The Scroll Marked Eight 羊皮卷之八

Today I will multiply my value a hundredfold.

今天我要加倍重视自己的价值。

A mulberry leaf touched with the genius of man becomes silk.

桑叶在天才的手中变成了丝绸。

A field of clay touched with the genius of man becomes a castle.

粘土在天才的手中变成了堡垒。

A Cyprus tree touched with the genius of man becomes a shrine.

柏树在天才的手中变成了殿堂。

A cut of sheep’s hair touched with the genius of man becomes raiment for a king.

羊毛在天才的手中变成了袈裟。

If it is possible for leaves and clay and wood and hair to have their value multiplied a hundred, yea a thousandfold by man, cannot I do the same with the clay which bears my name?

如果桑叶、粘土、柏树、羊毛经过人的创造，可以成百上千地提高自身的价值，那么我们为什么不能使自己身价百倍呢?

Today I will multiply my value a hundredfold.

今天我要加倍重视自己的价值。

I am liken to a grain of wheat which faces one of three futures. The wheat can be placed in a sack and dumped in a stall until it is fed to swine. Or it can be ground to flour and made into bread. Or it can be placed in the earth and allowed to grow until its golden head divides and produces a thousand grains from the one.

我的命运如同一颗麦粒，有着三种不同的道路。一颗麦粒可能被装进麻袋，堆在货架上，等着喂猪;也可能被磨成面粉，做成面包;还可能撒在土壤里，让它生长，直到金黄的麦穗上结出成百上千颗麦粒。

I am liken to a grain of wheat with one difference. The wheat cannot choose whether it be fed to swine, ground for bread, or planted to multiply. I have a choice and I will not let my life be fed to swine nor will I let it be ground under the rocks of failure and despair to be broken open and devoured by the will of others.

我和一颗麦粒唯一不同在于：麦粒无法选择是变得腐烂还是做成面包，或是种植生长。而我有选择的自由，我不会让生命腐烂，也不会让它在失败，绝望的岩石下磨碎，任人摆布。