| 德訓篇 |
Sirach |
| 1死亡啊！紀念你，為那安享自己財富的， |
1 O death! how bitter the thought of you for the man at peace amid his possessions, For the man unruffled and always successful, who still can enjoy life's pleasures. |
| 2為那無憂無慮，一切順適，還能享受口福的人，是多麼辛酸！ |
2O death! how welcome your sentence to the weak man of failing strength, Tottering and always rebuffed, with no more sight, with vanished hope. |
| 3死亡啊！你的定案，為那貧困的，力衰的， |
3Fear not death's decree for you; remember, it embraces those before you, and those after. |
| 4年紀老邁的，事事操心的，厭倦無望的人，是多麼美好！ |
4Thus God has ordained for all flesh; why then should you reject the will of the Most High? Whether one has lived a thousand years, a hundred, or ten, in the nether world he has no claim on life. |
| 5不要怕死亡的定案，要想想你以前和你以後的人；這是上主對一切有血肉之人所下的定案， |
5A reprobate line are the children of sinners, and witless offspring are in the homes of the wicked. |
| 6至高者看着好的事，你為什麼要反對？你不論活十年，百年，或千年， |
6Their dominion is lost to sinners' children, and reproach abides with their descendants. |
| 7在陰府裏，對生命的長短，再沒有怨尤。 |
7Children curse their wicked father, for they suffer disgrace through him. |
| 8罪人的子女，為人所憎惡，他們經常與不虔敬的人相處。 |
8Woe to you, O sinful men, who forsake the law of the Most High. |
| 9罪人的子女必會傾家敗產，他們的子孫常蒙羞受辱。 |
9If you have children, calamity will seize them; you will beget them only for groaning. When you stumble, there is lasting joy; at death, you become a curse. |
| 10子女必怨恨不虔敬的父親，因為為了他，他們纔蒙羞受辱。 |
10Whatever is of nought returns to nought, so too the godless from void to void. |
| 11你們不虔敬的人，是有禍的！因為你們背棄了至高者天主的法律。 |
11Man's body is a fleeting thing, but a virtuous name will never be annihilated. |
| 12你們生在世上，是為受咒罵而生；你們死去，咒罵仍是你們的產業。 |
12Have a care for your name, for it will stand by you better than precious treasures in the thousands; |
| 13凡從土來的，必歸於土；生於詛咒的不虔敬的人，必歸於喪亡。 |
13 The boon of life is for limited days, but a good name, for days without number. |
| 14人們對死者的遺體舉行喪禮，罪人的臭名必被塗去。 |
14 My children, heed my instruction about shame; judge of disgrace only according to my rules, For it is not always well to be ashamed, nor is it always the proper thing to blush: |
| 15你應注意你的名譽，因為名譽與你相處，久於千萬黃金巨寶。 |
15Before father and mother be ashamed of immorality, before master and mistress, of falsehood; |
| 16優越的生活，日子是有限的；但良好的名譽，卻流芳百世。 |
16Before prince and ruler, of flattery; before the public assembly, of crime; |
| 17我兒，你們要安心遵守紀律。隱藏的智慧，和看不見的寶貝，二者究竟有什麼用？ |
17Before friend and companion, of disloyalty, and of breaking an oath or agreement. |
| 18隱瞞自己糊塗的人，比隱瞞自己智慧的人還好。 |
18Be ashamed of theft from the people where you settle, and of stretching out your elbow when you dine; |
| 19我兒，現在你要聽我論羞愧所要說的話： |
19Of refusing to give when asked, of defrauding another of his appointed share, |
| 20因為不是每一種羞愧，都應當稱許；也不是每一種害羞，都是合理的。 |
20Of failing to return a greeting, and of rebuffing a friend; |
| 21你們在父母前，對於姦淫的事，應該羞愧；在王侯和有權勢的人前，對於說謊的事，應該羞愧； |
21Of gazing at a married woman, and of entertaining thoughts about another's wife; Of trifling with a servant girl you have, and of violating her couch; |
| 22在判官和領袖前，對於犯罪的事，應該羞愧；在集會和民眾前，對於犯法的事，應該羞愧； |
22Of using harsh words with friends, and of following up your gifts with insults; |
| 23在伴侶和朋友前，對於不義的事，應該羞愧；在你們所住的地方，對於偷竊的事，應該羞愧； |
23Of repeating what you hear, and of betraying secrets-- |
| 24應為忘記天主的真理和盟約的事而羞愧；應為將肘放在食桌上而羞愧；應為你在賜予或接受禮物時，對人藐視而羞愧； |
24These are the things you should rightly avoid as shameful if you would be looked upon by everyone with favor. |
| 25應為你不理向你請安的人而羞愧；應為觀看淫婦而羞愧；應為不顧親屬而羞愧； |
25 |
| 26應為轉面不顧你的近人，拿了別人的東西卻不歸還而羞愧， |
26 |
| 27應為凝視別人的婦女而羞愧；應為對你的婢女分外獻慇懃，甚或走近她的床前而羞愧； |
27 |
| 28應為你對朋友出言不恭，對加惠與人後又責斥人而羞愧； |
28 |
