Proverbs 29
Παροιμίαι
1 ΚΡΕΙΣΣΩΝ ἀνὴρ ἐλέγχων ἀνδρὸς σκληροτραχήλου, ἐξαπίνης γὰρ φλεγομένου αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἔστιν ἴασις.
A reprover is better than a stiff-necked man: for when the latter is suddenly set on fire, there shall be no remedy.
2 ἐγκωμιαζομένων δικαίων εὐφρανθήσονται λαοί, ἀρχόντων δὲ ἀσεβῶν στένουσιν ἄνδρες.
When the righteous are praised, the people will rejoice: but when the ungodly rule, men mourn.
3 ἀνδρὸς φιλοῦντος σοφίαν εὐφραίνεται πατὴρ αὐτοῦ, ὃς δὲ ποιμαίνει πόρνας, ἀπολεῖ πλοῦτον.
When a man loves wisdom, his father rejoices: but he that keeps harlots will waste wealth.
4 βασιλεὺς δίκαιος ἀνίστησι χώραν, ἀνὴρ δὲ παράνομος κατασκάπτει.
A righteous king establishes a country: but a transgressor destroys [it].
5 ὃς παρασκευάζεται ἐπὶ πρόσωπον τοῦ ἑαυτοῦ φίλους δίκτυον, περιβάλλει αὐτὸ τοῖς ἑαυτοῦ ποσίν.
He that prepares a net in the way of his own friend, entangles his own feet in it.
6 ἁμαρτάνοντι ἀνδρὶ μεγάλη παγίς, δίκαιος δὲ ἐν χαρᾷ καὶ ἐν εὐφροσύνῃ ἔσται.
A great snare [is spread] for a sinner: but the righteous shall be in joy and gladness.
7 ἐπίσταται δίκαιος κρίνειν πενιχροῖς, ὁ δὲ ἀσεβὴς οὐ νοεῖ γνῶσιν, καὶ πτωχῷ οὐχ ὑπάρχει νοῦς ἐπιγνώμων.
A righteous man knows how to judge for the poor: but the ungodly understands not knowledge; and the poor man has not an understanding mind.
8 ἄνδρες ἄνομοι ἐξέκαυσαν πόλιν, σοφοὶ δὲ ἐπέστρεψαν ὀργήν.
Lawless men burn down a city: but wise men turn away wrath.
9 ἀνὴρ σοφὸς κρινεῖ ἔθνη, ἀνὴρ δὲ φαῦλος ὀργιζόμενος καταγελᾶται καὶ οὐ καταπτήσσει.
A wise man shall judge nations: but a worthless man being angry laughs and fears not.
10 ἄνδρες αἱμάτων μέτοχοι μισοῦσιν ὅσιον, οἱ δὲ εὐθεῖς ἐκζητήσουσι ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ.
Bloody men hate a holy [person], but the upright will seek his soul.
11 ὅλον τὸν θυμὸν αὐτοῦ ἐκφέρει ἄφρων, σοφὸς δὲ ταμιεύεται κατὰ μέρος.
A fool utters all his mind: but the wise reserves his in part.
12 βασιλέως ὑπακούοντος λόγον ἄδικον, πάντες οἱ ὑπ᾿ αὐτὸν παράνομοι.
When a king hearkens to unjust language, all his subjects are transgressors.
13 δανειστοῦ καὶ χρεωφειλέτου ἀλλήλοις συνελθόντων, ἐπισκοπὴν ἀμφοτέρων ποιεῖται ὁ Κύριος.
When the creditor and debtor meet together, the Lord oversees them both.
14 βασιλέως ἐν ἀληθείᾳ κρίνοντος πτωχούς, ὁ θρόνος αὐτοῦ εἰς μαρτύριον κατασταθήσεται.
When a king judges the poor in truth, his throne shall be established for a testimony.
15 πληγαὶ καὶ ἔλεγχοι διδόασι σοφίαν, παῖς δὲ πλανώμενος αἰσχύνει γονεῖς αὐτοῦ.
Stripes and reproofs give wisdom: but an erring child disgraces his parents.
16 πολλῶν ὄντων ἀσεβῶν πολλαὶ γίνονται ἁμαρτίαι, οἱ δὲ δίκαιοι ἐκείνων πιπτόντων κατάφοβοι γίνονται.
When the ungodly abound, sins abound: but when they fall, the righteous are warned.
17 παίδευε υἱόν σου, καὶ ἀναπαύσει σε, καὶ δώσει κόσμον τῇ ψυχῇ σου.
Chasten your son, and he shall give you rest; and he shall give honour to your soul.
18 οὐ μὴ ὑπάρξῃ ἐξηγητὴς ἔθνει παρανόμῳ, ὁ δὲ φυλάσσων τὸν νόμον μακαριστός.
There shall be no interpreter to a sinful nation: but he that observes the law is blessed.
19 λόγοις οὐ παιδευθήσεται οἰκέτης σκληρός· ἐὰν γὰρ καὶ νοήσῃ, ἀλλ᾿ οὐχ ὑπακούσεται.
A stubborn servant will not be reproved by words: for even if he understands, still he will not obey.
20 ἐὰν ἴδῃς ἄνδρα ταχὺν ἐν λόγοις, γίνωσκε ὅτι ἐλπίδα ἔχει μᾶλλον ὁ ἄφρων αὐτοῦ.
If you see a man hasty in [his] words, know that the fool has hope rather than he.
21 ὃς κατασπαταλᾷ ἐκ παιδός, οἰκέτης ἔσται, ἔσχατον δὲ ὀδυνηθήσεται ἐφ᾿ ἑαυτῷ.
He that lives wantonly from a child, shall be a servant, and in the end shall grieve over himself.
22 ἀνὴρ θυμώδης ὀρύσσει νεῖκος, ἀνὴρ δὲ ὀργίλος ἐξώρυξεν ἁμαρτίαν.
A furious man stirs up strife, and a passionate man digs up sin.
23 ὕβρις ἄνδρα ταπεινοῖ, τοὺς δὲ ταπεινόφρονας ἐρείδει δόξῃ Κύριος.
Pride brings a man low, but the Lord upholds the humble-minded with honour.
24 ὃς μερίζεται κλέπτῃ, μισεῖ τὴν ἑαυτοῦ ψυχήν· ἐὰν δὲ ὅρκου προτεθέντος ἀκούσαντες μὴ ἀναγγείλωσι,
He that shares with a thief, hates his own soul: and if any having heard an oath uttered tell not of it,
25 φοβηθέντες καὶ αἰσχυνθέντες ἀνθρώπους ὑπεσκελίσθησαν· ὁ δὲ πεποιθὼς ἐπὶ Κυρίῳ εὐφρανθήσεται. ἀσέβεια ἀνδρὶ δίδωσι σφάλμα, ὃς δὲ πέποιθεν ἐπὶ τῷ δεσπότῃ, σωθήσεται.
[they] fearing and reverencing men [unreasonably] have been overthrown, but he that trusts in the Lord shall rejoice. Ungodliness causes a man to stumble: but he that trusts in his master shall be safe.
26 πολλοὶ θεραπεύουσι πρόσωπα ἡγουμένων, παρὰ δὲ Κυρίου γίνεται τὸ δίκαιον ἀνδρί.
Many wait on the favour of rulers; but justice comes to a man from the Lord.
A righteous man is an abomination to an unrighteous man, and the direct way is an abomination to the sinner. (Brenton's 29:27, which the Greek of this edition does not have)
These things says the man to them that trust in God; and I cease. (Brenton's 30:1, which the Greek of this edition does not have)
For I am the most simple of all men, and there is not in me the wisdom of men. (Brenton's 30:2, which the Greek of this edition does not have)
God has taught me wisdom, and I know the knowledge of the holy. (Brenton's 30:3, which the Greek of this edition does not have)
Who has gone up to heaven, and come down? who has gathered the winds in his bosom? who has wrapped up the waters in a garment? who has dominion of all the ends of the earth? what is his name? or what is the name of his children? (Brenton's 30:4, which the Greek of this edition does not have)
For all the words of God are tried in the fire, and he defends those that reverence him. (Brenton's 30:5, which the Greek of this edition does not have)
Add not to his words, lest he reprove you, and you be made a liar. (Brenton's 30:6, which the Greek of this edition does not have)
Two things I ask of you; take not favour from me before I die. (Brenton's 30:7, which the Greek of this edition does not have)
Remove far from me vanity and falsehood: and give me not wealth [or] poverty; but appoint me what is needful and sufficient: (Brenton's 30:8, which the Greek of this edition does not have)
lest I be filled and become false, and say, Who sees me? or be poor and steal, and swear [vainly] by the name of God. (Brenton's 30:9, which the Greek of this edition does not have)
Deliver not a servant into the hands of his master, lest he curse you, and you be utterly destroyed. (Brenton's 30:10, which the Greek of this edition does not have)
A wicked generation curse their father, and do not bless their mother. (Brenton's 30:11, which the Greek of this edition does not have)
A wicked generation judge themselves to be just, but do not cleanse their way. (Brenton's 30:12, which the Greek of this edition does not have)
A wicked generation have lofty eyes, and exalt themselves with their eyelids. (Brenton's 30:13, which the Greek of this edition does not have)
A wicked generation have swords [for] teeth and jaw teeth [as] knives, so as to destroy and devour the lowly from the earth, and the poor of them from amongst men. (Brenton's 30:14, which the Greek of this edition does not have)
The horse-leech had three dearly beloved daughters: and these three did not satisfy her; and the fourth was not contented so as to say, Enough. (Brenton's 30:15, which the Greek of this edition does not have)
The grave, and the love of a woman, and the earth not filled with water; water also and fire will not say, It is enough. (Brenton's 30:16, which the Greek of this edition does not have)
The eye that laughs to scorn a father, and dishonours the old age of a mother, let the ravens of the valleys pick it out, and let the young eagles devour it. (Brenton's 30:17, which the Greek of this edition does not have)
Moreover there are three things impossible for me to comprehend, and the fourth I know not: (Brenton's 30:18, which the Greek of this edition does not have)
the track of a flying eagle; and the ways of a serpent on a rock; and the paths of a ship passing through the sea; and the ways of a man in youth. (Brenton's 30:19, which the Greek of this edition does not have)
Such is the way of an adulterous woman, who having washed herself from what she has done, says she has done nothing amiss. (Brenton's 30:20, which the Greek of this edition does not have)
By three things the earth is troubled, and the fourth it can’t bear: (Brenton's 30:21, which the Greek of this edition does not have)
if a servant reign; or a fool be filled with food; (Brenton's 30:22, which the Greek of this edition does not have)
or if a maidservant should cast out her own mistress; and if a hateful woman should marry a good man. (Brenton's 30:23, which the Greek of this edition does not have)
And [there are] four very little things upon the earth, but these are wiser than the wise: (Brenton's 30:24, which the Greek of this edition does not have)
the ants which are weak, and [yet] prepare [their] food in summer; (Brenton's 30:25, which the Greek of this edition does not have)
the rabbits also [are] a feeble race, who make their houses in the rocks. (Brenton's 30:26, which the Greek of this edition does not have)
The locusts have no king, and [yet] march orderly at one command. (Brenton's 30:27, which the Greek of this edition does not have)
And the eft, which supports itself by [its] hands, and is easily taken, dwells in the fortresses of kings. (Brenton's 30:28, which the Greek of this edition does not have)
And there are three things which go well, and a fourth which passes along finely. (Brenton's 30:29, which the Greek of this edition does not have)
A lion's whelp, stronger than [all other] beasts, which turns not away, nor fears [any] beast; (Brenton's 30:30, which the Greek of this edition does not have)
and a cock walking in boldly amongst the hens, and the goat leading the herd; and a king publicly speaking before a nation. (Brenton's 30:31, which the Greek of this edition does not have)
If you abandon yourself to mirth, and stretch forth your hand in a quarrel, you shall be disgraced. (Brenton's 30:32, which the Greek of this edition does not have)
Milk out milk, and there shall be butter, and if you wing [one's] nostrils there shall come out blood: so if you extort words, there will come forth quarrels and strifes. (Brenton's 30:33, which the Greek of this edition does not have)
My words have been spoken by God—the oracular answer of a king, whom his mother instructed. (Brenton's 31:1, which the Greek of this edition does not have)
What will you keep, my son, what? the words of God. My firstborn son, I speak to you: what? son of my womb? what? son of my vows? (Brenton's 31:2, which the Greek of this edition does not have)
Give not your wealth to women, nor your mind and living to remorse. Do all things with counsel: drink wine with counsel. (Brenton's 31:3, which the Greek of this edition does not have)
Princes are prone to anger: let them then not drink wine: (Brenton's 31:4, which the Greek of this edition does not have)
lest they drink, and forget wisdom, and be not able to judge the poor rightly. (Brenton's 31:5, which the Greek of this edition does not have)
Give strong drink to those that are in sorrow, and the wine to drink to those in pain: (Brenton's 31:6, which the Greek of this edition does not have)
that they may forget their poverty, and may not remember their troubles any more. (Brenton's 31:7, which the Greek of this edition does not have)
Open your mouth with the word of God, and judge all fairly. (Brenton's 31:8, which the Greek of this edition does not have)
Open your mouth and judge justly, and plead the cause of the poor and weak. (Brenton's 31:9, which the Greek of this edition does not have)
Who shall find a virtuous woman? for such a one is more valuable than precious stones. (Brenton's 31:10, which the Greek of this edition does not have)
The heart of her husband trusts in her: such a one shall stand in no need of fine spoils. (Brenton's 31:11, which the Greek of this edition does not have)
For she employs all her living for her husband's good. (Brenton's 31:12, which the Greek of this edition does not have)
Gathering wool and flax, she makes it serviceable with her hands. (Brenton's 31:13, which the Greek of this edition does not have)
She is like a ship trading from a distance: so she procures her livelihood. (Brenton's 31:14, which the Greek of this edition does not have)
And she rises by night, and gives food to her household, and [appointed] tasks to her maidens. (Brenton's 31:15, which the Greek of this edition does not have)
She views a farm, and buys it: and with the fruit of her hands she plants a possession. (Brenton's 31:16, which the Greek of this edition does not have)
She strongly girds her loins, and strengthens her arms for work. (Brenton's 31:17, which the Greek of this edition does not have)
And she finds by experience that working is good; and her candle goes not out all night. (Brenton's 31:18, which the Greek of this edition does not have)
She reaches forth her arms to needful [works], and applies her hands to the spindle. (Brenton's 31:19, which the Greek of this edition does not have)
And she opens her hands to the needy, and reaches out fruit to the poor. (Brenton's 31:20, which the Greek of this edition does not have)
Her husband is not anxious about those at home when he tarries anywhere abroad: for all her household are clothed. (Brenton's 31:21, which the Greek of this edition does not have)
She makes for her husband clothes of double texture, and garments for herself of fine linen and scarlet. (Brenton's 31:22, which the Greek of this edition does not have)
27 βδέλυγμα δικαίοις ἀνὴρ ἄδικος, βδέλυγμα δὲ ἀνόμῳ κατευθύνουσα ὁδός. 10 Γυναῖκα ἀνδρείαν τίς εὑρήσει; τιμιωτέρα δέ ἐστι λίθων πολυτελῶν ἡ τοιαύτη. 11 θάρσει ἐπ᾿ αὐτῇ ἡ καρδία τοῦ ἀνδρὸς αὐτῆς, ἡ τοιαύτη καλῶν σκύλων οὐκ ἀπορήσει· 12 ἐνεργεῖ γὰρ τῷ ἀνδρὶ ἀγαθὰ πάντα τὸν βίον. 13 μηρυομένη ἔρια καὶ λίνον ἐποίησεν εὔχρηστον ταῖς χερσὶν αὐτῆς. 14 ἐγένετο ὡσεὶ ναῦς ἐμπορευομένη μακρόθεν, συνάγει δὲ αὐτῆς τὸν πλοῦτον.* 15 καὶ ἀνίσταται ἐκ νυκτῶν καὶ ἔδωκε βρώματα τῷ οἴκῳ καὶ ἔργα ταῖς θεραπαίναις. 16 θεωρήσασα γεώργιον ἐπρίατο, ἀπὸ δὲ καρπῶν χειρῶν αὐτῆς κατεφύτευσε κτῆμα. 17 ἀναζωσαμένη ἰσχυρῶς τὴν ὀσφὺν αὐτῆς ἤρεισε τοὺς βραχίονας αὐτῆς εἰς ἔργον. 18 ἐγεύσατο ὅτι καλόν ἐστι τὸ ἐργάζεσθαι, καὶ οὐκ ἀποσβέννυται ὁ λύχνος αὐτῆς ὅλην τὴν νύκτα. 19 τοὺς πήχεις αὐτῆς ἐκτείνει ἐπὶ τὰ συμφέροντα, τὰς δὲ χεῖρας αὐτῆς ἐρείδει εἰς ἄτρακτον. 20 χεῖρας δὲ αὐτῆς διήνοιξε πένητι, καρπὸν δὲ ἐξέτεινε πτωχῷ. 21 οὐ φροντίζει τῶν ἐν οἴκῳ ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς, ὅταν που χρονίζῃ· πάντες γὰρ οἱ παρ᾿ αὐτῆς ἐνδεδυμένοι εἰσί. 22 δισσὰς χλαίνας ἐποίησε τῷ ἀνδρὶ αὐτῆς, ἐκ δὲ βύσσου καὶ πορφύρας ἑαυτῇ ἐνδύματα. 23 περίβλεπτος δὲ γίνεται ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς ἐν πύλαις, ἡνίκα ἂν καθίση ἐν συνεδρίῳ μετὰ τῶν γερόντων κατοίκων τῆς γῆς. 24 σινδόνας ἐποίησε καὶ ἀπέδοτο τοῖς Φοίνιξι, περιζώματα δὲ τοῖς Χαναναίοις. 25 ἰσχὺν καὶ εὐπρέπειαν ἐνεδύσατο καὶ εὐφράνθη ἐν ἡμέραις ἐσχάταις. 26 στόμα αὐτῆς διήνοιξε προσεχόντως καὶ ἐννόμως, καὶ τάξιν ἐστείλατο τῇ γλώσσῃ αὐτῆς. 27 στεγναὶ διατριβαὶ οἴκων αὐτῆς, σῖτα δὲ ὀκνηρὰ οὐκ ἔφαγε.
And her husband becomes a distinguished [person] in the gates, when he sits in council with the old inhabitants of the land. She makes fine linens, and sells girdles to the Chananites: she opens her mouth heedfully and with propriety, and controls her tongue. (verse 31:23-24 in Brenton's English)
She puts on strength and honour; and rejoices in the last days. (Brenton's 31:25, which the Greek of this edition does not have)
28 τὸ στόμα δὲ ἀνοίγει σοφῶς καὶ νομοθέσμως, ἡ δὲ ἐλεημοσύνη αὐτῆς ἀνέστησε τὰ τέκνα αὐτῆς καὶ ἐπλούτησαν, καὶ ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς ᾔνεσεν αὐτήν.
But she opens her mouth wisely, and according to law. And [her] kindness to them sets up her children for them, and they grow rich, and her husband praises her. (verse 31:26-28 in Brenton's English)
The ways of her household are careful, and she eats not the bread of idleness. (Brenton's 31:27, which the Greek of this edition does not have)
29 Πολλαὶ θυγατέρες ἐκτήσαντο πλοῦτον, πολλαὶ ἐποίησαν δύναμιν, σὺ δὲ ὑπέρκεισαι καὶ ὑπερῇρας πάσας.
Many daughters have obtained wealth, many have wrought valiantly; but you have exceeded, you have surpassed all. (verse 29 in Brenton's English)
30 ψευδεῖς ἀρέσκειαι καὶ μάταιον κάλλος γυναικός· γυνὴ γὰρ συνετὴ εὐλογεῖται, φόβον δὲ Κυρίου αὕτη αἰνείτω.
Charms are false, and woman's beauty is vain: for it is a wise woman that is blessed, and let her praise the fear the Lord. (verse 30 in Brenton's English)
31 δότε αὐτῇ ἀπὸ καρπῶν χειλέων αὐτῆς, καὶ αἰνείσθω ἐν πύλαις ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς.
Give her of the fruit of her lips; and let her husband be praised in the gates. (verse 31 in Brenton's English)
Greek: the Septuagint as the Orthodox Media Network published it (Mount Athos); 2 Maccabees and the Prayer of Manasseh from Brenton's edition (1851). English: Brenton's translation (1851), its spelling updated by Michael Paul Johnson; public domain. About these texts.