Wisdom of Sirach 27

1 ΧΑΡΙΝ διαφόρου πολλοὶ ἥμαρτον, καὶ ὁ ζητῶν πληθῦναι ἀποστρέψει ὀφθαλμόν.

1 Many have sinned for a small matter; and he that seeks for abundance will turn his eyes away.

2 ἀναμέσον ἁρμῶν λίθων παγήσεται πάσσαλος, καὶ ἀναμέσον πράσεως καὶ ἀγορασμοῦ συντριβήσεται ἁμαρτία.

2 As a nail sticks fast between the joinings of the stones; so does sin stick close between buying and selling.

3 ἐὰν μὴ ἐν φόβῳ Κυρίου κρατήσῃ κατὰ σπουδήν, ἐν τάχει καταστραφήσεται αὐτοῦ ὁ οἶκος.

3 Unless a man hold himself diligently in the fear of the Lord, his house shall soon be overthrown.

4 Ἐν σείσματι κοσκίνου διαμένει κοπρία, οὕτως σκύβαλα ἀνθρώπου ἐν λογισμῷ αὐτοῦ.

4 As when one sifts with a sieve, the refuse remains; so the filth of man in his talk.

5 σκεύη κεραμέως δοκιμάζει κάμινος, καὶ πειρασμὸς ἀνθρώπου ἐν διαλογισμῷ αὐτοῦ.

5 The furnace proves the potter's vessels; so the trial of man is in his reasoning.

6 γεώργιον ξύλου ἐκφαίνει ὁ καρπὸς αὐτοῦ, οὕτως λόγος ἐνθυμήματος καρδίας ἀνθρώπου.

6 The fruit declares if the tree have been dressed; so is the utterance of a conceit in the heart of man.

7 πρὸ λογισμοῦ μὴ ἐπαινέσῃς ἄνδρα, οὗτος γὰρ πειρασμὸς ἀνθρώπων.

7 Praise no man before you hear him speak; for this is the trial of men.

8 Ἐὰν διώκῃς τὸ δίκαιον, καταλήψῃ καὶ ἐνδύσῃ αὐτὸ ὡς ποδήρη δόξης.

8 If you follow righteousness, you shall obtain her, and put her on, as a glorious long robe.

9 πετεινὰ πρὸς τὰ ὅμοια αὐτοῖς καταλύσει, καὶ ἀλήθεια πρὸς τοὺς ἐργαζομένους αὐτὴν ἐπανήξει.

9 The birds will resort to their like; so will truth return to them that practise in her.

10 λέων θήραν ἐνεδρεύει, οὕτως ἁμαρτίαι ἐργαζομένους ἄδικα.

10 As the lion lies in wait for the prey; so sin for them that work iniquity.

11 διήγησις εὐσεβοῦς διαπαντὸς σοφία, ὁ δὲ ἄφρων ὡς σελήνη ἀλλοιοῦται.

11 The discourse of a godly man is always with wisdom; but a fool changes as the moon.

12 εἰς μέσον ἀσυνέτων συντήρησον καιρόν, εἰς μέσον δὲ διανοουμένων ἐνδελέχιζε.

12 If you be amongst the indiscreet, observe the time; but be continually amongst men of understanding.

13 διήγησις μωρῶν προσόχθισμα, καὶ ὁ γέλως αὐτῶν ἐν σπατάλῃ ἁμαρτίας.

13 The discourse of fools is irksome, and their sport is the wantonness of sin.

14 λαλιὰ πολυόρκου ὀρθώσει τρίχας, καὶ ἡ μάχη αὐτῶν ἐμφραγμὸς ὠτίων.

14 The talk of him that swears much makes the hair stand upright; and their brawls make one stop his ears.

15 ἔκχυσις αἵματος μάχη ὑπερηφάνων, καὶ ἡ διαλοιδόρησις αὐτῶν ἀκοὴ μοχθηρά.

15 The strife of the proud is blood shedding, and their revilings are grievous to the ear.

16 Ὁ ἀποκαλύπτων μυστήρια ἀπώλεσε πίστιν, καὶ οὐ μὴ εὕρῃ φίλον πρὸς τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ.

16 Whoso discovers secrets loses his credit; and shall never find friend to his mind.

17 στέρξον φίλον καὶ πιστώθητι μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ· ἐὰν δὲ ἀποκαλύψῃς τὰ μυστήρια αὐτοῦ, οὐ μὴ καταδιώξῃς ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ.

17 Love your friend, and be faithful to him: but if you betray his secrets, follow no more after him.

18 καθὼς γὰρ ἀπώλεσεν ἄνθρωπος τὸν ἐχθρὸν αὐτοῦ, οὕτως ἀπώλεσας τὴν φιλίαν τοῦ πλησίον·

18 For as a man has destroyed his enemy; so have you lost the love of your neighbour.

19 καὶ ὡς πετεινὸν ἐκ χειρός σου ἀπέλυσας, οὕτως ἀφῆκας τὸν πλησίον καὶ οὐ θηρεύσεις αὐτόν.

19 As one that lets a bird go out of his hand, so have you let your neighbour go, and shall not get him again

20 μὴ αὐτὸν διώξῃς, ὅτι μακρὰν ἀπέστη καὶ ἐξέφυγεν ὡς δορκὰς ἐκ παγίδος.

20 Follow after him no more, for he is too far off; he is as a roe escaped out of the snare.

21 ὅτι τραῦμά ἐστι καταδῆσαι καὶ λοιδορίας ἐστὶ διαλλαγή, ὁ δὲ ἀποκαλύψας μυστήρια ἀπήλπισεν.

21 As for a wound, it may be bound up; and after reviling there may be reconcilement: but he that betrays secrets is without hope.

22 Διανεύων ὀφθαλμῷ τεκταίνει κακά, καὶ οὐδεὶς αὐτὸν ἀποστήσει ἀπ᾿ αὐτοῦ·

22 He that winks with the eyes works evil: and he that knows him will depart from him.

23 ἀπέναντι τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν σου γλυκανεῖ στόμα σου, καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν λόγων σου ἐκθαυμάσει, ὕστερον δὲ διαστρέψει τὸ στόμα αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐν τοῖς λόγοις σου δώσει σκάνδαλον.

23 When you are present, he will speak sweetly, and will admire your words: but at the last he will writhe his mouth, and slander your sayings.

24 πολλὰ ἐμίσησα καὶ οὐχ ὡμοίωσα αὐτῷ, καὶ ὁ Κύριος μισήσει αὐτόν.

24 I have hated many things, but nothing like him; for the Lord will hate him.

25 ὁ βάλλων λίθον εἰς ὕψος ἐπὶ κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ βάλλει, καὶ πληγὴ δολία διελεῖ τραύματα.

25 Whoso casts a stone on high casts it on his own head; and a deceitful stroke shall make wounds.

26 ὁ ὀρύσσων βόθρον εἰς αὐτὸν ἐμπεσεῖται, καὶ ὁ ἱστῶν παγίδα ἐν αὐτῇ ἁλώσεται.

26 Whoso digs a pit shall fall therein: and he that sets a trap shall be taken therein.

27 ὁ ποιῶν πονηρὰ εἰς αὐτὸν κυλισθήσεται, καὶ οὐ μὴ ἐπιγνῷ πόθεν ἥκει αὐτῷ.

27 He that works mischief, it shall fall upon him, and he shall not know whence it comes.

28 ἐμπαιγμὸς καὶ ὀνειδισμὸς ὑπερηφάνων, καὶ ἡ ἐκδίκησις ὡς λέων ἐνεδρεύσει αὐτόν.

28 Mockery and reproach are from the proud; but vengeance, as a lion, shall lie in wait for them.

29 παγίδι ἁλώσονται οἱ εὐφραινόμενοι πτώσει εὐσεβῶν, καὶ ὀδύνη καταναλώσει αὐτοὺς πρὸ τοῦ θανάτου αὐτῶν.

29 They that rejoice at the fall of the righteous shall be taken in the snare; and anguish shall consume them before they die.

30 Μῆνις καὶ ὀργὴ καὶ ταῦτά ἐστι βδελύγματα καὶ ἀνὴρ ἁμαρτωλὸς ἐγκρατὴς ἔσται αὐτῶν.

30 Malice and wrath, even these are abominations; and the sinful man shall have them both.