Wisdom of Sirach 28

1 Ο ΕΚΔΙΚΩΝ παρὰ Κυρίου εὑρήσει ἐκδίκησιν, καὶ τὰς ἁμαρτίας αὐτοῦ διατηρῶν διατηρήσει.

1 He that revenges shall find vengeance from the Lord, and he will surely keep his sins [in remembrance.]

2 ἄφες ἀδίκημα τῷ πλησίον σου, καὶ τότε δεηθέντος σου αἱ ἁμαρτίαι σου λυθήσονται.

2 Forgive your neighbour the hurt that he has done to you, so shall your sins also be forgiven when you pray.

3 ἄνθρωπος ἀνθρώπῳ συντηρεῖ ὀργήν, καὶ παρὰ Κυρίου ζητεῖ ἴασιν;

3 One man bears hatred against another, and does he seek pardon from the Lord?

4 ἐπ᾿ ἄνθρωπον ὅμοιον αὐτῷ οὐκ ἔχει ἔλεος, καὶ περὶ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν αὐτοῦ δεῖται;

4 He shows no mercy to a man, which is like himself: and does he ask forgiveness of his own sins?

5 αὐτὸς σὰρξ ὢν διατηρεῖ μῆνιν, τίς ἐξιλάσεται τὰς ἁμαρτίας αὐτοῦ;

5 If he that is but flesh nourish hatred, who will entreat for pardon of his sins?

6 μνήσθητι τὰ ἔσχατα καὶ παῦσαι ἐχθραίνων, καταφθορὰν καὶ θάνατον, καὶ ἔμμενε ἐντολαῖς.

6 Remember your end, and let enmity cease; [remember] corruption and death, and abide in the commandments.

7 μνήσθητι ἐντολῶν καὶ μὴ μηνίσῃς τῷ πλησίον, καὶ διαθήκην Ὑψίστου καὶ πάριδε ἄγνοιαν.

7 Remember the commandments, and bear no malice to your neighbour: [remember] the covenant of the Highest, and wink at ignorance.

8 ἀπόσχου ἀπὸ μάχης, καὶ ἐλαττώσεις ἁμαρτίας· ἄνθρωπος γὰρ θυμώδης ἐκκαύσει μάχην,

8 Abstain from strife, and you shall diminish your sins: for a furious man will kindle strife,

9 καὶ ἀνὴρ ἁμαρτωλὸς ταράξει φίλους καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον εἰρηνευόντων ἐμβάλλει διαβολήν.

9 A sinful man disquiets friends, and makes debate amongst them that be at peace.

10 κατὰ τὴν ὕλην τοῦ πυρὸς οὕτως ἐκκαυθήσεται, καὶ κατὰ τὴν ἰσχὺν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ὁ θυμὸς αὐτοῦ ἔσται, καὶ κατὰ τὸν πλοῦτον ἀνυψώσει ὀργὴν αὐτοῦ, καὶ κατὰ τὴν στερέωσιν τῆς μάχης ἐκκαυθήσεται.

10 As the matter of the fire is, so it burns: and as a man's strength is, so is his wrath; and according to his riches his anger rises; and the stronger they are which contend, the more they will be inflamed.

11 ἔρις κατασπευδομένη ἐκκαίει πῦρ, καὶ μάχη κατασπεύδουσα ἐκχέει αἷμα.

11 An hasty contention kindles a fire: and an hasty fighting sheds blood.

12 ἐὰν φυσήσῃς εἰς σπινθῆρα, ἐκκαήσεται, καὶ ἐὰν πτύσῃς ἐπ᾿ αὐτόν, σβεσθήσεται· καὶ ἀμφότερα ἐκ τοῦ στόματός σου ἐκπορεύεται.

12 If you blow the spark, it shall burn: if you spit upon it, it shall be quenched: and both these come out of your mouth.

13 Ψίθυρον καὶ δίγλωσσον καταράσασθε, πολλοὺς γὰρ εἰρηνεύοντας ἀπώλεσαν.

13 Curse the whisperer and double-tongued: for such have destroyed many that were at peace.

14 γλῶσσα τρίτη πολλοὺς ἐσάλευσε καὶ διέστησεν αὐτοὺς ἀπὸ ἔθνους εἰς ἔθνος καὶ πόλεις ὀχυρὰς καθεῖλε καὶ οἰκίας μεγιστάνων κατέστρεψε.

14 A backbiting tongue has disquieted many, and driven them from nation to nation: strong cities has it pulled down, and overthrown the houses of great men.

15 γλῶσσα τρίτη γυναῖκας ἀνδρείας ἐξέβαλε καὶ ἐστέρησεν αὐτὰς τῶν πόνων αὐτῶν.

15 A backbiting tongue has cast out virtuous women, and deprived them of their labours.

16 ὁ προσέχων αὐτῇ οὐ μὴ εὕρῃ ἀνάπαυσιν, οὐδὲ κατασκηνώσει μεθ᾿ ἡσυχίας.

16 Whoso hearkens to it shall never find rest, and never dwell quietly.

17 πληγὴ μάστιγος ποιεῖ μώλωπας, πληγὴ δὲ γλώσσης συγκλάσει ὀστᾶ.

17 The stroke of the whip makes marks in the flesh: but the stroke of the tongue breaks the bones.

18 πολλοὶ ἔπεσαν ἐν στόματι μαχαίρας, καὶ οὐχ ὡς οἱ πεπτωκότες διὰ γλῶσσαν.

18 Many have fallen by the edge of the sword: but not so many as have fallen by the tongue.

19 μακάριος ὁ σκεπασθεὶς ἀπ᾿ αὐτῆς, ὃς οὐ διῆλθεν ἐν τῷ θυμῷ αὐτῆς, ὃς οὐχ εἵλκυσε τὸν ζυγὸν αὐτῆς καὶ ἐν τοῖς δεσμοῖς αὐτῆς οὐκ ἐδέθη·

19 Well is he that is defended through the venom thereof; who has not drawn the yoke thereof, nor has been bound in her bands.

20 ὁ γὰρ ζυγὸς αὐτῆς ζυγὸς σιδηροῦς, καὶ οἱ δεσμοὶ αὐτῆς δεσμοὶ χάλκεοι.

20 For the yoke thereof is a yoke of iron, and the bands thereof are bands of brass.

21 θάνατος πονηρὸς ὁ θάνατος αὐτῆς, καὶ λυσιτελὴς μᾶλλον ὁ ᾅδης αὐτῆς. 22οὐ μὴ κρατήσει εὐσεβῶν, καὶ ἐν τῇ φλογὶ αὐτῆς οὐ καήσονται.

21 The death thereof is an evil death, the grave were better than it. It shall not have rule over them that fear God, neither shall they be burnt with the flame thereof. (verse 28:21-22 in Brenton's English)

23 οἱ καταλείποντες Κύριον ἐμπεσοῦνται εἰς αὐτήν, καὶ ἐν αὐτοῖς ἐκκαήσεται καὶ οὐ μὴ σβεσθῇ· ἐξαποσταλήσεται ἐπ᾿ αὐτοῖς ὡς λέων, καὶ ὡς πάρδαλις λυμανεῖται αὐτούς.

23 Such as forsake the Lord shall fall into it; and it shall burn in them, and not be quenched; it shall be sent upon them as a lion, and devour them as a leopard.

24 ἴδε περίφραξον τὸ κτῆμά σου ἀκάνθαις, τὸ ἀργύριόν σου καὶ τὸ χρυσίον κατάδησον·

24 Look that you hedge your possession about with thorns, and bind up your silver and gold,

25 καὶ τοῖς λόγοις σου ποίησον ζυγὸν καὶ σταθμόν, καὶ τῷ στόματί σου ποίησον θύραν καὶ μοχλόν.

25 And weigh your words in a balance, and make a door and bar for your mouth.

26 πρόσεχε μήπως ὀλισθήσῃς ἐν αὐτῇ, μὴ πέσῃς κατέναντι ἐνεδρεύοντος.

26 Beware you slide not by it, lest you fall before him that lies in wait.