Wisdom of Sirach 41

1 Ω ΘΑΝΑΤΕ, ὡς πικρόν σου τὸ μνημόσυνόν ἐστιν ἀνθρώπῳ εἰρηνεύοντι ἐν τοῖς ὑπάρχουσιν αὐτοῦ ἀνδρὶ ἀπερισπάστῳ καὶ εὐοδουμένῳ ἐν πᾶσι καὶ ἔτι ἰσχύοντι ἐπιδέξασθαι τροφήν.

1 O death, how bitter is the remembrance of you to a man that lives at rest in his possessions, to the man that has nothing to vex him, and that has prosperity in all things: yes, to him that is yet able to receive meat!

2 ὦ θάνατε, καλόν σου τὸ κρίμα ἐστὶν ἀνθρώπῳ ἐπιδεομένῳ καὶ ἐλασσουμένῳ ἰσχύϊ, ἐσχατογήρῳ καὶ περισπωμένῳ περὶ πάντων καὶ ἀπειθοῦντι καὶ ἀπολωλεκότι ὑπομονήν.

2 O death, acceptable is your sentence to the needy, and to him whose strength fails, that is now in the last age, and is vexed with all things, and to him that despairs, and has lost patience!

3 μὴ εὐλαβοῦ κρίμα θανάτου, μνήσθητι προτέρων σου καὶ ἐσχάτων·

3 Fear not the sentence of death, remember them that have been before you, and that come after; for this is the sentence of the Lord over all flesh.

4 τοῦτο τὸ κρίμα παρὰ Κυρίου πάσῃ σαρκί, καὶ τί ἀπαναίνῃ ἐν εὐδοκίᾳ Ὑψίστου; εἴτε δέκα εἴτε ἑκατὸν εἴτε χίλια ἔτη, οὐκ ἔστιν ἐν ᾅδου ἐλεγμὸς ζωῆς.

4 And why are you against the pleasure of the most High? there is no inquisition in the grave, whether you have lived ten, or one hundred, or a thousand years.

5 Τέκνα βδελυκτὰ γίνεται τέκνα ἁμαρτωλῶν καὶ συναναστρεφόμενα παροικίαις ἀσεβῶν.

5 The children of sinners are abominable children, and they that are conversant in the dwelling of the ungodly.

6 τέκνων ἁμαρτωλῶν ἀπολεῖται κληρονομία, καὶ μετὰ τοῦ σπέρματος αὐτῶν ἐνδελεχιεῖ ὄνειδος.

6 The inheritance of sinners' children shall perish, and their posterity shall have a perpetual reproach.

7 πατρὶ ἀσεβεῖ μέμψεται τέκνα, ὅτι δι᾿ αὐτὸν ὀνειδισθήσονται.

7 The children will complain of an ungodly father, because they shall be reproached for his sake.

8 οὐαὶ ὑμῖν, ἄνδρες ἀσεβεῖς, οἵτινες ἐγκατελίπετε νόμον Θεοῦ Ὑψίστου·

8 Woe be to you, ungodly men, which have forsaken the law of the most high God! for if you⌃ increase, it shall be to your destruction:

9 καὶ ἐὰν γεννηθῆτε, εἰς κατάραν γεννηθήσεσθε, καὶ ἐὰν ἀποθάνητε, εἰς κατάραν μερισθήσεσθε.

9 And if you⌃ be born, you⌃ shall be born to a curse: and if you⌃ die, a curse shall be your portion.

10 πάντα ὅσα ἐκ γῆς, εἰς γῆν ἀπελεύσεται, οὕτως ἀσεβεῖς ἀπὸ κατάρας εἰς ἀπώλειαν.

10 All that are of the earth shall turn to earth again: so the ungodly shall go from a curse to destruction.

11 Πένθος ἀνθρώπων ἐν σώμασιν αὐτῶν, ὄνομα δὲ ἁμαρτωλῶν οὐκ ἀγαθὸν ἐξαλειφθήσεται.

11 The mourning of men is about their bodies: but an ill name of sinners shall be blotted out.

12 φρόντισον περὶ ὀνόματος, αὐτὸ γάρ σοι διαμένει ἢ χίλιοι μεγάλοι θησαυροὶ χρυσίου.

12 Have regard to your name; for that shall continue with you above a thousand great treasures of gold.

13 ἀγαθῆς ζωῆς ἀριθμὸς ἡμερῶν, καὶ ἀγαθὸν ὄνομα εἰς αἰῶνα διαμενεῖ.

13 A good life has but few days: but a good name endures for ever.

14 παιδείαν ἐν εἰρήνῃ συντηρήσατε, τέκνα· σοφία δὲ κεκρυμμένη καὶ θησαυρὸς ἀφανής, τίς ὠφέλεια ἐν ἀμφοτέροις;

14 My children, keep discipline in peace: for wisdom that is hid, and a treasure that is not seen, what profit is in them both?

15 κρείσσων ἄνθρωπος ἀποκρύπτων τὴν μωρίαν αὐτοῦ ἢ ἄνθρωπος ἀποκρύπτων τὴν σοφίαν αὐτοῦ.

15 A man that hides his foolishness is better than a man that hides his wisdom.

16 τοιγαροῦν ἐντράπητε ἐπὶ τῷ ρήματί μου· οὐ γάρ ἐστι πᾶσαν αἰσχύνην διαφυλάξαι καλόν, καὶ οὐ πάντα πᾶσιν ἐν πίστει εὐδοκιμεῖται.

16 Therefore be shamefaced according to my word: for it is not good to retain all shamefacedness; neither is it altogether approved in every thing.

17 αἰσχύνεσθε ἀπὸ πατρὸς καὶ μητρὸς περὶ πορνείας καὶ ἀπὸ ἡγουμένου καὶ δυνάστου περὶ ψεύδους,

17 Be ashamed of whoredom before father and mother: and of a lie before a prince and a mighty man;

18 ἀπὸ κριτοῦ καὶ ἄρχοντος περὶ πλημμελείας, ἀπὸ συναγωγῆς καὶ λαοῦ περὶ ἀνομίας,

18 Of an offence before a judge and ruler; of iniquity before a congregation and people; of unjust dealing before your partner and friend;

19 ἀπὸ κοινωνοῦ καὶ φίλου περὶ ἀδικίας καὶ ἀπὸ τόπου, οὗ παροικεῖς, περὶ κλοπῆς,

19 In the English, this verse is part of verse 18.

20 ἀπὸ ἀληθείας Θεοῦ καὶ διαθήκης καὶ ἀπὸ πήξεως ἀγκῶνος ἐπ᾿ ἄρτοις,

20 And of theft in regard of the place where you sojourn, and in regard of the truth of God and his covenant; and to lean with your elbow upon the meat; and of scorning to give and take; (verse 19 in Brenton's English)

21 ἀπὸ σκορακισμοῦ λήψεως καὶ δόσεως καὶ ἀπὸ ἀσπαζομένων περὶ σιωπῆς,

21 And of silence before them that salute you; and to look upon an harlot; (verse 20 in Brenton's English)

22 ἀπὸ ὁράσεως γυναικὸς ἑταίρας καὶ ἀπὸ ἀποστροφῆς προσώπου συγγενοῦς,

22 And to turn away your face from your kinsman; or to take away a portion or a gift; or to gaze upon another man's wife. (verse 21 in Brenton's English)

23 ἀπὸ ἀφαιρέσεως μερίδος καὶ δόσεως καὶ ἀπὸ κατανοήσεως γυναικὸς ὑπάνδρου,

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

24 ἀπὸ περιεργείας παιδίσκης αὐτοῦ, καὶ μὴ ἐπιστῇς ἐπὶ τὴν κοίτην αὐτῆς·

24 Or to be overbusy with his maid, and come not near her bed; or of upbraiding speeches before friends; and after you have given, upbraid not; (verse 22 in Brenton's English)

25 ἀπὸ φίλων περὶ λόγων ὀνειδισμοῦ, καὶ μετὰ τὸ δοῦναι μὴ ὀνείδιζε,

25 In the English, this verse is part of verse 24.

26 ἀπὸ δευτερώσεως καὶ λόγου ἀκοῆς, καὶ ἀπὸ ἀποκαλύψεων λόγων κρυφίων·

26 Or of iterating and speaking again that which you have heard; and of revealing of secrets. So shall you be truly shamefaced and find favour before all men. Of these things be not you ashamed, and accept no person to sin thereby: (verse 1 in Brenton's English)

27 καὶ ἔσῃ αἰσχυντηρὸς ἀληθινῶς καὶ εὑρίσκων χάριν ἔναντι παντὸς ἀνθρώπου.

27 In the English, this verse is part of verse 26.