ΣΟΦΙΑ ΣΕΙΡΑΧ - Siracide - Sirach 20

GREEK BIBLE	NEW JERUSALEM
1 εστιν ελεγχος ος ουκ εστιν ωραιος και εστιν σιωπων και αυτος φρονιμος	1 There is the rebuke that is untimely, and there is the person who keeps quiet, and he is the shrewd one.
2 ως καλον ελεγξαι η θυμουσθαι	2 But how much better to rebuke than to fume!
3 και ο ανθομολογουμενος απο ελαττωσεως κωλυθησεται	3 The person who acknowledges a fault wards off punishment.
4 επιθυμια ευνουχου αποπαρθενωσαι νεανιδα ουτως ο ποιων εν βια κριματα	4 Like a eunuch trying to take a girl's virginity is someone who tries to impose justice by force.
5 εστιν σιωπων ευρισκομενος σοφος και εστιν μισητος απο πολλης λαλιας	5 There is the person who keeps quiet and is considered wise, another incurs hatred for talking too much.
6 εστιν σιωπων ου γαρ εχει αποκρισιν και εστιν σιωπων ειδως καιρον	6 There is the person who keeps quiet, not knowing how to answer, another keeps quiet, knowing whento speak.
7 ανθρωπος σοφος σιγησει εως καιρου ο δε λαπιστης και αφρων υπερβησεται καιρον	7 The wise wil keep quiet til the right moment, but a garrulous fool wil always misjudge it.
8 ο πλεοναζων λογω βδελυχθησεται και ο ενεξουσιαζομενος μισηθησεται	8 Someone who talks too much wil earn dislike, and someone who usurps authority wil earn hatred.
9 εστιν ευοδια εν κακοις ανδρι και εστιν ευρεμα εις ελαττωσιν	9 There is the person who finds misfortune a boon, and the piece of luck that turns to loss.
10 εστιν δοσις η ου λυσιτελησει σοι και εστιν δοσις ης το ανταποδομα διπλουν	10 There is the gift that affords you no profit, and the gift that repays you double.
11 εστιν ελαττωσις ενεκεν δοξης και εστιν ος απο ταπεινωσεως ηρεν κεφαλην	11 There is the honour that leads to humiliation, and there are people in a low state who raise theirheads.
12 εστιν αγοραζων πολλα ολιγου και αποτιννυων αυτα επταπλασιον	12 There is the person who buys much for little, yet pays for it seven times over.
13 ο σοφος εν λογοις εαυτον προσφιλη ποιησει χαριτες δε μωρων εκχυθησονται	13 The wise wins love with words, while fools may shower favours in vain.
14 δοσις αφρονος ου λυσιτελησει σοι οι γαρ οφθαλμοι αυτου ανθ' ενος πολλοι	14 The gift of the stupid wil bring you no advantage, his eyes look for seven times as much in return.
15 ολιγα δωσει και πολλα ονειδισει και ανοιξει το στομα αυτου ως κηρυξ σημερον δανιει και αυριον απαιτησει μισητος ανθρωπος ο τοιουτος	15 He gives little and reviles much, he opens his mouth like the town crier, he lends today and demandspayment tomorrow; he is a detestable fellow.
16 μωρος ερει ουχ υπαρχει μοι φιλος και ουκ εστιν χαρις τοις αγαθοις μου	16 The fool will say, 'I have no friends, I get no gratitude for my good deeds;
17 οι εσθοντες τον αρτον αυτου φαυλοι γλωσση ποσακις και οσοι καταγελασονται αυτου	17 those who eat my bread have malicious tongues.' How often he wil be laughed at, and by how many!
18 ολισθημα απο εδαφους μαλλον η απο γλωσσης ουτως πτωσις κακων κατα σπουδην ηξει	18 Better a slip on the pavement than a slip of the tongue; this is how ruin takes the wicked by surprise.
19 ανθρωπος αχαρις μυθος ακαιρος εν στοματι απαιδευτων ενδελεχισθησεται	19 A coarse-grained person is like an indiscreet story endlessly retold by the ignorant.
20 απο στοματος μωρου αποδοκιμασθησεται παραβολη ου γαρ μη ειπη αυτην εν καιρω αυτης	20 A maxim is rejected when coming from a fool, since the fool does not utter it on the apt occasion.
21 εστιν κωλυομενος αμαρτανειν απο ενδειας και εν τη αναπαυσει αυτου ου κατανυγησεται	21 There is a person who is prevented from sinning by poverty; no qualms of conscience disturb thatperson's rest.
22 εστιν απολλυων την ψυχην αυτου δι' αισχυνην και απο αφρονος προσωπου απολει αυτην	22 There is a person who courts destruction out of false shame, courts destruction for the sake of a fool'sopinion.
23 εστιν χαριν αισχυνης επαγγελλομενος φιλω και εκτησατο αυτον εχθρον δωρεαν	23 There is a person who out of false shame makes promises to a friend, and so makes an enemy fornothing.
24 μωμος πονηρος εν ανθρωπω ψευδος εν στοματι απαιδευτων ενδελεχισθησεται	24 Lying is an ugly blot on anyone, and ever on the lips of the undisciplined.
25 αιρετον κλεπτης η ο ενδελεχιζων ψευδει αμφοτεροι δε απωλειαν κληρονομησουσιν	25 A thief is preferable to an inveterate liar, but both are heading for ruin.
26 ηθος ανθρωπου ψευδους ατιμια και η αισχυνη αυτου μετ' αυτου ενδελεχως	26 Lying is an abominable habit, the liar's disgrace lasts for ever.
27 ο σοφος εν λογοις προαξει εαυτον και ανθρωπος φρονιμος αρεσει μεγιστασιν	27 The wise gains advancement by words, the shrewd wins favour from the great.
28 ο εργαζομενος γην ανυψωσει θιμωνιαν αυτου και ο αρεσκων μεγιστασιν εξιλασεται αδικιαν	28 Whoever til s the soil wil have a full harvest, whoever wins favour from the great wil secure pardon foroffences.
29 ξενια και δωρα αποτυφλοι οφθαλμους σοφων και ως φιμος εν στοματι αποτρεπει ελεγμους	29 Presents and gifts blind the eyes of the wise and stifle rebukes like a muzzle on the mouth.
30 σοφια κεκρυμμενη και θησαυρος αφανης τις ωφελεια εν αμφοτεροις	30 Wisdom concealed, and treasure undiscovered, what use is either of these?
31 κρεισσων ανθρωπος αποκρυπτων την μωριαν αυτου η ανθρωπος αποκρυπτων την σοφιαν αυτου	31 Better one who conceals his fol y than one who conceals his wisdom.