| 德訓篇 |
Sirach |
| 1此後，在達味時代，興起了一位納堂先知。 |
1 After him came NATHAN who served in the presence of David. |
| 2從以色列子民中，選出的達味，有如由和平祭的肉中，提出的脂肪。 |
2Like the choice fat of the sacred offerings, so was DAVID in Israel. |
| 3他年輕時玩弄獅子，有如玩弄山羊；戲弄野熊，如同戲弄羔羊。 |
3He made sport of lions as though they were kids, and of bears, like lambs of the flock. |
| 4他年輕時，不是擊殺了大力士，雪洗了民族的恥辱， |
4As a youth he slew the giant and wiped out the people's disgrace, When his hand let fly the slingstone that crushed the pride of Goliath. |
| 5不是一舉手，用套帶的石子，打倒了哥肋雅的傲慢麼？ |
5Since he called upon the Most High God, who gave strength to his right arm To defeat the skilled warrior and raise up the might of his people, |
| 6因為他事前，曾呼求了至高者上主，上主就賜他右手有力，以擊殺勇猛的戰士，為高舉自己百姓的角。 |
6Therefore the women sang his praises and ascribed to him tens of thousands. When he assumed the royal crown, he battled |
| 7所以處女們向他歌唱，稱揚他克勝了萬人；大家都以上主的祝福稱揚他，給他戴上榮耀的冠冕。 |
7and subdued the enemy on every side. He destroyed the hostile Philistines and shattered their power till our own day. |
| 8他擊潰了四周的仇敵，剿滅了對手培肋舍特人，直到今日還不斷地挫折他們的角。 |
8With his every deed he offered thanks to God Most High, in words of praise. With his whole being he loved his Maker and daily had his praises sung; |
| 9他以自己的一切行為感謝聖者，以讚揚的詞句歌頌至高者； |
9He added beauty to the feasts and solemnized the seasons of each year With string music before the altar, providing sweet melody for the psalms |
| 10他全心歌頌及愛慕創造者，即那賜他能力抵抗仇敵的天主。 |
10So that when the Holy Name was praised, before daybreak the sanctuary would resound. |
| 11他叫人在祭壇前歌詠奏樂，以優美的聲音，唱出悅耳的歌曲，每日按時歌唱聖詠。 |
11The LORD forgave him his sins and exalted his strength forever; He conferred on him the rights of royalty and established his throne in Israel. |
| 12他增加了慶節的盛況，使慶典隆重壯觀，使讚美上主聖名的聲音，從清晨就嚮徹聖殿。 |
12 Because of his merits he had as his successor a wise son, who lived in security: |
| 13上主赦免了他的罪過，永遠高舉了他的角，與他立了為王的盟約，使他在以色列獲得光榮的寶座。 |
13SOLOMON reigned during an era of peace, for God made tranquil all his borders. He built a house to the name of God, and established a lasting sanctuary. |
| 14繼達味興起了一位明智的兒子，他因了父親的緣故，生活很安適。 |
14How wise you were when you were young, overflowing with instruction, like the Nile in flood! |
| 15撒羅滿為王時，正當太平時代，天主使四周安寧，為叫他給自己的聖名，建立一座殿宇，預備一個永遠的聖所。撒羅滿啊！你年輕時，是何等聰明！ |
15Your understanding covered the whole earth, and, like a sea, filled it with knowledge. |
| 16你洋溢智慧，有如江河；你的精神籠罩大地； |
16Your fame reached distant coasts, and their peoples came to hear you; |
| 17你用含有寓意的箴言，廣傳於大地；你的名聲傳至遼遠的島嶼；因你的和平，人人都喜愛你； |
17With song and story and riddle, and with your answers, you astounded the nations. |
| 18因你的詩歌、箴言、寓言，你贏得了天下萬邦的讚嘆； |
18 You were called by that glorious name which was conferred upon Israel. Gold you gathered like so much iron, you heaped up silver as though it were lead; |
| 19因上主天主的名，即因稱為以色列的天主的名， |
19But you abandoned yourself to women and gave them dominion over your body. |
| 20你積金如錫，蓄銀似鉛。 |
20You brought dishonor upon your reputation, shame upon your marriage, Wrath upon your descendants, and groaning upon your domain; |
| 21此後，你將你的腰委諸婦女，讓她們霸佔你的身體； |
21Thus two governments came into being, when in Ephraim kingship was usurped. |
| 22你玷污了你的尊榮，凌辱了你的床笫，給你的子孫召來了義怒；讓他們慨嘆你的愚昧！ |
22But God does not withdraw his mercy, nor permit even one of his promises to fail. He does not uproot the posterity of his chosen one, nor destroy the offspring of his friend. So he gave to Jacob a remnant, to David a root from his own family. |
| 23從此國家分裂為二，從厄弗辣因興起了一個叛亂的王國。 |
23 Solomon finally slept with his fathers, and left behind him one of his sons, Expansive in folly, limited in sense, REHOBOAM, who by his policy made the people rebel; Until one arose who should not be remembered, the sinner who led Israel into sin, Who brought ruin to Ephraim |
| 24但是上主決不放棄自己的仁慈，不破壞，也不廢棄自己的任何工作，不滅絕自己所選者的子孫，不剷除敬愛上主的苗裔； |
24and caused them to be exiled from their land. Their sinfulness grew more and more, |
| 25他賜給雅各伯一個餘子，賜給達味一個由他發出的苗裔。 |
25 and they lent themselves to every evil, |
| 26撒羅滿終於與他的祖先長眠。 |
26 |
| 27身後從他後裔中，留下了一個人民中最愚昧無知， |
27 |
| 28用自己的計謀，使百姓造反的勒哈貝罕， |
28 |
| 29和一個引以色列犯罪，給厄弗辣因開犯罪之路的乃巴特之子雅洛貝罕。他們二人都惡貫滿盈， |
29 |
| 30人就把他們逐出本國。 |
30 |
| 31他們企圖犯各種罪惡，直至懲罰臨到他們身上為止。最後天主又從各種罪惡中救出他們。 |
31 |
