ΣΟΦΙΑ ΣΕΙΡΑΧ - Siracide - Sirach 3

GREEK BIBLE	NEW JERUSALEM
1 εμου του πατρος ακουσατε τεκνα και ουτως ποιησατε ινα σωθητε	1 Children, listen to me for I am your father: do what I tel you, and so be safe;
2 ο γαρ κυριος εδοξασεν πατερα επι τεκνοις και κρισιν μητρος εστερεωσεν εφ' υιοις	2 for the Lord honours the father above his children and upholds the rights of a mother over her sons.
3 ο τιμων πατερα εξιλασκεται αμαρτιας	3 Whoever respects a father expiates sins,
4 και ως ο αποθησαυριζων ο δοξαζων μητερα αυτου	4 whoever honours a mother is like someone amassing a fortune.
5 ο τιμων πατερα ευφρανθησεται υπο τεκνων και εν ημερα προσευχης αυτου εισακουσθησεται	5 Whoever respects a father will in turn be happy with children, the day he prays for help, he will be heard.
6 ο δοξαζων πατερα μακροημερευσει και ο εισακουων κυριου αναπαυσει μητερα αυτου	6 Long life comes to anyone who honours a father, whoever obeys the Lord makes a mother happy.
7 και ως δεσποταις δουλευσει εν τοις γεννησασιν αυτον	7 Such a one serves parents as wel as the Lord.
8 εν εργω και λογω τιμα τον πατερα σου ινα επελθη σοι ευλογια παρ' αυτου	8 Respect your father in deed as wel as word, so that blessing may come on you from him;
9 ευλογια γαρ πατρος στηριζει οικους τεκνων καταρα δε μητρος εκριζοι θεμελια	9 since a father's blessing makes his children's house firm, while a mother's curse tears up its foundations.
10 μη δοξαζου εν ατιμια πατρος σου ου γαρ εστιν σοι δοξα πατρος ατιμια	10 Do not make a boast of disgrace overtaking your father, your father's disgrace reflects no honour onyou;
11 η γαρ δοξα ανθρωπου εκ τιμης πατρος αυτου και ονειδος τεκνοις μητηρ εν αδοξια	11 for a person's own honour derives from the respect shown to his father, and a mother held in dishonouris a reproach to her children.
12 τεκνον αντιλαβου εν γηρα πατρος σου και μη λυπησης αυτον εν τη ζωη αυτου	12 My child, support your father in his old age, do not grieve him during his life.
13 καν απολειπη συνεσιν συγγνωμην εχε και μη ατιμασης αυτον εν παση ισχυι σου	13 Even if his mind should fail, show him sympathy, do not despise him in your health and strength;
14 ελεημοσυνη γαρ πατρος ουκ επιλησθησεται και αντι αμαρτιων προσανοικοδομηθησεται σοι	14 for kindness to a father will not be forgotten but wil serve as reparation for your sins.
15 εν ημερα θλιψεως σου αναμνησθησεται σου ως ευδια επι παγετω ουτως αναλυθησονται σου αι αμαρτιαι	15 On your own day of ordeal God wil remember you: like frost in sunshine, your sins wil melt away.
16 ως βλασφημος ο εγκαταλιπων πατερα και κεκατηραμενος υπο κυριου ο παροργιζων μητερα αυτου	16 Whoever deserts a father is no better than a blasphemer, and whoever distresses a mother is accursedof the Lord.
17 τεκνον εν πραυτητι τα εργα σου διεξαγε και υπο ανθρωπου δεκτου αγαπηθηση	17 My child, be gentle in carrying out your business, and you will be better loved than a lavish giver.
18 οσω μεγας ει τοσουτω ταπεινου σεαυτον και εναντι κυριου ευρησεις χαριν	18 The greater you are, the more humbly you should behave, and then you wil find favour with the Lord;
19 -	19
20 οτι μεγαλη η δυναστεια του κυριου και υπο των ταπεινων δοξαζεται	20 for great though the power of the Lord is, he accepts the homage of the humble.
21 χαλεπωτερα σου μη ζητει και ισχυροτερα σου μη εξεταζε	21 Do not try to understand things that are too difficult for you, or try to discover what is beyond yourpowers.
22 α προσεταγη σοι ταυτα διανοου ου γαρ εστιν σοι χρεια των κρυπτων	22 Concentrate on what has been assigned you, you have no need to worry over mysteries.
23 εν τοις περισσοις των εργων σου μη περιεργαζου πλειονα γαρ συνεσεως ανθρωπων υπεδειχθη σοι	23 Do not meddle with matters that are beyond you; what you have been taught already exceeds thescope of the human mind.
24 πολλους γαρ επλανησεν η υπολημψις αυτων και υπονοια πονηρα ωλισθησεν διανοιας αυτων	24 For many have been misled by their own notions, wicked presumption having warped their judgement.
25 -	25
26 καρδια σκληρα κακωθησεται επ' εσχατων και ο αγαπων κινδυνον εν αυτω απολειται	26 A stubborn heart wil come to a bad end, and whoever dal ies with danger wil perish in it.
27 καρδια σκληρα βαρυνθησεται πονοις και ο αμαρτωλος προσθησει αμαρτιαν εφ' αμαρτιαις	27 A stubborn heart is weighed down with troubles, the sinner heaps sin on sin.
28 επαγωγη υπερηφανου ουκ εστιν ιασις φυτον γαρ πονηριας ερριζωκεν εν αυτω	28 For the disease of the proud there is no cure, since an evil growth has taken root there.
29 καρδια συνετου διανοηθησεται παραβολην και ους ακροατου επιθυμια σοφου	29 The heart of the sensible wil reflect on parables, an attentive ear is the sage's dream.
30 πυρ φλογιζομενον αποσβεσει υδωρ και ελεημοσυνη εξιλασεται αμαρτιας	30 Water puts out a blazing fire, almsgiving expiates sins.
31 ο ανταποδιδους χαριτας μεμνηται εις τα μετα ταυτα και εν καιρω πτωσεως αυτου ευρησει στηριγμα	31 Whoever gives favours in return is mindful of the future; at the moment of falling, such a person wil findsupport.