Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 19
A labouring man that is given to drunkenness shall not be rich: and he that contemneth small things shall fall by little and little.
ΕΡΓΑΤΗΣ μέθυσος οὐ πλουτισθήσεται· ὁ ἐξουθενῶν τὰ ὀλίγα κατὰ μικρὸν πεσεῖται.
Wine and women will make men of understanding to fall away: and he that cleaveth to harlots will become impudent.
οἶνος καὶ γυναῖκες ἀποστήσουσι συνετούς, καὶ ὁ κολλώμενος πόρναις τολμηρότερος ἔσται·
Moths and worms shall have him to heritage, and a bold man shall be taken away.
σῆτες καὶ σκώληκες κληρονομήσουσιν αὐτόν, καὶ ψυχὴ τολμηρὰ ἐξαρθήσεται.
He that is hasty to give credit is lightminded; and he that sinneth shall offend against his own soul.
῾Ο ταχὺ ἐμπιστεύων κοῦφος καρδίᾳ, καὶ ὁ ἁμαρτάνων εἰς ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ πλημμελήσει.
Whoso taketh pleasure in wickedness shall be condemned: but he that resisteth pleasures crowneth his life.
ὁ εὐφραινόμενος καρδίᾳ καταγνωσθήσεται,
He that can rule his tongue shall live without strife; and he that hateth babbling shall have less evil.
καὶ ὁ μισῶν λαλιὰν ἐλαττονοῦται κακίᾳ.
Rehearse not unto another that which is told unto thee, and thou shalt fare never the worse.
μηδέποτε δευτερώσῃς λόγον, καὶ οὐθέν σοι οὐ μὴ ἐλαττονωθῇ.
Whether it be to friend or foe, talk not of other men’s lives; and if thou canst without offence, reveal them not.
ἐν φίλῳ καὶ ἐν ἐχθρῷ μὴ διηγοῦ, καὶ εἰ μή ἔστι σοι ἁμαρτία, μὴ ἀποκάλυπτε·
For he heard and observed thee, and when time cometh he will hate thee.
ἀκήκοε γάρ σου καὶ ἐφυλάξατό σε, καὶ ἐν καιρῷ μισήσει σε.
If thou hast heard a word, let it die with thee; and be bold, it will not burst thee.
ἀκήκοας λόγον, συναποθανέτω σοι· θάρσει, οὐ μή σε ῥήξει.
A fool travaileth with a word, as a woman in labour of a child.
ἀπὸ προσώπου λόγου ὠδινήσει μωρὸς ὡς ἀπὸ προσώπου βρέφους ἡ τίκτουσα.
As an arrow that sticketh in a man’s thigh, so is a word within a fool’s belly.
βέλος πεπηγὸς ἐν μηρῷ σαρκός, οὕτως λόγος ἐν κοιλίᾳ μωροῦ.
Admonish a friend, it may be he hath not done it: and if he have done it, that he do it no more.
῎Ελεγξον φίλον, μήποτε οὐκ ἐποίησε, καὶ εἴ τι ἐποίησε, μήποτε προσθῇ.
Admonish thy friend, it may be he hath not said it: and if he have, that he speak it not again.
ἔλεγξον τὸν πλησίον, μήποτε οὐκ εἶπε, καὶ εἰ εἴρηκεν, ἵνα μὴ δευτερώσῃ.
Admonish a friend: for many times it is a slander, and believe not every tale.
ἔλεγξον φίλον, πολλάκις γὰρ γίνεται διαβολή, καὶ μὴ παντὶ λόγῳ πίστευε.
There is one that slippeth in his speech, but not from his heart; and who is he that hath not offended with his tongue?
ἔστιν ὀλισθαίνων καὶ οὐκ ἀπὸ ψυχῆς, καὶ τίς οὐχ ἡμάρτησεν ἐν τῇ γλώσσῃ αὐτοῦ;
Admonish thy neighbour before thou threaten him; and not being angry, give place to the law of the most High.
ἔλεγξον τὸν πλησίον σου πρὶν ἢ ἀπειλῆσαι, καὶ δὸς τόπον νόμῳ ῾Υψίστου. [γινόμενος ἄμηνις.
The fear of the Lord is the first step to be accepted of him, and wisdom obtaineth his love.
φόβος Κυρίου ἀρχὴ προσλήψεως, σοφία δὲ παρ’ αὐτοῦ ἀγάπησιν περιποιεῖ.
The knowledge of the commandments of the Lord is the doctrine of life: and they that do things that please him shall receive the fruit of the tree of immortality.
γνῶσις ἐντολῶν Κυρίου παιδεία ζωῆς, οἱ δὲ ποιοῦντες τὰ ἀρεστὰ αὐτῷ ἀθανασίας δένδρον καρποῦνται].
The fear of the Lord is all wisdom; and in all wisdom is the performance of the law, and the knowledge of his omnipotency.
Πᾶσα σοφία φόβος Κυρίου, καὶ ἐν πάσῃ σοφίᾳ ποίησις νόμου· [καὶ γνῶσις τῆς παντοδυναμίας αὐτοῦ.
If a servant say to his master, I will not do as it pleaseth thee; though afterward he do it, he angereth him that nourisheth him.
οἰκέτης λέγων τῷ δεσπότῃ· ὡς ἀρέσκει οὐ ποιήσω, ἐὰν μετὰ ταῦτα ποιήσῃ, παροργίζει τὸν τρέφοντα αὐτόν].
The knowledge of wickedness is not wisdom, neither at any time the counsel of sinners prudence.
καὶ οὐκ ἔστι σοφία πονηρίας ἐπιστήμη, καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ὅπου βουλὴ ἁμαρτωλῶν φρόνησις.
There is a wickedness, and the same an abomination; and there is a fool wanting in wisdom.
ἔστι πονηρία καὶ αὕτη βδέλυγμα, καὶ ἔστιν ἄφρων ἐλαττούμενος σοφίᾳ.
He that hath small understanding, and feareth God, is better than one that hath much wisdom, and transgresseth the law of the most High.
κρείττων ἡττώμενος ἐν συνέσει ἔμφοβος ἢ περισσεύων ἐν φρονήσει καὶ παραβαίνων νόμον.
There is an exquisite subtilty, and the same is unjust; and there is one that turneth aside to make judgment appear; and there is a wise man that justifieth in judgment.
ἔστι πανουργία ἀκριβὴς καὶ αὕτη ἄδικος, καὶ ἔστι διαστρέφων χάριν τοῦ ἐκφᾶναι κρίμα.
There is a wicked man that hangeth down his head sadly; but inwardly he is full of deceit,
ἔστι πονηρευόμενος συγκεκυφὼς μελανίᾳ, καὶ τὰ ἐντὸς αὐτοῦ πλήρης δόλου·
Casting down his countenance, and making as if he heard not: where he is not known, he will do thee a mischief before thou be aware.
συγκύφων πρόσωπον καὶ ἑτεροκωφῶν, ὅπου οὐκ ἐπεγνώσθη, προφθάσει σε·
And if for want of power he be hindered from sinning, yet when he findeth opportunity he will do evil.
καὶ ἐὰν ὑπὸ ἐλαττώματος ἰσχύος κωλυθῇ ἁμαρτεῖν, ἐὰν εὕρῃ καιρόν, κακοποιήσει.
A man may be known by his look, and one that hath understanding by his countenance, when thou meetest him.
ἀπὸ ὁράσεως ἐπιγνωσθήσεται ἀνήρ, καὶ ἀπὸ ἀπαντήσεως προσώπου ἐπιγνωσθήσεται νοήμων.
A man’s attire, and excessive laughter, and gait, shew what he is.
στολισμὸς ἀνδρὸς καὶ γέλως ὀδόντων καὶ βήματα ἀνθρώπου ἀναγγέλλει τὰ περὶ αὐτοῦ.