Wisdom of Sirach 19

1 ΕΡΓΑΤΗΣ μέθυσος οὐ πλουτισθήσεται· ὁ ἐξουθενῶν τὰ ὀλίγα κατὰ μικρὸν πεσεῖται.

1 A labouring man that A is given to drunkenness shall not be rich: and he that contemns small things shall fall by little and little.

2 οἶνος καὶ γυναῖκες ἀποστήσουσι συνετούς, καὶ ὁ κολλώμενος πόρναις τολμηρότερος ἔσται·

2 Wine and women will make men of understanding to fall away: and he that cleaves to harlots will become impudent.

3 σῆτες καὶ σκώληκες κληρονομήσουσιν αὐτόν, καὶ ψυχὴ τολμηρὰ ἐξαρθήσεται.

3 Moths and worms shall have him to heritage, and a bold man shall be taken away.

4 Ὁ ταχὺ ἐμπιστεύων κοῦφος καρδίᾳ, καὶ ὁ ἁμαρτάνων εἰς ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ πλημμελήσει.

4 He that is hasty to give credit is lightminded; and he that sins shall offend against his own soul.

5 ὁ εὐφραινόμενος καρδίᾳ καταγνωσθήσεται,

5 Whoso takes pleasure in wickedness shall be condemned: but he that resists pleasures crowns his life.

6 καὶ ὁ μισῶν λαλιὰν ἐλαττονοῦται κακίᾳ.

6 He that can rule his tongue shall live without strife; and he that hates babbling shall have less evil.

7 μηδέποτε δευτερώσῃς λόγον, καὶ οὐθέν σοι οὐ μὴ ἐλαττονωθῇ.

7 Rehearse not to another that which is told to you, and you shall fare never the worse.

8 ἐν φίλῳ καὶ ἐν ἐχθρῷ μὴ διηγοῦ, καὶ εἰ μή ἔστι σοι ἁμαρτία, μὴ ἀποκάλυπτε·

8 Whether it be to friend or foe, talk not of other men's lives; and if you can without offence, reveal them not.

9 ἀκήκοε γάρ σου καὶ ἐφυλάξατό σε, καὶ ἐν καιρῷ μισήσει σε.

9 For he heard and observed you, and when time comes he will hate you.

10 ἀκήκοας λόγον, συναποθανέτω σοι· θάρσει, οὐ μή σε ρήξει.

10 If you have heard a word, let it die with you; and be bold, it will not burst you.

11 ἀπὸ προσώπου λόγου ὠδινήσει μωρὸς ὡς ἀπὸ προσώπου βρέφους ἡ τίκτουσα.

11 A fool travails with a word, as a woman in labour of a child.

12 βέλος πεπηγὸς ἐν μηρῷ σαρκός, οὕτως λόγος ἐν κοιλίᾳ μωροῦ.

12 As an arrow that sticks in a man's thigh, so is a word within a fool's belly.

13 Ἔλεγξον φίλον, μήποτε οὐκ ἐποίησε, καὶ εἴ τι ἐποίησε, μήποτε προσθῇ.

13 Admonish a friend, it may be he has not done it: and if he have done it, that he do it no more.

14 ἔλεγξον τὸν πλησίον, μήποτε οὐκ εἶπε, καὶ εἰ εἴρηκεν, ἵνα μὴ δευτερώσῃ.

14 Admonish your friend, it may be he has not said it: and if he have, that he speak it not again.

15 ἔλεγξον φίλον, πολλάκις γὰρ γίνεται διαβολή, καὶ μὴ παντὶ λόγῳ πίστευε.

15 Admonish a friend: for many times it is a slander, and believe not every tale.

16 ἔστιν ὀλισθαίνων καὶ οὐκ ἀπὸ ψυχῆς, καὶ τίς οὐχ ἡμάρτησεν ἐν τῇ γλώσσῃ αὐτοῦ;

16 There is one that slips in his speech, but not from his heart; and who is he that has not offended with his tongue?

17 ἔλεγξον τὸν πλησίον σου πρὶν ἢ ἀπειλῆσαι, καὶ δὸς τόπον νόμῳ Ὑψίστου. [γινόμενος ἄμηνις.

17 Admonish your neighbour before you threaten him; and not being angry, give place to the law of the most High.

18 φόβος Κυρίου ἀρχὴ προσλήψεως, σοφία δὲ παρ' αὐτοῦ ἀγάπησιν περιποιεῖ.

18 The fear of the Lord is the first step to be accepted [of him,] and wisdom obtains his love.

19 γνῶσις ἐντολῶν Κυρίου παιδεία ζωῆς, οἱ δὲ ποιοῦντες τὰ ἀρεστὰ αὐτῷ ἀθανασίας δένδρον καρποῦνται].

19 The knowledge of the commandments of the Lord is the doctrine of life: and they that do things that please him shall receive the fruit of the tree of immortality.

20 Πᾶσα σοφία φόβος Κυρίου, καὶ ἐν πάσῃ σοφίᾳ ποίησις νόμου· [καὶ γνῶσις τῆς παντοδυναμίας αὐτοῦ.

20 The fear of the Lord is all wisdom; and in all wisdom is the performance of the law, and the knowledge of his omnipotency.

21 οἰκέτης λέγων τῷ δεσπότῃ· ὡς ἀρέσκει οὐ ποιήσω, ἐὰν μετὰ ταῦτα ποιήσῃ, παροργίζει τὸν τρέφοντα αὐτόν].

21 If a servant say to his master, I will not do as it pleases you; though afterward he do it, he angers him that nourishes him.

22 καὶ οὐκ ἔστι σοφία πονηρίας ἐπιστήμη, καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ὅπου βουλὴ ἁμαρτωλῶν φρόνησις.

22 The knowledge of wickedness is not wisdom, neither at any time the counsel of sinners prudence.

23 ἔστι πονηρία καὶ αὕτη βδέλυγμα, καὶ ἔστιν ἄφρων ἐλαττούμενος σοφίᾳ.

23 There is a wickedness, and the same an abomination; and there is a fool lacking in wisdom.

24 κρείττων ἡττώμενος ἐν συνέσει ἔμφοβος ἢ περισσεύων ἐν φρονήσει καὶ παραβαίνων νόμον.

24 He that has small understanding, and fears God, is better than one that has much wisdom, and transgresses the law of the most High.

25 ἔστι πανουργία ἀκριβὴς καὶ αὕτη ἄδικος, καὶ ἔστι διαστρέφων χάριν τοῦ ἐκφᾶναι κρίμα.

25 There is an exquisite subtilty, and the same is unjust; and there is one that turns aside to make judgement appear; and there is a wise man that justifies in judgement.

26 ἔστι πονηρευόμενος συγκεκυφὼς μελανίᾳ, καὶ τὰ ἐντὸς αὐτοῦ πλήρης δόλου·

26 There is a wicked man that hangs down his head sadly; but inwardly he is full of deceit,

27 συγκύφων πρόσωπον καὶ ἑτεροκωφῶν, ὅπου οὐκ ἐπεγνώσθη, προφθάσει σε·

27 Casting down his countenance, and making as if he heard not: where he is not known, he will do you a mischief before you be aware.

28 καὶ ἐὰν ὑπὸ ἐλαττώματος ἰσχύος κωλυθῇ ἁμαρτεῖν, ἐὰν εὕρῃ καιρόν, κακοποιήσει.

28 And if for lack of power he be hindered from sinning, yet when he finds opportunity he will do evil.

29 ἀπὸ ὁράσεως ἐπιγνωσθήσεται ἀνήρ, καὶ ἀπὸ ἀπαντήσεως προσώπου ἐπιγνωσθήσεται νοήμων.

29 A man may be known by his look, and one that has understanding by his countenance, when you meet him.

30 στολισμὸς ἀνδρὸς καὶ γέλως ὀδόντων καὶ βήματα ἀνθρώπου ἀναγγέλλει τὰ περὶ αὐτοῦ.

30 A man's attire, and excessive laughter, and gait, show what he is.