My LORD’s BibleSirach (Ecclesiasticus) 18
1He that liveth for ever created all things in general.
ὁ ζῶν εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα ἔκτισεν τὰ πάντα κοινῇ
2The Lord only is righteous, and there is none other but he,
κύριος μόνος δικαιωθήσεται
3Who governeth the world with the palm of his hand, and all things obey his will: for he is the King of all, by his power dividing holy things among them from profane.
4To whom hath he given power to declare his works? and who shall find out his noble acts?
οὐθενὶ ἐξεποίησεν ἐξαγγεῖλαι τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ καὶ τίς ἐξιχνεύσει τὰ μεγαλεῖα αὐτοῦ
5Who shall number the strength of his majesty? and who shall also tell out his mercies?
κράτος μεγαλωσύνης αὐτοῦ τίς ἐξαριθμήσεται καὶ τίς προσθήσει ἐκδιηγήσασθαι τὰ ἐλέη αὐτοῦ
6As for the wondrous works of the Lord, there may nothing be taken from them, neither may any thing be put unto them, neither can the ground of them be found out.
οὐκ ἔστιν ἐλαττῶσαι οὐδὲ προσθεῖναι καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ἐξιχνιάσαι τὰ θαυμάσια τοῦ κυρίου
7When a man hath done, then he beginneth; and when he leaveth off, then he shall be doubtful.
ὅταν συντελέσῃ ἄνθρωπος τότε ἄρχεται καὶ ὅταν παύσηται τότε ἀπορηθήσεται
8What is man, and whereto serveth he? what is his good, and what is his evil?
τί ἄνθρωπος καὶ τί ἡ χρῆσις αὐτοῦ τί τὸ ἀγαθὸν αὐτοῦ καὶ τί τὸ κακὸν αὐτοῦ
9The number of a man’s days at the most are an hundred years.
ἀριθμὸς ἡμερῶν ἀνθρώπου πολλὰ ἔτη ἑκατόν
10As a drop of water unto the sea, and a gravelstone in comparison of the sand; so are a thousand years to the days of eternity.
ὡς σταγὼν ὕδατος ἀπὸ θαλάσσης καὶ ψῆφος ἄμμου οὕτως ὀλίγα ἔτη ἐν ἡμέρᾳ αἰῶνος
11Therefore is God patient with them, and poureth forth his mercy upon them.
διὰ τοῦτο ἐμακροθύμησεν κύριος ἐπ' αὐτοῖς καὶ ἐξέχεεν ἐπ' αὐτοὺς τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ
12He saw and perceived their end to be evil; therefore he multiplied his compassion.
εἶδεν καὶ ἐπέγνω τὴν καταστροφὴν αὐτῶν ὅτι πονηρά διὰ τοῦτο ἐπλήθυνεν τὸν ἐξιλασμὸν αὐτοῦ
13The mercy of man is toward his neighbour; but the mercy of the Lord is upon all flesh: he reproveth, and nurtureth, and teacheth and bringeth again, as a shepherd his flock.
ἔλεος ἀνθρώπου ἐπὶ τὸν πλησίον αὐτοῦ ἔλεος δὲ κυρίου ἐπὶ πᾶσαν σάρκα ἐλέγχων καὶ παιδεύων καὶ διδάσκων καὶ ἐπιστρέφων ὡς ποιμὴν τὸ ποίμνιον αὐτοῦ
14He hath mercy on them that receive discipline, and that diligently seek after his judgments.
τοὺς ἐκδεχομένους παιδείαν ἐλεᾷ καὶ τοὺς κατασπεύδοντας ἐπὶ τὰ κρίματα αὐτοῦ
15My son, blemish not thy good deeds, neither use uncomfortable words when thou givest any thing.
τέκνον ἐν ἀγαθοῖς μὴ δῷς μῶμον καὶ ἐν πάσῃ δόσει λύπην λόγων
16Shall not the dew asswage the heat? so is a word better than a gift.
οὐχὶ καύσωνα ἀναπαύσει δρόσος οὕτως κρείσσων λόγος ἢ δόσις
17Lo, is not a word better than a gift? but both are with a gracious man.
οὐκ ἰδοὺ λόγος ὑπὲρ δόμα ἀγαθόν καὶ ἀμφότερα παρὰ ἀνδρὶ κεχαριτωμένῳ
18A fool will upbraid churlishly, and a gift of the envious consumeth the eyes.
μωρὸς ἀχαρίστως ὀνειδιεῖ καὶ δόσις βασκάνου ἐκτήκει ὀφθαλμούς
19Learn before thou speak, and use physick or ever thou be sick.
πρὶν ἢ λαλῆσαι μάνθανε καὶ πρὸ ἀρρωστίας θεραπεύου
20Before judgment examine thyself, and in the day of visitation thou shalt find mercy.
πρὸ κρίσεως ἐξέταζε σεαυτόν καὶ ἐν ὥρᾳ ἐπισκοπῆς εὑρήσεις ἐξιλασμόν
21Humble thyself before thou be sick, and in the time of sins shew repentance.
πρὶν ἀρρωστῆσαί σε ταπεινώθητι καὶ ἐν καιρῷ ἁμαρτημάτων δεῖξον ἐπιστροφήν
22Let nothing hinder thee to pay thy vow in due time, and defer not until death to be justified.
μὴ ἐμποδισθῇς τοῦ ἀποδοῦναι εὐχὴν εὐκαίρως καὶ μὴ μείνῃς ἕως θανάτου δικαιωθῆναι
23Before thou prayest, prepare thyself; and be not as one that tempteth the Lord.
πρὶν εὔξασθαι ἑτοίμασον σεαυτὸν καὶ μὴ γίνου ὡς ἄνθρωπος πειράζων τὸν κύριον
24Think upon the wrath that shall be at the end, and the time of vengeance, when he shall turn away his face.
μνήσθητι θυμοῦ ἐν ἡμέραις τελευτῆς καὶ καιρὸν ἐκδικήσεως ἐν ἀποστροφῇ προσώπου
25When thou hast enough, remember the time of hunger: and when thou art rich, think upon poverty and need.
μνήσθητι καιρὸν λιμοῦ ἐν καιρῷ πλησμονῆς πτωχείαν καὶ ἔνδειαν ἐν ἡμέραις πλούτου
26From the morning until the evening the time is changed, and all things are soon done before the Lord.
ἀπὸ πρωίθεν ἕως ἑσπέρας μεταβάλλει καιρός καὶ πάντα ἐστὶν ταχινὰ ἔναντι κυρίου
27A wise man will fear in every thing, and in the day of sinning he will beware of offence: but a fool will not observe time.
ἄνθρωπος σοφὸς ἐν παντὶ εὐλαβηθήσεται καὶ ἐν ἡμέραις ἁμαρτιῶν προσέξει ἀπὸ πλημμελείας
28Every man of understanding knoweth wisdom, and will give praise unto him that found her.
πᾶς συνετὸς ἔγνω σοφίαν καὶ τῷ εὑρόντι αὐτὴν δώσει ἐξομολόγησιν
29They that were of understanding in sayings became also wise themselves, and poured forth exquisite parables.
συνετοὶ ἐν λόγοις καὶ αὐτοὶ ἐσοφίσαντο καὶ ἀνώμβρησαν παροιμίας ἀκριβεῖς
30Go not after thy lusts, but refrain thyself from thine appetites.
ὀπίσω τῶν ἐπιθυμιῶν σου μὴ πορεύου καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν ὀρέξεών σου κωλύου
31If thou givest thy soul the desires that please her, she will make thee a laughingstock to thine enemies that malign thee.
ἐὰν χορηγήσῃς τῇ ψυχῇ σου εὐδοκίαν ἐπιθυμίας ποιήσει σε ἐπίχαρμα τῶν ἐχθρῶν σου
32Take not pleasure in much good cheer, neither be tied to the expence thereof.
μὴ εὐφραίνου ἐπὶ πολλῇ τρυφῇ μὴ προσδεθῇς συμβολῇ αὐτῆς
33Be not made a beggar by banqueting upon borrowing, when thou hast nothing in thy purse: for thou shalt lie in wait for thine own life, and be talked on.
μὴ γίνου πτωχὸς συμβολοκοπῶν ἐκ δανεισμοῦ καὶ οὐδέν σοί ἐστιν ἐν μαρσιππίῳ