Wisdom of Sirach 35

1 Ο ΣΥΝΤΗΡΩΝ νόμον πλεονάζει προσφοράς, θυσιάζων σωτηρίου ὁ προσέχων ἐντολαῖς.

1 He that keeps the law brings offerings enough: he that takes heed to the commandment offers a peace offering.

2 ἀνταποδιδοὺς χάριν προσφέρων σεμίδαλιν, καὶ ὁ ποιῶν ἐλεημοσύνην θυσιάζων αἰνέσεως.

2 He that requites a good turn offers fine flour; and he that gives alms sacrifices praise.

3 εὐδοκία Κυρίου ἀποστῆναι ἀπὸ πονηρίας, καὶ ἐξιλασμὸς ἀποστῆναι ἀπὸ ἀδικίας.

3 To depart from wickedness is a thing pleasing to the Lord; and to forsake unrighteousness is a propitiation.

4 μὴ ὀφθῇς ἐν προσώπῳ Κυρίου κενός, πάντα γὰρ ταῦτα χάριν ἐντολῆς.

4 You shall not appear empty before the Lord. For all these things [are to be done] because of the commandment. (verse 35:4-5 in Brenton's English)

5 προσφορὰ δικαίου λιπαίνει θυσιαστήριον, καὶ ἡ εὐωδία αὐτῆς ἔναντι Ὑψίστου.

5 The offering of the righteous makes the altar fat, and the sweet savour thereof is before the most High. (verse 6 in Brenton's English)

6 θυσία ἀνδρὸς δικαίου δεκτή, καὶ τὸ μνημόσυνον αὐτῆς οὐκ ἐπιλησθήσεται.

6 The sacrifice of a just man is acceptable. and the memorial thereof shall never be forgotten. (verse 7 in Brenton's English)

7 ἐν ἀγαθῷ ὀφθαλμῷ δόξασον τὸν Κύριον, καὶ μὴ σμικρύνῃς ἀπαρχὴν χειρῶν σου.

7 Give the Lord his honour with a good eye, and diminish not the first fruits of your hands. (verse 8 in Brenton's English)

8 ἐν πάσῃ δόσει ἱλάρωσον τὸ πρόσωπόν σου καὶ ἐν εὐφροσύνῃ ἁγίασον δεκάτην.

8 In all your gifts show a cheerful countenance, and dedicate your tithes with gladness. (verse 9 in Brenton's English)

9 δὸς Ὑψίστῳ κατὰ τὴν δόσιν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐν ἀγαθῷ ὀφθαλμῷ καθ᾿ εὕρεμα χειρός·

9 Give to the most High according as he has enriched you; and as you have gotten, give with a cheerful eye. (verse 10 in Brenton's English)

10 ὅτι Κύριος ἀνταποδιδούς ἐστι καὶ ἑπταπλάσια ἀνταποδώσει σοι.

10 For the Lord recompenses, and will give you seven times as much. (verse 11 in Brenton's English)

11 Μὴ δωροκόπει, οὐ γὰρ προσδέξεται·

11 Do not think to corrupt with gifts; for such he will not receive: and trust not to unrighteous sacrifices; for the Lord is judge, and with him is no respect of persons. (verse 12 in Brenton's English)

12 καὶ μὴ ἔπεχε θυσίᾳ ἀδίκῳ, ὅτι Κύριος κριτής ἐστι, καὶ οὐκ ἔστι παρ᾿ αὐτῷ δόξα προσώπου.

12 In the English, this verse is part of verse 11.

13 οὐ λήψεται πρόσωπον ἐπὶ πτωχοῦ καὶ δέησιν ἠδικημένου εἰσακούσεται·

13 He will not accept any person against a poor man, but will hear the prayer of the oppressed.

14 οὐ μὴ ὑπερίδῃ ἱκετείαν ὀρφανοῦ καὶ χήραν, ἐὰν ἐκχέῃ λαλιάν·

14 He will not despise the supplication of the fatherless; nor the widow, when she pours out her complaint.

15 οὐχὶ δάκρυα χήρας ἐπὶ σιαγόνα καταβαίνει καὶ ἡ καταβόησις ἐπὶ τῷ καταγαγόντι αὐτά;

15 Do not the tears run down the widow's cheeks? and is not her cry against him that causes them to fall?

16 θεραπεύων ἐν εὐδοκίᾳ δεχθήσεται, καὶ ἡ δέησις αὐτοῦ ἕως νεφελῶν συνάψει.

16 He that serves the Lord shall be accepted with favour, and his prayer shall reach to the clouds.

17 προσευχὴ ταπεινοῦ νεφέλας διῆλθε, καὶ ἕως συνεγγίσῃ, οὐ μὴ παρακληθῇ·

17 The prayer of the humble pierces the clouds: and till it come near, he will not be comforted; and will not depart, till the most High shall behold to judge righteously, and execute judgement.

18 καὶ οὐ μὴ ἀποστῇ, ἕως ἐπισκέψηται ὁ Ὓψιστος. καὶ κρινεῖ δικαίως καὶ ποιήσει κρίσιν.

18 This verse is not in Brenton's English, which follows another reading of the Greek.

19 καὶ ὁ Κύριος οὐ μὴ βραδύνῃ, οὐδὲ μὴ μακροθυμήσῃ ἐπ᾿ αὐτοῖς,

19 Till he have rendered to every man according to his deeds, and to the works of men according to their devices; till he have judged the cause of his people, and made them to rejoice in his mercy.

20 ἕως ἂν συντρίψῃ ὀσφὺν ἀνελεημόνων, καὶ τοῖς ἔθνεσιν ἀνταποδώσει ἐκδίκησιν,

20 For the Lord will not be slack, neither will the Mighty be patient towards them, till he have struck in sunder the loins of the unmerciful, and repayed vengeance to the heathen; till he have taken away the multitude of the proud, and broken the sceptre of the unrighteous; (verse 18 in Brenton's English)

21 ἕως ἐξάρῃ πλῆθος ὑβριστῶν καὶ σκῆπτρα ἀδίκων συντρίψῃ·

21 This verse is not in Brenton's English, which follows another reading of the Greek.

22 ἕως ἀνταποδῷ ἀνθρώπῳ κατὰ τὰς πράξεις αὐτοῦ καὶ τὰ ἔργα τῶν ἀνθρώπων κατὰ τὰ ἐνθυμήματα αὐτῶν·

22 As the clay is in the potter's hand, to fashion it at his pleasure: so man is in the hand of him that made him, to render to them as likes him best. (verse 13 in Brenton's English)

23 ἕως κρίνῃ τὴν κρίσιν τοῦ λαοῦ αὐτοῦ, καὶ εὐφρανεῖ αὐτοὺς ἐν τῷ ἐλέει αὐτοῦ.

23 In the English, this verse is part of verse 22.

24 ὡραῖον ἔλεος ἐν καιρῷ θλίψεως αὐτοῦ, ὡς νεφέλαι ὑετοῦ ἐν καιρῷ ἀβροχίας.

24 Mercy is seasonable in the time of affliction, as clouds of rain in the time of drought. (verse 20 in Brenton's English)