Wisdom of Sirach 6

1 ΚΑΙ ἀντὶ φίλου μὴ γίνου ἐχθρός· ὄνομα γὰρ πονηρὸν αἰσχύνην καὶ ὄνειδος κληρονομήσει· οὕτως ὁ ἁμαρτωλὸς ὁ δίγλωσσος.

1 Instead of a friend become not an enemy; for [thereby] you shall inherit an ill name, shame, and reproach: even so shall a sinner that has a double tongue.

2 μὴ ἐπάρῃς σεαυτὸν ἐν βουλῇ ψυχῆς σου, ἵνα μὴ διαρπαγῇ ὡς ταῦρος ἡ ψυχή σου·

2 Extol not yourself in the counsel of your own heart; that your soul be not torn in pieces as a bull [straying alone.]

3 τὰ φύλλα σου καταφάγεσαι καὶ τοὺς καρπούς σου ἀπολέσεις καὶ ἀφήσεις σεαυτὸν ὡς ξύλον ξηρόν.

3 You shall eat up your leaves, and lose your fruit, and leave yourself as a dry tree.

4 ψυχὴ πονηρὰ ἀπολεῖ τὸν κτησάμενον αὐτὴν καὶ ἐπίχαρμα ἐχθρῶν ποιήσει αὐτόν.

4 A wicked soul shall destroy him that has it, and shall make him to be laughed to scorn of his enemies.

5 Λάρυγξ γλυκὺς πληθυνεῖ φίλους αὐτοῦ, καὶ γλῶσσα εὔλαλος πληθυνεῖ εὐπροσήγορα.

5 Sweet language will multiply friends: and a fairspeaking tongue will increase kind greetings.

6 οἱ εἰρηνεύοντές σοι ἔστωσαν πολλοί, οἱ δὲ σύμβουλοί σου εἷς ἀπὸ χιλίων.

6 Be in peace with many: nevertheless have but one counsellor of a thousand.

7 εἰ κτᾶσαι φίλον, ἐν πειρασμῷ κτῆσαι αὐτόν, καὶ μὴ ταχὺ ἐμπιστεύσῃς αὐτῷ·

7 If you would get a friend, prove him first and be not hasty to credit him.

8 ἔστι γὰρ φίλος ἐν καιρῷ αὐτοῦ καὶ οὐ μὴ παραμείνῃ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ θλίψεώς σου.

8 For some man is a friend for his own occasion, and will not abide in the day of your trouble.

9 καὶ ἔστι φίλος μετατιθέμενος εἰς ἔχθραν καὶ μάχην ὀνειδισμοῦ σου ἀποκαλύψει.

9 And there is a friend, who being turned to enmity, and strife will discover your reproach.

10 καὶ ἔστι φίλος κοινωνὸς τραπεζῶν καὶ οὐ μὴ παραμείνῃ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ θλίψεώς σου.

10 Again, some friend is a companion at the table, and will not continue in the day of your affliction.

11 καὶ ἐν τοῖς ἀγαθοῖς σου ἔσται ὡς σύ, καὶ ἐπὶ τοὺς οἰκέτας σου παρρησιάσεται·

11 But in your prosperity he will be as yourself, and will be bold over your servants.

12 ἐὰν ταπεινωθῇς, ἔσται κατὰ σοῦ, καὶ ἀπὸ τοῦ προσώπου σου κρυβήσεται.

12 If you be brought low, he will be against you, and will hide himself from your face.

13 ἀπὸ τῶν ἐχθρῶν σου διαχωρίσθητι καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν φίλων σου πρόσεχε.

13 Separate yourself from your enemies, and take heed of your friends.

14 φίλος πιστὸς σκέπη κραταιά, ὁ δὲ εὑρὼν αὐτὸν εὗρε θησαυρόν.

14 A faithful friend is a strong defence: and he that has found such an one has found a treasure.

15 φίλου πιστοῦ οὐκ ἔστιν ἀντάλλαγμα, καὶ οὐκ ἔστι σταθμὸς τῆς καλλονῆς αὐτοῦ.

15 Nothing does countervail a faithful friend, and his excellency is invaluable.

16 φίλος πιστὸς φάρμακον ζωῆς, καὶ οἱ φοβούμενοι Κύριον εὑρήσουσιν αὐτόν.

16 A faithful friend is the medicine of life; and they that fear the Lord shall find him.

17 ὁ φοβούμενος Κύριον εὐθύνει φιλίαν αὐτοῦ, ὅτι κατ᾿ αὐτὸν οὕτως καὶ ὁ πλησίον αὐτοῦ.

17 Whoso fears the Lord shall direct his friendship aright: for as he is, so shall his neighbour be also.

18 Τέκνον, ἐκ νεότητός σου ἐπίλεξαι παιδείαν, καὶ ἕως πολιῶν εὑρήσεις σοφίαν.

18 My son, gather instruction from your youth up: so shall you find wisdom till your old age.

19 ὡς ὁ ἀροτριῶν καὶ ὁ σπείρων πρόσελθε αὐτῇ καὶ ἀνάμενε τοὺς ἀγαθοὺς καρποὺς αὐτῆς· ἐν γὰρ τῇ ἐργασίᾳ αὐτῆς ὀλίγον κοπιάσεις καὶ ταχὺ φάγεσαι γεννημάτων αὐτῆς.

19 Come to her as one that ploughs and sows, and wait for her good fruits: for you shall not toil much in labouring about her, but you shall eat of her fruits right soon.

20 ὡς τραχεῖά ἐστι σφόδρα τοῖς ἀπαιδεύτοις, καὶ οὐκ ἐμμενεῖ ἐν αὐτῇ ἀκάρδιος·

20 She is very unpleasant to the unlearned: he that is without understanding will not remain with her.

21 ὡς λίθος δοκιμασίας ἰσχυρὸς ἔσται ἐπ᾿ αὐτῷ, καὶ οὐ χρονιεῖ ἀπορρῖψαι αὐτήν.

21 She will lie upon him as a mighty stone of trial; and he will cast her from him ere it be long.

22 σοφία γὰρ κατὰ τὸ ὄνομα αὐτῆς ἐστι, καὶ οὐ πολλοῖς ἐστι φανερά.

22 For wisdom is according to her name, and she is not manifest to many.

23 ἄκουσον, τέκνον, καὶ δέξαι γνώμην μου, καὶ μὴ ἀπαναίνου τὴν συμβουλίαν μου.

23 Give ear, my son, receive my advice, and refuse not my counsel,

24 καὶ εἰσένεγκον τοὺς πόδας σου εἰς τὰς πέδας αὐτῆς καὶ εἰς τὸν κλοιὸν αὐτῆς τὸν τράχηλόν σου.

24 And put your feet into her fetters, and your neck into her chain.

25 ὑπόθες τὸν ὦμόν σου καὶ βάσταξον αὐτήν, καὶ μὴ προσοχθίσῃς τοῖς δεσμοῖς αὐτῆς.

25 Bow down your shoulder, and bear her, and be not grieved with her bonds.

26 ἐν πάσῃ ψυχῇ σου πρόσελθε αὐτῇ καὶ ἐν ὅλῃ δυνάμει σου συντήρησον τὰς ὁδοὺς αὐτῆς.

26 Come to her with your whole heart, and keep her ways with all your power.

27 ἐξίχνευσον καὶ ζήτησον, καὶ γνωσθήσεταί σοι, καὶ ἐγκρατὴς γενόμενος μὴ ἀφῇς αὐτήν·

27 Search, and seek, and she shall be made known to you: and when you have got hold of her, let her not go.

28 ἐπ᾿ ἐσχάτων γὰρ εὑρήσεις τὴν ἀνάπαυσιν αὐτῆς, καὶ στραφήσεταί σοι εἰς εὐφροσύνην.

28 For at the last you shall find her rest, and that shall be turned to your joy.

29 καὶ ἔσονταί σοι αἱ πέδαι εἰς σκέπην ἰσχύος καὶ οἱ κλοιοὶ αὐτῆς εἰς στολὴν δόξης.

29 Then shall her fetters be a strong defence for you, and her chains a robe of glory.

30 κόσμος γὰρ χρύσεός ἐστιν ἐπ᾿ αὐτῆς, καὶ οἱ δεσμοὶ αὐτῆς κλῶσμα ὑακίνθινον·

30 For there is a golden ornament upon her, and her bands are purple lace.

31 στολὴν δόξης ἐνδύσῃ αὐτήν, καὶ στέφανον ἀγαλλιάσεως περιθήσεις σεαυτῷ.

31 You shall put her on as a robe of honour, and shall put her about you as a crown of joy.

32 ἐὰν θέλῃς, τέκνον, παιδευθήσῃ, καὶ ἐὰν δῷς τὴν ψυχήν σου, πανοῦργος ἔσῃ.

32 My son, if you will, you shall be taught: and if you will apply your mind, you shall be prudent.

33 ἐὰν ἀγαπήσῃς ἀκούειν, ἐκδέξῃ, καὶ ἐὰν κλίνῃς τὸ οὖς σου, σοφὸς ἔσῃ.

33 If you love to hear, you shall receive understanding: and if you bow your ear, you shall be wise,

34 ἐν πλήθει πρεσβυτέρων στῆθι, καὶ τίς σοφός, αὐτῷ προσκολλήθητι.

34 Stand in the multitude of the elders; and cleave to him that is wise.

35 πᾶσαν διήγησιν θείαν θέλε ἀκροᾶσθαι, καὶ παροιμίαι συνέσεως μὴ ἐκφευγέτωσάν σε.

35 Be willing to hear every godly discourse; and let not the parables of understanding escape you.

36 ἐὰν ἴδῃς συνετόν, ὄρθριζε πρὸς αὐτόν, καὶ βαθμοὺς θυρῶν αὐτοῦ ἐκτριβέτω ὁ πούς σου.

36 And if you see a man of understanding, get you betimes to him, and let your foot wear the steps of his door.

37 διανοοῦ ἐν τοῖς προστάγμασι Κυρίου καὶ ἐν ταῖς ἐντολαῖς αὐτοῦ μελέτα διὰ παντός· αὐτὸς στηριεῖ τὴν καρδίαν σου, καὶ ἡ ἐπιθυμία τῆς σοφίας σου δοθήσεταί σοι.

37 Let your mind be upon the ordinances of the Lord and meditate continually in his commandments: he shall establish your heart, and give you wisdom at your owns desire.