ΣΟΦΙΑ ΣΕΙΡΑΧ - Siracide - Sirach 40

GREEK BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 ασχολια μεγαλη εκτισται παντι ανθρωπω και ζυγος βαρυς επι υιους αδαμ αφ' ημερας εξοδου εκ γαστρος μητρος αυτων εως ημερας επιστροφης εις μητερα παντων	1 A great occupation was created for all men, and a heavy yoke is upon the sons of Adam, from the day of their departure from their mother’s womb, even until the day of their burial into the mother of all:
2 τους διαλογισμους αυτων και φοβον καρδιας επινοια προσδοκιας ημερα τελευτης	2 their thoughts, and the fears of their heart, their imagined expectations, and the day of their end,
3 απο καθημενου επι θρονου ενδοξου και εως τεταπεινωμενου εν γη και σποδω	3 from him who sits upon a glorious throne, even to him who is humbled in earth and ashes,
4 απο φορουντος υακινθινον και στεφανον και εως περιβαλλομενου ωμολινον θυμος και ζηλος και ταραχη και σαλος και φοβος θανατου και μηνιαμα και ερις	4 from him who wears hyacinth and bears a crown, even to him who is covered with rough linen: wrath, envy, tumult, restlessness, and the fear of death, continual anger and contention.
5 και εν καιρω αναπαυσεως επι κοιτης υπνος νυκτος αλλοιοι γνωσιν αυτου	5 And in the time of rest upon his bed, the sleep of the night changes his knowledge.
6 ολιγον ως ουδεν εν αναπαυσει και απ' εκεινου εν υπνοις ως εν ημερα σκοπιας τεθορυβημενος εν ορασει καρδιας αυτου ως εκπεφευγως απο προσωπου πολεμου	6 There is little or no rest, and sleep is taken from him, as if on a day of keeping watch.
7 εν καιρω χρειας αυτου εξηγερθη και αποθαυμαζων εις ουδενα φοβον	7 He is disturbed by a vision of his heart, as if he had escaped in a day of warfare. In the time of his salvation, he rose up and wondered that there was no fear.
8 μετα πασης σαρκος απο ανθρωπου εως κτηνους και επι αμαρτωλων επταπλασια προς ταυτα	8 This is so with all flesh, from man even to cattle, but upon sinners it is seven times as great.
9 θανατος και αιμα και ερις και ρομφαια επαγωγαι λιμος και συντριμμα και μαστιξ	9 Add to this: death, bloodshed, contention, and the spear, oppression, famine, and affliction, and scourges.
10 επι τους ανομους εκτισθη ταυτα παντα και δι' αυτους εγενετο ο κατακλυσμος	10 All these things have been created because of iniquity, and it is due to iniquity that the great flood was made.
11 παντα οσα απο γης εις γην αναστρεφει και απο υδατων εις θαλασσαν ανακαμπτει	11 All things that are of the earth shall return to the earth, and all waters shall return to the sea.
12 παν δωρον και αδικια εξαλειφθησεται και πιστις εις τον αιωνα στησεται	12 All bribery and iniquity will be wiped away, but faith shall stand forever.
13 χρηματα αδικων ως ποταμος ξηρανθησεται και ως βροντη μεγαλη εν υετω εξηχησει	13 The substance of the unjust will dry up like a river, and will pass away with a noise like loud thunder in a rainstorm.
14 εν τω ανοιξαι αυτον χειρας ευφρανθησεται ουτως οι παραβαινοντες εις συντελειαν εκλειψουσιν	14 When he opens his hands, he will rejoice. So will transgressors pass away at the consummation.
15 εκγονα ασεβων ου πληθυνει κλαδους και ριζαι ακαθαρτοι επ' ακροτομου πετρας	15 The descendents of the impious will not produce many branches, for they may be compared to dirty roots at the edge of a rock.
16 αχι επι παντος υδατος και χειλους ποταμου προ παντος χορτου εκτιλησεται	16 The weeds, which grow above every water and beside the banks of the river, will be uprooted before all the grass.
17 χαρις ως παραδεισος εν ευλογιαις και ελεημοσυνη εις τον αιωνα διαμενει	17 Grace is like a paradise of blessings, and mercy continues for eternity.
18 ζωη αυταρκους και εργατου γλυκανθησεται και υπερ αμφοτερα ο ευρισκων θησαυρον	18 The life of a worker, when content with what is sufficient, will become sweet, and in it you will find a treasure.
19 τεκνα και οικοδομη πολεως στηριζουσιν ονομα και υπερ αμφοτερα γυνη αμωμος λογιζεται	19 Sons, and the building of a city, will establish a name, but an immaculate wife will be ranked above these things.
20 οινος και μουσικα ευφραινουσιν καρδιαν και υπερ αμφοτερα αγαπησις σοφιας	20 Wine and music rejoice the heart, but the love of wisdom is above them both.
21 αυλος και ψαλτηριον ηδυνουσιν μελη και υπερ αμφοτερα γλωσσα ηδεια	21 The flute and the psaltery make a sweet melody, but a pleasant word is above them both.
22 χαριν και καλλος επιθυμησει οφθαλμος και υπερ αμφοτερα χλοην σπορου	22 Your eye desires elegance and beauty, but verdant fields are above these things.
23 φιλος και εταιρος εις καιρον απαντωντες και υπερ αμφοτερα γυνη μετα ανδρος	23 A friend and a companion meet one another in time, but above them both is a wife with her husband.
24 αδελφοι και βοηθεια εις καιρον θλιψεως και υπερ αμφοτερα ελεημοσυνη ρυσεται	24 Brothers are a help in time of tribulation, but mercy will liberate, more so than they will.
25 χρυσιον και αργυριον επιστησουσιν ποδα και υπερ αμφοτερα βουλη ευδοκιμειται	25 Gold and silver provide a firm position for the feet, but well-spoken counsel is above them both.
26 χρηματα και ισχυς ανυψωσουσιν καρδιαν και υπερ αμφοτερα φοβος κυριου ουκ εστιν εν φοβω κυριου ελαττωσις και ουκ εστιν επιζητησαι εν αυτω βοηθειαν	26 Ability and strength lift up the heart, but the fear of the Lord is above these things.
27 φοβος κυριου ως παραδεισος ευλογιας και υπερ πασαν δοξαν εκαλυψεν αυτον	27 There is no loss in the fear of the Lord, and it has no need to ask for assistance.
28 τεκνον ζωην επαιτησεως μη βιωσης κρεισσον αποθανειν η επαιτειν	28 The fear of the Lord is like a paradise of blessings, and they have covered it above all glory.
29 ανηρ βλεπων εις τραπεζαν αλλοτριαν ουκ εστιν αυτου ο βιος εν λογισμω ζωης αλισγησει ψυχην αυτου εν εδεσμασιν αλλοτριοις ανηρ δε επιστημων και πεπαιδευμενος φυλαξεται	29 Son, in your lifetime you should not be indigent, for it is better to die than to be destitute.
30 εν στοματι αναιδους γλυκανθησεται επαιτησις και εν κοιλια αυτου πυρ καησεται	30 The life of him who looks to another man’s table should not be thought of as a way of life. For he feeds his life with another man’s food.
	31 But a disciplined and well-taught man will take care of himself.
	32 Scarcity will seem sweet to the mouth of the imprudent, but a fire will burn in his belly.