| 德訓篇 |
Sirach |
| 1不要因言語不慎，將友誼變成仇恨；因為，有惡名的人，必蒙羞受辱；一口兩舌的罪人，也是如此。 |
1 Say nothing harmful, small or great; be not a foe instead of a friend; A bad name and disgrace will you acquire: "That for the evil man with double tongue!" |
| 2不要放縱你的情慾，免得你的情慾，因了糊塗，像牛犢一樣，消耗你的氣力； |
2Fall not into the grip of desire, lest, like fire, it consume your strength; |
| 3吃盡你的葉子，摧殘你的果實，拋棄你，如同一棵曠野裏的枯樹。 |
3Your leaves it will eat, your fruits destroy, and you will be left a dry tree, |
| 4邪惡的情慾，要滅絕懷有情慾的人，使他成為仇人的話柄，使他的命運與不虔敬者相同。 |
4For contumacious desire destroys its owner and makes him the sport of his enemies. |
| 5親切溫柔的言語，能使友人增多，並能感化仇人；同情的話，能使友好的往來敦厚。 |
5 A kind mouth multiplies friends, and gracious lips prompt friendly greetings. |
| 6與你要好的人應多，然而作你參謀的，只千中取一。 |
6Let your acquaintances be many, but one in a thousand your confidant. |
| 7如要交友，先要考驗，不要立刻信任他。 |
7When you gain a friend, first test him, and be not too ready to trust him |
| 8因為有的人，只是一時的朋友；在你困難的日子，就不見了。 |
8For one sort of friend is a friend when it suits him, but he will not be with you in time of distress. |
| 9有的朋友，一旦變成仇人，就把你爭執的事和仇恨，洩漏出來，為凌辱你。 |
9Another is a friend who becomes an enemy, and tells of the quarrel to your shame. |
| 10有的人是酒肉朋友，在你困難的日子，就不見了。 |
10Another is a friend, a boon companion, who will not be with you when sorrow comes. |
| 11你幸福的時候，他和你同心，對你的僕婢，也任意使喚； |
11When things go well, he is your other self, and lords it over your servants; |
| 12若你遭了難，他就翻臉攻擊你，迴避你。但對於良好的友誼，你應恆一不變。 |
12But if you are brought low, he turns against you and avoids meeting you. |
| 13你當遠離你的仇人，慎重對待你的朋友。 |
13Keep away from your enemies; be on your guard with your friends. |
| 14忠實的朋友，是穩固的保障；誰尋得了他，就是尋得了寶藏。 |
14A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter; he who finds one finds a treasure. |
| 15忠實的朋友，是無價之寶，他的高貴無法衡量：金銀也比不上他忠實的美好。 |
15A faithful friend is beyond price, no sum can balance his worth. |
| 16忠實的朋友，是生命和不死的妙藥；惟有敬畏上主的人，才能尋得。 |
16A faithful friend is a life-saving remedy, such as he who fears God finds; |
| 17敬畏上主的人，才有真正的友誼，因為他怎樣，他的朋友也怎樣。 |
17For he who fears God behaves accordingly, and his friend will be like himself. |
| 18我兒，從你幼年時起，就應接受教訓；如此，直到老年，必能尋得智慧。 |
18 My son, from your youth embrace discipline; thus will you find wisdom with graying hair. |
| 19你要親近她，就如耕田和播種的人，等待她的美果； |
19As though plowing and sowing, draw close to her; then await her bountiful crops. |
| 20因為，你用智慧去工作，用功不久，很快就可吃她的出產。 |
20For in cultivating her you will labor but little, and soon you will eat of her fruits. |
| 21智慧為不肯受教的人，是酸苦的；愚昧的人，不會與智慧常久相處， |
21How irksome she is to the unruly! The fool cannot abide her. |
| 22因為，智慧有如放在愚昧人身上的重石，他決不會遲延拋棄她。 |
22She will be like a burdensome stone to test him, and he will not delay in casting her aside. |
| 23原來智慧的含義，正如她的名字，明白的人不多。但認識她的人，她必與他相處，直到天主面前。 |
23 For discipline is like her name, she is not accessible to many. |
| 24我兒，你當聽取和接受我的智謀，不要拒絕我的忠告。 |
24Listen, my son, and heed my advice; refuse not my counsel. |
| 25把她的腳鐐扣在你腳上，將她的枷鎖套在你的頸上。 |
25Put your feet into her fetters, and your neck under her yoke. |
| 26要放低你的肩膀，肩起她來，不要因她的束縛而煩惱。 |
26Stoop your shoulders and carry her and be not irked at her bonds. |
| 27要全心親近她，全力遵循她的道路。 |
27With all your soul draw close to her; with all your strength keep her ways. |
| 28要研究她，尋求她，她必把自己顯示給你；你一得了她，總不要離棄她； |
28Search her out, discover her; seek her and you will find her. Then when you have her, do not let her go; |
| 29因為，你終究要在她內尋着平安，她必變成你的喜樂。 |
29Thus will you afterward find rest in her, and she will become your joy. |
| 30於是，她的腳鐐，要成為你有力的護衛，堅固的基礎；她的枷鎖，要成為你光榮的服飾。 |
30Her fetters will be your throne of majesty; her bonds, your purple cord. |
| 31她有黃金的美麗，她的束縛有如紫紅的織品。在她內，有生命的美麗；她的桎梏是有益的束縛。 |
31 You will wear her as your robe of glory, bear her as your splendid crown. |
| 32你要穿上她，作你美麗的服裝；戴上她，作你喜樂的冠冕。 |
32My son, if you wish, you can be taught; if you apply yourself, you will be shrewd. |
| 33我兒，你若願意，就可受教；你若專心，就會明智。 |
33If you are willing to listen, you will learn; if you give heed, you will be wise. |
| 34你若愛聽，就必得到智慧；你若側耳靜聽，必成為智慧的人。 |
34Frequent the company of the elders; whoever is wise, stay close to him. |
| 35你當常居於明智的長老之中，遇到有智慧的人，你應結識他。凡是天主的言語，你都要喜歡恭聽；對明哲的格言，不要輕忽。 |
35Be eager to hear every godly discourse; let no wise saying escape you. |
| 36假使你看見一個有智慧的人，你要及早前去拜訪，你的腳要磨光他的門限。 |
36If you see a man of prudence, seek him out; let your feet wear away his doorstep! |
| 37你當默想上主的誡命，時常留心他的法令；如此，他必會堅固你的心，賜給你所希望的智慧。 |
37Reflect on the precepts of the LORD, let his commandments be your constant meditation; Then he will enlighten your mind, and the wisdom you desire he will grant. |
