A Story of the Angels　天使的故事

A Story of the Angels　天使的故事

◎ Jef Franssen

Two travelling angels stopped to spend the night in the home of a wealthy family. The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in the mansion’s guestroom. Instead the angels were given a small space in the cold basement. As they made their bed on the hard floor, the older angel saw a hole in the wall and repaired it. When the younger angel asked why, the older angel replied, “Things aren’t always what they seem.”

兩個旅途中的天使停在一戶富足的人家借宿。這家人很粗魯?shù)鼐芙^讓天使住在家里的客房中。他們把天使安排在冰冷的地下室的一個小角落里。當(dāng)他們在堅硬的地板上鋪床時，老天使發(fā)現(xiàn)墻上有一個洞，便順手把洞補(bǔ)好了。當(dāng)年輕的天使問其原因時，老天使回答：“事情并不總是如表面看上去那樣?！?

The next night the pair came to rest at the house of a very poor, but very hospitable farmer and his wife. After sharing what little food they had the couple let the angels sleep in their bed where they could have a good night’s rest. When the sun came up the next morning the angels found the farmer and his wife in tears. Their only cow, whose milk had been their sole income, lay dead in the field. The younger angel was infuriated and asked the older angel how could you have let this happen? The first man had everything, yet you helped him, she accused. The second family had little but was willing to share everything, and you let the cow die.

第二天晚上，這對天使到了一戶很窮但是很好客的農(nóng)夫家中。在與天使分享了夫婦二人僅有的一點兒食物后，這對夫婦讓天使睡自己的床，讓他們能好好地休息一晚。第二天太陽升起的時候，天使發(fā)現(xiàn)農(nóng)夫和妻子滿眼的淚水——他們唯一的奶牛死在了牧場里，而這是他們僅有的收入來源。年輕的天使怒不可遏，質(zhì)問老天使怎么不阻止這一切發(fā)生？第一個人擁有一切，但你卻幫了他，這第二戶人家很窮但卻愿意和人分享一切，而你卻沒有阻止他們的奶牛死去。

“Things aren’t always what they seem,” the older angel replied. “When we stayed in the basement of the mansion, I noticed there was gold stored in that hole in the wall. Since the owner was so obsessed with greed and unwilling to share his good fortune, I sealed the wall so he wouldn’t find it.”

“事情并不總是如表面看上去那樣，”老天使回答道?！爱?dāng)我們待在大房子的地下室里時，我注意到那面墻的洞里藏有金子。因為那家主人如此貪婪，而且不愿意和人分享他的錢財，所以我就把洞封上了，這樣他就找不到金子了?！?

“Then last night as we slept in the farmer’s bed, the angel of death came for his wife. I gave him the cow instead. Things aren’t always what they seem.”

“當(dāng)我們昨晚睡在農(nóng)夫的床上時，死亡之神來了并想帶走農(nóng)夫的妻子。我讓他帶走了奶牛以代替她。所以事情并不總是如表面看上去那樣?！?

Sometimes that is exactly what happens when things don’t turn out the way they should. If you have faith, you just need to trust that every outcome is always to your advantage. You might not know it until some time later...

有時事情的表面并不像應(yīng)該發(fā)生的那樣，而以上就是實際所發(fā)生的情況。如果你有誠心，你只需要堅信付出必定會有回報。只是需要過一段時間，你才能發(fā)現(xiàn)這一點……

Some people come into our lives and quickly go...

有些人只是我們生命中的匆匆過客……

Some people become friends and stay awhile...

有些成為了朋友，并在我們的生命中停留片刻……

Leaving beautiful footprints on our hearts...

在我們的心中留下了美麗的足跡……

And we are never quite the same because we have made a good friend!

我們絕不是一成不變的，因為我們交了一位好朋友！

Yesterday is history.

昨天已成歷史。

Tomorrow is a mystery.

明天還是謎團(tuán)。

Today is a gift.

今天是一份禮物。

That’s why it’s called the present!

這就是為什么今天被稱為現(xiàn)在。（英語中“現(xiàn)在”也有“禮物”之意。）

I think this life is special... live and savor every moment...

我相信此生是特別的……享受并品味每一時刻……

This is not a dress rehearsal!

生活不是一場時裝彩排！

Take this little angel and keep her close to you and she is your guardian angel sent to watch over you.

帶著這位小天使，和她親密地在一起，她是專門派來照看你的守護(hù)天使。

超多雙語閱讀，盡在聽力課堂