top Wisdom of Sirach ch 21

Chapter 21

1 Τέκνον, ἥμαρτες; μὴ προσθῇς μηκέτι καὶ περὶ τῶν προτέρων σου δεήθητι. 1 My son, hast thou sinned? do so no more, but ask pardon for thy former sins.
2 ὡς ἀπὸ προσώπου ὄφεως φεῦγε ἀπὸ ἁμαρτίας· ἐὰν γὰρ προσέλθῃς, δήξεταί σε· ὀδόντες λέοντος οἱ ὀδόντες αὐτῆς ἀναιροῦντες ψυχὰς ἀνθρώπων 2 Flee from sin as from the face of a serpent: for if thou comest too near it, it will bite thee: the teeth thereof are as the teeth of a lion, slaying the souls of men.
3 ὡς ῥομφαία δίστομος πᾶσα ἀνομία, τῇ πληγῇ αὐτῆς οὐκ ἔστιν ἴασις. 3 All iniquity is as a two edged sword, the wounds whereof cannot be healed.
4 καταπληγμὸς καὶ ὕβρις ἐρημώσουσιν πλοῦτον· οὕτως οἶκος ὑπερηφάνου ἐρημωθήσεται. 4 Intimidation and pride will waste riches: thus the house of proud men shall be made desolate.
5 δέησις πτωχοῦ ἐκ στόματος ἕως ὠτίων αὐτοῦ, καὶ τὸ κρίμα αὐτοῦ κατὰ σπουδὴν ἔρχεται. 5 A prayer out of a poor man's mouth reacheth to the ears of God, and his judgment cometh speedily.
6 μισῶν ἐλεγμὸν ἐν ἴχνει ἁμαρτωλοῦ, καὶ ὁ φοβούμενος κύριον ἐπιστρέψει ἐν καρδίᾳ. 6 He that hateth to be reproved is in the way of sinners: but he that feareth the Lord will repent from his heart.
7 γνωστὸς μακρόθεν ὁ δυνατὸς ἐν γλώσσῃ, ὁ δὲ νοήμων οἶδεν ἐν τῷ ὀλισθάνειν αὐτόν. 7 An eloquent man is known far and near; but a man of understanding knoweth when he slippeth.
8 ὁ οἰκοδομῶν τὴν οἰκίαν αὐτοῦ ἐν χρήμασιν ἀλλοτρίοις ὡς συνάγων αὐτοῦ τοὺς λίθους εἰς χειμῶνα. 8 He that buildeth his house with other men's money is like one that gathereth himself stones for the tomb of his burial.
9 στιππύον συνηγμένον συναγωγὴ ἀνόμων, καὶ ἡ συντέλεια αὐτῶν φλὸξ πυρός. 9 The congregation of the wicked is like tow wrapped together: and the end of them is a flame of fire to destroy them.
10 ὁδὸς ἁμαρτωλῶν ὡμαλισμένη ἐκ λίθων, καὶ ἐπ' ἐσχάτων αὐτῆς βόθρος ᾅδου. 10 The way of sinners is made plain with stones, but at the end thereof is the pit of hell.
11 ὁ φυλάσσων νόμον κατακρατεῖ τοῦ ἐννοήματος αὐτοῦ, καὶ συντέλεια τοῦ φόβου κυρίου σοφία. 11 He that keepeth the law of the Lord getteth the understanding thereof: and the perfection of the fear of the Lord is wisdom.
12 οὐ παιδευθήσεται ὃς οὐκ ἔστιν πανοῦργος, ἔστιν δὲ πανουργία πληθύνουσα πικρίαν. 12 He that is not wise will not be taught: but there is a wisdom which multiplieth bitterness.
13 γνῶσις σοφοῦ ὡς κατακλυσμὸς πληθυνθήσεται καὶ ἡ βουλὴ αὐτοῦ ὡς πηγὴ ζωῆς. 13 The knowledge of a wise man shall abound like a flood: and his counsel is like a pure fountain of life.
14 ἔγκατα μωροῦ ὡς ἀγγεῖον συντετριμμένον καὶ πᾶσαν γνῶσιν οὐ κρατήσει. 14 The inner parts of a fool are like a broken vessel, and he will hold no knowledge as long as he liveth.
15 λόγον σοφὸν ἐὰν ἀκούσῃ ἐπιστήμων, αἰνέσει αὐτὸν καὶ ἐπ' αὐτὸν προσθήσει· ἤκουσεν ὁ σπαταλῶν, καὶ ἀπήρεσεν αὐτῷ, καὶ ἀπέστρεψεν αὐτὸν ὀπίσω τοῦ νώτου αὐτοῦ. 15 If a skilful man hear a wise word, he will commend it, and add unto it: but as soon as one of no understanding heareth it, it displeaseth him, and he casteth it behind his back.
16 ἐξήγησις μωροῦ ὡς ἐν ὁδῷ φορτίον, ἐπὶ δὲ χείλους συνετοῦ εὑρεθήσεται χάρις. 16 The talking of a fool is like a burden in the way: but grace shall be found in the lips of the wise.
17 στόμα φρονίμου ζητηθήσεται ἐν ἐκκλησίᾳ, καὶ τοὺς λόγους αὐτοῦ διανοηθήσονται ἐν καρδίᾳ. 17 They enquire at the mouth of the wise man in the congregation, and they shall ponder his words in their heart.
18 ὡς οἶκος ἠφανισμένος οὕτως μωρῷ σοφία, καὶ γνῶσις ἀσυνέτου ἀδιεξέταστοι λόγοι. 18 As is a house that is destroyed, so is wisdom to a fool: and the knowledge of the unwise is as talk without sense.
19 πέδαι ἐν ποσὶν ἀνοήτου παιδεία καὶ ὡς χειροπέδαι ἐπὶ χειρὸς δεξιᾶς. 19 Doctrine unto fools is as fetters on the feet, and like manacles on the right hand.
20 μωρὸς ἐν γέλωτι ἀνυψοῖ φωνὴν αὐτοῦ, ἀνὴρ δὲ πανοῦργος μόλις ἡσυχῇ μειδιάσει. 20 A fool lifteth up his voice with laughter; but a wise man doth scarce smile a little.
21 ὡς κόσμος χρυσοῦς φρονίμῳ παιδεία καὶ ὡς χλιδὼν ἐπὶ βραχίονι δεξιῷ. 21 Learning is unto a wise man as an ornament of gold, and like a bracelet upon his right arm.
22 ποὺς μωροῦ ταχὺς εἰς οἰκίαν, ἄνθρωπος δὲ πολύπειρος αἰσχυνθήσεται ἀπὸ προσώπου. 22 A foolish man's foot is soon in his neighbour's house: but a man of experience is ashamed of him.
23 ἄφρων ἀπὸ θύρας παρακύπτει εἰς οἰκίαν, ἀνὴρ δὲ πεπαιδευμένος ἔξω στήσεται, 23 A fool will peep in at the door into the house: but he that is well nurtured will stand without.
24 ἀπαιδευσία ἀνθρώπου ἀκροᾶσθαι παρὰ θύραν, ὁ δὲ φρόνιμος βαρυνθήσεται ἀτιμίᾳ. 24 It is the rudeness of a man to hearken at the door: but a wise man will be grieved with the disgrace.
25 χείλη ἀλλοτρίων ἐν τούτοις διηγήσονται, λόγοι δὲ φρονίμων ἐν ζυγῷ σταθήσονται. 25 The lips of talkers will be telling such things as pertain not unto them: but the words of such as have understanding are weighed in the balance.
26 ἐν στόματι μωρῶν ἡ καρδία αὐτῶν, καρδία δὲ σοφῶν στόμα αὐτῶν. 26 The heart of fools is in their mouth: but the mouth of the wise is in their heart.
27 ἐν τῷ καταρᾶσθαι ἀσεβῆ τὸν σατανᾶν αὐτὸς καταρᾶται τὴν ἑαυτοῦ ψυχήν. 27 When the ungodly curseth Satan, he curseth his own soul.
28 μολύνει τὴν ἑαυτοῦ ψυχὴν ὁ ψιθυρίζων καὶ ἐν παροικήσει μισηθήσεται. 28 A whisperer defileth his own soul, and is hated wheresoever he dwelleth.