ΣΟΦΙΑ ΣΕΙΡΑΧ - Siracide - Sirach 18

GREEK BIBLE	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 ο ζων εις τον αιωνα εκτισεν τα παντα κοινη	1 The Eternal is the judge of all things without exception; the LORD alone is just.
2 κυριος μονος δικαιωθησεται	2 Whom has he made equal to describing his works, and who can probe his mighty deeds?
3 -	3 Who can measure his majestic power, or exhaust the tale of his mercies?
4 ουθενι εξεποιησεν εξαγγειλαι τα εργα αυτου και τις εξιχνευσει τα μεγαλεια αυτου	4 One cannot lessen, nor increase, nor penetrate the wonders of the LORD.
5 κρατος μεγαλωσυνης αυτου τις εξαριθμησεται και τις προσθησει εκδιηγησασθαι τα ελεη αυτου	5 When a man ends he is only beginning, and when he stops he is still bewildered.
6 ουκ εστιν ελαττωσαι ουδε προσθειναι και ουκ εστιν εξιχνιασαι τα θαυμασια του κυριου	6 What is man, of what worth is he? the good, the evil in him, what are these?
7 οταν συντελεση ανθρωπος τοτε αρχεται και οταν παυσηται τοτε απορηθησεται	7 The sum of a man's days is great if it reaches a hundred years:
8 τι ανθρωπος και τι η χρησις αυτου τι το αγαθον αυτου και τι το κακον αυτου	8 Like a drop of sea water, like a grain of sand, so are these few years among the days of eternity.
9 αριθμος ημερων ανθρωπου πολλα ετη εκατον	9 That is why the LORD is patient with men and showers upon them his mercy.
10 ως σταγων υδατος απο θαλασσης και ψηφος αμμου ουτως ολιγα ετη εν ημερα αιωνος	10 He sees and understands that their death is grievous, and so he forgives them all the more.
11 δια τουτο εμακροθυμησεν κυριος επ' αυτοις και εξεχεεν επ' αυτους το ελεος αυτου	11 Man may be merciful to his fellow man, but the LORD'S mercy reaches all flesh,
12 ειδεν και επεγνω την καταστροφην αυτων οτι πονηρα δια τουτο επληθυνεν τον εξιλασμον αυτου	12 Reproving, admonishing, teaching, as a shepherd guides his flock;
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 Merciful to those who accept his guidance, who are diligent in his precepts.
14 τους εκδεχομενους παιδειαν ελεα και τους κατασπευδοντας επι τα κριματα αυτου	14 My son, to your charity add no reproach, nor spoil any gift by harsh words.
15 τεκνον εν αγαθοις μη δως μωμον και εν παση δοσει λυπην λογων	15 Like dew that abates a burning wind, so does a word improve a gift.
16 ουχι καυσωνα αναπαυσει δροσος ουτως κρεισσων λογος η δοσις	16 Sometimes the word means more than the gift; both are offered by a kindly man.
17 ουκ ιδου λογος υπερ δομα αγαθον και αμφοτερα παρα ανδρι κεχαριτωμενω	17 Only a fool upbraids before giving; a grudging gift wears out the expectant eyes.
18 μωρος αχαριστως ονειδιει και δοσις βασκανου εκτηκει οφθαλμους	18 Be informed before speaking; before sickness prepare the cure.
19 πριν η λαλησαι μανθανε και προ αρρωστιας θεραπευου	19 Before you are judged, seek merit for yourself, and at the time of visitation you will have a ransom.
20 προ κρισεως εξεταζε σεαυτον και εν ωρα επισκοπης ευρησεις εξιλασμον	20 Before you have fallen, humble yourself; when you have sinned, show repentance.
21 πριν αρρωστησαι σε ταπεινωθητι και εν καιρω αμαρτηματων δειξον επιστροφην	21 Delay not to forsake sins, neglect it not till you are in distress.
22 μη εμποδισθης του αποδουναι ευχην ευκαιρως και μη μεινης εως θανατου δικαιωθηναι	22 Let nothing prevent the prompt payment of your vows; wait not to fulfill them when you are dying.
23 πριν ευξασθαι ετοιμασον σεαυτον και μη γινου ως ανθρωπος πειραζων τον κυριον	23 Before making a vow have the means to fulfill it; be not one who tries the LORD.
24 μνησθητι θυμου εν ημεραις τελευτης και καιρον εκδικησεως εν αποστροφη προσωπου	24 Think of wrath and the day of death, the time of vengeance when he will hide his face.
25 μνησθητι καιρον λιμου εν καιρω πλησμονης πτωχειαν και ενδειαν εν ημεραις πλουτου	25 Remember the time of hunger in the time of plenty, poverty and want in the day of wealth.
26 απο πρωιθεν εως εσπερας μεταβαλλει καιρος και παντα εστιν ταχινα εναντι κυριου	26 Between morning and evening the weather changes; before the LORD all things are fleeting.
27 ανθρωπος σοφος εν παντι ευλαβηθησεται και εν ημεραις αμαρτιων προσεξει απο πλημμελειας	27 A wise man is circumspect in all things; when sin is rife he keeps himself from wrongdoing.
28 πας συνετος εγνω σοφιαν και τω ευροντι αυτην δωσει εξομολογησιν	28 Any learned man should make wisdom known, and he who attains to her should declare her praise;
29 συνετοι εν λογοις και αυτοι εσοφισαντο και ανωμβρησαν παροιμιας ακριβεις	29 Those trained in her words must show their wisdom, dispensing sound proverbs like life-giving waters.
30 οπισω των επιθυμιων σου μη πορευου και απο των ορεξεων σου κωλυου	30 Go not after your lusts, but keep your desires in check.
31 εαν χορηγησης τη ψυχη σου ευδοκιαν επιθυμιας ποιησει σε επιχαρμα των εχθρων σου	31 If you satisfy your lustful appetites they will make you the sport of your enemies.
32 μη ευφραινου επι πολλη τρυφη μη προσδεθης συμβολη αυτης	32 Have no joy in the pleasures of a moment which bring on poverty redoubled;
33 μη γινου πτωχος συμβολοκοπων εκ δανεισμου και ουδεν σοι εστιν εν μαρσιππιω	33 Become not a glutton and a winebibber with nothing in your purse.