| 德训篇 | Sirach |
|---|
| 1不要同有权势的人争吵，免得你落在他的手中。 | 1Do not argue with a powerful man lest you fall into his hands. |
| 2不要同富贵人争执，怕他用财势来反对你； | 2Do not quarrel with a rich man lest he throw his weight into the scale against you. |
| 3因为金银败坏了许多人，连君王的心，也受了金银的迷惑。 | 3Do not argue with a talkative person; do not heap up wood on his fire. |
| 4不要同饶舌的人争辩，也不要在他的火上添柴。 | 4Do not joke with an ignorant man for fear your ancestors will be insulted. |
| 5不要同粗暴的人开玩笑，免得你的祖先受到耻辱。 | 5Do not offend the man who repents of his sins, remember that we are all deserving punishment. |
| 6人若改恶迁善，你不要嘲笑他，也不要责斥他；该记住：我们都是应受责罚的罪人。 | 6Do not despise a man in his old age, because we ourselves will grow old. |
| 7不要轻慢老人，因为我们将来也要成为老人。 | 7Do not rejoice at the death of any man, remember that we shall all die. |
| 8一个仇人死了，不要喜欢；该记住：我们都要死。我们也不愿别人，见我们死了而喜欢。 | 8Do not neglect the teaching of the wise, apply yourself well to their precepts. Through them you will learn how to live and how to serve the great. |
| 9不要轻忽明智长老的教训，要反复玩味他们的名言； | 9Do not set aside the teachings of the elders for they also learnt it from their fathers; they will open up your understanding and enable you to reply at the right moment. |
| 10因为从他们那里，你可以学得教训，及明智的至理，好能从容地服事王侯。 | 10Do nothing to arouse the sinner for fear of being burned by the flames of his fire. |
| 11不要忽略长老的传授，因为他们也是从祖先学来的； | 11Do not annoy the angry man for fear that he will twist your words to his own advantage. |
| 12从他们那里，你能学得明智，在需要时，你便能自知解答。 | 12Do not lend to those more powerful than yourself; if you have lent anything, consider it as lost. |
| 13不要点燃罪人的煤炭，申斥他们，免得你被他的火焰烧伤。 | 13Do not stand surety beyond your means; if you have done so, be ready to pay. |
| 14不要对傲慢人生气，免得他吹毛求疵，陷害你。 | 14Do not go to law with a judge because, due to his position, judgment will be given in his favor. |
| 15不要借钱给比你有权势的人；你若借钱给他，就等于丢了。 | 15Do not travel with an adventurer lest he impose himself on you and, as he does whatever he pleases, you both perish through his folly. |
| 16担保不要超过你的力量；假使你作了保，你该想你已成了债户。 | 16Do not quarrel with a bad-tempered person nor get involved with him in a lonely place; blood counts for little in his eyes and, when he sees you defenseless, he will attack you. |
| 17不要同判官诉讼，因为人审判他时，必顾全他的面子。 | 17Do not take counsel with a fool because he will not be able to remain silent about what you have said. |
| 18不要同冒失的人一起走路，怕他加给你困难，因为他任意行动，你必因他的鲁奔，而与他一起丧亡。 | 18Do nothing which should be secret before a stranger because you do not know how he will react. |
| 19不要同容易愤怒的人吵架；不要同他走入旷野，因为在他眼中，流血是不算什么的；在没有人帮助你的地方，他就要杀害你。 | 19Do not reveal your secrets to any man, he will not be grateful to you for doing so. |
| 20不要同鲁莽人商量事情，因为他不会严守秘密。事情一不称心，他就不喜爱。 | 20 |
| 21在外人面前，不可作你想隐瞒的事，因为你不知道，这事会发生什么结果。 | 21 |
| 22若你不愿招致祸患而受辱，就不要向人人表露你的心事。 | 22 |
