章节研读
Sirach 4: Care for the Poor and the Reward of Wisdom
Sirach 4 instructs the reader to relieve the poor without delay, to act justly, and to pursue wisdom, which first disciplines but then gladdens those who hold fast to her.
经文
- 1.对穷人和受压迫的人的责任 我的儿子，不要剥夺穷人生的权利，不要让需要帮助的人徒劳等待。Duties toward the Poor and the Oppressed My son, deprive not the poor of his living, and do not keep needy eyes waiting.
- 2.不要使饥饿的人忧闷，也不要使穷乏的人发怒。Do not grieve the one who is hungry, nor anger a man in want.
- 3.不要加剧愤怒心灵的烦恼，也不要延迟对乞丐的施舍。Do not add to the troubles of an angry mind, nor delay your gift to a beggar.
- 4.不要拒绝受苦的求助者，也不要偏头不顾穷人。Do not reject an afflicted suppliant, nor turn your face away from the poor.
- 5.不要偏眼看待穷人，也不要给人机会来咒骂你；Do not avert your eye from the needy, nor give a man occasion to curse you;
- 6.因为他在灵魂苦恼中若是向你祷告咒诅，造他的主必听他的祷告。for if in bitterness of soul he calls down a curse upon you, his Creator will hear his prayer.
- 7.在会众中使自己受爱戴，对有地位的人要谦卑自己。Make yourself beloved in the congregation; bow your head low to a great man.
- 8.向穷人倾听，平静温和地回答他。Incline your ear to the poor, and answer him peaceably and gently.
- 9.要从作恶的人手中解救受冤屈的人，不要在审判案件时胆怯。Deliver him who is wronged from the hand of the wrongdoer; and do not be fainthearted in judging a case.
- 10.做孤儿的父亲，做他们母亲的配偶，你将成为至高者的儿子，他将比你的母亲更爱你。Be like a father to orphans, and instead of a husband to their mother; you will then be like a son of the Most High, and he will love you more than does your mother.
- 11.智慧的赏赐 智慧使她的儿女们尊贵，并帮助寻求她的人。The Rewards of Wisdom Wisdom exalts her sons and gives help to those who seek her.
- 12.爱她的人便是爱生命，清早寻求她的人必然欢喜充满。Whoever loves her loves life, and those who seek her early will be filled with joy.
- 13.凡是扶持她的，必得荣耀，主也必赐福她所进入的地方。Whoever holds her fast will obtain glory, and the Lord will bless the place she enters.
- 14.侍奉她的，必侍奉至圣者，主爱那些爱她的人。Those who serve her will minister to the Holy One; the Lord loves those who love her.
- 15.听从她命令的人必审判万国，谁肯留心听从她，谁就必安居无虑。He who obeys her will judge the nations, and whoever gives heed to her will dwell secure.
- 16.如果他对她有信仰，他就会获得她；他的后代将永远拥有她。If he has faith in her he will obtain her; and his descendants will remain in possession of her.
- 17.起初她会让他走在曲折的道路上，她会给他带来恐惧和怯懦，并且会用她的管教折磨他，直到她信任他，并用她的律例考验他。For at first she will walk with him on tortuous paths, she will bring fear and cowardice upon him, and will torment him by her discipline until she trusts him, and she will test him with her ordinances.
- 18.然后她就会直接回到他身边，给他带来喜悦，并向他揭示她的秘密。Then she will come straight back to him and gladden him, and will reveal her secrets to him.
- 19.他若偏离正道，她必离弃他，将他交于祸患。If he goes astray she will forsake him, and hand him over to his ruin.
- 20.观察适当的时候，避免邪恶；不要使自己蒙羞。Observe the right time, and beware of evil; and do not bring shame on yourself.
- 21.因为有带来罪恶的羞耻，也有带来荣耀和恩惠的羞耻。For there is a shame which brings sin, and there is a shame which is glory and favor.
- 22.不要偏袒以至于自害，也不要阿谀以至于自毁。Do not show partiality, to your own harm, or deference, to your downfall.
- 23.不要在关键时刻保持沉默，也不要隐藏你的智慧。Do not refrain from speaking at the crucial time, and do not hide your wisdom.
- 24.智慧藉着言语而显现，教育藉着舌头的话语而彰显。For wisdom is known through speech, and education through the words of the tongue.
- 25.永不违背真理，但要谦虚以知自己的无知。Never speak against the truth, but be mindful of your ignorance.
- 26.不要以承认自己的罪过为耻，并且不要试图阻止河流的流动。Do not be ashamed to confess your sins, and do not try to stop the current of a river.
- 27.不要让自己受愚昧人的摆布，也不要对有权势的人偏袒。Do not subject yourself to a foolish fellow, nor show partiality to a ruler.
- 28.即使至死也要为真理奋斗，主上帝必为你争战。Strive even to death for the truth and the Lord God will fight for you.
- 29.不要在言语上鲁莽草率，也不要在行为上懒惰疏忽。Do not be reckless in your speech, or sluggish and remiss in your deeds.
- 30.在家里不要像狮子一样，在仆人面前不要挑剔。Do not be like a lion in your home, nor be a faultfinder with your servants.
- 31.不要伸出手来接受，却在还的时候缩回手去。Let not your hand be extended to receive, but withdrawn when it is time to repay.
这段经文的意思
The opening section frames care for the poor as a binding duty rather than a discretionary charity. The poor man's eyes, his hunger, and his curse-prayer are each treated as direct claims on the reader: withholding help provokes the afflicted, and the text warns that his Creator hears that prayer. Caring for the needy is therefore not only a social obligation but also a theological one, tied to the honor given to God and to the community ("Make yourself beloved in the congregation; bow your head low to a great man," Sirach 4:7).
The middle section personifies Wisdom as a teacher who forms her disciples. She first walks with the seeker on "tortuous paths," instilling fear and discipline (Sirach 4:17), but those who hold fast are promised glory, blessing, and security (Sirach 4:13-16). Wisdom is also presented as the content of speech: she becomes known through the tongue (Sirach 4:24), and her pursuit is tied to truth-telling, confession of sin, and readiness to speak at the right moment (Sirach 4:20-28).
The closing proverbs turn to social conduct and self-discipline. The reader is warned against partiality, reckless speech, domineering behavior in the home, and a readiness to receive without repaying (Sirach 4:22, 29-31). These short maxims fit the chapter's larger concern with reputation: the way one treats the poor, rulers, servants, and one's own tongue forms the kind of person Wisdom will trust.
背景
Sirach 4 belongs to the wisdom-collection in the book known in its Greek tradition as Ecclesiasticus and in the Hebrew tradition as Ben Sira. The curated note simply marks it as backfilled content, and no surrounding chapter text is provided here, so this page discusses the chapter on its own terms. Internally the chapter divides into three blocks: treatment of the poor (Sirach 4:1-10), the portrait of Wisdom and her discipline (Sirach 4:11-19), and shorter maxims on speech, judgment, and household conduct (Sirach 4:20-31).
The chapter continues themes already introduced in Sirach 1-3, especially the link between fearing the Lord and ordering one's life. Verses such as "he will love you more than does your mother" (Sirach 4:10) and "the Lord loves those who love her" (Sirach 4:14) show that benevolence toward the poor and loyalty to Wisdom are both framed as responses to God rather than as independent virtues.
常见问题
What are the two main topics of Sirach 4?
The chapter has two main topics: duties toward the poor and oppressed (Sirach 4:1-10), and the rewards and discipline of pursuing Wisdom (Sirach 4:11-19), followed by shorter maxims on conduct (Sirach 4:20-31).
Why does the text warn against making a poor man curse you?
The chapter warns that if an afflicted person calls down a curse in bitterness of soul, his Creator will hear his prayer (Sirach 4:6). Refusing help is therefore presented as something God takes seriously, not merely as a private social lapse.
Does Wisdom in Sirach 4 only bring immediate reward?
No. Sirach 4:17-19 describes Wisdom first walking with the seeker on tortuous paths and bringing fear, cowardice, and discipline, only afterwards coming straight back to gladden him and reveal her secrets. The chapter presents obedience to Wisdom as involving testing before reward.