ΣΟΦΙΑ ΣΕΙΡΑΧ - Siracide - Sirach 18

GREEK BIBLE	NEW JERUSALEM
1 ο ζων εις τον αιωνα εκτισεν τα παντα κοινη	1 He who lives for ever has created the sum of things.
2 κυριος μονος δικαιωθησεται	2 The Lord alone wil be found just.
3 -	3
4 ουθενι εξεποιησεν εξαγγειλαι τα εργα αυτου και τις εξιχνευσει τα μεγαλεια αυτου	4 He has given no one the power to proclaim his works to the end, and who can fathom his magnificentdeeds?
5 κρατος μεγαλωσυνης αυτου τις εξαριθμησεται και τις προσθησει εκδιηγησασθαι τα ελεη αυτου	5 Who can assess his magnificent strength, and who can go further and tel al of his mercies?
6 ουκ εστιν ελαττωσαι ουδε προσθειναι και ουκ εστιν εξιχνιασαι τα θαυμασια του κυριου	6 Nothing can be added to them, nothing subtracted, it is impossible to fathom the marvels of the Lord.
7 οταν συντελεση ανθρωπος τοτε αρχεται και οταν παυσηται τοτε απορηθησεται	7 When someone finishes he is only beginning, and when he stops he is as puzzled as ever.
8 τι ανθρωπος και τι η χρησις αυτου τι το αγαθον αυτου και τι το κακον αυτου	8 What is a human being, what purpose does he serve? What is good and what is bad for him?
9 αριθμος ημερων ανθρωπου πολλα ετη εκατον	9 The length of his life: a hundred years at most.
10 ως σταγων υδατος απο θαλασσης και ψηφος αμμου ουτως ολιγα ετη εν ημερα αιωνος	10 Like a drop of water from the sea, or a grain of sand, such are these few years compared with eternity.
11 δια τουτο εμακροθυμησεν κυριος επ' αυτοις και εξεχεεν επ' αυτους το ελεος αυτου	11 This is why the Lord is patient with them and pours out his mercy on them.
12 ειδεν και επεγνω την καταστροφην αυτων οτι πονηρα δια τουτο επληθυνεν τον εξιλασμον αυτου	12 He sees and recognises how wretched their end is, and so he makes his forgiveness the greater.
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 Human compassion extends to neighbours, but the Lord's compassion extends to everyone; rebuking,correcting and teaching, bringing them back as a shepherd brings his flock.
14 τους εκδεχομενους παιδειαν ελεα και τους κατασπευδοντας επι τα κριματα αυτου	14 He has compassion on those who accept correction, and who fervently search for his judgements.
15 τεκνον εν αγαθοις μη δως μωμον και εν παση δοσει λυπην λογων	15 My child, do not temper your favours with blame nor any of your gifts with words that hurt.
16 ουχι καυσωνα αναπαυσει δροσος ουτως κρεισσων λογος η δοσις	16 Does not dew relieve the heat? In the same way a word is worth more than a gift.
17 ουκ ιδου λογος υπερ δομα αγαθον και αμφοτερα παρα ανδρι κεχαριτωμενω	17 Why surely, a word is better than a good present, but a generous person is ready with both.
18 μωρος αχαριστως ονειδιει και δοσις βασκανου εκτηκει οφθαλμους	18 A fool wil offer nothing but insult, and a grudging gift makes the eyes smart.
19 πριν η λαλησαι μανθανε και προ αρρωστιας θεραπευου	19 Learn before you speak, take care of yourself before you fal ill.
20 προ κρισεως εξεταζε σεαυτον και εν ωρα επισκοπης ευρησεις εξιλασμον	20 Examine yourself before judgement comes, and on the day of visitation you will be acquitted.
21 πριν αρρωστησαι σε ταπεινωθητι και εν καιρω αμαρτηματων δειξον επιστροφην	21 Humble yourself before you fall il , repent as soon as the sin is committed.
22 μη εμποδισθης του αποδουναι ευχην ευκαιρως και μη μεινης εως θανατου δικαιωθηναι	22 Let nothing prevent your discharging a vow in good time, and do not wait till death to set matters right.
23 πριν ευξασθαι ετοιμασον σεαυτον και μη γινου ως ανθρωπος πειραζων τον κυριον	23 Prepare yourself before making a vow, and do not be like someone who tempts the Lord.
24 μνησθητι θυμου εν ημεραις τελευτης και καιρον εκδικησεως εν αποστροφη προσωπου	24 Bear in mind the retribution of the last days, the time of vengeance when God averts his face.
25 μνησθητι καιρον λιμου εν καιρω πλησμονης πτωχειαν και ενδειαν εν ημεραις πλουτου	25 In a time of plenty remember times of famine, think of poverty and want when you are rich.
26 απο πρωιθεν εως εσπερας μεταβαλλει καιρος και παντα εστιν ταχινα εναντι κυριου	26 The time slips by between dawn and dusk, everything passes quickly for the Lord.
27 ανθρωπος σοφος εν παντι ευλαβηθησεται και εν ημεραις αμαρτιων προσεξει απο πλημμελειας	27 The wise wil be cautious in everything, in sinful times wil take care not to offend.
28 πας συνετος εγνω σοφιαν και τω ευροντι αυτην δωσει εξομολογησιν	28 Every person of sense recognises wisdom, and wil respect anyone who has found her.
29 συνετοι εν λογοις και αυτοι εσοφισαντο και ανωμβρησαν παροιμιας ακριβεις	29 Those who understand sayings have toiled for their wisdom and have poured out accurate maxims.
30 οπισω των επιθυμιων σου μη πορευου και απο των ορεξεων σου κωλυου	30 Do not be governed by your passions, restrain your desires.
31 εαν χορηγησης τη ψυχη σου ευδοκιαν επιθυμιας ποιησει σε επιχαρμα των εχθρων σου	31 If you al ow yourself to satisfy your desires, this wil make you the laughing-stock of your enemies.
32 μη ευφραινου επι πολλη τρυφη μη προσδεθης συμβολη αυτης	32 Do not indulge in luxurious living, do not get involved in such society.
33 μη γινου πτωχος συμβολοκοπων εκ δανεισμου και ουδεν σοι εστιν εν μαρσιππιω	33 Do not beggar yourself by banqueting on credit when there is nothing in your pocket.