top Wisdom of Sirach ch 19

Chapter 19

1 Ἐργάτης μέθυσος οὐ πλουτισθήσεται· ὁ ἐξουθενῶν τὰ ὀλίγα κατὰ μικρὸν πεσεῖται. 1 A labouring man that is given to drunkenness shall not be rich: and he that contemneth small things shall fall by little and little.
2 οἶνος καὶ γυναῖκες ἀποστήσουσιν συνετούς, καὶ ὁ κολλώμενος πόρναις τολμηρότερος ἔσται· 2 Wine and women will make men of understanding to fall away: and he that cleaveth to harlots will become impudent.
3 σήπη καὶ σκώληκες κληρονομήσουσιν αὐτόν, καὶ ψυχὴ τολμηρὰ ἐξαρθήσεται. 3 Moths and worms shall have him to heritage, and a bold man shall be taken away.
4 ὁ ταχὺ ἐμπιστεύων κοῦφος καρδίᾳ, καὶ ὁ ἁμαρτάνων εἰς ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ πλημμελήσει. 4 He that is hasty to give credit is lightminded; and he that sinneth shall offend against his own soul.
5 ὁ εὐφραινόμενος καρδίᾳ καταγνωσθήσεται, 5 Whoso taketh pleasure in wickedness shall be condemned: but he that resisteth pleasures crowneth his life.
6 καὶ ὁ μισῶν λαλιὰν ἐλαττονοῦται κακίᾳ. 6 He that can rule his tongue shall live without strife; and he that hateth babbling shall have less evil.
7 μηδέποτε δευτερώσῃς λόγον, καὶ οὐθέν σοὶ οὐ μὴ ἐλαττονωθῇ. 7 Rehearse not unto another that which is told unto thee, and thou shalt fare never the worse.
8 ἐν φίλῳ καὶ ἐχθρῷ μὴ διηγοῦ, καὶ εἰ μή ἐστίν σοὶ ἁμαρτία, μὴ ἀποκάλυπτε· 8 Whether it be to friend or foe, talk not of other men's lives; and if thou canst without offence, reveal them not.
9 ἀκήκοεν γάρ σου καὶ ἐφυλάξατό σὲ καὶ ἐν καιρῷ μισήσει σε. 9 For he heard and observed thee, and when time cometh he will hate thee.
10 ἀκήκοας λόγον; συναποθανέτω σοι· θάρσει οὐ μή σὲ ῥήξει. 10 If thou hast heard a word, let it die with thee; and be bold, it will not burst thee.
11 ἀπὸ προσώπου λόγου ὠδινήσει μωρὸς ὡς ἀπὸ προσώπου βρέφους ἡ τίκτουσα. 11 A fool travaileth with a word, as a woman in labour of a child.
12 βέλος πεπηγὸς ἐν μηρῷ σαρκός, οὕτως λόγος ἐν κοιλίᾳ μωροῦ. 12 As an arrow that sticketh in a man's thigh, so is a word within a fool's belly.
13 ἔλεγξον φίλον, μήποτε οὐκ ἐποίησεν, καὶ εἴ τι ἐποίησεν, μήποτε προσθῇ. 13 Admonish a friend, it may be he hath not done it: and if he have done it, that he do it no more.
14 ἔλεγξον τὸν πλησίον, μήποτε οὐκ εἶπεν, καὶ εἰ εἴρηκεν, ἵνα μὴ δευτερώσῃ. 14 Admonish thy friend, it may be he hath not said it: and if he have, that he speak it not again.
15 ἔλεγξον φίλον, πολλάκις γὰρ γίνεται διαβολή, καὶ μὴ παντὶ λόγῳ πίστευε. 15 Admonish a friend: for many times it is a slander, and believe not every tale.
16 ἔστιν ὀλισθάνων καὶ οὐκ ἀπὸ ψυχῆς, καὶ τίς οὐχ ἥμαρτεν ἐν τῇ γλώσσῃ αὐτοῦ; 16 There is one that slippeth in his speech, but not from his heart; and who is he that hath not offended with his tongue?
17 ἔλεγξον τὸν πλησίον σου πρὶν ἢ ἀπειλῆσαι καὶ δὸς τόπον νόμῳ ὑψίστου. γινόμενος ἄμηνις. 17 Admonish thy neighbour before thou threaten him; and not being angry, give place to the law of the most High.
18  φόβος Κυρίου ἀρχὴ προσλήψεως, σοφία δὲ παρ' αὐτοῦ ἀγάπησιν περιποιεῖ. 18 The fear of the Lord is the first step to be accepted of him, and wisdom obtaineth his love.
19  γνῶσις ἐντολῶν Κυρίου παιδεία ζωῆς, οἱ δὲ ποιοῦντες τὰ ἀρεστὰ αὐτῷ ἀθανασίας δένδρον καρποῦνται 19 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.
20 πᾶσα σοφία φόβος κυρίου, καὶ ἐν πάσῃ σοφίᾳ ποίησις νόμου· καὶ γνῶσις τῆς παντοδυναμίας αὐτοῦ. 20 The fear of the Lord is all wisdom; and in all wisdom is the performance of the law, and the knowledge of his omnipotency.
21  οἰκέτης λέγων τῷ δεσπότῃ· ὡς ἀρέσκει οὐ ποιήσω, ἐὰν μετὰ ταῦτα ποιήσῃ, παροργίζει τὸν τρέφοντα αὐτόν. 21 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.
22 καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν σοφία πονηρίας ἐπιστήμη, καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ὅπου βουλὴ ἁμαρτωλῶν φρόνησις. 22 The knowledge of wickedness is not wisdom, neither at any time the counsel of sinners prudence.
23 ἔστιν πανουργία καὶ αὕτη βδέλυγμα, καὶ ἔστιν ἄφρων ἐλαττούμενος σοφίᾳ· 23 There is a wickedness, and the same an abomination; and there is a fool wanting in wisdom.
24 κρείττων ἡττώμενος ἐν συνέσει ἔμφοβος ἢ περισσεύων ἐν φρονήσει καὶ παραβαίνων νόμον. 24 He that hath small understanding, and feareth God, is better than one that hath much wisdom, and transgresseth the law of the most High.
25 ἔστιν πανουργία ἀκριβὴς καὶ αὕτη ἄδικος, καὶ ἔστιν διαστρέφων χάριν τοῦ ἐκφᾶναι κρίμα. 25 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.
26 ἔστιν πονηρευόμενος συγκεκυφὼς μελανίᾳ, καὶ τὰ ἐντὸς αὐτοῦ πλήρη δόλου· 26 There is a wicked man that hangeth down his head sadly; but inwardly he is full of deceit,
27 συγκρύφων πρόσωπον καὶ ἐθελοκωφῶν, ὅπου οὐκ ἐπεγνώσθη, προφθάσει σε· 27 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.
28 καὶ ἐὰν ὑπὸ ἐλαττώματος ἰσχύος κωλυθῇ ἁμαρτεῖν, ἐὰν εὕρῃ καιρόν, κακοποιήσει. 28 And if for want of power he be hindered from sinning, yet when he findeth opportunity he will do evil.
29 ἀπὸ ὁράσεως ἐπιγνωσθήσεται ἀνήρ, καὶ ἀπὸ ἀπαντήσεως προσώπου ἐπιγνωσθήσεται νοήμων· 29 A man may be known by his look, and one that hath understanding by his countenance, when thou meetest him.
30 στολισμὸς ἀνδρὸς καὶ γέλως ὀδόντων καὶ βήματα ἀνθρώπου ἀναγγελεῖ τὰ περὶ αὐτοῦ. 30 A man's attire, and excessive laughter, and gait, shew what he is.