top Wisdom of Sirach ch 33

Chapter 33

1 Τῷ φοβουμένῳ κύριον οὐκ ἀπαντήσει κακόν, ἀλλ' ἐν πειρασμῷ καὶ πάλιν ἐξελεῖται. 1 There shall no evil happen unto him that feareth the Lord; but in temptation even again he will deliver him.
2 ἀνὴρ σοφὸς οὐ μισήσει νόμον, ὁ δὲ ὑποκρινόμενος ἐν αὐτῷ ὡς ἐν καταιγίδι πλοῖον. 2 A wise man hateth not the law; but he that is an hypocrite therein is as a ship in a storm.
3 ἄνθρωπος συνετὸς ἐμπιστεύσει νόμῳ, καὶ ὁ νόμος αὐτῷ πιστὸς ὡς ἐρώτημα δήλων. 3 A man of understanding trusteth in the law; and the law is faithful unto him, as an oracle.
4 ἑτοίμασον λόγον καὶ οὕτως ἀκουσθήσῃ, σύνδησον παιδείαν καὶ ἀποκρίθητι. 4 Prepare what to say, and so thou shalt be heard: and bind up instruction, and then make answer.
5 τροχὸς ἁμάξης σπλάγχνα μωροῦ, καὶ ὡς ἄξων στρεφόμενος ὁ διαλογισμὸς αὐτοῦ. 5 The heart of the foolish is like a cartwheel; and his thoughts are like a rolling axletree.
6 ἵππος εἰς ὀχείαν ὡς φίλος μωκός, ὑποκάτω παντὸς ἐπικαθημένου χρεμετίζει. 6 A stallion horse is as a mocking friend, he neigheth under every one that sitteth upon him.
7 διὰ τί ἡμέρα ἡμέρας, ὑπερέχει καὶ πᾶν φῶς ἡμέρας ἐνιαυτοῦ ἀφ' ἡλίου; 7 Why doth one day excel another, when as all the light of every day in the year is of the sun?
8 ἐν γνώσει κυρίου διεχωρίσθησανμ καὶ ἠλλοίωσεν καιροὺς καὶ ἑορτάς· 8 By the knowledge of the Lord they were distinguished: and he altered seasons and feasts.
9 ἀπ' αὐτῶν ἀνύψωσεν καὶ ἡγίασεν καὶ ἐξ αὐτῶν ἔθηκεν εἰς ἀριθμὸν ἡμερῶν, 9 Some of them hath he made high days, and hallowed them, and some of them hath he made ordinary days.
10 καὶ ἄνθρωποι πάντες ἀπὸ ἐδάφουςμ καὶ ἐκ γῆς ἐκτίσθη Ἀδάμ 10 And all men are from the ground, and Adam was created of earth:
11 ἐν πλήθει ἐπιστήμης κύριος διεχώρισεν αὐτοὺς καὶ ἠλλοίωσεν τὰς ὁδοὺς αὐτῶν· 11 In much knowledge the Lord hath divided them, and made their ways diverse.
12 ἐξ αὐτῶν εὐλόγησεν καὶ ἀνύψωσεν καὶ ἐξ αὐτῶν ἡγίασεν καὶ πρὸς αὐτὸν ἤγγισεν· ἀπ' αὐτῶν κατηράσατο καὶ ἐταπείνωσεν καὶ ἀνέστρεψεν αὐτοὺς ἀπὸ στάσεως αὐτῶν. 12 Some of them hath he blessed and exalted and some of them he sanctified, and set near himself: but some of them hath he cursed and brought low, and turned out of their places.
13 ὡς πηλὸς κεραμέως ἐν χειρὶ αὐτοῦ — πᾶσαι αἱ ὁδοὶ αὐτοῦ —, κατὰ τὴν εὐδοκίαν αὐτοῦ οὕτως ἄνθρωποι ἐν χειρὶ τοῦ ποιήσαντος αὐτοὺς ἀποδοῦναι αὐτοῖς κατὰ τὴν κρίσιν αὐτοῦ. 13 As the clay is in the potter's hand, to fashion it at his pleasure: so man is in the hand of him that made him, to render to them as liketh him best.
14 ἀπέναντι τοῦ κακοῦ τὸ ἀγαθόν, καὶ ἀπέναντι τοῦ θανάτου ἡ ζωή οὕτως ἀπέναντι εὐσεβοῦς ἁμαρτωλός· 14 Good is set against evil, and life against death: so is the godly against the sinner, and the sinner against the godly.
15 καὶ οὕτως ἔμβλεψον εἰς πάντα τὰ ἔργα τοῦ ὑψίστου, δύο δύο, ἓν κατέναντι τοῦ ἑνός. 15 So look upon all the works of the most High; and there are two by two, one against another.
1lit., "two two" -- a repetion idiom of distribution meaning "two by two"
16 κἀγὼ ἔσχατος ἠγρύπνησα ὡς καλαμώμενος ὀπίσω τρυγητῶν· 16 I awaked up last of all, as one that gathereth after the grapegatherers:
17 ἐν εὐλογίᾳ κυρίου ἔφθασα καὶ ὡς τρυγῶν ἐπλήρωσα ληνόν. 17 by the blessing of the Lord I profited, and filled my winepress like a gatherer of grapes.
18 κατανοήσατε ὅτι οὐκ ἐμοὶ μόνῳ ἐκοπίασα, ἀλλὰ πᾶσιν τοῖς ζητοῦσιν παιδείαν. 18 Consider that I laboured not for myself only, but for all them that seek learning.
19 ἀκούσατέ μου, μεγιστᾶνες λαοῦ, καὶ οἱ ἡγούμενοι ἐκκλησίας, ἐνωτίσασθε. 19 Hear me, O ye great men of the people, and hearken with your ears, ye rulers of the congregation.
20 υἱῷ καὶ γυναικί, ἀδελφῷ καὶ φίλῳ μὴ δῷς ἐξουσίαν ἐπὶ σὲ ἐν ζωῇ σου· καὶ μὴ δῷς ἑτέρῳ τὰ χρήματά σου, ἵνα μὴ μεταμεληθεὶς δέῃ περὶ αὐτῶν. 20 Give not thy son and wife, thy brother and friend, power over thee while thou livest, and give not thy goods to another: lest it repent thee, and thou intreat for the same again.
21 ἕως ἔτι ζῇς καὶ πνοὴ ἐν σοί, μὴ ἀλλάξῃς σεαυτὸν ἐν πάσῃ σαρκί· 21 As long as thou livest and hast breath in thee, give not thyself over to any.
22 κρεῖσσον γάρ ἐστιν τὰ τέκνα δεηθῆναί σου ἢ σὲ ἐμβλέπειν εἰς χεῖρας υἱῶν σου. 22 For better it is that thy children should seek to thee, than that thou shouldest stand to their courtesy.
23 ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς ἔργοις σου γίνου ὑπεράγων, μὴ δῷς μῶμον ἐν τῇ δόξῃ σου. 23 In all thy works keep to thyself the preeminence; leave not a stain in thine honour.
24 ἐν ἡμέρᾳ συντελείας ἡμερῶν ζωῆς σου καὶ ἐν καιρῷ τελευτῆς διάδος κληρονομίαν. 24 At the time when thou shalt end thy days, and finish thy life, distribute thine inheritance.
25 χορτάσματα καὶ ῥάβδος καὶ φορτία ὄνῳ, ἄρτος καὶ παιδεία καὶ ἔργον οἰκέτῃ. 25 Fodder, a wand, and burdens, are for the ass; and bread, correction, and work, for a servant.
26 ἔργασαι ἐν παιδί, καὶ εὑρήσεις ἀνάπαυσιν· ἄνες χεῖρας αὐτῷ, καὶ ζητήσει ἐλευθερίαν. 26 If thou set thy servant to labour, thou shalt find rest: but if thou let him go idle, he shall seek liberty.
27 ζυγὸς καὶ ἱμὰς τράχηλον κάμψουσιν, καὶ οἰκέτῃ κακούργῳ στρέβλαι καὶ βάσανοι· 27 A yoke and a collar do bow the neck: so are tortures and torments for an evil servant.
28 ἔμβαλε αὐτὸν εἰς ἐργασίαν, ἵνα μὴ ἀργῇ, πολλὴν γὰρ κακίαν ἐδίδαξεν ἡ ἀργία· 28 Send him to labour, that he be not idle; for idleness teacheth much evil.
29 εἰς ἔργα κατάστησον, καθὼς πρέπει αὐτῷ, κἂν μὴ πειθαρχῇ, βάρυνον τὰς πέδας αὐτοῦ. 29 Set him to work, as is fit for him: if he be not obedient, put on more heavy fetters.
30 καὶ μὴ περισσεύσῃς ἐπὶ πάσῃ σαρκὶ καὶ ἄνευ κρίσεως μὴ ποιήσῃς μηδέν. 30 But be not excessive toward any; and without discretion do nothing.
31 εἰ ἔστιν σοὶ οἰκέτης, ἔστω ὡς σύ, ὅτι ἐν αἵματι ἐκτήσω αὐτόν· 31 If thou have a servant, let him be unto thee as thyself, because thou hast bought him with a price.
32 εἰ ἔστιν σοὶ οἰκέτης, ἄγε αὐτὸν, ὡς ἀδελφόν, ὅτι ὡς ἡ ψυχή σου ἐπιδεήσεις αὐτῷ· 32 If thou have a servant, entreat him as a brother: for thou hast need of him, as of thine own soul.
33 ἐὰν κακώσῃς αὐτὸν καὶ ἀπάρας ἀποδρᾷ, ἐν ποίᾳ ὁδῷ ζητήσεις αὐτόν; 33 if thou entreat him evil, and he run from thee, which way wilt thou go to seek him?