Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 28

1

He that revengeth shall find vengeance from the Lord, and he will surely keep his sins in remembrance.

Ο ΕΚΔΙΚΩΝ παρὰ Κυρίου εὑρήσει ἐκδίκησιν, καὶ τὰς ἁμαρτίας αὐτοῦ διατηρῶν διατηρήσει.

2

Forgive thy neighbour the hurt that he hath done unto thee, so shall thy sins also be forgiven when thou prayest.

ἄφες ἀδίκημα τῷ πλησίον σου, καὶ τότε δεηθέντος σου αἱ ἁμαρτίαι σου λυθήσονται.

3

One man beareth hatred against another, and doth he seek pardon from the Lord?

ἄνθρωπος ἀνθρώπῳ συντηρεῖ ὀργήν, καὶ παρὰ Κυρίου ζητεῖ ἴασιν;

4

He sheweth no mercy to a man, which is like himself: and doth he ask forgiveness of his own sins?

ἐπ᾿ ἄνθρωπον ὅμοιον αὐτῷ οὐκ ἔχει ἔλεος, καὶ περὶ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν αὐτοῦ δεῖται;

5

If he that is but flesh nourish hatred, who will intreat for pardon of his sins?

αὐτὸς σὰρξ ὢν διατηρεῖ μῆνιν, τίς ἐξιλάσεται τὰς ἁμαρτίας αὐτοῦ;

6

Remember thy end, and let enmity cease; remember corruption and death, and abide in the commandments.

μνήσθητι τὰ ἔσχατα καὶ παῦσαι ἐχθραίνων, καταφθορὰν καὶ θάνατον, καὶ ἔμμενε ἐντολαῖς.

7

Remember the commandments, and bear no malice to thy neighbour: remember the covenant of the Highest, and wink at ignorance.

μνήσθητι ἐντολῶν καὶ μὴ μηνίσῃς τῷ πλησίον, καὶ διαθήκην ῾Υψίστου καὶ πάριδε ἄγνοιαν.

8

Abstain from strife, and thou shalt diminish thy sins: for a furious man will kindle strife,

ἀπόσχου ἀπὸ μάχης, καὶ ἐλαττώσεις ἁμαρτίας· ἄνθρωπος γὰρ θυμώδης ἐκκαύσει μάχην,

9

A sinful man disquieteth friends, and maketh debate among them that be at peace.

καὶ ἀνὴρ ἁμαρτωλὸς ταράξει φίλους καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον εἰρηνευόντων ἐμβάλλει διαβολήν.

10

As the matter of the fire is, so it burneth: and as a man’s strength is, so is his wrath; and according to his riches his anger riseth; and the stronger they are which contend, the more they will be inflamed.

κατὰ τὴν ὕλην τοῦ πυρὸς οὕτως ἐκκαυθήσεται, καὶ κατὰ τὴν ἰσχὺν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ὁ θυμὸς αὐτοῦ ἔσται, καὶ κατὰ τὸν πλοῦτον ἀνυψώσει ὀργὴν αὐτοῦ, καὶ κατὰ τὴν στερέωσιν τῆς μάχης ἐκκαυθήσεται.

11

An hasty contention kindleth a fire: and an hasty fighting sheddeth blood.

ἔρις κατασπευδομένη ἐκκαίει πῦρ, καὶ μάχη κατασπεύδουσα ἐκχέει αἷμα.

12

If thou blow the spark, it shall burn: if thou spit upon it, it shall be quenched: and both these come out of thy mouth.

ἐὰν φυσήσῃς εἰς σπινθῆρα, ἐκκαήσεται, καὶ ἐὰν πτύσῃς ἐπ᾿ αὐτόν, σβεσθήσεται· καὶ ἀμφότερα ἐκ τοῦ στόματός σου ἐκπορεύεται.

13

Curse the whisperer and doubletongued: for such have destroyed many that were at peace.

Ψίθυρον καὶ δίγλωσσον καταράσασθε, πολλοὺς γὰρ εἰρηνεύοντας ἀπώλεσαν.

14

A backbiting tongue hath disquieted many, and driven them from nation to nation: strong cities hath it pulled down, and overthrown the houses of great men.

γλῶσσα τρίτη πολλοὺς ἐσάλευσε καὶ διέστησεν αὐτοὺς ἀπὸ ἔθνους εἰς ἔθνος καὶ πόλεις ὀχυρὰς καθεῖλε καὶ οἰκίας μεγιστάνων κατέστρεψε.

15

A backbiting tongue hath cast out virtuous women, and deprived them of their labours.

γλῶσσα τρίτη γυναῖκας ἀνδρείας ἐξέβαλε καὶ ἐστέρησεν αὐτὰς τῶν πόνων αὐτῶν.

16

Whoso hearkeneth unto it shall never find rest, and never dwell quietly.

ὁ προσέχων αὐτῇ οὐ μὴ εὕρῃ ἀνάπαυσιν, οὐδὲ κατασκηνώσει μεθ᾿ ἡσυχίας.

17

The stroke of the whip maketh marks in the flesh: but the stroke of the tongue breaketh the bones.

πληγὴ μάστιγος ποιεῖ μώλωπας, πληγὴ δὲ γλώσσης συγκλάσει ὀστᾶ.

18

Many have fallen by the edge of the sword: but not so many as have fallen by the tongue.

πολλοὶ ἔπεσαν ἐν στόματι μαχαίρας, καὶ οὐχ ὡς οἱ πεπτωκότες διὰ γλῶσσαν.

19

Well is he that is defended through the venom thereof; who hath not drawn the yoke thereof, nor hath been bound in her bands.

μακάριος ὁ σκεπασθεὶς ἀπ᾿ αὐτῆς, ὃς οὐ διῆλθεν ἐν τῷ θυμῷ αὐτῆς, ὃς οὐχ εἵλκυσε τὸν ζυγὸν αὐτῆς καὶ ἐν τοῖς δεσμοῖς αὐτῆς οὐκ ἐδέθη·

20

For the yoke thereof is a yoke of iron, and the bands thereof are bands of brass.

ὁ γὰρ ζυγὸς αὐτῆς ζυγὸς σιδηροῦς, καὶ οἱ δεσμοὶ αὐτῆς δεσμοὶ χάλκεοι.

21

The death thereof is an evil death, the grave were better than it.

θάνατος πονηρὸς ὁ θάνατος αὐτῆς, καὶ λυσιτελὴς μᾶλλον ὁ ᾅδης αὐτῆς.

22

It shall not have rule over them that fear God, neither shall they be burned with the flame thereof.

οὐ μὴ κρατήσει εὐσεβῶν, καὶ ἐν τῇ φλογὶ αὐτῆς οὐ καήσονται.

23

Such as forsake the Lord shall fall into it; and it shall burn in them, and not be quenched; it shall be sent upon them as a lion, and devour them as a leopard.

οἱ καταλείποντες Κύριον ἐμπεσοῦνται εἰς αὐτήν, καὶ ἐν αὐτοῖς ἐκκαήσεται καὶ οὐ μὴ σβεσθῇ· ἐξαποσταλήσεται ἐπ᾿ αὐτοῖς ὡς λέων, καὶ ὡς πάρδαλις λυμανεῖται αὐτούς.

24

Look that thou hedge thy possession about with thorns, and bind up thy silver and gold,

ἴδε περίφραξον τὸ κτῆμά σου ἀκάνθαις, τὸ ἀργύριόν σου καὶ τὸ χρυσίον κατάδησον·

25

And weigh thy words in a balance, and make a door and bar for thy mouth.

καὶ τοῖς λόγοις σου ποίησον ζυγὸν καὶ σταθμόν, καὶ τῷ στόματί σου ποίησον θύραν καὶ μοχλόν.

26

Beware thou slide not by it, lest thou fall before him that lieth in wait.

πρόσεχε μήπως ὀλισθήσῃς ἐν αὐτῇ, μὴ πέσῃς κατέναντι ἐνεδρεύοντος.