Wisdom of Sirach 17

1 ΚΥΡΙΟΣ ἔκτισεν ἐκ γῆς ἄνθρωπον καὶ πάλιν ἀπέστρεψεν αὐτὸν εἰς αὐτήν.

1 The Lord created man of the earth, and turned him into it again.

2 ἡμέρας ἀριθμοῦ καὶ καιρὸν ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς ἐξουσίαν τῶν ἐπ᾿ αὐτῆς.

2 He gave them few days, and a short time, and power also over the things therein.

3 καθ᾿ ἑαυτοὺς ἐνέδυσεν αὐτοὺς ἰσχὺν καὶ κατ᾿ εἰκόνα αὐτοῦ ἐποίησεν αὐτοὺς

3 He endued them with strength by themselves, and made them according to his image,

4 καὶ ἔθηκε τὸν φόβον αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ πάσης σαρκὸς καὶ κατακυριεύειν θηρίων καὶ πετεινῶν. [5 ἔλαβον χρῆσιν τῶν πέντε τοῦ Κυρίου ἐνεργημάτων, ἕκτον δὲ νοῦν αὐτοῖς ἐδωρήσατο μερίζων καὶ τὸν ἕβδομον λόγον ἑρμηνέα τῶν ἐνεργημάτων αὐτοῦ].

4 And put the fear of man upon all flesh, and gave him dominion over beasts and fowls.

6 διαβούλιον καὶ γλῶσσαν καὶ ὀφθαλμούς, ὦτα καὶ καρδίαν ἔδωκε διανοεῖσθαι αὐτοῖς.

6 Counsel, and a tongue, and eyes, ears, and a heart, gave he them to understand.

7 ἐπιστήμην συνέσεως ἐνέπλησεν αὐτοὺς καὶ ἀγαθὰ καὶ κακὰ ὑπέδειξεν αὐτοῖς.

7 Withal he filled them with the knowledge of understanding, and showed them good and evil.

8 ἔθηκε τὸν ὀφθαλμὸν αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τὰς καρδίας αὐτῶν δεῖξαι αὐτοῖς τὸ μεγαλεῖον τῶν ἔργων αὐτοῦ,

8 He set his eye upon their hearts, that he might show them the greatness of his works.

9 καὶ ὄνομα ἁγιασμοῦ αἰνέσουσιν,

9 And the elect shall praise his holy name. (verse 10 in Brenton's English)

10 ἵνα διηγῶνται τὰ μεγαλεῖα τῶν ἔργων αὐτοῦ.

10 In the English, this verse is part of verse 9.

11 προσέθηκεν αὐτοῖς ἐπιστήμην καὶ νόμον ζωῆς ἐκληροδότησεν αὐτοῖς.

11 Beside this he gave them knowledge, and the law of life for an heritage.

12 διαθήκην αἰῶνος ἔστησε μετ᾿ αὐτῶν καὶ τὰ κρίματα αὐτοῦ ὑπέδειξεν αὐτοῖς.

12 He made an everlasting covenant with them, and showed them his judgements.

13 μεγαλεῖον δόξης εἶδον οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ αὐτῶν, καὶ δόξαν φωνῆς αὐτῶν ἤκουσε τὸ οὖς αὐτῶν.

13 Their eyes saw the majesty of his glory, and their ears heard his glorious voice.

14 καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· προσέχετε ἀπὸ παντὸς ἀδίκου· καὶ ἐνετείλατο αὐτοῖς ἑκάστῳ περὶ τοῦ πλησίον.

14 And he said to them, Beware of all unrighteousness; and he gave every man commandment concerning his neighbour.

15 αἱ ὁδοὶ αὐτῶν ἐναντίον αὐτοῦ διαπαντός, οὐ κρυβήσονται ἀπὸ τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν αὐτοῦ.

15 Their ways are ever before him, and shall not be hid from his eyes.

17 ἑκάστῳ ἔθνει κατέστησεν ἡγούμενον, καὶ μερὶς Κυρίου Ἰσραήλ ἐστιν.

17 For in the division of the nations of the whole earth he set a ruler over every people; but Israel is the Lord's portion:

19 ἅπαντα τὰ ἔργα αὐτῶν ὡς ὁ ἥλιος ἐναντίον αὐτοῦ, καὶ οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ αὐτοῦ ἐνδελεχεῖς ἐπὶ τὰς ὁδοὺς αὐτῶν.

19 Therefore all their works are as the sun before him, and his eyes are continually upon their ways.

20 οὐκ ἐκρύβησαν αἱ ἀδικίαι αὐτῶν ἀπ᾿ αὐτοῦ, καὶ πᾶσαι αἱ ἁμαρτίαι αὐτῶν ἔναντι Κυρίου.

20 None of their unrighteous deeds are hid from him, but all their sins are before the Lord

22 ἐλεημοσύνη ἀνδρὸς ὡς σφραγὶς μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ, καὶ χάριν ἀνθρώπου ὡς κόρην συντηρήσει.

22 The alms of a man is as a signet with him, and he will keep the good deeds of man as the apple of the eye, and give repentance to his sons and daughters.

23 μετὰ ταῦτα ἐξαναστήσεται καὶ ἀνταποδώσει αὐτοῖς καὶ τὸ ἀνταπόδομα αὐτῶν εἰς κεφαλὴν αὐτῶν ἀποδώσει·

23 Afterwards he will rise up and reward them, and render their recompence upon their heads.

24 πλὴν μετανοοῦσιν ἔδωκεν ἐπάνοδον καὶ παρεκάλεσεν ἐκλείποντας ὑπομονήν.

24 But to them that repent, he granted them return, and comforted those that failed in patience.

25 Ἐπίστρεφε ἐπὶ Κύριον καὶ ἀπόλειπε ἁμαρτίας, δεήθητι κατὰ πρόσωπον καὶ σμίκρυνον πρόσκομμα.

25 Return to the Lord, and forsake your sins, make your prayer before his face, and offend less.

26 ἐπάναγε ἐπὶ Ὓψιστον καὶ ἀπόστρεφε ἀπὸ ἀδικίας, καὶ σφόδρα μίσησον βδέλυγμα.

26 Turn again to the most High, and turn away from iniquity: for he will lead you out of darkness into the light of health, and hate you abomination vehemently.

27 Ὑψίστῳ τίς αἰνέσει ἐν ᾅδου ἀντὶ ζώντων καὶ ζώντων καὶ διδόντων ἀνθομολόγησιν;

27 Who shall praise the most High in the grave, instead of them which live and give thanks?

28 ἀπὸ νεκροῦ ὡς μηδὲ ὄντος ἀπόλλυται ἐξομολόγησις· ζῶν καὶ ὑγιὴς αἰνέσει τὸν Κύριον.

28 Thanksgiving perishes from the dead, as from one that is not: the living and sound in heart shall praise the Lord.

29 ὡς μεγάλη ἡ ἐλεημοσύνη τοῦ Κυρίου καὶ ἐξιλασμὸς τοῖς ἐπιστρέφουσιν ἐπ᾿ αὐτόν.

29 How great is the lovingkindness of the Lord our God, and his compassion to such as turn to him in holiness!

30 οὐ γὰρ δύναται πάντα εἶναι ἐν ἀνθρώποις, ὅτι οὐκ ἀθάνατος υἱὸς ἀνθρώπου.

30 For all things can’t be in men, because the son of man is not immortal.

31 τί φωτεινότερον ἡλίου; καὶ τοῦτο ἐκλείπει· καὶ πονηρὸς ἐνθυμηθήσεται σάρκα καὶ αἷμα.

31 What is brighter than the sun? yet the light thereof fails; and flesh and blood will imagine evil.

32 δύναμιν ὕψους οὐρανοῦ αὐτὸς ἐπισκέπτεται, καὶ οἱ ἄνθρωποι πάντες γῆ καὶ σποδός.

32 He views the power of the height of heaven; and all men are but earth and ashes.