| 德訓篇 |
Sirach |
| 1現在讓我們來讚揚那些着名的偉人，和我們歷代的祖先： |
1 Now will I praise those godly men, our ancestors, each in his own time: |
| 2上主在他們身上，作出許多光耀的事，自太古就對他們，顯示了自己的偉大。 |
2The abounding glory of the Most High's portion, his own part, since the days of old. Subduers of the land in kingly fashion, men of renown for their might, |
| 3他們中，有在自己國內為王的，有因自己的能幹而名聞天下的；有因自己的明智而作參議的，有因自己的先知任務而明察一切的； |
3Or counselors in their prudence, or seers of all things in prophecy; |
| 4有因自己的決策和明智，而作當時民眾領袖的；有以自己賢明的訓言，教導民眾的學者； |
4Resolute princes of the folk, and governors with their staves; Authors skilled in composition, and forgers of epigrams with their spikes; |
| 5有因其所長，創作樂曲的，有寫作敘事詩的； |
5Composers of melodious psalms, or discoursers on lyric themes; |
| 6有的是富而有權勢的人，有的愛好美術，在自己家中，過着安靜的生活。 |
6Stalwart men, solidly established and at peace in their own estates-- |
| 7這一切人，在自己的民族中，歷代受人尊敬，他們在世時就被人誇讚。 |
7All these were glorious in their time, each illustrious in his day. |
| 8他們中，有的已留名於後世，使人讚頌不已； |
8Some of them have left behind a name and men recount their praiseworthy deeds; |
| 9有的卻沒有留下紀念，他們死了，好像他們沒有存在過；他們生了，好像沒有生過；他們的子孫也同他們一樣。 |
9But of others there is no memory, for when they ceased, they ceased. And they are as though they had not lived, they and their children after them. |
| 10但我所要稱揚的人，都是寬大為懷的人，他們的義舉，不會被人遺忘； |
10Yet these also were godly men whose virtues have not been forgotten; |
| 11他們的善行與子孫同存， |
11Their wealth remains in their families, their heritage with their descendants; |
| 12他們的後裔，保有這善行的產業；他們的子孫履行盟約， |
12Through God's covenant with them their family endures, their posterity, for their sake. |
| 13他們的子女，因了他們，也是如此：子子孫孫，永世常存；他們的光榮，決不會泯滅； |
13And for all time their progeny will endure, their glory will never be blotted out; |
| 14他們的遺體必被人安葬，名譽必留於永世； |
14Their bodies are peacefully laid away, but their name lives on and on. |
| 15民眾必稱述他們的智慧，集會必傳揚他們的美德。 |
15At gatherings their wisdom is retold, and the assembly proclaims their praise. |
| 16哈諾客悅樂了上主，故此被提升天，成為後世悔改的模範。 |
16 [ENOCH walked with the LORD and was taken up, that succeeding generations might learn by his example.] |
| 17諾厄被共認是齊全正義的人，而在義怒時，成了人類的繼承人； |
17NOAH, found just and perfect, renewed the race in the time of devastation. Because of his worth there were survivors, and with a sign to him the deluge ended; |
| 18當洪水來臨時，因了他，為世界保存了餘生； |
18A lasting agreement was made with him, that never should all flesh be destroyed. |
| 19天主與他立定了一個永久的盟約：一切有肉軀的生物，再不遭受洪水的摧殘。 |
19ABRAHAM, father of many peoples, kept his glory without stain: |
| 20亞巴郎是萬民的大父，對於光榮，沒有人比得上他。他遵守了至高者的法律，又同他訂立了盟約。 |
20 He observed the precepts of the Most High, and entered into an agreement with him; In his own flesh he incised the ordinance, and when tested he was found loyal. |
| 21他在自己身上堅定了盟約，在受試探時，證明自己是忠誠的， |
21 For this reason, God promised him with an oath that in his descendants the nations would be blessed, That he would make him numerous as the grains of dust, and exalt his posterity like the stars; That he would give them an inheritance from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth. |
| 22因此，天主起誓許下：要在他的民族中光榮他；要使萬民因他的苗裔而蒙受祝福；要使他的子孫多得像地上的塵土； |
22And for ISAAC he renewed the same promise because of Abraham, his father. The covenant with all his forebears was confirmed, and the blessing rested upon the head of JACOB. |
| 23要提拔他的後裔，如天上的繁星；要把從這海到那海，從大河直到地極之間的土地，賜給他們當作產業。 |
23God acknowledged him as the first-born, and gave him his inheritance. He fixed the boundaries for his tribes, and their division into twelve. |
| 24至於依撒格，因他父親亞巴郎的緣故，天主也向他確定了同樣的事。 |
24 |
| 25上主將萬人的祝福與盟約，寄托在雅各伯頭上； |
25 |
| 26上主藉自己的祝福，承認他為長子；賜給他產業，將他的產業分給十二支派。 |
26 |
| 27上主使雅各伯的後裔中，出現了一位慈善的人，他在眾人眼前，甚為得寵； |
27 |
