The Bible Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 32
Wisdom of Sirach 32
Σοφία Σειράχ
1 ΠΕΡΙ ΗΓΟΥΜΕΝΩΝ. Ἡγούμενόν σε κατέστησαν; μὴ ἐπαίρου· γίνου ἐν αὐτοῖς ὡς εἷς ἐξ αὐτῶν, φρόντισον αὐτῶν καὶ οὕτω κάθισον.
If you be made the master [of a feast,] lift not yourself up, but be amongst them as one of the rest; take diligent care for them, and so sit down.
2 καὶ πᾶσαν τὴν χρείαν σου ποιήσας ἀνάπεσε, ἵνα εὐφρανθῇς δι᾿ αὐτοὺς καὶ εὐκοσμίας χάριν λάβῃς στέφανον.
And when you have done all your office, take your place, that you may be merry with them, and receive a crown for your well ordering of the feast.
3 λάλησον, πρεσβύτερε, πρέπει γάρ σοι, ἐν ἀκριβεῖ ἐπιστήμῃ καὶ μὴ ἐμποδίσῃς μουσικά.
Speak, you that are the elder, for it becomes you, but with sound judgement; and hinder not musick.
4 ὅπου ἀκρόαμα, μὴ ἐκχέῃς λαλιὰν καὶ ἀκαίρως μὴ σοφίζου.
Pour not out words where there is a musician, and show not forth wisdom out of time.
5 σφραγὶς ἄνθρακος ἐπὶ κόσμῳ χρυσῷ, σύγκριμα μουσικῶν ἐν συμποσίῳ οἴνου.
A concert of musick in a banquet of wine is as a signet of carbuncle set in gold.
6 ἐν κατασκευάσματι χρυσῷ σφραγὶς σμαράγδου, μέλος μουσικὸν ἐφ᾿ ἡδεῖ οἴνῳ.
As a signet of an emerald set in a work of gold, so is the melody of musick with pleasant wine.
7 Λάλησον, νεανίσκε, εἰ χρεία σου, μόλις δὶς ἐὰν ἐπερωτηθῇς·
Speak, young man, if there be need of you: and yet scarcely when you are twice asked.
8 κεφαλαίωσον λόγον, ἐν ὀλίγοις πολλά· γίνου ὡς γινώσκων καὶ ἅμα σιωπῶν.
Let your speech be short, comprehending much in few words; be as one that knows and yet holds his tongue.
9 ἐν μέσῳ μεγιστάνων μὴ ἐξισάζου καὶ ἑτέρου λέγοντος μὴ πολλὰ ἀδολέσχει.
If you be amongst great men, make not yourself equal with them; and when ancient men are in place, use not many words.
10 πρὸ βροντῆς κατασπεύδει ἀστραπή, καὶ πρὸ αἰσχυντηροῦ προελεύσεται χάρις.
Before the thunder goes lightning; and before a shamefaced man shall go favour.
11 ἐν ὥρᾳ ἐξεγείρου καὶ μὴ οὐράγει, ἀπότρεχε εἰς οἶκον καὶ μὴ ρᾳθύμει·
Rise up betimes, and be not the last; but get you home without delay.
12 ἐκεῖ παῖζε καὶ ποίει τὰ ἐνθυμήματά σου καὶ μὴ ἁμάρτῃς λόγῳ ὑπερηφάνῳ.
There take your pastime, and do what you will: but sin not by proud speech.
13 καὶ ἐπὶ τούτοις εὐλόγησον τὸν ποιήσαντά σε καὶ μεθύσκοντά σε ἀπὸ τῶν ἀγαθῶν αὐτοῦ.
And for these things bless him that made you, and has replenished you with his good things.
14 Ὁ φοβούμενος Κύριον ἐκδέξεται παιδείαν, καὶ οἱ ὀρθρίζοντες εὑρήσουσιν εὐδοκίαν.
Whoso fears the Lord will receive his discipline; and they that seek him early shall find favour.
15 ὁ ζητῶν νόμον ἐμπλησθήσεται αὐτοῦ, καὶ ὁ ὑποκρινόμενος σκανδαλισθήσεται ἐν αὐτῷ.
He that seeks the law shall be filled therewith: but the hypocrite will be offended thereat.
16 οἱ φοβούμενοι Κύριον εὑρήσουσι κρίμα καὶ δικαιώματα ὡς φῶς ἐξάψουσιν.
They that fear the Lord shall find judgement, and shall kindle justice as a light.
17 ἄνθρωπος ἁμαρτωλὸς ἐκκλίνει ἐλεγμὸν καὶ κατὰ τὸ θέλημα αὐτοῦ εὑρήσει σύγκριμα.
A sinful man will not be reproved, but finds an excuse according to his will.
18 Ἀνὴρ βουλῆς οὐ μὴ παρίδῃ διανόημα, ἀλλότριος καὶ ὑπερήφανος οὐ καταπτήξει φόβον, καὶ μετὰ τὸ ποιῆσαι μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ ἄνευ βουλῆς.
A man of counsel will be considerate; but a strange and proud man is not daunted with fear, even when of himself he has done without counsel.
19 ἄνευ βουλῆς μηθὲν ποιήσῃς καὶ ἐν τῷ ποιῆσαί σε μὴ μεταμελοῦ.
Do nothing without advice; and when you have once done, repent not.
20 ἐν ὁδῷ ἀντιπτώματος μὴ πορεύου καὶ μὴ προσκόψῃς ἐν λιθώδεσι.
Go not in a way wherein you may fall, and stumble not amongst the stones.
21 μὴ πιστεύσῃς ἐν ὁδῷ ἀπροσκόπῳ,
Be not confident in a plain way.
22 καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν τέκνων σου φύλαξαι.
And beware of your own children.
23 ἐν παντὶ ἔργῳ πίστευε τῇ ψυχῇ σου, καὶ γὰρ τοῦτό ἐστι τήρησις ἐντολῶν.
In every good work trust your own soul; for this is the keeping of the commandments.
24 ὁ πιστεύων νόμῳ προσέχει ἐντολαῖς, καὶ ὁ πεποιθὼς Κυρίῳ οὐκ ἐλαττωθήσεται.
He that believes in the Lord takes heed to the commandment; and he that trusts in him shall fare never the worse.
Greek: the Septuagint as the Orthodox Media Network published it (Mount Athos); 2 Maccabees and the Prayer of Manasseh from Brenton's edition (1851). English: Brenton's translation (1851), its spelling updated by Michael Paul Johnson; public domain. About these texts.