Chapter 81

On many an idle day have I grieved over lost time. But it is never lost, my lord. Thou hast taken every moment of my life in thine own hands.
 
Hidden in the heart of things thou art nourishing seeds into sprouts¹, buds into blossoms, and ripening² flowers into fruitfulness.
 
I was tired and sleeping on my idle bed and imagined all work had ceased. In the morning I woke up and found my garden full with wonders of flowers.
 
在许多闲散的日子，我悼惜著虚度了的光阴．但是光阴并没有虚度，我的主．你掌握了我生命里寸寸的光阴．
 
你潜藏在万物的心里，培育著种子发芽，蓓蕾绽红，花落结实．
 
我困乏了，在闲榻上睡眠，想象著一切工作都已停歇．早晨醒来，我发现我的园里，却开遍了异蕊奇花．

1 sprouts   

n.新芽，嫩枝( sprout的名词复数 )v.发芽( sprout的第三人称单数 )；抽芽；出现；（使）涌现出

参考例句：

• The wheat sprouts grew perceptibly after the rain. 下了一场雨，麦苗立刻见长。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The sprouts have pushed up the earth. 嫩芽把土顶起来了。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

2 ripening   

v.成熟，使熟( ripen的现在分词 )；熟化；熟成

参考例句：

• The corn is blossoming [ripening]. 玉米正在开花[成熟]。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• When the summer crop is ripening, the autumn crop has to be sowed. 夏季作物成熟时，就得播种秋季作物。 来自《简明英汉词典》