top Wisdom of Sirach ch 32

Chapter 32

1 Ἡγούμενόν σε κατέστησαν; μὴ ἐπαίρου· γίνου ἐν αὐτοῖς ὡς εἷς ἐξ αὐτῶν φρόντισον αὐτῶν, καὶ οὕτω κάθισον· 1 If thou be made the master of a feast, lift not thyself up, but be among them as one of the rest; take diligent care for them, and so sit down.
2 καὶ πᾶσαν τὴν χρείαν σου ποιήσας ἀνάπεσε, ἵνα εὐφρανθῇς δι' αὐτοὺς καὶ εὐκοσμίας χάριν λάβῃς στέφανον. 2 And when thou hast done all thy office, take thy place, that thou mayest be merry with them, and receive a crown for thy well ordering of the feast.
3 λάλησον, πρεσβύτερε, πρέπει γάρ σοὶ, ἐν ἀκριβεῖ ἐπιστήμῃ καὶ μὴ ἐμποδίσῃς μουσικά 3 Speak, thou that art the elder, for it becometh thee, but with sound judgment; and hinder not music.
4 ὅπου ἀκρόαμα, μὴ ἐκχέῃς λαλιὰν καὶ ἀκαίρως μὴ σοφίζου. 4 Pour not out words where there is a musician, and shew not forth wisdom out of time.
5 σφραγὶς ἄνθρακος ἐπὶ κόσμῳ χρυσῷ σύγκριμα μουσικῶν ἐν συμποσίῳ οἴνου· 5 A concert of music in a banquet of wine is as a signet of carbuncle set in gold.
6 ἐν κατασκευάσματι χρυσῷ σφραγὶς σμαράγδου μέλος μουσικῶν ἐφ' ἡδεῖ οἴνῳ. 6 As a signet of an emerald set in a work of gold, so is the melody of music with pleasant wine.
7 λάλησον, νεανίσκε, εἰ χρεία σου, μόλις δὶς ἐὰν ἐπερωτηθῇς· 7 Speak, young man, if there be need of thee: and yet scarcely when thou art twice asked.
8 κεφαλαίωσον λόγον, ἐν ὀλίγοις πολλά· γίνου ὡς γινώσκων καὶ ἅμα σιωπῶν. 8 Let thy speech be short, comprehending much in few words; be as one that knoweth and yet holdeth his tongue.
9 ἐν μέσῳ μεγιστάνων μὴ ἐξισάζου καὶ ἑτέρου λέγοντος μὴ πολλὰ ἀδολέσχει. 9 If thou be among great men, make not thyself equal with them; and when ancient men are in place, use not many words.
10 πρὸ βροντῆς κατασπεύδει ἀστραπή, καὶ πρὸ αἰσχυντηροῦ προελεύσεται χάρις. 10 Before the thunder goeth lightning; and before a shamefaced man shall go favour.
11 ἐν ὥρᾳ ἐξεγείρου καὶ μὴ οὐράγει, ἀπότρεχε εἰς οἶκον καὶ μὴ ῥᾳθύμει· 11 Rise up betimes, and be not the last; but get thee home without delay.
12 ἐκεῖ παῖζε καὶ ποίει τὰ ἐνθυμήματά σου καὶ μὴ ἁμάρτῃς λόγῳ ὑπερηφάνῳ. 12 There take thy pastime, and do what thou wilt: but sin not by proud speech.
13 καὶ ἐπὶ τούτοις εὐλόγησον τὸν ποιήσαντά σὲ καὶ μεθύσκοντά σὲ ἀπὸ τῶν ἀγαθῶν αὐτοῦ. 13 And for these things bless him that made thee, and hath replenished thee with his good things.
14 ὁ φοβούμενος κύριον ἐκδέξεται παιδείαν, καὶ οἱ ὀρθρίζοντες εὑρήσουσιν εὐδοκίαν. 14 Whoso feareth the Lord will receive his discipline; and they that seek him early shall find favour.
15 ὁ ζητῶν νόμον ἐμπλησθήσεται αὐτοῦ, καὶ ὁ ὑποκρινόμενος σκανδαλισθήσεται ἐν αὐτῷ. 15 He that seeketh the law shall be filled therewith: but the hypocrite will be offended thereat.
16 οἱ φοβούμενοι κύριον εὑρήσουσιν κρίμα καὶ δικαιώματα ὡς φῶς ἐξάψουσιν. 16 They that fear the Lord shall find judgment, and shall kindle justice as a light.
17 ἄνθρωπος ἁμαρτωλὸς ἐκκλινεῖ ἐλεγμὸν καὶ κατὰ τὸ θέλημα αὐτοῦ εὑρήσει σύγκριμα. 17 A sinful man will not be reproved, but findeth an excuse according to his will.
18 ἀνὴρ βουλῆς οὐ μὴ παρίδῃ διανόημα, ἀλλότριος καὶ ὑπερήφανος οὐ καταπτήξει φόβον. 18 A man of counsel will be considerate; but a strange and proud man is not daunted with fear, even when of himself he hath done without counsel.
19 ἄνευ βουλῆς μηθὲν ποιήσῃς καὶ ἐν τῷ ποιῆσαί σὲ μὴ μεταμελοῦ. 19 Do nothing without advice; and when thou hast once done, repent not.
20 ἐν ὁδῷ ἀντιπτώματος μὴ πορεύου καὶ μὴ προσκόψῃς ἐν λιθώδεσιν. 20 Go not in a way wherein thou mayest fall, and stumble not among the stones.
21 μὴ πιστεύσῃς ἐν ὁδῷ ἀπροσκόπῳ 21 Be not confident in a plain way.
22 καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν τέκνων σου φύλαξαι. 22 And beware of thine own children.
23 ἐν παντὶ ἔργῳ πίστευε τῇ ψυχῇ σου· καὶ γὰρ τοῦτό ἐστιν τήρησις ἐντολῶν. 23 In every good work trust thy own soul; for this is the keeping of the commandments.
24 ὁ πιστεύων νόμῳ προσέχει ἐντολαῖς, καὶ ὁ πεποιθὼς κυρίῳ οὐκ ἐλαττωθήσεται. 24 He that believeth in the Lord taketh heed to the commandment; and he that trusteth in him shall fare never the worse.