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. |