第64章 商业上的诚实
§1
第64章 商业上的诚实
§2
Chap. 64 - Business Integrity
§3
《圣经》是商业原理之源——《圣经》对于各项正当的事务无不提供必需的准备。其中所论关于殷勤、诚实、俭约、节制与廉洁等原理，乃为真正成功的秘诀。这些原理记载在箴言书上，构成了一个实际智慧的宝库。一般商人，技师，以及任何部门事业的领袖，除了从这位智慧者所说的箴言之外，还能从何处为自己和自己所雇佣的职工找到更好的格言呢？[1]
§4
The Bible a Source Book of Business Principles.-- There is no branch of legitimate business for which the Bible does not afford an essential preparation. Its principles of diligence, honesty, thrift, temperance, and purity are the secret of true success. These principles, as set forth in the Book of Proverbs, constitute a treasury of practical wisdom. Where can the merchant, the artisan, the director of men in any department of business, find better maxims for himself or for his employees than are found in these words of the wise man: {AH 391.1}[1]
§5
“你看见办事殷勤的人么？他必站在君王面前；必不站在下贱人面前。”[2]
§6
Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men. {AH 391.2}[2]
§7
“诸般勤劳，都有益处；嘴上多言，乃致穷乏。”[3]
§8
In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury. {AH 391.3}[3]
§9
“懒惰人羡慕，却无所得。”[4]
§10
The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing. {AH 391.4}[4]
§11
“好酒贪食的，必致贫穷；好睡觉的，必穿破烂衣服。”……[5]
§12
The drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags. . . . {AH 391.5}[5]
§13
人若注意《圣经》所一再郑重提述的警告，就可以在经济上逃避多少次的失败和破产啊：[6]
§14
How many a man might have escaped financial failure and ruin by heeding the warnings so often repeated and emphasized in the Scriptures: {AH 391.6}[6]
§15
“想要急速发财的，不免受罚。”[7]
§16
He that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent. {AH 391.7}[7]
§17
“不劳而得之财，必然消耗，勤劳积蓄的，必见加增。”[8]
§18
Wealth gotten in haste shall be diminished; but he that gathereth by labor shall have increase. {AH 391.8}[8]
§19
“用诡诈之舌求财的，就是自己取死；所得之财，乃是吹来吹去的浮云。”[9]
§20
The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death. {AH 391.9}[9]
§21
“欠债的是债主的仆人。”[10]
§22
The borrower is servant to the lender. {AH 391.10}[10]
§23
“为外人作保的，必受亏损；恨恶击掌的，却得安稳。”[11]
§24
He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hateth suretiship is sure. {AH 391.11}[11]
§25
第八条诫命……明定偷窃与抢劫为罪恶的行为。它命令人类在生活的调节上保持严格的诚实。它禁止商业上的欺诈行为，命令人清偿正常的债务与应付的工价。[12]
§26
The eighth commandment condemns . . . theft and robbery. It demands strict integrity in the minutest details of the affairs of life. It forbids overreaching in trade and requires the payment of just debts or wages. {AH 392.1}[12]
§27
心志与品格因不诚实而败坏——他（说谎或行诡诈的人）丧失了他的自尊心。他也许没有发觉上帝正俯视着他，也洞悉他每一项商业上的交易，有圣天使在那里衡量他的动机，聆听他的言谈，而他的报应将照他自己的作为而定；纵使他能隐藏错行，避过了世人和神圣的鉴察，然而他自己明白：这一切仍必败坏他的心志与品格。当然，一次行动并不能决定品格，但保障既已攻破，就易于接受下一次的试探，终至养成商业上说谎和不诚实的习惯，那人就不堪信任了。[13]
§28
Mind and Character Degraded by Dishonesty.-- He [one who utters falsehood or practices deception] loses his own self-respect. He may not be conscious that God sees him and is acquainted with every business transaction, that holy angels are weighing his motives and listening to his words, and that his reward will be according to his works; but if it were possible to conceal his wrongdoing from human and divine inspection, the fact that he himself knows it is degrading to his mind and character. One act does not determine the character, but it breaks down the barrier, and the next temptation is more readily entertained, until finally a habit of prevarication and dishonesty in business is formed, and the man cannot be trusted. {AH 392.2}[13]
§29
我们对人若惯作细微的不诚实，或是大胆的欺诈，那么对上帝也必如此。人若执意不革除不诚实的毛病，而一直维持这样的作风，终必欺哄了自己的心灵，丧失了天国和永远的生命。他们牺牲了名誉与宗教信仰，仅为获取些许属世的利益。[14]
§30
As we deal with our fellow men in petty dishonesty or in more daring fraud, so will we deal with God. Men who persist in a course of dishonesty will carry out their principles until they cheat their own souls and lose heaven and eternal life. They will sacrifice honor and religion for a small worldly advantage. {AH 392.3}[14]
§31
避免欠债——许多穷困家庭之所以穷困，乃是因为他们钱一到手便立即用完。[15]
§32
Shun Debt.--Many poor families are poor because they spend their money as soon as they receive it. {AH 392.4}[15]
§33
你必须认清：人不可以欠债的方式来处理他的事务。人若受债务缠身，就陷入了撒但为猎取生灵而设的一种网罗之中。在尚未赚到手之前就将钱作任何用途，都是一种网罗。[16]
§34
You must see that one should not manage his affairs in a way that will incur debt. . . . When one becomes involved in debt, he is in one of Satans nets, which he sets for souls. . . . {AH 392.5}[16]
§35
给一位入不敷出者的劝告——你不该使自己的经济陷于困境，因为欠债之事将削弱你的信心，并使人趋于沮丧；甚至想到这事也会使你几乎发狂。你必须减少花费，竭力补救你品格上的这个弱点。你可以而且应该作一番切实的努力，以控制这种不量入为出的习气。[17]
§36
Abstracting and using money for any purpose, before it is earned, is a snare. {AH 392.6}[17]
§37
上帝的圣工可能遭受羞辱——世人有权指望自称依照《圣经》而生活的基督徒们表现绝对的廉洁。由于一人漠然不清偿他理当归还的债务，全体教友都有被视为不可靠分子的危险。[18]
§38
Words to One Who Lived Beyond His Income.-- You ought not to allow yourself to become financially embarrassed, for the fact that you are in debt weakens your faith and tends to discourage you; and even the thought of it makes you nearly wild. You need to cut down your expenses and strive to supply this deficiency in your character. You can and should make determined efforts to bring under control your disposition to spend means beyond your income. {AH 393.1}[18]
§39
凡自命敬虔的人都当尊重自己宣称相信的真道，不因他们行为不慎而使真理招致毁谤的机会。使徒曾说：“凡事都不可亏欠人。”[19]
§40
The Cause of God May Be Reproached.--The world has a right to expect strict integrity in those who profess to be Bible Christians. By one mans indifference in regard to paying his just dues all our people are in danger of being regarded as unreliable. {AH 393.2}[19]
§41
忠告一个负债者——你应该下决心，再不要欠任何的债。宁可在凡事上克己自约，也比在债务中打滚好得多。欠债已成了你一生的祸害。你当避免负债，犹如避免染上天花一般。[20]
§42
Those who make any pretensions to godliness should adorn the doctrine they profess, and not give occasion for the truth to be reviled through their inconsiderate course of action. Owe no man any thing, says the apostle. {AH 393.3}[20]
§43
你当向上帝立下庄重的誓愿，要仰赖他所赐的福分而清偿债务，以后再不要欠任何人的债，即使只赖薄粥与面包过活也当如此。在预备膳食之际，很容易为多余的食物而花去两角五分钱。要谨慎零钱，因为整块的钱是自己会照顾自己的。那些随处随手花去的零星小钱很快就会集成大数。你当克己自约，尤其是当你正被债务所困的时候。不要犹豫、沮丧，或退后。要摒弃你的嗜好，不再放纵食欲，要尽力撙节开支，清偿积债。要尽速处理这些债务。等到你能恢复自由，不再欠任何人的债时，你便获得最大的胜利了。[21]
§44
Counsel to One in Debt.--Be determined never to incur another debt. Deny yourself a thousand things rather than run in debt. This has been the curse of your life, getting into debt. Avoid it as you would the smallpox. {AH 393.4}[21]
§45
体谅不幸负债的人——假若发现负债的人实在无力偿还，就不当逼他们去作力所不及的事。应当给他们方便的机会，等他们徐徐清偿，不要将他们置于完全无望脱离债务的困境。虽然那样作也许是公平的，但其中却没有一点怜悯之心，也没有上帝的爱。[22]
§46
Make a solemn covenant with God that by His blessing you will pay your debts and then owe no man anything if you live on porridge and bread. It is so easy in preparing your table to throw out of your pocket twenty-five cents for extras. Take care of the pennies, and the dollars will take care of themselves. It is the mites here and the mites there that are spent for this, that, and the other that soon run up into dollars. Deny self at least while you are walled in with debts. . . . Do not falter, be discouraged, or turn back. Deny your taste, deny the indulgence of appetite, save your pence, and pay your debts. Work them off as fast as possible. When you can stand forth a free man again, owing no man anything, you will have achieved a great victory. {AH 393.5}[22]
§47
采取极端立场的危险——有些不谨慎的人，甘愿背负原可避免的债务。但另有些人却又过于小心，甚至像缺少信心的样子。有时掌握着好机会，我们也可以投资而使上帝的圣工坚固并兴旺起来，同时仍能严格地维持正确的原则。[23]
§48
Show Consideration for Unfortunate Debtors.--If some are found to be in debt and really unable to meet their obligations, they should not be pressed to do that which is beyond their power. They should be given a favorable chance to discharge their indebtedness, and not be placed in a position where they are utterly unable to free themselves from debt. Though such a course might be considered justice, it is not mercy and the love of God. {AH 394.1}[23]