| 德訓篇 |
Sirach |
| 1敖尼雅的兒子，大司祭息孟，在世時，修理了上主的殿宇；在位時，鞏固了聖殿； |
1 The greatest among his brethren, the glory of his people, was SIMON the priest, son of Jochanan, In whose time the house of God was renovated, in whose days the temple was reinforced. |
| 2雙層的牆垣，聖殿周圍高大的支柱，都是他建造的； |
2In his time also the wall was built with powerful turrets for the temple precincts; |
| 3在他的任期內，挖鑿了蓄水池，水池廣大如海； |
3In his time the reservoir was dug, the pool with a vastness like the sea's. |
| 4他照顧自己的百姓，救他們脫免滅亡； |
4He protected his people against brigands and strengthened his city against the enemy. |
| 5他鞏固了城池，防備圍攻；他擴大了聖殿和庭院的入口。 |
5How splendid he was as he appeared from the tent, as he came from within the veil! |
| 6他如雲間的晨星，又如望日的圓月； |
6Like a star shining among the clouds, like the full moon at the holyday season; |
| 7他照耀人世，有如照耀至高者的聖殿的太陽； |
7Like the sun shining upon the temple, like the rainbow appearing in the cloudy sky; |
| 8他如雲彩中燦爛的虹霓，如春天的玫瑰花，如溪畔的百合，如夏天的黎巴嫩樹枝； |
8Like the blossoms on the branches in springtime, like a lily on the banks of a stream; Like the trees of Lebanon in summer, |
| 9他如烈火和香爐上的香料， |
9like the fire of incense at the sacrifice; Like a vessel of beaten gold, studded with precious stones; |
| 10如鑲有各種寶石的金製器皿； |
10Like a luxuriant olive tree thick with fruit, like a cypress standing against the clouds; |
| 11他如開花結果的橄欖樹，如高聳雲霄的扁柏。當他穿着榮耀的禮服，披上十分華美的裝飾， |
11Vested in his magnificent robes, and wearing his garments of splendor, As he ascended the glorious altar and lent majesty to the court of the sanctuary. |
| 12升到至聖的祭壇前時，使聖所的周圍牆壁上，也閃閃生光； |
12When he received the sundered victims from the priests while he stood before the sacrificial wood, His brethren ringed him about like a garland, like a stand of cedars on Lebanon; |
| 13當他從司祭們手中，取過一份祭肉，站在祭壇火爐旁，兄弟們環圍着他時，他像黎巴嫩山上的嫩香柏； |
13All the sons of Aaron in their dignity clustered around him like poplars, With the offerings to the LORD in their hands, in the presence of the whole assembly of Israel. |
| 14亞郎的眾子孫，盛裝華服，如棕櫚樹的枝條環繞着他， |
14Once he had completed the services at the altar with the arranging of the sacrifices for the Most High, |
| 15在全以色列的集會跟前，他們手中拿着奉獻給上主的祭品時，正是如此。 |
15And had stretched forth his hand for the cup, to offer blood of the grape, And poured it out at the foot of the altar, a sweet-smelling odor to the Most High God, |
| 16就伸手放在奠祭的爵上，然後取爵，奠祭葡萄酒， |
16The sons of Aaron would sound a blast, the priests, on their trumpets of beaten metal; A blast to resound mightily as a reminder before the Most High. |
| 17把酒倒在祭壇的根基上，獻給至高者，萬有的君王，當作悅意的馨香。 |
17Then all the people with one accord would quickly fall prostrate to the ground In adoration before the Most High, before the Holy One of Israel. |
| 18那時，亞郎的眾子孫，高聲歡呼，吹起用金屬打成的號角，發出嚮亮的聲音，使至高者聽見而記起自己的百姓； |
18Then hymns would re-echo, and over the throng sweet strains of praise resound. |
| 19那時，全體民眾一起急速俯伏在地，欽崇他們的上主天主，全能至高的天主； |
19All the people of the land would shout for joy, praying to the Merciful One, As the high priest completed the services at the altar by presenting to God the sacrifice due; |
| 20歌詠團高唱讚美歌，聲音宏亮悅耳； |
20Then coming down he would raise his hands over all the congregation of Israel. The blessing of the LORD would be upon his lips, the name of the LORD would be his glory. |
| 21民眾向至高的上主謝罪，在仁慈者面前祈禱，直到奉事上主的禮儀完畢，直到他們完成自己的任務為止。 |
21Then again the people would lie prostrate to receive from him the blessing of the Most High. |
| 22以後，他便下來，向以色列子民全體會眾舉手；並親口將上主的祝福賜給他們，且因上主的名號而自豪； |
22 And now, bless the God of all, who has done wondrous things on earth; Who fosters men's growth from their mother's womb, and fashions them according to his will! |
| 23為領受至高者的祝福，百姓又俯伏在地，再舉行祈禱。 |
23May he grant you joy of heart and may peace abide among you; |
| 24現在，請你們讚頌萬有的天主，因為他在全世界，處處行了偉大的工程，他從我們還在母胎時，就增加了我們的歲月，按他的仁慈恩待了我們。 |
24May his goodness toward us endure in Israel as long as the heavens are above. |
| 25願他賜給我們愉快的心靈，並使以色列現時平安，永遠平安； |
25 My whole being loathes two nations, the third is not even a people: |
| 26願他的仁慈不離開我們，並在他指定的時日，拯救我們。願他的仁慈，常存在息孟身上，並與他立訂丕乃哈斯的盟約，這盟約要與他和他的後裔，永存不滅，如天之永恆。 |
26 Those who live in Seir and Philistia, and the degenerate folk who dwell in Shechem. |
| 27有兩個民族是我心中所憎恨的，而第三個是一個不成民族的民族，我也恨她： |
27 Wise instruction, appropriate proverbs, I have written in this book, I, Jesus, son of Eleazar, son of Sirach, as they gushed forth from my heart's understanding. |
| 28她們就是住在色依爾山上的民族，和培肋舍特人，以及那住在舍根的愚昧民族。 |
28Happy the man who meditates upon these things, wise the man who takes them to heart! |
| 29我耶路撒冷人息辣厄肋阿匝爾的兒子耶穌，在這本書裏，寫了一些關於智慧和知識的道理，智慧乃由我心中湧出。 |
29If he puts them into practice, he can cope with anything, for the fear of the LORD is his lamp. |
| 30注意這些事的人，是有福的；心中思念這些事的，必成為智者； |
30 |
| 31實行這些事的，他必是無所不能的，因為上主的光明，是他的嚮導。 |
31 |
