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Sirach 1 The poor man's wisdom lifts his head high and sets him among princes. 谦虚人的智慧，必使他抬头，也必使他坐于伟人之中。 2 Praise not a man for his looks; despise not a man for his appearance. 不要因人美丽便赞美他，也不要因一个人的外表而轻视他。 3 Least is the bee among winged things, but she reaps the choicest of all harvests. 飞虫中，蜜蜂是微小的，但她的产品，却是最甘饴的。 4 Mock not the worn cloak and jibe at no man's bitter day: For strange are the works of the LORD, hidden from men his deeds. 在穿衣上，不要打扮；光荣之日，不要自大；因为上主的工程，虽是惊人的，光荣的，但他的行动在人间，却是隐匿不现的。 5 1 The oppressed often rise to a throne, and some that none would consider wear a crown. 许多暴君竟坐在地下；人不介意的人，反戴上了王冠。 6 The exalted often fall into utter disgrace; the honored are given into enemy hands. 许多有权势的人，遭受了极大的凌辱；许多有声望的人，陷落在外邦人的手里。 7 2 Before investigating, find no fault; examine first, then criticize. 未询问以前，不可责斥人，先要问明白，然后公正地加以责斥。 8 Before hearing, answer not, and interrupt no one in the middle of his speech. 未听以前，不可作覆；人家正在谈论中，你不要插嘴。 9 Dispute not about what is not your concern; in the strife of the arrogant take no part. 与你无关的事，你不要争辩，也不要参加罪人的诉讼。 10 My son, why increase your cares, since he who is avid for wealth will not be blameless? Even if you run after it, you will never overtake it; however you seek it, you will not find it. 我儿，你的工作不要繁多，若事情太多，难免没有过失；如果你急于进取，就什么也得不到；如你过于急进，就免不了受害。 11 One may toil and struggle and drive, and fall short all the more. 有一个不虔敬的人劳苦，殷勤操作，忍痛耐劳，却更加贫乏。 12 Another goes his way a weakling and a failure, with little strength and great misery-- Yet the eyes of the LORD look favorably upon him; he raises him free of the vile dust, 13 Lifts up his head and exalts him to the amazement of the many. 使他抬头，使许多人对他表示惊奇，因而尊敬天主。 14 3 Good and evil, life and death, poverty and riches, are from the LORD. 幸福、灾祸、生死、贫富，都来自上主。 15 4 Wisdom and understanding and knowledge of affairs, love and virtuous paths are from the LORD. 智慧、学识及法律的知识，来自上主；爱情与行善的工作，也是从他那里而来的。 16 Error and darkness were formed with sinners from their birth, and evil grows old with evildoers. 错谬与黑暗，是为罪人而造的；以恶为荣的，越老越恶。 17 The LORD'S gift remains with the just; his favor brings continued success. 上主的恩惠，常是留给虔敬的人；他的恩宠使虔敬的人永远顺利。 18 A man may become rich through a miser's life, and this is his allotted reward: 有人因节俭而成了富翁，这算是他应得的赏报： 19 5 When he says: ＂I have found rest, now I will feast on my possessions,＂ He does not know how long it will be till he dies and leaves them to others. 于是他说：＂我找着了安息，现在我要享用我的财物了。＂但是，他不知道自己还生存多少日子，死亡便临近了，他就该把这一切留给别人而死去。 20 My son, hold fast to your duty, busy yourself with it, grow old while doing your task. 你当遵守你与天主结的盟约，按照盟约生活，老于你的职守。 21 Admire not how sinners live, but trust in the LORD and wait for his light; For it is easy with the LORD suddenly, in an instant, to make a poor man rich. 22 God's blessing is the lot of the just man, and in due time his hopes bear fruit. 上主的降福，是虔敬人的赏报；上主使自己的降福倾刻之间即能开花。 23 Say not: ＂What do I need? What further pleasure can be mine?＂ 不要说：我在世上还有什么用处？今后，我还能有什么幸福呢？ 24 Say not: ＂I am independent. What harm can come to me now?＂ 不要说；我所有的够用的了，今后，还能有什么不幸降到我身上？ 25 The day of prosperity makes one forget adversity; the day of adversity makes one forget prosperity. 在幸福的日子，人忘却了不幸；在不幸的时候，人忘却了幸福。 26 6 For it is easy with the LORD on the day of death to repay man according to his deeds. 然而在死亡之日，依照人的行径报应人，为上主是一件容易事。 27 A moment's affliction brings forgetfulness of past delights; when a man dies, his life is revealed. 一时的忧苦，能使人忘掉已往的幸福；人一到临终，他的行为就暴露出来。 28 Call no man happy before his death, for by how he ends, a man is known. 任何人未死以前，不要称他是有福的，因为从他的子女，才能认识他的为人。 29 Bring not every man into your house, for many are the snares of the crafty one; 不要引人进入你的家庭，因为欺诈人的奸计，花样百出。 30 Though he seem like a bird confined in a cage, yet like a spy he will pick out the weak spots. 骄傲人的心，像臭腐了的五脏，发泄臭气，像被诱进樊笼里的鹧鸪，像陷在罗网里的山羊，像窥探别人，使人落网的侦探。 31 The talebearer turns good into evil; with a spark he sets many coals afire. 他设法把好事变成坏事，连最好的事，他也要非难。 32 The evil man lies in wait for blood, and plots against your choicest possessions. 一星之火，可以酿成燎原之火，由于一个诡计多端的人，流血的事件增多；犯罪的人图谋倾留人血。 33 Avoid a wicked man, for he breeds only evil, lest you incur a lasting stain. 要谨防作恶的人，因为他图谋邪恶的事，免得他加给你永远的耻辱。 34 Lodge a stranger with you, and he will subvert your course, and make a stranger of you to your own household. 若你在家收留外人，他必作乱推翻你，夺取你的家产。 Footnotes（注解） 1 [5] Cf 1 Sam 2:8; Psalm 105:17-22; Luke 1:52. 2 [7-25] Discretion regulates a man's conduct toward others and their affairs (Sirach 11:7-9); as regards his own interests, a man should avoid solicitude for the passing external benefits of life and property (Sirach 11:10-14, 18, 19, 21, 23-25) and cultivate the lasting inward gifts of wisdom and virtue (Sirach 11:15, 17, 20, 22). 3 [14] Divine Providence ultimately governs the lives of men. Evil: misfortune and calamity sent by God either in punishment or as an incentive to repentance or to greater virtue. 4 [15-16] Some ancient witnesses omit these two verses. 5 [19] Cf the parable of the rich man, Luke 12:16-21. 6 [26-28] Sirach, writing before Christian revelation, did not go beyond the hour of death to find full divine retribution. |
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