |
| 5愚人的心，好像車輪；他的思念，好似旋轉的輪軸。 |
5 Like the wheel of a cart is the mind of a fool; his thoughts revolve in circles. |
| 6好嘲弄人的朋友，就如見了牝馬的牡馬，任何人騎牠，牠總是嘶鳴不已。 |
6A fickle friend is like the stallion that neighs, no matter who the rider. |
| 7為什麼這一天勝過那一天，雖然一年內，每天的光明，都是來自太陽？ |
7Why is one day more important than another, when it is the sun that lights up every day? |
| 8太陽造成以後，循規蹈矩，因上主的智慧，日子纔有了區別。 |
8It is due to the LORD'S wisdom that they differ; it is through him the seasons and feasts come and go. |
| 9他規定了不同的時令和季節，以便在那些時節內，依時慶祝一些節日。 |
9Some he dignifies and sanctifies, and others he lists as ordinary days. |
| 10他將一些日子，提高列為聖日；將其餘的日子，則列為平日。眾人都是從土來的，因為，亞當就是用土造成的。 |
10So too, all men are of clay, for from earth man was formed; |
| 11上主以自己的絕大智慧，使眾人各有分別，使他們的道路各有不同。 |
11Yet with his great knowledge the LORD makes men unlike; in different paths he has them walk. |
| 12他們中有被他祝福而抬舉的，有被他祝聖，然後引他們親近自己的；但也有被他詛咒和貶抑，從本位上被推翻的。 |
12Some he blesses and makes great, some he sanctifies and draws to himself. Others he curses and brings low, and expels them from their place. |
| 13有如泥土在陶工手裏，可以任意捏造處置。 |
13Like clay in the hands of a potter, to be molded according to his pleasure, So are men in the hands of their Creator, to be assigned by him their function. |
| 14要做什麼樣式，都繫於陶工的意思；同樣，人在創造者手裏，上主照自己的決定，來處理他們。 |
14As evil contrasts with good, and death with life, so are sinners in contrast with the just; |
| 15善與惡相對，生與死相峙，罪人也與虔敬人敵對：請看至高者的一切化工：無不兩兩相對，一一對立。 |
15See now all the works of the Most High: they come in pairs, the one the opposite of the other. |
| 16最後我也醒悟了，來搜集箴言，如同在收穫葡萄的人後面，拾取殘餘的人。 |
16 Now I am the last to keep vigil, like a gleaner after the vintage; |
| 17蒙上主的祝福，我預先着手工作，也像收穫葡萄的人一樣，填滿了我的榨酒池。 |
17Since by the LORD'S blessing I have made progress till like a vintager I have filled my wine press, |
| 18請注意！我不是單為我自己勞苦，也是為一切尋求教導的人。 |
18I would inform you that not for myself only have I toiled, but for every seeker after wisdom. |
| 19你們為民眾官長的，請聽我的話；你們為集會首領的，請側耳靜聽。 |
19 Listen to me, O leaders of the multitude; O rulers of the assembly, give ear! |
| 20幾時你還在世上，不要將你的權柄，交給兒子、妻子、兄弟和朋友，也不要將你的產業，交與別人，怕你將來後悔，而有求於他們。 |
20Let neither son nor wife, neither brother nor friend, have power over you as long as you live. |
| 21當你還活着，氣息尚存的時候，不要讓任何人支配你。 |
21While breath of life is still in you, let no man have dominion over you. Give not to another your wealth, lest then you have to plead with him; |
| 22你的子女有求於你，勝於你望着你子女的手。 |
22Far better that your children plead with you than that you should look to their generosity. |
| 23在你所行的一切事上，你應作主。 |
23Keep control over all your affairs; let no one tarnish your glory. |
| 24不要污辱你的榮譽。在你壽命結束之日，在你快要去世之時，應分清你的遺產。 |
24When your few days reach their limit, at the time of death distribute your inheritance. |
| 25草料、棍杖、馱重，是屬於驢的；麵包、訓戒、勞作，是屬於僕人的。 |
25Fodder and whip and loads for an ass; the yoke and harness and the rod of his master. |
| 26你要吩咐他工作，這樣你就可以放心；若你放任他，他就要找尋自由自在。 |
26Food, correction and work for a slave; and for a wicked slave, punishment in the stocks. |
| 27軛與皮鞭，可以屈服強硬的頸項；不斷的工作，可以使僕人柔順。 |
27Make a slave work and he will look for his rest; let his hands be idle and he will seek to be free. |
| 28對待惡僕只有鞭打和刑罰；要使他們操作，不得空閒。 |
28Force him to work that he be not idle, for idleness is an apt teacher of mischief. |
| 29因為，空閒教給人許多壞事。 |
29Put him to work, for that is what befits him; if he becomes unruly, load him with chains. |
| 30要給他指定與他相宜的工作；若他不服從，就叫他帶腳鐐；但對於任何人不要過分。未審度以先，什麼重大的事也不要做。 |
30But never lord it over any human being, and do nothing unjust. |
| 31你若有一個忠信的僕人，對待他要如同對待你自己一樣，因為他是你用血汗換來的；要待他如同兄弟，因為你需要他，正如需要你自己一樣。 |
31If you have but one slave, treat him like yourself, for you have acquired him with your life's blood; |
| 32若你待他不好，他必要逃跑。 |
32If you have but one slave, deal with him as a brother, for you need him as you need your life: |
| 33若他憤然離去，你向誰去追問；你不知道，你在那條路上去尋找他。 |
33If you mistreat him and he runs away, in what direction will you look for him? |
