English Original
A sparrow had four fledglings in a swallow's nest. When they were ready to fly, some naughty boys destroyed the nest. Fortunately, a strong wind carried all the young birds to safety. The father sparrow was grieved, for his sons had ventured into the world without his guidance on its many dangers.
In autumn, many sparrows gathered in a wheatfield. There, the old sparrow joyfully reunited with his four children and brought them home. "Ah, my dear sons," he said, "how I have worried all summer! You left without my teachings. Now, listen to your father and be cautious. Little birds face great perils!"
He then asked the eldest where he had spent the summer and how he had fed himself.
"I stayed in gardens," replied the eldest, "hunting for caterpillars and small worms until the cherries ripened."
"Titbits are tempting, my son," said the father, "but they come with risk. Be especially wary of people in gardens carrying long, hollow green poles with a small hole at the top."
"But father," asked the son, "what if a green leaf is stuck over the hole with wax?"
"Where did you see that?"
"In a merchant's garden."
"Ah," said the father, "merchants are clever folk. Since you've moved among worldly people, you've learned their cunning. Use it wisely, and never be overconfident."
Next, the father asked his second son, "Where did you stay?"
"At court," he answered.
"Sparrows are of little use there," warned the father. "It's a place of gold, velvet, silk, and dangerous birds of prey. Stay in the stables where oats are winnowed or threshed, and you may find your daily grain in peace."
"Yes, father," said the son, "but stable-boys set traps and snares in the straw, and many birds are caught."
"Where did you see this?"
"At court, among the stable-boys."
"Court boys are wicked!" exclaimed the father. "If you've been among lords and lost no feathers, you've learned much. But stay vigilant, for even the wisest dogs are devoured by wolves."
The father then turned to the third son. "Where did you find safety?"
"I foraged on cart-roads and highways," he said, "pecking at broken tubs and ropes, and sometimes finding a grain of corn or barley."
"That is fine fare," said the father, "but be watchful. Look around carefully, especially if you see someone stooping to pick up a stone. Then, you must flee quickly."
"That is true," replied the son, "but what if someone carries a rock or ore ready in his pocket?"
"Where have you seen that?"
"Among the mountaineers, dear father. They often carry bits of ore when they go out."
"Mountain folk are hardworking and clever," said the father. "You have learned from them, but beware. Many a sparrow has met a bad end from a mountain boy."
Finally, the father addressed his youngest, weakest son. "My dear chirping nestling, stay with me. The world is full of fierce birds with crooked beaks and long claws, waiting to swallow little ones like you. Stay with your own kind, pick spiders and caterpillars from trees or houses, and you will live in peace."
"My dear father," said the youngest, "he who feeds himself without harming others lives well. No hawk, eagle, or kite will hurt him if he commends himself and his lawful food to God each morning and evening. For God is the Creator and Preserver of all birds. He hears the cry of the young ravens, and not a single sparrow falls to the ground without His will."
"Where did you learn this?" asked the astonished father.
"When the great wind tore me from you," the son answered, "I came to a church. All summer, I picked flies and spiders from the windows and heard this teaching. The Father of all sparrows fed me and kept me safe from misfortune and fierce birds."
"Indeed, my son," said the father, "if you take refuge in churches, help clear away spiders and flies, cry to God like the young ravens, and commend yourself to the eternal Creator, all will be well with you—even if the whole world were full of wild, malicious birds."
He who to God commits his ways,
In silence suffers, waits, and prays,
Preserves his faith and conscience pure,
He is of God's protection sure.
中文翻译
一只麻雀在燕子的巢里养了四只雏鸟。当它们羽翼渐丰时，几个淘气的男孩捣毁了鸟巢。幸运的是，一阵强风将所有幼鸟安全地带走了。麻雀父亲很伤心，因为他的儿子们没有听取他关于世间种种危险的教导，就冒险闯入了世界。
秋天，许多麻雀聚集在一片麦田里。在那里，老麻雀高兴地与他的四个孩子重逢，并把它们带回家。"啊，我亲爱的儿子们，"他说，"整个夏天我多么担心啊！你们没有我的教导就离开了。现在，听父亲的话，要小心。小鸟面临着巨大的危险！"
接着，他问长子夏天在哪里度过，如何觅食。
"我待在花园里，"长子回答，"捕捉毛毛虫和小虫子，直到樱桃成熟。"
"美味固然诱人，我的儿子，"父亲说，"但也伴随着风险。要特别提防花园里那些拿着顶端有小孔的长长空心绿竿子的人。"
"但是父亲，"儿子问，"如果那个小孔用蜡粘了一片绿叶盖住了呢？"
"你在哪里看到的？"
"在一个商人的花园里。"
"啊，"父亲说，"商人是聪明人。既然你混迹于世俗人群，你已经学会了他们的狡黠。要明智地运用它，切勿过于自信。"
接着，父亲问他的第二个儿子："你待在哪里？"
"在宫廷里，"他回答。
"麻雀在那里没什么用处，"父亲警告道，"那是个充满黄金、天鹅绒、丝绸和危险猛禽的地方。待在扬谷或打谷的马厩里，你或许能平安地找到每日的谷粒。"
"是的，父亲，"儿子说，"但马童会在稻草里设下陷阱和圈套，很多鸟都被抓住了。"
"你在哪里看到的？"
"在宫廷里，在马童中间。"
"宫廷里的男孩很坏！"父亲惊呼，"如果你混迹于贵族之间而毫发无损，那你已经学到了不少。但要保持警惕，因为即使最聪明的狗也会被狼吃掉。"
父亲然后转向第三个儿子。"你在哪里找到了安全？"
"我在车路和公路上觅食，"他说，"啄食破桶和绳子，有时能找到一粒玉米或大麦。"
"那是很好的食物，"父亲说，"但要留心观察。仔细看看周围，尤其是当你看到有人弯腰捡石头的时候。那时，你必须迅速飞走。"
"没错，"儿子回答，"但如果有人事先在胸口或口袋里准备好了石头或矿石呢？"
"你在哪里见过这个？"
"在山民中间，亲爱的父亲。他们出门时通常带着小块矿石。"
"山里人勤劳又聪明，"父亲说，"你从他们那里学到了东西，但要当心。许多麻雀都栽在山里男孩手里。"
最后，父亲对他最弱小、最稚嫩的儿子说："我亲爱的叽叽喳喳的小家伙，留在我身边吧。这个世界充满了喙弯爪利的凶猛鸟类，等着吞食你这样的小家伙。和你的同类待在一起，从树上或房子里捉蜘蛛和毛毛虫，这样你就能平安度日。"
"我亲爱的父亲，"最小的儿子说，"不伤害他人而自食其力者，生活安好。如果他将自己和他合法的食物，每日早晚虔诚地托付给上帝，那么没有雀鹰、老鹰或鸢会伤害他。因为上帝是所有森林和乡村鸟类的创造者和守护者。他听见幼鸦的啼叫，没有一只麻雀会违背他的旨意落在地上。"
"你从哪里学到这个的？"父亲惊讶地问。
"当大风把我从您身边卷走时，"儿子回答，"我来到了一座教堂。整个夏天，我从窗户上捉苍蝇和蜘蛛，并听到了这番教导。所有麻雀之父养育了我，使我免于灾祸和凶猛的鸟类。"
"确实如此，我的儿子，"父亲说，"如果你在教堂里避难，帮忙清除蜘蛛和嗡嗡叫的苍蝇，像幼鸦一样向上帝呼求，并将自己托付给永恒的造物主，那么一切都会安好——即使整个世界充满了野性恶毒的鸟类。"
他将道路交托上帝，
默默承受、等待并祈祷，
保持信仰与良知纯洁，
他必得上帝护佑确凿。