| 德训篇 | Sirach |
|---|
| 1永生的天主，一举而创造了万物，惟有上主堪称是正义的，永远是常胜的君王。 | 1He who lives forever created all without exception. |
| 2无人能详述他的化工； | 2The Lord alone will be found righteous. |
| 3谁能穷究他的伟大？ | 3He has made no one powerful enough to proclaim his works; who then, will reveal his marvels? |
| 4谁能述尽他威严的权力？谁能说完他的仁慈？ | 4Who can calculate the power of his majesty and relate his great goodness? |
| 5上主的奇妙化工，人不能增损，也无法穷究。 | 5Nothing can be added to him or taken away; no one can fathom the wonders of the Lord. |
| 6当人以为完毕时，他却正在开始；当人以为停止时，却仍感到迷惑。 | 6When man thinks he has finished, then he is only beginning and when he stops he is puzzled by it all. |
| 7人是什么，他有什么用途？对于天主，他有什么好处，有什么害处？ | 7What is man? What is his purpose? What is the good in him and what the bad? |
| 8人的年龄，至多一百岁，就像海水的一滴，沙中的一粒，在永远的日子里，连一千年，也不过如此。 | 8Take the length of his life: a hundred years is long. |
| 9为此，上主忍耐他们，在他们身上倾注自己的仁慈。 | 9Like a drop of water from the sea, a grain of sand, such are his few years compared with eternity. |
| 10他明见而且深知，他们的结局是凶恶的，知道他们的灭亡是悲惨的。 | 10For this reason, the Lord has patience with them and pours out his mercy on them. |
| 11为此，天主对他们大加宽恕，给他们指出正义的途径。 | 11He sees and realizes how miserable their end is and so he heaps his forgiveness upon them. |
| 12人的慈爱只朝向自己的近人，而上主的怜爱，却临于一切有血肉的人。 | 12Man's mercy is for his neighbor but the compassion of the Lord reaches all people; he rebukes, corrects, teaches and brings back his flock like a shepherd. |
| 13怀有仁慈的上主，劝告、惩戒、教训世人，领他们回来，正如牧人领回自己的羊群。 | 13He takes pity on those who accept correction and eagerly seek his will. |
| 14领受他的教导，和渴慕他判断的人，他必加以怜悯。 | 14My son, do not mix your favors with unkind remarks or your gifts with bitter words. |
| 15我儿，你救济时，不要加以责斥；你施惠时，不要说使人伤心的话。 | 15Does not dew temper the heat? So, too, a kind word is much better than a gift. |
| 16露水不是可以消除炎热吗？同样，一句好话比恩惠更快人心。 | 16The gift is not as valuable as the words which accompany it, but a generous man brings both. |
| 17一句好话，不是胜过恩惠吗？但是，只有仁爱的人，才能作到这两点。 | 17The fool intends to please but insults, a grudging man's gift makes the eyes smart. |
| 18愚人只会无礼责斥人；悭吝人的恩惠，使人目光消沉。 | 18Find out the facts before you speak; look after yourself before you become ill. |
| 19在审判以前，你要具备正义感，在讲话以前，应先学习。 | 19Examine yourself before judgment comes and, on the day of God's visitation, you will be forgiven. |
| 20在未病以前，应善自珍重。在审判以前，应审察自己，这样，当天主来视察你的时候，你必能寻获宽恕。 | 20Humble yourself before you become ill and show repentance for your sins. |
| 21在未病之先，你要谦卑自下；在有罪的时候，要表示忏悔。 | 21Let nothing prevent you from fulfilling your vow on time; do not wait until death to put things in order. |
| 22不要让什么阻碍你指定的时期还愿，也不要等到临死才行义，因为天主的赏报永远存在。 | 22Prepare yourself before praying and do not be one of those who tempt the Lord. |
| 23在许愿以前，你应善自准备，免得你像是一个试探上主的人。 | 23Keep in mind the justice of the last days; God will turn his face from you on the day of vengeance. |
| 24你要思念天主在末日的震怒，和他报复时，转面不顾。 | 24When you experience abundance, remember the days of famine; when you enjoy riches, think of poverty and misery. |
| 25丰收时，要记得饥荒时；富裕时，要想到穷困时。 | 25Time slips by between morning and evening, all things pass quickly before the Lord. |
| 26从早到晚，时辰更替，在上主面前，一切都要迅速过去。 | 26The prudent man is cautious in everything; when sin abounds he will keep away from wrongdoing. |
| 27明智人凡事谨慎，在易犯罪的日子，必然小心而不犯罪。 | 27Every sensible man recognizes wisdom and respects those who obtain her. |
| 28凡是智慧的人，都认识智慧；找着她的人，智慧必加以称许。 | 28Those who speak sensibly are wise, and marvelous sayings flow from them. |
| 29明白箴言的，就是智慧人，他们懂得真理与正义，并且流露出卓绝的格言。 | 29Do not let your passions rule you and restrain your desires. |
| 30不要顺从你的欲情，要抑制你的欲望。 | 30If you satisfy your lusts you will make yourself the laughingstock of your enemies. |
| 31假使你满足你的情欲，它必使你成为你敌人的笑柄。 | 31Do not take pleasure in great luxury, lest you become impoverished by its expense. |
| 32不要喜爱奢侈的生活，也不要加入这样的集会。在集会中，不拘人多少，你也不要找寻快乐，因为在那里，人总不免沾染罪恶。 | 32Do not impoverish yourself by feasting on credit when you have nothing in your pocket. |
| 33几时你囊中一无所有，不要借贷设宴，而使你陷于穷困；否则，便是苦害你的生命。 | 33 |
