| 1 ο ζων εις τον αιωνα εκτισεν τα παντα κοινη | 1 He who lives for ever created the whole universe; |
| 2 κυριος μονος δικαιωθησεται | 2 the Lord alone will be declared righteous. |
| 3 - | 3 . |
| 4 ουθενι εξεποιησεν εξαγγειλαι τα εργα αυτου και τις εξιχνευσει τα μεγαλεια αυτου | 4 To none has he given power to proclaim his works; and who can search out his mighty deeds? |
| 5 κρατος μεγαλωσυνης αυτου τις εξαριθμησεται και τις προσθησει εκδιηγησασθαι τα ελεη αυτου | 5 Who can measure his majestic power? And who can fully recount his mercies? |
| 6 ουκ εστιν ελαττωσαι ουδε προσθειναι και ουκ εστιν εξιχνιασαι τα θαυμασια του κυριου | 6 It is not possible to diminish or increase them, nor is it possible to trace the wonders of the Lord. |
| 7 οταν συντελεση ανθρωπος τοτε αρχεται και οταν παυσηται τοτε απορηθησεται | 7 When a man has finished, he is just beginning, and when he stops, he will be at a loss. |
| 8 τι ανθρωπος και τι η χρησις αυτου τι το αγαθον αυτου και τι το κακον αυτου | 8 What is man, and of what use is he? What is his good and what is his evil? |
| 9 αριθμος ημερων ανθρωπου πολλα ετη εκατον | 9 The number of a man's days is great if he reaches a hundred years. |
| 10 ως σταγων υδατος απο θαλασσης και ψηφος αμμου ουτως ολιγα ετη εν ημερα αιωνος | 10 Like a drop of water from the sea and a grain of sand so are a few years in the day of eternity. |
| 11 δια τουτο εμακροθυμησεν κυριος επ' αυτοις και εξεχεεν επ' αυτους το ελεος αυτου | 11 Therefore the Lord is patient with them and pours out his mercy upon them. |
| 12 ειδεν και επεγνω την καταστροφην αυτων οτι πονηρα δια τουτο επληθυνεν τον εξιλασμον αυτου | 12 He sees and recognizes that their end will be evil; therefore he grants them forgiveness in abundance. |
| 13 ελεος ανθρωπου επι τον πλησιον αυτου ελεος δε κυριου επι πασαν σαρκα ελεγχων και παιδευων και διδασκων και επιστρεφων ως ποιμην το ποιμνιον αυτου | 13 The compassion of man is for his neighbor, but the compassion of the Lord is for all living beings. He rebukes and trains and teaches them, and turns them back, as a shepherd his flock. |
| 14 τους εκδεχομενους παιδειαν ελεα και τους κατασπευδοντας επι τα κριματα αυτου | 14 He has compassion on those who accept his discipline and who are eager for his judgments. |
| 15 τεκνον εν αγαθοις μη δως μωμον και εν παση δοσει λυπην λογων | 15 My son, do not mix reproach with your good deeds, nor cause grief by your words when you present a gift. |
| 16 ουχι καυσωνα αναπαυσει δροσος ουτως κρεισσων λογος η δοσις | 16 Does not the dew assuage the scorching heat? So a word is better than a gift. |
| 17 ουκ ιδου λογος υπερ δομα αγαθον και αμφοτερα παρα ανδρι κεχαριτωμενω | 17 Indeed, does not a word surpass a good gift? Both are to be found in a gracious man. |
| 18 μωρος αχαριστως ονειδιει και δοσις βασκανου εκτηκει οφθαλμους | 18 A fool is ungracious and abusive, and the gift of a grudging man makes the eyes dim. |
| 19 πριν η λαλησαι μανθανε και προ αρρωστιας θεραπευου | 19 Before you speak, learn, and before you fall ill, take care of your health. |
| 20 προ κρισεως εξεταζε σεαυτον και εν ωρα επισκοπης ευρησεις εξιλασμον | 20 Before judgment, examine yourself, and in the hour of visitation you will find forgiveness. |
| 21 πριν αρρωστησαι σε ταπεινωθητι και εν καιρω αμαρτηματων δειξον επιστροφην | 21 Before falling ill, humble yourself, and when you are on the point of sinning, turn back. |
| 22 μη εμποδισθης του αποδουναι ευχην ευκαιρως και μη μεινης εως θανατου δικαιωθηναι | 22 Let nothing hinder you from paying a vow promptly, and do not wait until death to be released from it. |
| 23 πριν ευξασθαι ετοιμασον σεαυτον και μη γινου ως ανθρωπος πειραζων τον κυριον | 23 Before making a vow, prepare yourself; and do not be like a man who tempts the Lord. |
| 24 μνησθητι θυμου εν ημεραις τελευτης και καιρον εκδικησεως εν αποστροφη προσωπου | 24 Think of his wrath on the day of death, and of the moment of vengeance when he turns away his face. |
| 25 μνησθητι καιρον λιμου εν καιρω πλησμονης πτωχειαν και ενδειαν εν ημεραις πλουτου | 25 In the time of plenty think of the time of hunger; in the days of wealth think of poverty and need. |
| 26 απο πρωιθεν εως εσπερας μεταβαλλει καιρος και παντα εστιν ταχινα εναντι κυριου | 26 From morning to evening conditions change, and all things move swiftly before the Lord. |
| 27 ανθρωπος σοφος εν παντι ευλαβηθησεται και εν ημεραις αμαρτιων προσεξει απο πλημμελειας | 27 A wise man is cautious in everything, and in days of sin he guards against wrongdoing. |
| 28 πας συνετος εγνω σοφιαν και τω ευροντι αυτην δωσει εξομολογησιν | 28 Every intelligent man knows wisdom, and he praises the one who finds her. |
| 29 συνετοι εν λογοις και αυτοι εσοφισαντο και ανωμβρησαν παροιμιας ακριβεις | 29 Those who understand sayings become skilled themselves, and pour forth apt proverbs. |
| 30 οπισω των επιθυμιων σου μη πορευου και απο των ορεξεων σου κωλυου | 30 Do not follow your base desires, but restrain your appetites. |
| 31 εαν χορηγησης τη ψυχη σου ευδοκιαν επιθυμιας ποιησει σε επιχαρμα των εχθρων σου | 31 If you allow your soul to take pleasure in base desire, it will make you the laughingstock of your enemies. |
| 32 μη ευφραινου επι πολλη τρυφη μη προσδεθης συμβολη αυτης | 32 Do not revel in great luxury, lest you become impoverished by its expense. |
| 33 μη γινου πτωχος συμβολοκοπων εκ δανεισμου και ουδεν σοι εστιν εν μαρσιππιω | 33 Do not become a beggar by feasting with borrowed money, when you have nothing in your purse. |
