| 德訓篇 |
Sirach |
| 1凡是朋友都說：我結交了朋友；但有的朋友，卻是有名無實的朋友。 |
1Every friend declares his friendship, but there are friends who are friends in name only. |
| 2如果同伴或朋友，變成了仇人，豈不是一件悲傷至死的事？ |
2Is it not a sorrow unto death when your bosom companion becomes your enemy? |
| 3噢！這邪惡的偏向！你是從那裏闖進來的，你想用凶惡和欺詐籠罩大地麼？ |
3"Alas, my companion! Why were you created to blanket the earth with deceit?" |
| 4有的同伴，在朋友幸福時，就與他同樂；在患難時，卻變成了仇人。 |
4A false friend will share your joys, but in time of trouble he stands afar off. |
| 5有的同伴，為了口腹之欲，與朋友分憂，共同執劍反抗敵人。 |
5A true friend will fight with you against the foe, against your enemies he will be your shield-bearer. |
| 6你心裏總不要忘記你真正的朋友，分派勝利品時，更不可忽略他。 |
6Forget not your comrade during the battle, and neglect him not when you distribute your spoils. |
| 7不要與敵視你的人商議；對忌恨你的人，要隱瞞你的主意。 |
7Every counselor points out a way, but some counsel ways of their own; |
| 8凡是參謀，都誇張自己的建議；但有的是為自己打算。 |
8Be on the alert when one proffers advice, find out first of all what he wants. For he may be thinking of himself alone; why should the profit fall to him? |
| 9對建議者，你要留神：先要知道他需要什麼──因為他心中也為自己着想── |
9He may tell you how good your way will be, and then stand by to watch your misfortune. |
| 10也許願將命運寄托在你身上， |
10Seek no advice from one who regards you with hostility; from those who envy you, keep your intentions hidden. |
| 11而對你說：「你走的路不錯」，但他卻站在對面，看你會有什麼結果。 |
11Speak not to a woman about her rival, nor to a coward about war, to a merchant about business, to a buyer about value, to a miser about generosity, to a cruel man about mercy, to a lazy man about work, to a seasonal laborer about the harvest, to an idle slave about a great task: pay no attention to any advice they give. |
| 12和不虔敬的人，怎能討論聖德？同不公道的人，如何能討論正義？不要同婦女談論她的情敵，不要同膽怯的人談論作戰的事，不要同商人談論交易的事，不要同買主商議出賣的事，不要與負心人談論感恩的事； |
12Instead, associate with a religious man, who you are sure keeps the commandments; Who is like-minded with yourself and will feel for you if you fall. |
| 13不要和殘忍的人提到慈善的事，不要同放蕩的人談及廉節的事，不要和怠惰的人商議任何勞力的事； |
13Then, too, heed your own heart's counsel; for what have you that you can depend on more? |
| 14不要和年長的傭工討論年底的事，不要和懶惰的奴僕討論繁重的工作：對這些人，在這一切事上，你不用作任何商議； |
14A man's conscience can tell him his situation better than seven watchmen in a lofty tower. |
| 15只該同虔敬的人，常有來往，你知道他是遵守誡命的， |
15Most important of all, pray to God to set your feet in the path of truth. |
| 16他與你心心相印；你若不幸，在黑暗中跌倒了，他必與你分憂。 |
16 A word is the source of every deed; a thought, of every act. |
| 17你要保持良心提醒你的事，因為沒有比你的良心更忠實的。 |
17The root of all conduct is the mind; four branches it shoots forth: |
| 18善人的良心有時預告實情，遠遠勝於七個坐在高處觀望的哨兵。 |
18Good and evil, death and life, their absolute mistress is the tongue. |
| 19在這一切事上，你該祈求至高者，引領你走真理的道路。 |
19A man may be wise and benefit many, yet be of no use to himself. |
| 20各種工作的開端，在於立志；但在進行各種事業以前，應商量。 |
20Though a man may be wise, if his words are rejected he will be deprived of all enjoyment. |
| 21人心是各種智謀的根子，由此根子生出四條枝椏；善、惡、生、死；但全然統治這一切的，卻是舌頭。有的人精於教導許多人，但為他自己，卻一無是處。 |
21When a man is wise to his own advantage, the fruits of his knowledge are seen in his own person; |
| 22有的人精於教導許多人，而使自己也感到幸福， |
22When a man is wise to his people's advantage, the fruits of his knowledge are enduring: |
| 23有的人詭辯，出言可惡，他必將缺乏各種食物。 |
23Limited are the days of one man's life, but the life of Israel is days without number. |
| 24上主沒有給他口才的恩惠，因為他缺乏了各種智德。 |
24One wise for himself has full enjoyment, and all who see him praise him; |
| 25有的人只為自己有智慧，他智慧的果實，只歸他一人。 |
25One wise for his people wins a heritage of glory, and his name endures forever. |
| 26賢明的人教導自己的民眾；他智慧的成果，是恒久的。 |
26 My son, while you are well, govern your appetite so that you allow it not what is bad for you; |
| 27賢明的人滿渥祝福，凡看見他的人，都稱他有福。 |
27For not every food is good for everyone, nor is everything suited to every taste. |
| 28人的生命是有數的幾天，但以色列的歲月，卻是無數的。 |
28Be not drawn after every enjoyment, neither become a glutton for choice foods, |
| 29賢明的人在自己民族中，享有光榮和信任，他的聲譽千古流芳。 |
29For sickness comes with overeating, and gluttony brings on biliousness. |
| 30我兒，在你的生活上，你應鍛煉你的心靈，看見什麼為它有害，就不要放任它。 |
30Through lack of self-control many have died, but the abstemious man prolongs his life. |
| 31因為不是任何事，為所有的人都有益，也不是任何事，所有的人都喜歡。 |
31 |
| 32在一切歡宴上，要有節制，對於一切食物，不要貪吃； |
32 |
| 33因為吃多了，容易積累成病，飲食過度，容易引起絞痛。 |
33 |
| 34由於飲食過度，許多人喪了命，有節制的人，反而延長壽命。 |
34 |
