章节研读
Sirach 1 — The Origin of Wisdom and the Fear of the Lord
A prose preface defending the author's Greek translation is followed by a hymn that locates all wisdom in the Lord and repeatedly equates the fear of the Lord with wisdom itself.
经文
- 1.许多伟大的教导通过律法、先知和其他跟随他们的人传给了我们，因此我们应该赞美以色列的教诲和智慧；由于不仅读者自己应该获得理解，而且爱好学习的人也应该能够通过言语和文字帮助外人，因此我的祖父耶稣，在专门研读律法、先知和我们祖先的其他书籍之后，并在这些书籍中获得了相当的造诣，他自己也被引导去写一些关于教诲和智慧的东西，以便爱好学习的人通过学习这些也能在遵守律法的生活中取得更大的进步。因此，我敦促你们要带着美好的心意和专注来阅读，并在我们翻译时尽管勤勉但可能仍然有一些词句翻译得不够完美的地方，要表示宽容。因为原本用希伯来语表达的意思，当翻译成另一种语言时，意义并不是完全相同的。这不仅是这部作品的特点，连律法、预言和其他书籍在原本表达时也存在不少差异。当我在欧厄尔盖忒斯王在位的第三十八年来到埃及并停留了一段时间，我发现有机会获得不少教诲。我觉得我自己有必要花一些心思和劳力来翻译以下的书籍，在那段时间里我用了极大的警惕和技巧来完成和出版这本书，供居住在国外、希望获得知识并且有准备按照律法生活的人使用。 智慧的赞美 万般智慧都来自主，并且永远与他同在。Whereas many great teachings have been given to us through the law and the prophets and the others that followed them, on account of which we should praise Israel for instruction and wisdom; and since it is necessary not only that the readers themselves should acquire understanding but also that those who love learning should be able to help the outsiders by both speaking and writing, my grandfather Jesus, after devoting himself especially to the reading of the law and the prophets and the other books of our fathers, and after acquiring considerable proficiency in them, was himself also led to write something pertaining to instruction and wisdom, in order that, by becoming conversant with this also, those who love learning should make even greater progress in living according to the law. You are urged therefore to read with good will and attention, and to be indulgent in cases where, despite out diligent labor in translating, we may seem to have rendered some phrases imperfectly. For what was originally expressed in Hebrew does not have exactly the same sense when translated into another language. Not only this work, but even the law itself, the prophecies, and the rest of the books differ not a little as originally expressed. When I came to Egypt in the thirty-eighth year of the reign of Eu-er′getes and stayed for some time, I found opportunity for no little instruction. It seemed highly necessary that I should myself devote some pains and labor to the translation of the following book, using in that period of time great watchfulness and skill in order to complete and publish the book for those living abroad who wished to gain learning, being prepared in character to live according to the law. In Praise of Wisdom All wisdom comes from the Lord and is with him for ever.
- 2.海上的沙、雨的滴、和永远的日子——谁能计算它们呢？The sand of the sea, the drops of rain, and the days of eternity—who can count them?
- 3.天的高，地的阔，深渊，和智慧——谁能测透它们呢！The height of heaven, the breadth of the earth, the abyss, and wisdom—who can search them out?
- 4.智慧在万物之前被创造，谨慎的悟性源自永恒。Wisdom was created before all things, and prudent understanding from eternity.
- 6.智慧的根源——向谁显现过呢？她巧妙的作为——谁知道呢？The root of wisdom—to whom has it been revealed? Her clever devices—who knows them?
- 8.有一位是智慧的，非常可畏，坐在他的宝座上。There is One who is wise, greatly to be feared, sitting upon his throne.
- 9.主自己创造了智慧，他看见了她，并将她分配给所有受造之物，他将她倾倒在所有的作品中。The Lord himself created wisdom; he saw her and apportioned her, he poured her out upon all his works.
- 10.她按着他的恩赐住在众人中，并将她赐给那些爱他的人。She dwells with all flesh according to his gift, and he supplied her to those who love him.
- 11.敬畏耶和华是真智慧 敬畏耶和华是荣耀和欢乐，也是喜乐和欢欣的冠冕Fear of the Lord Is True Wisdom The fear of the Lord is glory and exultation, and gladness and a crown of rejoicing.
- 12.敬畏耶和华使人心喜乐，又使人得喜乐、快乐和长寿。The fear of the Lord delights the heart, and gives gladness and joy and long life.
- 13.敬畏上帝的人，结局必然好，在他死的那天必得福气。With him who fears the Lord it will go well at the end; on the day of his death he will be blessed.
- 14.敬畏上帝是智慧的起头，她与信徒一同在胎中被造。To fear the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; she is created with the faithful in the womb.
- 15.她在人间建立了永恒的基础，在他们的后代中将被信任。She made among men an eternal foundation, and among their descendants she will be trusted.
- 16.敬畏耶和华就是智慧，她使人满足于她的果实；To fear the Lord is wisdom’s full measure; she satisfies men with her fruits;
- 17.她用可羡慕的财物充满他们的家，用所产的粮食充满他们的仓库。she fills their whole house with desirable goods, and their storehouses with her produce.
- 18.敬畏上帝是智慧的冠冕，使和平与完美的健康繁荣。The fear of the Lord is the crown of wisdom, making peace and perfect health to flourish.
- 19.他看见她，给予她分量，降下知识和辨别的通达，使紧握她的得以高升她的荣耀。He saw her and apportioned her; he rained down knowledge and discerning comprehension, and he exalted the glory of those who held her fast.
- 20.敬畏上帝是智慧的根源，它的枝干就是长寿。To fear the Lord is the root of wisdom, and her branches are long life.
- 22.不义的愤怒是不能被辩解的，因为一个人的愤怒会导致他的毁灭。Unrighteous anger cannot be justified, for a man’s anger tips the scale to his ruin.
- 23.一个有耐心的人会等待到恰当的时刻，然后喜乐就会向他爆发出来。A patient man will endure until the right moment, and then joy will burst forth for him.
- 24.他会把言语藏在心里，直到适当的时候，然后许多人的嘴唇都会述说他的良善。He will hide his words until the right moment, and the lips of many will tell of his good sense.
- 25.在智慧的宝库中有智慧的言语，但虔诚的行为在罪人眼中是可憎的。In the treasuries of wisdom are wise sayings, but godliness is an abomination to a sinner.
- 26.如果你渴望智慧，就要遵守诫命，主会为你提供。If you desire wisdom, keep the commandments, and the Lord will supply it for you.
- 27.因为敬畏上帝就是智慧和训诫，他喜爱忠诚和谦卑。For the fear of the Lord is wisdom and instruction, and he delights in fidelity and meekness.
- 28.不要违背对主的敬畏，不要带着分心的心靠近他。Do not disobey the fear of the Lord; do not approach him with a divided mind.
- 29.在人前不要虚伪，并且要谨慎自己的言语。Be not a hypocrite in men’s sight, and keep watch over your lips.
- 30.不要自高自大，以免你跌倒，于是你会自取其辱。主会揭露你的隐秘，并会在众人中将你抛弃，因为你没有以敬畏主的态度来到他面前，你的心里充满了欺骗。Do not exalt yourself lest you fall, and thus bring dishonor upon yourself. The Lord will reveal your secrets and cast you down in the midst of the congregation, because you did not come in the fear of the Lord, and your heart was full of deceit.
这段经文的意思
Sirach 1 divides into two clearly marked halves. Verses 1–10 form a prose preface plus a poetic praise of wisdom: the author explains why a translation was needed (Hebrew originals lose exact sense in another language), then declares that wisdom was created before all things (verse 4), was poured out upon God's works (verse 9), and is supplied to those who love him (verse 10). The repeated verb 'created' (verses 4, 9, 14) presents wisdom as something brought into being by God, not as an attribute of God or a co-eternal person.
The second half (verses 11–30) is structured around the refrain 'the fear of the Lord.' This fear is called glory, gladness, a crown, the beginning of wisdom (verse 14), its full measure (verse 16), its crown (verse 18), and its root (verse 20). The chapter's logic is straightforward: wisdom comes from God, the fear of the Lord is how wisdom enters a human life, and obedience (verse 26: 'keep the commandments') is the practical form that fear takes. Verse 27 lists fidelity and meekness as what God delights in, linking wisdom to character.
The closing verses (22–30) shift from hymn to warning. Anger is condemned (verse 22), hypocrisy exposed (verse 29), and self-exaltation threatened with public downfall (verse 30). The reason given for judgment is the same opening theme: the person 'did not come in the fear of the Lord' and had a 'heart full of deceit' (verse 30). The chapter thus moves from the source of wisdom, to the path of wisdom, to the ruin that comes from rejecting it — all on the hinge term 'the fear of the Lord.'
背景
The provided full_chapter list is empty, so the context is drawn entirely from the verse text and the curated chapter note. The opening verse is unusually long for a chapter introduction: it functions as a translator's preface, paralleling in style the prefaces found in other Greek translations of Hebrew works. The author identifies himself as the grandson of Jesus, mentions arriving in Egypt in the thirty-eighth year of king Eu-er′getes, and explains that the Hebrew original loses precision in translation — a defense the writer expects some readers will need.
The chapter does not narrate events but sets the thematic foundation for the rest of Sirach: that all wisdom originates with God, is accessible through fearing the Lord, and is realized in keeping the commandments. The repeated equation of 'fear of the Lord' with wisdom itself establishes the keyword that recurs throughout the book.
常见问题
Why is Sirach 1 verse 1 so long compared to the other verses?
The first verse contains the author's preface rather than a single statement. It explains who wrote the book originally (his grandfather Jesus), why a Greek translation was produced, why translation inevitably changes the sense of Hebrew phrasing, and when in Egyptian royal chronology the author arrived. The remaining verses are short poetic lines that presuppose this preface has already been read.
Does Sirach 1 teach that wisdom is equal to God or co-eternal with God?
The chapter says wisdom was 'created' before all things (verse 4), was 'created with the faithful in the womb' (verse 14), and that 'the Lord himself created wisdom' (verse 9). The vocabulary of creation places wisdom among God's works — supplied to those who love him (verse 10) — rather than identifying wisdom as God's equal. The chapter locates the source of wisdom in the Lord, but presents wisdom itself as something brought into being by him.
How many times does 'the fear of the Lord' appear in Sirach 1, and why does it matter?
The phrase 'fear of the Lord' (or 'fear of the Lord' rendered as 'the fear of the Lord') anchors the second half of the chapter: verses 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 27, 28, and 30. Each occurrence ties a different result to this single posture — glory, gladness, blessing at death, the beginning of wisdom, wisdom's full measure, wisdom's crown, wisdom's root, fidelity and meekness, and the avoidance of hypocrisy and ruin. The repetition establishes the chapter's central claim: fearing the Lord is not one virtue among many but the form that wisdom takes in human life.