5.

Giving
GIBRAN

给予
纪伯伦
云天 译

Then said a rich man, "Speak to us of Giving."
一个富人接着说, “请给我们讲讲给予吧.”

And he answered:
他答道:

You give but little when you give of your possessions.
当你把自己的财产给人时, 你只是略微付出而已.

It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.
当你奉献自己时, 那才是真正的付出.

For what are your possessions but things you keep and guard for fear you may need them tomorrow?那么你的财产是什么呢? 不过是你担忧明天而看管的一些物品罢了.

And tomorrow, what shall tomorrow bring to the overprudent dog burying bones in the trackless sand as he follows the pilgrims to the holy city?
而明天, 明天会给那过份聪明的狗带来什么呢? 他把骨头埋在无痕的沙地里, 随朝圣者一路到圣城.

And what is fear of need but need itself?
需求的恐惧只是需求本身?

Is not dread of thirst when your well is full, thirst that is unquenchable?
当你的井盈满时, 那种对干渴的惮怕恐难以解除吧?

There are those who give little of the much which they have - and they give it for recognition and their hidden desire makes their gifts unwholesome.
有些人拥有很多, 却付出无几---- 且他们的付出只为求名, 他们暗藏的欲望使得他们的礼物不尽完美.

And there are those who have little and give it all.
有些人很拮据, 却倾其所有.

These are the believers in life and the bounty of life, and their coffer is never empty.
他们相信生命, 相信生命的慷慨, 他们的箱柜从不匮乏.

There are those who give with joy, and that joy is their reward.
有些人快乐地付出, 快乐便是他们的报酬.

And there are those who give with pain, and that pain is their baptism.
有些人痛苦地付出, 痛苦乃是他们的洗礼.

And there are those who give and know not pain in giving, nor do they seek joy, nor give with mindfulness of virtue;
有些人付出, 无给予之痛苦, 亦不求快乐, 也未满溢善心.

They give as in yonder valley the myrtle breathes its fragrance into space.
他们付出, 宛若远方山谷里的桃金娘向空中吐香.

Through the hands of such as these God speaks, and from behind their eyes He smiles upon the earth.
透过这些手, 神在说话; 在他们的眼睛后面, 神微笑着俯对大地.

It is well to give when asked, but it is better to give unasked, through understanding;
在被恳求时给予固然好, 但未受恳求, 因理解而给予, 则更加好.

And to the open-handed the search for one who shall receive is joy greater than giving
对于乐善好施者, 寻找接受者的快乐甚于给予的快乐.

And is there aught you would withhold?
有任何你需要保留的东西吗?

All you have shall some day be given;
你拥有的一切总有一天都要给出去,

Therefore give now, that the season of giving may be yours and not your inheritors'.
因此, 现在就给予吧,  趁给予的季节还属于你, 而非你的继承人.

You often say, "I would give, but only to the deserving."
你时常说, “我愿意给予, 却只给配受之人.”

The trees in your orchard say not so, nor the flocks in your pasture.
你果园里的树可不这么说, 你牧场里的牛羊也不这么说.

They give that they may live, for to withhold is to perish.
他们给予, 因而得以生存, 因为保留意味着消亡.

Surely he who is worthy to receive his days and his nights is worthy of all else from you.
一个配得上享有白天和黑夜的人, 当然值得接受你所馈赠的一切.

And he who has deserved to drink from the ocean of life deserves to fill his cup from your little stream.
一个配得上啜饮生命之洋的人, 配以你小溪中的水盛满他的杯子.

And what desert greater shall there be than that which lies in the courage and the confidence, nay the charity, of receiving?
还有什么美德比接受的勇气和信心, 且不说慈善, 更为博大呢?

And who are you that men should rend their bosom and unveil their pride, that you may see their worth naked and their pride unabashed?
你又是何人, 值得人们撕裂胸膛, 披露自尊, 以使你看见他们赤裸的价值和无愧的骄傲?

See first that you yourself deserve to be a giver, and an instrument of giving.
先看看你自己是否配得上做施与者, 和给予的器具.

For in truth it is life that gives unto life - while you, who deem yourself a giver, are but a witness.
因为事实上, 生命赋予生命--- 而你, 自以为是施主,只不过是证人而已.

And you receivers - and you are all receivers - assume no weight of gratitude, lest you lay a yoke upon yourself and upon him who gives.
你们这些接受者----你们都是接受者----不要扛起感恩的重负, 免得给自己同施与者加载.

Rather rise together with the giver on his gifts as on wings;
不如同施与者一起, 以他的礼物为翼, 驾羽而飞吧.

For to be overmindful of your debt, is to doubt his generosity who has the free-hearted earth for mother, and God for father.
若太在意你的债务, 就是怀疑那以坦诚大地为母, 以神为父的人的慷慨了.

蘇芮:奉獻

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dqo90MoaKA&feature=player_embedded#!