top Wisdom of Sirach ch 16

Chapter 16

1 Μὴ ἐπιθύμει τέκνων πλῆθος ἀχρήστων μηδὲ εὐφραίνου ἐπὶ υἱοῖς ἀσεβέσιν· 1 Desire not a multitude of unprofitable children, neither delight in ungodly sons.
2 ἐὰν πληθύνωσιν, μὴ εὐφραίνου ἐπ' αὐτοῖς, εἰ μή ἐστιν φόβος κυρίου μετ' αὐτῶν, 2 Though they multiply, rejoice not in them, except the fear of the Lord be with them.
3 μὴ ἐμπιστεύσῃς τῇ ζωῇ αὐτῶν καὶ μὴ ἔπεχε ἐπὶ τὸ πλῆθος αὐτῶν· κρείσσων γὰρ εἷς ἢ χίλιοι καὶ ἀποθανεῖν ἄτεκνον ἢ ἔχειν τέκνα ἀσεβῆ 3 Trust not thou in their life, neither respect their multitude: for one that is just is better than a thousand; and better it is to die without children, than to have them that are ungodly.
4 ἀπὸ γὰρ ἑνὸς συνετοῦ συνοικισθήσεται πόλις, φυλὴ δὲ ἀνόμων ἐρημωθήσεται. 4 For by one that hath understanding shall the city be replenished: but the kindred of the wicked shall speedily become desolate.
5 πολλὰ τοιαῦτα ἑόρακεν ὁ ὀφθαλμός μου, καὶ ἰσχυρότερα τούτων ἀκήκοεν τὸ οὖς μου. 5 Many such things have I seen with mine eyes, and mine ear hath heard greater things than these.
6 ἐν συναγωγῇ ἁμαρτωλῶν ἐκκαυθήσεται πῦρ, καὶ ἐν ἔθνει ἀπειθεῖ ἐξεκαύθη ὀργή. 6 In the congregation of the ungodly shall a fire be kindled; and in a rebellious nation wrath is set on fire.
7 οὐκ ἐξιλάσατο περὶ τῶν ἀρχαίων γιγάντων, οἳ ἀπέστησαν τῇ ἰσχύϊ αὐτῶν· 7 He was not pacified toward the old giants, who fell away in the strength of their foolishness.
8 οὐκ ἐφείσατο περὶ τῆς παροικίας Λώτ, οὓς ἐβδελύξατο διὰ τὴν ὑπερηφανίαν αὐτῶν· 8 Neither spared he the place where Lot sojourned, but abhorred them for their pride.
9 οὐκ ἠλέησεν ἔθνος ἀπωλείας τοὺς ἐξηρμένους ἐν ἁμαρτίαις αὐτῶν 9 He pitied not the people of perdition, who were taken away in their sins:
10 καὶ οὕτως ἑξακοσίας χιλιάδας πεζῶν τοὺς ἐπισυναχθέντας ἐν σκληροκαρδίᾳ αὐτῶν. 10 Nor the six hundred thousand footmen, who were gathered together in the hardness of their hearts.
11 κἂν ᾖ εἷς σκληροτράχηλος, θαυμαστὸν τοῦτο εἰ ἀθῳωθήσεται· ἔλεος γὰρ καὶ ὀργὴ παρ' αὐτῷ, δυνάστης ἐξιλασμῶν καὶ ἐκχέων ὀργήν. 11 And if there be one stiffnecked among the people, it is marvel if he escape unpunished: for mercy and wrath are with him; he is mighty to forgive, and to pour out displeasure.
12 κατὰ τὸ πολὺ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ, οὕτως καὶ πολὺς ὁ ἔλεγχος αὐτοῦ· ἄνδρα κατὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ κρινεῖ. 12 As his mercy is great, so is his correction also: he judgeth a man according to his works
13 οὐκ ἐκφεύξεται ἐν ἁρπάγματι ἁμαρτωλός, καὶ οὐ μὴ καθυστερήσει ὑπομονὴ εὐσεβοῦς. 13 The sinner shall not escape with his spoils: and the patience of the godly shall not be frustrate.
14 πάσῃ ἐλεημοσύνῃ ποιήσει τόπον, ἕκαστος κατὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ εὑρήσει. 14 Make way for every work of mercy: for every man shall find according to his works.
15  Κύριος ἐσκλήρυνε Φαραὼ μὴ εἰδέναι αὐτόν, ὅπως ἂν γνωσθῇ ἐνεργήματα αὐτοῦ τῇ ὑπ' οὐρανόν. 15 The Lord hardened Pharaoh, that he should not know him, that his powerful works might be known to the world.
16  πάσῃ τῇ κτίσει τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ φανερόν, καὶ τὸ φῶς αὐτοῦ καὶ τὸ σκότος ἐμέρισε τῷ ἀδάμαντι 16 His mercy is manifest to every creature; and he hath separated his light from the darkness with an adamant.
17 μὴ εἴπῃς ὅτι ἀπὸ κυρίου κρυβήσομαι, καὶ ἐξ ὕψους τίς μου μνησθήσεται; ἐν λαῷ πλείονι οὐ μὴ γνωσθῶ, τίς γὰρ ἡ ψυχή μου ἐν ἀμετρήτῳ κτίσει; 17 Say not thou, I will hide myself from the Lord: shall any remember me from above? I shall not be remembered among so many people: for what is my soul among such an infinite number of creatures?
18 ἰδοὺ ὁ οὐρανὸς καὶ ὁ οὐρανὸς τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, ἄβυσσος καὶ γῆ ἐν τῇ ἐπισκοπῇ αὐτοῦ σαλευθήσονται· 18 Behold, the heaven, and the heaven of heavens, the deep, and the earth, and all that therein is, shall be moved when he shall visit.
19 ἅμα τὰ ὄρη καὶ τὰ θεμέλια τῆς γῆς ἐν τῷ ἐπιβλέψαι εἰς αὐτὰ τρόμῳ συσσείονται. 19 The mountains also and foundations of the earth be shaken with trembling, when the Lord looketh upon them.
20 καὶ ἐπ' αὐτοῖς οὐ διανοηθήσεται καρδία, καὶ τὰς ὁδοὺς αὐτοῦ τίς ἐνθυμηθήσεται; 20 No heart can think upon these things worthily: and who is able to conceive his ways?
21 καὶ καταιγίς, ἣν οὐκ ὄψεται ἄνθρωπος, τὰ δὲ πλείονα τῶν ἔργων αὐτοῦ ἐν ἀποκρύφοις. 21 It is a tempest which no man can see: for the most part of his works are hid.
22 ἔργα δικαιοσύνης τίς ἀναγγελεῖ; ἢ τίς ὑπομενεῖ; μακρὰν γὰρ ἡ διαθήκη. 22 Who can declare the works of his justice? or who can endure them? for his covenant is afar off, and the trial of all things is in the end.
23 ἐλαττούμενος καρδίᾳ διανοεῖται ταῦτα, καὶ ἀνὴρ ἄφρων καὶ πλανώμενος διανοεῖται μωρά. 23 He that wanteth understanding will think upon vain things: and a foolish man erring imagineth follies.
24 ἄκουσόν μου τέκνον, καὶ μάθε ἐπιστήμην καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν λόγων μου πρόσεχε τῇ καρδίᾳ σου· 24 My son, hearken unto me, and learn knowledge, and mark my words with thy heart.
25 ἐκφανῶ ἐν σταθμῷ παιδείαν καὶ ἐν ἀκριβείᾳ ἀπαγγελῶ. ἐπιστήμην 25 I will shew forth doctrine in weight, and declare his knowledge exactly.
26 ἐν κρίσει κυρίου τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ ἀπ' ἀρχῆς, καὶ ἀπὸ ποιήσεως αὐτῶν διέστειλεν μερίδας αὐτῶν. 26 The works of the Lord are done in judgment from the beginning: and from the time he made them he disposed the parts thereof.
27 ἐκόσμησεν εἰς αἰῶνα τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ καὶ τὰς ἀρχὰς αὐτῶν εἰς γενεὰς αὐτῶν· οὔτε ἐπείνασαν οὔτε ἐκοπίασαν καὶ οὐκ ἐξέλιπον ἀπὸ τῶν ἔργων αὐτῶν· 27 He garnished his works for ever, and in his hand are the chief of them unto all generations: they neither labour, nor are weary, nor cease from their works.
28 ἕκαστος τὸν πλησίον αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἐξέθλιψεν, καὶ ἕως αἰῶνος οὐκ ἀπειθήσουσιν τοῦ ῥήματος αὐτοῦ. 28 None of them hindereth another, and they shall never disobey his word.
29 καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα κύριος εἰς τὴν γῆν ἐπέβλεψεν καὶ ἐνέπλησεν αὐτὴν τῶν ἀγαθῶν αὐτοῦ· 29 After this the Lord looked upon the earth, and filled it with his blessings.
30 ψυχῇ παντὸς ζῴου ἐκάλυψεν τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτῆς, καὶ εἰς αὐτὴν ἡ ἀποστροφὴ αὐτῶν. 30 With all manner of living things hath he covered the face thereof; and they shall return into it again.