圣经阅读随笔1

《圣经》阅读随笔之一：披着狼皮的羊（ravening wolves in sheep’s clothing）！ 近有朋友问我，如何翻译“披着狼皮的羊”, 又问能否直接说“a wolf in sheep’s skin”？ 狼和羊这个意象在译文中肯定是可以而且应该保留的，因为这里面有个跨文化（universal）东西：狼吃羊，古今中外，概莫能外。但是，要是在美国的密苏里州（Missouri）或美国东北的新英格兰（New England）羊要吃狼, 那又另当别论。 此处翻译和写作的重点是，如何达“披着”和“皮”。无独有偶，在英语的《圣经》里面也有异曲同工之妙的表达方式: 《钦定版的圣经》 Mat7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Mat7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Mat7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? (Mat7:14-7:16, King James Bible) 《新合约本圣经》 Mat7:14 For the gate is narrow, and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it. Mat7:15 Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. Mat7:16 You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? (Mat7:14-7:16, New Revised Standard Version) 参考译文： （你们要进窄门；因为引领到灭亡，那门是宽的，路是大的，进去的人也多）引到永生，那门是窄的，路是小的，找着的人也少。 你们要防备假先知。他们到你们这里来，外面披着羊皮，里面却是残暴的狼。 凭着他们的果子，就可以认出他们来。荆棘上岂能摘葡萄呢？蒺藜里岂能摘无花果呢 由此可见，“披着狼皮的羊”在英语中最地道的说法是ravening wolves in sheep’s clothing, 其次是ravenous wolves in sheep’s clothing。 行文至此，笔者更加理解以前在读研时，教授我们加拿大文学的林必果老师为什么一再强调要读圣经，并且一定要读King James Bible（钦定版圣经）。两种版本的圣经一比较，高下立判。 下面请朋友们重点注意一下几处差别： 第一处：（注意此处的倒转和句子中心） 钦定版： Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. 合约本： For the gate is narrow, and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it. 第二处：（注意此处的ravening 和ravenous两个词语的差异。） 钦定版： Ravening wolves: 合约本： Ravenous wolves: 第三处：（注意此处shall 和will 的差别；以及后面那句的差异：尤其是那个介词of 和from） 钦定版： Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 合约本： You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? 未完待续！to be continued (接下来我会讨论这三处的差异，分享语言中的些许精妙之处。) 阿杰