ΣΟΦΙΑ ΣΕΙΡΑΧ - Siracide - Sirach 6

GREEK BIBLE	NEW JERUSALEM
1 -	1 for a bad name will earn you shame and reproach, as happens to the double-talking sinner.
2 μη επαρης σεαυτον εν βουλη ψυχης σου ινα μη διαρπαγη ως ταυρος η ψυχη σου	2 Do not get carried aloft on the wings of passion, for fear your strength tear itself apart like a bul ,
3 τα φυλλα σου καταφαγεσαι και τους καρπους σου απολεσεις και αφησεις σεαυτον ως ξυλον ξηρον	3 and you devour your own foliage and destroy your own fruit and end by making yourself like a piece of dried-up wood.
4 ψυχη πονηρα απολει τον κτησαμενον αυτην και επιχαρμα εχθρων ποιησει αυτον	4 An evil temper destroys the person who has it and makes him the laughing-stock of his enemies.
5 λαρυγξ γλυκυς πληθυνει φιλους αυτου και γλωσσα ευλαλος πληθυνει ευπροσηγορα	5 A kindly turn of speech attracts new friends, a courteous tongue invites many a friendly response.
6 οι ειρηνευοντες σοι εστωσαν πολλοι οι δε συμβουλοι σου εις απο χιλιων	6 Let your acquaintances be many, but for advisers choose one out of a thousand.
7 ει κτασαι φιλον εν πειρασμω κτησαι αυτον και μη ταχυ εμπιστευσης αυτω	7 If you want to make a friend, take him on trial, and do not be in a hurry to trust him;
8 εστιν γαρ φιλος εν καιρω αυτου και ου μη παραμεινη εν ημερα θλιψεως σου	8 for one kind of friend is so only when it suits him but wil not stand by you in your day of trouble.
9 και εστιν φιλος μετατιθεμενος εις εχθραν και μαχην ονειδισμου σου αποκαλυψει	9 Another kind of friend wil fal out with you and to your dismay make your quarrel public,
10 και εστιν φιλος κοινωνος τραπεζων και ου μη παραμεινη εν ημερα θλιψεως σου	10 and a third kind of friend wil share your table, but not stand by you in your day of trouble:
11 και εν τοις αγαθοις σου εσται ως συ και επι τους οικετας σου παρρησιασεται	11 when you are doing well he wil be your second self, ordering your servants about;
12 εαν ταπεινωθης εσται κατα σου και απο του προσωπου σου κρυβησεται	12 but, if disaster befal s you, he wil recoil from you and keep out of your way.
13 απο των εχθρων σου διαχωρισθητι και απο των φιλων σου προσεχε	13 Keep well clear of your enemies, and be wary of your friends.
14 φιλος πιστος σκεπη κραταια ο δε ευρων αυτον ευρεν θησαυρον	14 A loyal friend is a powerful defence: whoever finds one has indeed found a treasure.
15 φιλου πιστου ουκ εστιν ανταλλαγμα και ουκ εστιν σταθμος της καλλονης αυτου	15 A loyal friend is something beyond price, there is no measuring his worth.
16 φιλος πιστος φαρμακον ζωης και οι φοβουμενοι κυριον ευρησουσιν αυτον	16 A loyal friend is the elixir of life, and those who fear the Lord will find one.
17 ο φοβουμενος κυριον ευθυνει φιλιαν αυτου οτι κατ' αυτον ουτως και ο πλησιον αυτου	17 Whoever fears the Lord makes true friends, for as a person is, so is his friend too.
18 τεκνον εκ νεοτητος σου επιλεξαι παιδειαν και εως πολιων ευρησεις σοφιαν	18 My child, from your earliest youth choose instruction, and til your hair is white you wil keep findingwisdom.
19 ως ο αροτριων και ο σπειρων προσελθε αυτη και αναμενε τους αγαθους καρπους αυτης εν γαρ τη εργασια αυτης ολιγον κοπιασεις και ταχυ φαγεσαι των γενηματων αυτης	19 Like ploughman and sower, cultivate her and wait for her fine harvest, for in tilling her you wil toil a littlewhile, but very soon you wil be eating her crops.
20 ως τραχεια εστιν σφοδρα τοις απαιδευτοις και ουκ εμμενει εν αυτη ακαρδιος	20 How very harsh she is to the undisciplined! The senseless does not stay with her for long:
21 ως λιθος δοκιμασιας ισχυρος εσται επ' αυτω και ου χρονιει απορριψαι αυτην	21 she wil weigh as heavily on the senseless as a touchstone and such a person will lose no time inthrowing her off;
22 σοφια γαρ κατα το ονομα αυτης εστιν και ου πολλοις εστιν φανερα	22 for Wisdom is true to her name, she is not accessible to many.
23 ακουσον τεκνον και εκδεξαι γνωμην μου και μη απαναινου την συμβουλιαν μου	23 Listen, my child, and take my advice, do not reject my counsel:
24 και εισενεγκον τους ποδας σου εις τας πεδας αυτης και εις τον κλοιον αυτης τον τραχηλον σου	24 put your feet into her fetters, and your neck into her collar;
25 υποθες τον ωμον σου και βασταξον αυτην και μη προσοχθισης τοις δεσμοις αυτης	25 offer your shoulder to her burden, do not be impatient of her bonds;
26 εν παση ψυχη σου προσελθε αυτη και εν ολη δυναμει σου συντηρησον τας οδους αυτης	26 court her with al your soul, and with al your might keep in her ways;
27 εξιχνευσον και ζητησον και γνωσθησεται σοι και εγκρατης γενομενος μη αφης αυτην	27 search for her, track her down: she wil reveal herself; once you hold her, do not let her go.
28 επ' εσχατων γαρ ευρησεις την αναπαυσιν αυτης και στραφησεται σοι εις ευφροσυνην	28 For in the end you wil find rest in her and she wil take the form of joy for you:
29 και εσονται σοι αι πεδαι εις σκεπην ισχυος και οι κλοιοι αυτης εις στολην δοξης	29 her fetters you will find a mighty defence, her col ars, a precious necklace.
30 κοσμος γαρ χρυσεος εστιν επ' αυτης και οι δεσμοι αυτης κλωσμα υακινθινον	30 Her yoke wil be a golden ornament, and her bonds be purple ribbons;
31 στολην δοξης ενδυση αυτην και στεφανον αγαλλιαματος περιθησεις σεαυτω	31 you wil wear her like a robe of honour, you wil put her on like a crown of joy.
32 εαν θελης τεκνον παιδευθηση και εαν επιδως την ψυχην σου πανουργος εση	32 If you wish it, my child, you can be taught; apply yourself, and you will become intel igent.
33 εαν αγαπησης ακουειν εκδεξη και εαν κλινης το ους σου σοφος εση	33 If you love listening, you will learn, if you pay attention, you will become wise.
34 εν πληθει πρεσβυτερων στηθι και τις σοφος αυτω προσκολληθητι	34 Attend the gathering of elders; if there is a wise man there, attach yourself to him.
35 πασαν διηγησιν θειαν θελε ακροασθαι και παροιμιαι συνεσεως μη εκφευγετωσαν σε	35 Listen willingly to any discourse coming from God, do not let wise proverbs escape you.
36 εαν ιδης συνετον ορθριζε προς αυτον και βαθμους θυρων αυτου εκτριβετω ο πους σου	36 If you see a man of understanding, visit him early, let your feet wear out his doorstep.
37 διανοου εν τοις προσταγμασιν κυριου και εν ταις εντολαις αυτου μελετα δια παντος αυτος στηριει την καρδιαν σου και η επιθυμια της σοφιας δοθησεται σοι	37 Reflect on the injunctions of the Lord, busy yourself at al times with his commandments. He wilstrengthen your mind, and the wisdom you desire will be granted you.