| 37 |
ΣΟΦΙΑ ΣΕΙΡΑΧ | ECCLESIASTICUS - Brenton|RSV | Reference |
| 1 | Πᾶς φίλος ἐρεῖ Ἑφιλίασα κἀγώ·
ἀλλ' ἔστιν φίλος ὀνόματι μόνον φίλος.
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Every friend will say, "I too am a friend";
but some friends are friends only in name.
| False friends. Sir.37.1-6 |
| 2 | οὐχὶ λύπη ἔνι ἕως θανάτου
ἑταῖρος καὶ φίλος τρεπόμενος εἰς ἔχθραν;
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Is it not a grief to the death
when a companion and friend turns to enmity?
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| 3 | ὦ πονηρὸν ἐνθύμημα, πόθεν ἐνεκυλίσθης
καλύψαι τὴν ξηρὰν ἐν δολιότητι;
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O evil imagination, why were you formed
to cover the land with deceit?
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| 4 | ἑταῖρος φίλου ἐν εὐφροσύνῃ ἥδεται,
καὶ ἐν καιρῷ θλίψεως ἔσται ἀπέναντι·
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Some companions rejoice in the happiness of a friend,
but in time of trouble are against him.
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| 5 | ἑταῖρος φίλῳ συμπονεῖ χάριν γαστρός,
ἔναντι πολέμου λήμψεται ἀσπίδα.
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Some companions help a friend for their stomach's sake,
and in the face of battle take up the shield.
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| 6 | μὴ ἐπιλάθῃ φίλου ἐν τῇ ψυχῇ σου.
καὶ μὴ ἀμνημονήσῃς αὐτοῦ ἐν χρήμασίν σου.
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Do not forget a friend in your heart,
and be not unmindful of him in your wealth.
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| 7 | Πᾶς σύμβουλος ἐξαίρει βουλήν,
ἀλλ' ἔστιν συμβουλεύων εἰς ἑαυτόν.
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Every counselor praises counsel,
but some give counsel in their own interest.
| Caution in taking advice. Sir.37.7-15 |
| 8 | ἀπὸ συμβούλου φύλαξον τὴν ψυχήν σου,
καὶ γνῶθι πρότερον τίς αὐτοῦ χρεία·
καὶ γὰρ αὐτὸς ἑαυτῷ βουλεύσεται,
μή ποτε βάλῃ ἐπὶ σοὶ κλῆρον,
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Be wary of a counselor, and learn first what is his interest -
for he will take thought for himself -
lest he cast the lot against you
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| 9 | καὶ εἴπῃ σοι Καλὴ ἡ ὁδός σου,
καὶ στήσεται ἐξ ἀναντίας ἰδεῖν τὸ συμβησόμενόν σοι.
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and tell you, "Your way is good,"
and then stand aloof to see what will happen to you.
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| 10 | μὴ βουλεύου μετὰ τοῦ ὑποβλεπομένου σε,
καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν ζηλούντων σε κρύψον βουλήν,
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Do not consult the one who looks at you suspiciously;
hide your counsel from those who are jealous of you.
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| 11 | μετὰ γυναικὸς περὶ τῆς ἀντιζήλου αὐτῆς
καὶ μετὰ δειλοῦ περὶ πολέμου,
μετὰ ἐμπόρου περὶ μεταβολίας
καὶ μετὰ ἀγοράζοντος περὶ πράσεως,
μετὰ βασκάνου περὶ εὐχαριστίας
καὶ μετὰ ἀνελεήμονος περὶ χρηστοηθείας,
μετὰ ὀκνηροῦ περὶ παντὸς ἔργου
καὶ μετὰ μισθίου ἐφετίου περὶ συντελείας,
οἰκέτῃ ἀργῷ περὶ πολλῆς ἐργασίας,
μὴ ἔπεχε ἐπὶ τούτοις περὶ πάσης συμβουλίας·
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Do not consult with a woman about her rival
or with a coward about war,
with a merchant about barter
or with a buyer about selling,
with a grudging man about gratitude
or with a merciless man about kindness,
with an idler about any work
or with a man hired for a year
about completing his work,
with a lazy servant about a big task -
pay no attention to these in any matter of counsel.
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| 12 | ἀλλ' ἢ μετὰ ἀνδρὸς εὐσεβοῦς ἐνδελέχιζε,
ὃν ἂν ἐπιγνῷς συντηροῦντα ἐντολάς,
ὃς ἐν τῇ ψυχῇ αὐτοῦ κατὰ τὴν ψυχήν σου,
καὶ ἐὰν πταίσῃς, συναλγήσει σοι.
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But stay constantly with a godly man
whom you know to be a keeper of the commandments,
whose soul is in accord with your soul,
and who will sorrow with you if you fail.
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| 13 | καὶ βουλὴν καρδίας στῆσον,
οὐ γὰρ ἔστιν σοι πιστότερος αὐτῆς·
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And establish the counsel of your own heart,
for no one is more faithful to you than it is.
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| 14 | ψυχὴ γὰρ ἀνδρὸς ἀπαγγέλλειν ἐνίοτε εἴωθεν
ἢ ἑπτὰ σκοποὶ ἐπὶ μετεώρου καθήμενοι ἐπὶ σκοπῆς.
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For a man's soul sometimes keeps him better informed
than seven watchmen sitting high on a watchtower.
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| 15 | καὶ ἐπὶ πᾶσι τούτοις δεήθητι ὑψίστου,
ἵνα εὐθύνῃ ἐν ἀληθείᾳ τὴν ὁδόν σου.
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And besides all this pray to the Most High
that he may direct your way in truth.
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| 16 | Ἀρχὴ παντὸς ἔργου λόγος,
καὶ πρὸ πάσης πράξεως βουλή.
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Reason is the beginning of every work,
and counsel precedes every undertaking.
| Wisdom & confidence. Sir.37.16-26 |
| 17 | ἴχνος ἀλλοιώσεως καρδίας τέσσαρα μέρη ἀνατέλλει,
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As a clue to changes of heart
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| 18 | ἀγαθὸν καὶ κακόν, ζωὴ καὶ θάνατος,
καὶ ἡ κυριεύουσα ἐνδελεχῶς αὐτῶν γλῶσσά ἐστιν.
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four turns of fortune appear, good and evil, life and death;
and it is the tongue that continually rules them.
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| 19 | ἔστιν ἀνὴρ πανοῦργος πολλῶν παιδευτής,
καὶ τῇ ἰδίᾳ ψυχῇ ἐστιν ἄχρηστος.
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A man may be shrewd and the teacher of many,
and yet be unprofitable to himself.
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| 20 | ἔστιν σοφιζόμενος ἐν λόγοις μισητός,
οὗτος πάσης τροφῆς καθυστερήσει·
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A man skilled in words may be hated;
he will be destitute of all food,
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| 21 | οὐ γὰρ ἐδόθη αὐτῷ παρὰ κυρίου χάρις,
ὅτι πάσης σοφίας ἐστερήθη.
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for grace was not given him by the Lord,
since he is lacking in all wisdom.
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| 22 | ἔστιν σοφὸς τῇ ἰδίᾳ ψυχῇ,
καὶ οἱ καρποὶ τῆς συνέσεως αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ στόματος πιστοί.
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A man may be wise to his own advantage,
and the fruits of his understanding may be trustworthy on his lips.
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| 23 | ἀνὴρ σοφὸς τὸν ἑαυτοῦ λαὸν παιδεύσει,
καὶ οἱ καρποὶ τῆς συνέσεως αὐτοῦ πιστοί.
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A wise man will instruct his own people,
and the fruits of his understanding will be trustworthy.
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| 24 | ἀνὴρ σοφὸς πλησθήσεται εὐλογίας,
καὶ μακαριοῦσιν αὐτὸν πάντες οἱ ὁρῶντες.
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A wise man will have praise heaped upon him,
and all who see him will call him happy.
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| 25 | ζωὴ ἀνδρὸς ἐν ἀριθμῷ ἡμερῶν,
καὶ αἱ ἡμέραι τοῦ Ισραηλ ἀναρίθμητοι.
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The life of a man is numbered by days,
but the days of Israel are without number.
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| 26 | ὁ σοφὸς ἐν τῷ λαῷ αὐτοῦ κληρονομήσει πίστιν,
καὶ τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ ζήσεται εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα.
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He who is wise among his people will inherit confidence,
and his name will live for ever.
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| 27 | Τέκνον, ἐν ζωῇ σου πείρασον τὴν ψυχήν σου,
καὶ ἰδὲ τί πονηρὸν αὐτῇ καὶ μὴ δῷς αὐτῇ·
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My son, test your soul while you live;
see what is bad for it and do not give it that.
| Gluttony. Sir.37.27-31 |
| 28 | οὐ γὰρ πάντα πᾶσιν συμφέρει,
καὶ οὐ πᾶσα ψυχὴ ἐν παντὶ εὐδοκεῖ.
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For not everything is good for every one,
and not every person enjoys everything.
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| 29 | μὴ ἀπληστεύου ἐν πάσῃ τρυφῇ,
καὶ μὴ ἐκχυθῇς ἐπὶ ἐδεσμάτων·
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Do not have an insatiable appetite for any luxury,
and do not give yourself up to food;
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| 30 | ἐν πολλοῖς γὰρ βρώμασιν ἔσται νόσος,
καὶ ἡ ἀπληστία ἐγγιεῖ ἕως χολέρας·
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for overeating brings sickness,
and gluttony leads to nausea.
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| 31 | δι' ἀπληστίαν πολλοὶ ἐτελεύτησαν,
ὁ δὲ προσέχων προσθήσει ζωήν.
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Many have died of gluttony,
but he who is careful to avoid it prolongs his life. | |
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