ΣΟΦΙΑ ΣΕΙΡΑΧ - Siracide - Sirach 34

LXX	NEW JERUSALEM
1 κεναι ελπιδες και ψευδεις ασυνετω ανδρι και ενυπνια αναπτερουσιν αφρονας	1 Vain and deceptive hopes are for the foolish, and dreams lend wings to fools.
2 ως δρασσομενος σκιας και διωκων ανεμον ουτως ο επεχων ενυπνιοις	2 As wel clutch at shadows and chase the wind as put any faith in dreams.
3 τουτο κατα τουτου ορασις ενυπνιων κατεναντι προσωπου ομοιωμα προσωπου	3 Dreams are no different from mirrors; confronting a face, the reflection of that face.
4 απο ακαθαρτου τι καθαρισθησεται και απο ψευδους τι αληθευσει	4 What can be cleansed by uncleanness, what can be verified by falsehood?
5 μαντειαι και οιωνισμοι και ενυπνια ματαια εστιν και ως ωδινουσης φανταζεται καρδια	5 Divinations, auguries and dreams are nonsense, like the fantasies of a pregnant woman.
6 εαν μη παρα υψιστου αποσταλη εν επισκοπη μη δως εις αυτα την καρδιαν σου	6 Unless sent as emissaries from the Most High, do not give them a thought;
7 πολλους γαρ επλανησεν τα ενυπνια και εξεπεσον ελπιζοντες επ' αυτοις	7 for dreams have led many astray, and those who relied on them have come to grief.
8 ανευ ψευδους συντελεσθησεται νομος και σοφια στοματι πιστω τελειωσις	8 Fulfil ing the Law requires no such falsehood, and wisdom is perfected in veracity.
9 ανηρ πεπλανημενος εγνω πολλα και ο πολυπειρος εκδιηγησεται συνεσιν	9 A much travel ed man knows many things, and a man of great experience wil talk sound sense.
10 ος ουκ επειραθη ολιγα οιδεν ο δε πεπλανημενος πληθυνει πανουργιαν	10 Someone who has never had his trials knows little; but the travel ed man is master of every situation.
11 πολλα εωρακα εν τη αποπλανησει μου και πλειονα των λογων μου συνεσις μου	11 I have seen many things on my travels, I have understood more than I can put into words.
12 πλεονακις εως θανατου εκινδυνευσα και διεσωθην τουτων χαριν	12 I have often been in danger of death, but I have been spared, and this is why:
13 πνευμα φοβουμενων κυριον ζησεται η γαρ ελπις αυτων επι τον σωζοντα αυτους	13 the spirit of those who fear the Lord can survive, for their hope is in someone with power to save them.
14 ο φοβουμενος κυριον ουδεν ευλαβηθησεται και ου μη δειλιαση οτι αυτος ελπις αυτου	14 No one who fears the Lord need ever hesitate, or ever be daunted, since the Lord is his hope.
15 φοβουμενου τον κυριον μακαρια η ψυχη τινι επεχει και τις αυτου στηριγμα	15 Happy the soul of one who fears the Lord. On whom does he rely? Who supports him?
16 οι οφθαλμοι κυριου επι τους αγαπωντας αυτον υπερασπισμος δυναστειας και στηριγμα ισχυος σκεπη απο καυσωνος και σκεπη απο μεσημβριας φυλακη απο προσκομματος και βοηθεια απο πτωσεως	16 The eyes of the Lord watch over those who love him, he is their powerful protection and their strongsupport, their screen from the desert wind, their shelter from the midday sun, a guard against stumbling, anassurance against a fal .
17 ανυψων ψυχην και φωτιζων οφθαλμους ιασιν διδους ζωην και ευλογιαν	17 He revives the spirit and brightens the eyes, he gives health, life and blessing.
18 θυσιαζων εξ αδικου προσφορα μεμωμημενη και ουκ εις ευδοκιαν δωρηματα ανομων	18 The sacrifice of an offering unjustly acquired is a mockery; the gifts of the impious are unacceptable.
19 ουκ ευδοκει ο υψιστος εν προσφοραις ασεβων ουδε εν πληθει θυσιων εξιλασκεται αμαρτιας	19 The Most High takes no pleasure in offerings from the godless, multiplying sacrifices wil not gainpardon for sin.
20 θυων υιον εναντι του πατρος αυτου ο προσαγων θυσιαν εκ χρηματων πενητων	20 Offering sacrifice from the property of the poor is as bad as slaughtering a son before his father'seyes.
21 αρτος επιδεομενων ζωη πτωχων ο αποστερων αυτην ανθρωπος αιματων	21 A meagre diet is the very life of the poor, to deprive them of it is to commit murder.
22 φονευων τον πλησιον ο αφαιρουμενος εμβιωσιν και εκχεων αιμα ο αποστερων μισθον μισθιου	22 To take away a fel ow-man's livelihood is to kil him, to deprive an employee of his wages is to shedblood.
23 εις οικοδομων και εις καθαιρων τι ωφελησαν πλειον η κοπους	23 If one person builds while another pul s down, what wil they get out of it but trouble?
24 εις ευχομενος και εις καταρωμενος τινος φωνης εισακουσεται ο δεσποτης	24 If one person prays and another cal s down a curse, to which one's voice is the Master going to listen?
25 βαπτιζομενος απο νεκρου και παλιν απτομενος αυτου τι ωφελησεν εν τω λουτρω αυτου	25 If someone washes after touching a corpse, and then touches it again, what is the good of hiswashing?
26 ουτως ανθρωπος νηστευων επι των αμαρτιων αυτου και παλιν πορευομενος και τα αυτα ποιων της προσευχης αυτου τις εισακουσεται και τι ωφελησεν εν τω ταπεινωθηναι αυτον	26 Just so with someone who fasts for sin, and then goes and commits it again. Who is going to hear thatperson's prayer? What is the good of the self-abasement?