1 μη διαμαχου μετα ανθρωπου δυναστου μηποτε εμπεσης εις τας χειρας αυτου | 1 Contend not with an influential man, lest you fall into his power. |
2 μη εριζε μετα ανθρωπου πλουσιου μηποτε αντιστηση σου την ολκην πολλους γαρ απωλεσεν το χρυσιον και καρδιας βασιλεων εξεκλινεν | 2 Quarrel not with a rich man, lest he pay out the price of your downfall; For gold has dazzled many, and perverts the character of princes. |
3 μη διαμαχου μετα ανθρωπου γλωσσωδους και μη επιστοιβασης επι το πυρ αυτου ξυλα | 3 Dispute not with a man of railing speech, heap no wood upon his fire. |
4 μη προσπαιζε απαιδευτω ινα μη ατιμαζωνται οι προγονοι σου | 4 Be not too familiar with an unruly man, lest he speak ill of your forebears. |
5 μη ονειδιζε ανθρωπον αποστρεφοντα απο αμαρτιας μνησθητι οτι παντες εσμεν εν επιτιμοις | 5 Shame not a repentant sinner; remember, we all are guilty. |
6 μη ατιμασης ανθρωπον εν γηρα αυτου και γαρ εξ ημων γηρασκουσιν | 6 Insult no man when he is old, for some of us, too, will grow old. |
7 μη επιχαιρε επι νεκρω μνησθητι οτι παντες τελευτωμεν | 7 Rejoice not when a man dies; remember, we are all to die. |
8 μη παριδης διηγημα σοφων και εν ταις παροιμιαις αυτων αναστρεφου οτι παρ' αυτων μαθηση παιδειαν και λειτουργησαι μεγιστασιν | 8 Spurn not the discourse of the wise, but acquaint yourself with their proverbs; From them you will acquire the training to serve in the presence of princes. |
9 μη αστοχει διηγηματος γεροντων και γαρ αυτοι εμαθον παρα των πατερων αυτων οτι παρ' αυτων μαθηση συνεσιν και εν καιρω χρειας δουναι αποκρισιν | 9 Reject not the tradition of old men which they have learned from their fathers; From it you will obtain the knowledge how to answer in time of need. |
10 μη εκκαιε ανθρακας αμαρτωλου μη εμπυρισθης εν πυρι φλογος αυτου | 10 Kindle not the coals of a sinner, lest you be consumed in his flaming fire. |
11 μη εξαναστης απο προσωπου υβριστου ινα μη εγκαθιση ως ενεδρον τω στοματι σου | 11 Let not the impious man intimidate you; it will set him in ambush against you. |
12 μη δανεισης ανθρωπω ισχυροτερω σου και εαν δανεισης ως απολωλεκως γινου | 12 Lend not to one more powerful than yourself; and whatever you lend, count it as lost. |
13 μη εγγυηση υπερ δυναμιν σου και εαν εγγυηση ως αποτεισων φροντιζε | 13 Go not surety beyond your means; think any pledge a debt you must pay. |
14 μη δικαζου μετα κριτου κατα γαρ την δοξαν αυτου κρινουσιν αυτω | 14 Contend not at law with a judge, for he will settle it according to his whim. |
15 μετα τολμηρου μη πορευου εν οδω ινα μη βαρυνηται κατα σου αυτος γαρ κατα το θελημα αυτου ποιησει και τη αφροσυνη αυτου συναπολη | 15 Travel not with a ruthless man, lest he weigh you down with calamity; For he will go his own way straight, and through his folly you will perish with him. |
16 μετα θυμωδους μη ποιησης μαχην και μη διαπορευου μετ' αυτου την ερημον οτι ως ουδεν εν οφθαλμοις αυτου αιμα και οπου ουκ εστιν βοηθεια καταβαλει σε | 16 Provoke no quarrel with a quick-tempered man, nor ride with him through the desert, For bloodshed is nothing to him; when there is no one to help you, he will destroy you. |
17 μετα μωρου μη συμβουλευου ου γαρ δυνησεται λογον στεξαι | 17 Take no counsel with a fool, for he can keep nothing to himself. |
18 ενωπιον αλλοτριου μη ποιησης κρυπτον ου γαρ γινωσκεις τι τεξεται | 18 Before a stranger do nothing that should be kept secret, for you know not what it will engender. |
19 παντι ανθρωπω μη εκφαινε σην καρδιαν και μη αναφερετω σοι χαριν | 19 Open your heart to no man, and banish not your happiness. |