Wisdom of Sirach 37

1 ΠΑΣ φίλος ἐρεῖ· ἐφιλίασα αὐτῷ κἀγώ, ἀλλ᾿ ἔστι φίλος ὀνόματι μόνον φίλος.

1 Every friend says, I am his friend also: but there is a friend, which is only a friend in name.

2 οὐχὶ λύπη ἔνι ἕως θανάτου ἑταῖρος καὶ φίλος τρεπόμενος εἰς ἔχθραν;

2 Is it not a grief to death, when a companion and friend is turned to an enemy?

3 ὦ πονηρὸν ἐνθύμημα, πόθεν ἐνεκυλίσθης καλύψαι τὴν ξηρὰν ἐν δολιότητι;

3 O wicked imagination, whence came you in to cover the earth with deceit?

4 ἑταῖρος φίλου ἐν εὐφροσύνῃ ἥδεται καὶ ἐν καιρῷ θλίψεως ἔσται ἀπέναντι·

4 There is a companion, which rejoices in the prosperity of a friend, but in the time of trouble will be against him.

5 ἑταῖρος φίλῳ συμπονεῖ χάριν γαστρός, ἔναντι πολέμου λήψεται ἀσπίδα.

5 There is a companion, which helps his friend for the belly, and takes up the buckler against the enemy.

6 μὴ ἐπιλάθῃ φίλου ἐν τῇ ψυχῇ σου, καὶ μὴ ἀμνημονήσῃς αὐτοῦ ἐν τοῖς χρήμασί σου.

6 Forget not your friend in your mind, and be not unmindful of him in your riches.

7 Πᾶς σύμβουλος ἐξαίρει βουλήν, ἀλλ᾿ ἔστι συμβουλεύων εἰς ἑαυτόν.

7 Every counsellor extols counsel; but there is some that counsels for himself.

8 ἀπὸ συμβούλου φύλαξον τὴν ψυχήν σου καὶ γνῶθι πρότερον τίς αὐτοῦ χρεία  καὶ γὰρ αὐτὸς ἑαυτῷ βουλεύσεται , μήποτε βάλῃ ἐπὶ σοὶ κλῆρον

8 Beware of a counsellor, and know before what need he has; for he will counsel for himself; lest he cast the lot upon you,

9 καὶ εἴπῃ σοι· καλὴ ἡ ὁδός σου, καὶ στήσεται ἐξ ἐναντίας ἰδεῖν τὸ συμβησόμενόν σοι.

9 And say to you, Your way is good: and afterward he stand on the other side, to see what shall befall you.

10 μὴ βουλεύου μετὰ τοῦ ὑποβλεπομένου σε καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν ζηλούντων σε κρύψον βουλήν.

10 Consult not with one that suspects you: and hide your counsel from such as envy you.

11 μετὰ γυναικὸς περὶ τῆς ἀντιζήλου αὐτῆς καὶ μετὰ δειλοῦ περὶ πολέμου, μετὰ ἐμπόρου περὶ μεταβολίας καὶ μετὰ ἀγοράζοντος περὶ πράσεως, μετὰ βασκάνου περὶ εὐχαριστίας καὶ μετὰ ἀνελεήμονος περὶ χρηστοηθείας, μετὰ ὀκνηροῦ περὶ παντὸς ἔργου καὶ μετὰ μισθίου ἐφεστίου περὶ συντελείας, οἰκέτῃ ἀργῷ περὶ πολλῆς ἐργασίας, μὴ ἔπεχε ἐπὶ τούτοις περὶ πάσης συμβουλίας·

11 Neither consult with a woman touching her of whom she is jealous; neither with a coward in matters of war; nor with a merchant concerning exchange; nor with a buyer of selling; nor with an envious man of thankfulness; nor with an unmerciful man touching kindness; nor with the slothful for any work; nor with an hireling for a year of finishing work; nor with an idle servant of much business: listen not to these in any matter of counsel.

12 ἀλλ᾿ ἢ μετὰ ἀνδρὸς εὐσεβοῦς ἐνδελέχιζε, ὃν ἂν ἐπιγνῷς συντηροῦντα ἐντολάς, ὃς ἐν τῇ ψυχῇ αὐτοῦ κατὰ τὴν ψυχήν σου, καὶ ἐὰν πταίσῃς, συναλγήσει σοι.

12 But be continually with a godly man, whom you know to keep the commandments of the Lord, whose, mind is according to your mind, and will sorrow with you, if you shall miscarry.

13 καὶ βουλὴν καρδίας στῆσον, οὐ γάρ ἔστι σοι πιστότερος αὐτῆς·

13 And let the counsel of your own heart stand: for there is no man more faithful to you than it.

14 ψυχὴ γὰρ ἀνδρὸς ἀπαγγέλλειν ἐνίοτε εἴωθεν ἢ ἑπτὰ σκοποὶ ἐπὶ μετεώρου καθήμενοι ἐπὶ σκοπῆς.

14 For a man's mind is sometime wont to tell him more than seven watchmen, that sit above in an high tower.

15 καὶ ἐπὶ πᾶσι τούτοις δεήθητι Ὑψίστου, ἵνα εὐθύνῃ ἐν ἀληθείᾳ τὴν ὁδόν σου.

15 And above all this pray to the most High, that he will direct your way in truth.

16 Ἀρχὴ παντὸς ἔργου λόγος, καὶ πρὸ πάσης πράξεως βουλή.

16 Let reason go before every enterprise, and counsel before every action.

17 ἴχνος ἀλλοιώσεως καρδίας τέσσαρα μέρη ἀνατέλλει,

17 The countenance is a sign of changing of the heart.

18 ἀγαθὸν καὶ κακόν, ζωὴ καὶ θάνατος, καὶ ἡ κυριεύουσα ἐνδελεχῶς αὐτῶν γλῶσσά ἐστιν.

18 Four manner of things appear: good and evil, life and death: but the tongue rules over them continually.

19 ἔστιν ἀνὴρ πανοῦργος πολλῶν παιδευτής, καὶ τῇ ἰδίᾳ ψυχῇ ἄχρηστός ἐστιν.

19 There is one that is wise and teaches many, and yet is unprofitable to himself.

20 ἔστι σοφιζόμενος ἐν λόγοις μισητός, οὗτος πάσης τροφῆς καθυστερήσει·

20 There is one that shows wisdom in words, and is hated: he shall be destitute of all food.

21 οὐ γὰρ ἐδόθη αὐτῷ παρὰ Κυρίου χάρις, ὅτι πάσης σοφίας ἐστερήθη.

21 For grace is not given, him from the Lord, because he is deprived of all wisdom.

22 ἔστι σοφὸς τῇ ἰδίᾳ ψυχῇ, καὶ οἱ καρποὶ τῆς συνέσεως αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ στόματος πιστοί.

22 Another is wise to himself; and the fruits of understanding are commendable in his mouth.

23 ἀνὴρ σοφὸς τὸν ἑαυτοῦ λαὸν παιδεύσει, καὶ οἱ καρποὶ τῆς συνέσεως αὐτοῦ πιστοί.

23 A wise man instructs his people; and the fruits of his understanding fail not.

24 ἀνὴρ σοφὸς πλησθήσεται εὐλογίας, καὶ μακαριοῦσιν αὐτὸν πάντες οἱ ὁρῶντες.

24 A wise man shall be filled with blessing; and all they that see him shall count him happy.

25 ζωὴ ἀνδρὸς ἐν ἀριθμῷ ἡμερῶν, καὶ αἱ ἡμέραι τοῦ Ἰσραὴλ ἀναρίθμητοι.

25 The days of the life of man may be numbered: but the days of Israel are innumerable.

26 ὁ σοφὸς ἐν τῷ λαῷ αὐτοῦ κληρονομήσει πίστιν, καὶ τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ ζήσεται εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα.

26 A wise man shall inherit glory amongst his people, and his name shall be perpetual.

27 Τέκνον, ἐν τῇ ζωῇ σου πείρασον τὴν ψυχήν σου καὶ ἰδὲ τί πονηρὸν αὐτῇ, καὶ μὴ δῷς αὐτῇ·

27 My son, prove your soul in your life, and see what is evil for it, and give not that to it.

28 οὐ γὰρ πάντα πᾶσι συμφέρει, καὶ οὐ πᾶσα ψυχὴ ἐν παντὶ εὐδοκεῖ.

28 For all things are not profitable for all men, neither has every soul pleasure in every thing.

29 μὴ ἀπληστεύου ἐν πάσῃ τρυφῇ καὶ μὴ ἐκχυθῇς ἐπὶ ἐδεσμάτων·

29 Be not unsatiable in any dainty thing, nor too greedy upon meats:

30 ἐν πολλοῖς γὰρ βρώμασιν ἔσται πόνος, καὶ ἡ ἀπληστία ἐγγιεῖ ἕως χολέρας.

30 For excess of meats brings sickness, and surfeiting will turn into choler.

31 δι᾿ ἀπληστίαν πολλοὶ ἐτελεύτησαν, ὁ δὲ προσέχων προσθήσει ζωήν.

31 By surfeiting have many perished; but he that takes heed prolongs his life.