top Wisdom of Sirach ch 27

Chapter 27

1 χάριν διαφόρου πολλοὶ ἥμαρτον, καὶ ὁ ζητῶν πληθῦναι ἀποστρέψει ὀφθαλμόν. 1 Many have sinned for a small matter; and he that seeketh for abundance will turn his eyes away.
2 ἀνὰ μέσον ἁρμῶν λίθων παγήσεται πάσσαλος, καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον πράσεως καὶ ἀγορασμοῦ συντριβήσεται ἁμαρτία. 2 As a nail sticketh fast between the joinings of the stones; so doth sin stick close between buying and selling.
3 ἐὰν μὴ ἐν φόβῳ κυρίου κρατήσῃ κατὰ σπουδήν, ἐν τάχει καταστραφήσεται αὐτοῦ ὁ οἶκος. 3 Unless a man hold himself diligently in the fear of the Lord, his house shall soon be overthrown.
4 ἐν σείσματι κοσκίνου διαμένει κοπρία, οὕτως σκύβαλα ἀνθρώπου ἐν λογισμῷ αὐτοῦ. 4 As when one sifteth with a sieve, the refuse remaineth; so the filth of man in his talk.
5 σκεύη κεραμέως δοκιμάζει κάμινος, καὶ πειρασμὸς ἀνθρώπου ἐν διαλογισμῷ αὐτοῦ. 5 The furnace proveth the potter's vessels; so the trial of man is in his reasoning.
6 γεώργιον ξύλου ἐκφαίνει ὁ καρπὸς αὐτοῦ, οὕτως λόγος ἐνθυμήματος καρδίας ἀνθρώπου. 6 The fruit declareth if the tree have been dressed; so is the utterance of a conceit in the heart of man.
7 πρὸ λογισμοῦ μὴ ἐπαινέσῃς ἄνδρα· οὗτος γὰρ πειρασμὸς ἀνθρώπων. 7 Praise no man before thou hearest him speak; for this is the trial of men.
8 ἐὰν διώκῃς τὸ δίκαιον, καταλήμψῃ καὶ ἐνδύσῃ αὐτὸ ὡς ποδήρη δόξης. 8 If thou followest righteousness, thou shalt obtain her, and put her on, as a glorious long robe.
9 πετεινὰ πρὸς τὰ ὅμοια αὐτοῖς καταλύσει, καὶ ἀλήθεια πρὸς τοὺς ἐργαζομένους αὐτὴν ἐπανήξει. 9 The birds will resort unto their like; so will truth return unto them that practise in her.
10 λέων θήραν ἐνεδρεύει, οὕτως ἁμαρτία ἐργαζομένους ἄδικα. 10 As the lion lieth in wait for the prey; so sin for them that work iniquity.
11 διήγησις εὐσεβοῦς διὰ παντὸς σοφία, ὁ δὲ ἄφρων ὡς σελήνη ἀλλοιοῦται. 11 The discourse of a godly man is always with wisdom; but a fool changeth as the moon.
12 εἰς μέσον ἀσυνέτων συντήρησον καιρόν, εἰς μέσον δὲ διανοουμένων ἐνδελέχιζε. 12 If thou be among the indiscreet, observe the time; but be continually among men of understanding.
13 διήγησις μωρῶν προσόχθισμα, καὶ ὁ γέλως αὐτῶν ἐν σπατάλῃ ἁμαρτίας. 13 The discourse of fools is irksome, and their sport is the wantonness of sin.
14 λαλιὰ πολυόρκου ἀνορθώσει τρίχας, καὶ ἡ μάχη αὐτῶν ἐμφραγμὸς ὠτίων. 14 The talk of him that sweareth much maketh the hair stand upright; and their brawls make one stop his ears.
15 ἔκχυσις αἵματος μάχη ὑπερηφάνων, καὶ ἡ διαλοιδόρησις αὐτῶν ἀκοὴ μοχθηρά. 15 The strife of the proud is bloodshedding, and their revilings are grievous to the ear.
16 ὁ ἀποκαλύπτων μυστήρια ἀπώλεσεν πίστιν καὶ οὐ μὴ εὕρῃ φίλον πρὸς τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ. 16 Whoso discovereth secrets loseth his credit; and shall never find friend to his mind.
17 στέρξον φίλον καὶ πιστώθητι μετ' αὐτοῦ· ἐὰν δὲ ἀποκαλύψῃς τὰ μυστήρια αὐτοῦ, μὴ καταδιώξῃς ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ. 17 Love thy friend, and be faithful unto him: but if thou betrayest his secrets, follow no more after him.
18 καθὼς γὰρ ἀπώλεσεν ἄνθρωπος τὸν νεκρὸν αὐτοῦ, οὕτως ἀπώλεσας τὴν φιλίαν τοῦ πλησίον· 18 For as a man hath destroyed his enemy; so hast thou lost the love of thy neighbour.
19 καὶ ὡς πετεινὸν ἐκ χειρός σου ἀπέλυσας, οὕτως ἀφῆκας τὸν πλησίον καὶ οὐ θηρεύσεις αὐτόν. 19 As one that letteth a bird go out of his hand, so hast thou let thy neighbour go, and shalt not get him again
20 μὴ αὐτὸν διώξῃς, ὅτι μακρὰν ἀπέστη καὶ ἐξέφυγεν ὡς δορκὰς ἐκ παγίδος. 20 Follow after him no more, for he is too far off; he is as a roe escaped out of the snare.
21 ὅτι τραῦμα ἔστιν καταδῆσαι, καὶ λοιδορίας ἔστιν διαλλαγή, ὁ δὲ ἀποκαλύψας μυστήρια ἀφήλπισεν. 21 As for a wound, it may be bound up; and after reviling there may be reconcilement: but he that betrayeth secrets is without hope.
22 διανεύων ὀφθαλμῷ τεκταίνει κακά, καὶ οὐδεὶς αὐτὰ ἀποστήσει ἀπ' αὐτοῦ· 22 He that winketh with the eyes worketh evil: and he that knoweth him will depart from him.
23 ἀπέναντι τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν σου γλυκανεῖ τὸ στόμα αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν λόγων σου ἐκθαυμάσει, ὕστερον δὲ διαστρέψει τὸ στόμα αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐν τοῖς λόγοις σου δώσει σκάνδαλον. 23 When thou art present, he will speak sweetly, and will admire thy words: but at the last he will writhe his mouth, and slander thy sayings.
24 πολλὰ ἐμίσησα καὶ οὐχ ὡμοίωσα αὐτῷ, καὶ ὁ κύριος μισήσει αὐτόν. 24 I have hated many things, but nothing like him; for the Lord will hate him.
25 ὁ βάλλων λίθον εἰς ὕψος ἐπὶ κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ βάλλει, καὶ πληγὴ δολία διελεῖ τραύματα. 25 Whoso casteth a stone on high casteth it on his own head; and a deceitful stroke shall make wounds.
26 ὁ ὀρύσσων βόθρον εἰς αὐτὸν ἐμπεσεῖται, καὶ ὁ ἱστῶν παγίδα ἐν αὐτῇ ἁλώσεται. 26 Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that setteth a trap shall be taken therein.
27 ὁ ποιῶν πονηρά, εἰς αὐτὸν κυλισθήσεται, καὶ οὐ μὴ ἐπιγνῷ πόθεν ἥκει αὐτῷ. 27 He that worketh mischief, it shall fall upon him, and he shall not know whence it cometh.
28 ἐμπαιγμὸς καὶ ὀνειδισμὸς ὑπερηφάνῳ, καὶ ἡ ἐκδίκησις ὡς λέων ἐνεδρεύσει αὐτόν. 28 Mockery and reproach are from the proud; but vengeance, as a lion, shall lie in wait for them.
29 παγίδι ἁλώσονται οἱ εὐφραινόμενοι πτώσει εὐσεβῶν, καὶ ὀδύνη καταναλώσει αὐτοὺς πρὸ τοῦ θανάτου αὐτῶν. 29 They that rejoice at the fall of the righteous shall be taken in the snare; and anguish shall consume them before they die.
30 μῆνις καὶ ὀργή καὶ ταῦτά ἐστιν βδελύγματα, καὶ ἀνὴρ ἁμαρτωλὸς ἐγκρατὴς ἔσται αὐτῶν. 30 Malice and wrath, even these are abominations; and the sinful man shall have them both.