Wisdom of Sirach 20

1 ΕΣΤΙΝ ἔλεγχος ὃς οὐκ ἔστιν ὡραῖος, καὶ ἔστι σιωπῶν καὶ αὐτὸς φρόνιμος.

1 There is a reproof that is not comely: again, some man holds his tongue, and he is wise.

2 ὡς καλὸν ἐλέγξαι ἢ θυμοῦσθαι, καὶ ὁ ἀνθομολογούμενος ἀπὸ ἐλαττώσεως κωλυθήσεται.

2 It is much better to reprove, than to be angry secretly: and he that confesses his fault shall be preserved from hurt.

4 ἐπιθυμία εὐνούχου ἀποπαρθενῶσαι νεάνιδα, οὕτως ὁ ποιῶν ἐν βίᾳ κρίματα.

4 As is the lust of an eunuch to deflower a virgin; so is he that executes judgement with violence.

5 ἔστι σιωπῶν εὑρισκόμενος σοφός, καὶ ἔστι μισητὸς ἀπὸ πολλῆς λαλιᾶς.

5 There is one that keeps silence, and is found wise: and another by much babbling becomes hateful.

6 ἔστι σιωπῶν, οὐ γὰρ ἔχει ἀπόκρισιν, καὶ ἔστι σιωπῶν εἰδὼς καιρόν.

6 Some man holds his tongue, because he has not to answer: and some keeps silence, knowing his time.

7 ἄνθρωπος σοφὸς σιγήσει ἕως καιροῦ, ὁ δὲ λαπιστὴς καὶ ἄφρων ὑπερβήσεται καιρόν.

7 A wise man will hold his tongue till he see opportunity: but a babbler and a fool will regard no time.

8 ὁ πλεονάζων λόγῳ βδελυχθήσεται, καὶ ὁ ἐνεξουσιαζόμενος μισηθήσεται.

8 He that uses many words shall be abhorred; and he that takes to himself authority therein shall be hated.

9 ἔστιν εὐοδία ἐν κακοῖς ἀνδρί, καὶ ἔστιν εὕρημα εἰς ἐλάττωσιν.

9 There is a sinner that has good success in evil things; and there is a gain that turns to loss.

10 ἔστι δόσις, ἣ οὐ λυσιτελήσει σοι, καὶ ἔστι δόσις, ἧς τὸ ἀνταπόδομα διπλοῦν.

10 There is a gift that shall not profit you; and there is a gift whose recompence is double.

11 ἔστιν ἐλάττωσις ἕνεκεν δόξης, καὶ ἔστιν ὃς ἀπὸ ταπεινώσεως ᾖρε κεφαλήν.

11 There is an abasement because of glory; and there is that lifts up his head from a low estate.

12 ἔστιν ἀγοράζων πολλὰ ὀλίγου καὶ ἀποτιννύων αὐτὰ ἑπταπλάσιον.

12 There is that buys much for a little, and repays it sevenfold.

13 ὁ σοφὸς ἐν λόγῳ ἑαυτὸν προσφιλῆ ποιήσει, χάριτες δὲ μωρῶν ἐκχυθήσονται.

13 A wise man by his words makes him beloved: but the graces of fools shall be poured out.

14 δόσις ἄφρονος οὐ λυσιτελήσει σοι, οἱ γὰρ ὀφθαλμοὶ αὐτοῦ ἀνθ᾿ ἑνὸς πολλοί·

14 The gift of a fool shall do you no good when you have it; neither yet of the envious for his necessity: for he looks to receive many things for one.

15 ὀλίγα δώσει καὶ πολλὰ ὀνειδίσει καὶ ἀνοίξει τὸ στόμα αὐτοῦ ὡς κῆρυξ· σήμερον δανιεῖ καὶ αὔριον ἀπαιτήσει, μισητὸς ἄνθρωπος ὁ τοιοῦτος.

15 He gives little, and upbraids much; he opens his mouth like a crier; to day he lends, and to morrow will he ask it again: such an one is to be hated of God and man.

16 μωρὸς ἐρεῖ· οὐχ ὑπάρχει μοι φίλος, καὶ οὐκ ἔστι χάρις τοῖς ἀγαθοῖς μου· οἱ ἔσθοντες τὸν ἄρτον μου, φαῦλοι γλώσσῃ·

16 The fool says, I have no friends, I have no thank for all my good deeds, and they that eat my bread speak evil of me.

17 ποσάκις καὶ ὅσοι καταγελάσονται αὐτοῦ;

17 How often, and of how many shall he be laughed to scorn! for he knows not aright what it is to have; and it is all one to him as if he had it not.

18 Ὀλίσθημα ἀπὸ ἐδάφους μᾶλλον ἢ ἀπὸ γλώσσης, οὕτως πτῶσις κακῶν κατὰ σπουδὴν ἥξει.

18 To slip upon a pavement is better than to slip with the tongue: so the fall of the wicked shall come speedily.

19 ἄνθρωπος ἄχαρις, μῦθος ἄκαιρος· ἐν στόματι ἀπαιδεύτων ἐνδελεχισθήσεται.

19 An unseasonable tale will always be in the mouth of the unwise.

20 ἀπὸ στόματος μωροῦ ἀποδοκιμασθήσεται παραβολή, οὐ γὰρ μὴ εἴπῃ αὐτὴν ἐν καιρῷ αὐτῆς.

20 A wise sentence shall be rejected when it comes out of a fool's mouth; for he will not speak it in due season.

21 Ἔστι κωλυόμενος ἁμαρτάνειν ἀπὸ ἐνδείας, καὶ ἐν τῇ ἀναπαύσει αὐτοῦ οὐ κατανυγήσεται.

21 There is that is hindered from sinning through lack: and when he takes rest, he shall not be troubled.

22 ἔστιν ἀπολλύων τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ δι᾿ αἰσχύνην, καὶ ἀπὸ ἄφρονος προσώπου ἀπολεῖ αὐτήν.

22 There is that destroys his own soul through bashfulness, and by accepting of persons overthrows himself.

23 ἔστι χάριν αἰσχύνης ἐπαγγελόμενος φίλῳ, καὶ ἐκτήσατο αὐτὸν ἐχθρὸν δωρεάν.

23 There is that for bashfulness promises to his friend, and makes him his enemy for nothing.

24 Μῶμος πονηρὸς ἐν ἀνθρώπῳ ψεῦδος, ἐν στόματι ἀπαιδεύτων ἐνδελεχισθήσεται.

24 A lie is a foul blot in a man, yet it is continually in the mouth of the untaught.

25 αἱρετὸν κλέπτης ἢ ὁ ἐνδελεχίζων ψεύδει, ἀμφότεροι δὲ ἀπώλειαν κληρονομήσουσιν.

25 A thief is better than a man that is accustomed to lie: but they both shall have destruction to heritage.

26 ἦθος ἀνθρώπου ψευδοῦς ἀτιμία, καὶ ἡ αἰσχύνη αὐτοῦ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ ἐνδελεχῶς.

26 The disposition of a liar is dishonourable, and his shame is ever with him.