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As trade and commerce employ a very considerable part of mankind, an attempt to render the conduct of those who are engaged in it more happy and successful, will appear to be, at least, a benevolent undertaking;
由于贸易与商业占据了人类中极其相当大的一部分，因此，试图使从事其中之人的行为更加幸福且成功，至少看起来是一项仁慈的事业；
and to this end it is evident, that moral as well as prudential directions may contribute.
并且为达成此目的，道德性的指引与谨慎（prudential，指实践理性与审慎判断）方面的教导显然都能有所助益。
Certainly to discharge in a proper manner the respective duties of the common callings of life, which take up six parts of our time in seven, requires greater attention of mind than is usually paid to them, for the regular discharge of their respective duties;
诚然，妥当地履行日常职业中各自的责任——这些责任占据了我们七分之六的时间——所需要的心思关注，远超过人们通常在履行这些责任时所付出的注意力；
and may admit of more assistance than has been yet offered to the world in any treatise now extant.
并且在这方面，或许仍然需要比现今世上任何现存著作所提供的更多帮助。
There is, indeed, an excellent piece which has met with considerable and deserved acceptance, called the Complete English Tradesman, which I could wish were in the hands of all that are concerned to appear in that character with honor or success;
的确，有一部卓越的著作，名为《完整的英国商人》（The Complete English Tradesman），它已获得相当且当之无愧的认可，我真希望凡是愿意在这一身份上体面而成功地行事之人，都能人手一册；
but as it is chiefly employed in considerations of a prudential nature, it leaves room for an attempt of the present kind.
但由于该书主要侧重于谨慎层面的考量，因此仍为本书这种尝试留下了空间。
Instead therefore of useless speculations, or perplexing controversies in religion, which neither enrich the mind, nor reform the manners of men;
因此，与其进行那些既不能丰富心灵、也不能改革人行为的无用推测，或令人困惑的宗教争论；
I shall endeavour to direct the conscientious tradesman in the duties of his daily calling, wherein he is surrounded with manifold temptations and difficulties, and stands in need of all the assistance he can obtain from God or man.
我将努力在其日常职业的责任上指引一位有良心的商人，因为他身处多种多样的试探与困难之中，极其需要他所能从神或人那里得到的一切帮助。
He hath the same depraved nature to bias him, and the same malicious spirit to tempt him as others;
他同样具有会使他偏离正道的败坏本性，也同样遭受那恶意之灵的试探，与他人并无二致；
and he hath a much greater variety of trials and temptations from the world, than either the scholar, or gentleman.
并且，他从世界而来的试炼与试探的种类，远比学者或绅士所经历的要多得多。
The particular circumstances of trade and the duties flowing from thence, are indeed too numerous to be contained in so small a tract as this;
贸易的具体处境以及由此产生的责任，确实多得无法容纳在如此简短的一本小册子之中；
yet I doubt not, but the principles and rules here laid down, being faithfully applied to particular cases, will generally be found sufficient for his direction;
然而我毫不怀疑，这里所陈述的原则与规则，若能忠实地应用于具体情形之中，通常都会被发现足以作为他的指引；
though after all it must be owned, that the religious fear of God, and a sincere love to our neighbour, will do more to direct us in many doubtful and critical cases, than can be expected from any treatise whatsoever.
尽管如此，终究必须承认，在许多疑难而关键的处境中，对神的敬畏以及对邻舍真诚的爱，比任何著作所能提供的指引都更为有效。
Let me beg that the reader would take into serious and mature consideration the hints that are here suggested,
请容我恳求读者，对此处所提出的提示加以严肃而成熟的思考，
and if he meets with any thing which recommends itself to his conscience, as agreeable to the laws of God, and the nature and reason of things, that he would not fail immediately to put it in practice.
并且，若他遇见任何在良心上向他显明、与神的律法以及事物的本性与理性相符的内容，务要立刻付诸实践。
Surely, no one can be so absurd as to think it sufficient to appear religious on the Lord’s day,
诚然，没有人会荒谬到认为，仅在主日表现得敬虔就已足够，
or to be serious in the devotions of the closet, and then leave conscience asleep all the intermediate time;
或者只在内室的灵修（devotions of the closet，指个人祷告与敬虔操练）中显得郑重，却在其余所有时间让良心沉睡；
since these religious duties were designed as the means of producing and maintaining those principles of wisdom and justice, virtue and goodness, which are to be in continual exercise;
因为这些宗教责任本是为产生并维系智慧与公义、德行与良善这些原则而设，而这些原则本当持续地被操练；
and the infinite Creator and proprietor of the universe, claims our constant obedience to his laws, as well as our devout ascriptions of worship and adoration.
并且，那位无限的创造主、宇宙的拥有者，不仅要求我们虔诚地向祂献上敬拜与颂赞，也同样要求我们持续不断地顺服祂的律法。
It may be fit to acquaint the world, that the substance of this piece is taken from a book entitled, The Tradesman’s Calling;
或许有必要告知世人，本书的主要内容取自一本名为《商人的呼召》（The Tradesman’s Calling）的书；
which though it has lain some time in obscurity, is thought by many judicious persons to be very deserving of the public regard.
这本书虽已沉寂多年，却被许多有见识的人认为极其配得公众的关注。
The publisher could have wished it had been revised, and sent into the world by a more able hand;
出版者本希望它能由更有能力之人加以修订，再呈现在世人面前；
and the sense he had of its deficiency, was the chief cause of its lying so long unpublished;
而他对其不足之处的认识，正是它长期未被出版的主要原因；
but he does not absolutely despair of its being in some degree useful,
然而，他并未完全绝望，仍盼望它在某种程度上能有所裨益，
since as a learned writer observes, “Truth influences the mind of man more by its own authority, evidence and excellency, than by any ornaments of wit and eloquence in which it may be drest.”
因为正如一位博学之士所言：“真理影响人心，更多是凭着它自身的权威、证据与卓越，而非凭着任何机智或雄辩的辞藻装饰。”
And such ornaments are in this case the less needful, as the subjects are chiefly addressed to persons of plain sense and understanding;
而在此情形下，这类装饰尤为不必要，因为本书所论及的主题主要是面向具有朴实理性与理解力的人；
if the God of the spirit of all flesh, is pleased to smile upon it so far as to render it effectual to reform the practices, and improve the tempers of those that read it,
若那位管理凡有血气之灵的神，乐意向此书施恩，使它有效地改革读者的行为，并改善他们的性情，
the Publisher will have the full reward he hopes for from this essay of benevolence to his fellow beings;
那么，出版者便将从这次对同类所作的仁慈尝试中，得到他所盼望的全部回报；
and a thousand encomiums on the elegance of the composition, without these effects, would afford him little satisfaction.
而若没有这些果效，即便有上千句对文辞优雅的赞美，也难以使他感到满足。
He has added some passages of scripture at the conclusion of each subject,
他在每个主题的结尾都增添了一些圣经经文，
that they might have the sanction of divine authority to enforce them;
使这些教导得着神圣权威的印证，以增强其约束力；
firmly believing that however men may despise it,
他坚信，无论世人如何轻视这些经文，
if ever the blessed God is pleased to reform a sinful world,
若有一天蒙福的神乐意更新这罪恶的世界，
He will honor His own word as the instrument of producing such a happy event.
祂必尊荣祂自己的圣言，作为成就这一美好结果的器皿。
Table of Contents
目录
To the Reader
致读者
INTRODUCTION
引言
CHAPTER I: The Nature of a Life of Business, and Obligations to it.
第一章：商业生活的本质，以及人对此所负的责任。
CHAPTER II: Of Choosing a Calling.
第二章：论选择职业。
CHAPTER III: Of Prudence or Discretion.
第三章：论谨慎或明辨。
CHAPTER IV: Of Diligence.
第四章：论勤勉。
CHAPTER V: Of Justice.
第五章：论公义。
CHAPTER VI: Of Truth.
第六章：论诚实。
CHAPTER VII: Of Religion.
第七章：论宗教敬虔。
CHAPTER VIII: Contentment
第八章：知足。
CHAPTER IX: Of Leaving our Callings.
第九章：论离开我们的职业。
APPENDIX
附录