ΣΟΦΙΑ ΣΕΙΡΑΧ - Siracide - Sirach 35

GREEK BIBLE	NEW JERUSALEM
1 ο συντηρων νομον πλεοναζει προσφορας θυσιαζων σωτηριου ο προσεχων εντολαις	1 One who keeps the Law multiplies offerings; one who fol ows the commandments offers communionsacrifices.
2 ανταποδιδους χαριν προσφερων σεμιδαλιν και ο ποιων ελεημοσυνην θυσιαζων αινεσεως	2 Proof of gratitude is an offering of fine flour, almsgiving a sacrifice of praise.
3 ευδοκια κυριου αποστηναι απο πονηριας και εξιλασμος αποστηναι απο αδικιας	3 To abandon wickedness is what pleases the Lord, to give up wrong-doing is an expiatory sacrifice.
4 μη οφθης εν προσωπω κυριου κενος παντα γαρ ταυτα χαριν εντολης	4 Do not appear empty-handed in the Lord's presence; for all these things are due under thecommandment.
5 προσφορα δικαιου λιπαινει θυσιαστηριον και η ευωδια αυτης εναντι υψιστου	5 The offering of the upright graces the altar, and its savour rises before the Most High.
6 θυσια ανδρος δικαιου δεκτη και το μνημοσυνον αυτης ουκ επιλησθησεται	6 The sacrifice of the upright is acceptable, its memorial wil not be forgotten.
7 εν αγαθω οφθαλμω δοξασον τον κυριον και μη σμικρυνης απαρχην χειρων σου	7 Honour the Lord with generosity, do not stint the first-fruits you bring.
8 εν παση δοσει ιλαρωσον το προσωπον σου και εν ευφροσυνη αγιασον δεκατην	8 Add a smiling face to al your gifts, and be cheerful as you dedicate your tithes.
9 δος υψιστω κατα την δοσιν αυτου και εν αγαθω οφθαλμω καθ' ευρεμα χειρος	9 Give to the Most High as he has given to you, as generously as your means can afford;
10 οτι κυριος ανταποδιδους εστιν και επταπλασια ανταποδωσει σοι	10 for the Lord is a good rewarder, he wil reward you seven times over.
11 μη δωροκοπει ου γαρ προσδεξεται και μη επεχε θυσια αδικω	11 Do not try to bribe him with presents, he wil not accept them, do not put your faith in wronglymotivated sacrifices;
12 οτι κυριος κριτης εστιν και ουκ εστιν παρ' αυτω δοξα προσωπου	12 for the Lord is a judge who is utterly impartial.
13 ου λημψεται προσωπον επι πτωχου και δεησιν ηδικημενου εισακουσεται	13 He never shows partiality to the detriment of the poor, he listens to the plea of the injured party.
14 ου μη υπεριδη ικετειαν ορφανου και χηραν εαν εκχεη λαλιαν	14 He does not ignore the orphan's supplication, nor the widow's as she pours out her complaint.
15 ουχι δακρυα χηρας επι σιαγονα καταβαινει και η καταβοησις επι τω καταγαγοντι αυτα	15 Do the widow's tears not run down her cheeks, as she accuses the man who is the cause of them?
16 θεραπευων εν ευδοκια δεχθησεται και η δεησις αυτου εως νεφελων συναψει	16 Whoever wholeheartedly serves God will be accepted, his petitions wil carry to the clouds.
17 προσευχη ταπεινου νεφελας διηλθεν και εως συνεγγιση ου μη παρακληθη	17 The prayer of the humble pierces the clouds: and until it does, he is not to be consoled,
18 και ου μη αποστη εως επισκεψηται ο υψιστος και κρινει δικαιοις και ποιησει κρισιν	18 nor wil he desist until the Most High takes notice of him, acquits the upright and delivers judgement.
19 και ο κυριος ου μη βραδυνη ουδε μη μακροθυμηση επ' αυτοις	19 And the Lord will not be slow, nor wil he be dilatory on their behalf,
20 εως αν συντριψη οσφυν ανελεημονων και τοις εθνεσιν ανταποδωσει εκδικησιν	20 until he has crushed the loins of the merciless and exacted vengeance on the nations,
21 εως εξαρη πληθος υβριστων και σκηπτρα αδικων συντριψει	21 until he has eliminated the hordes of the arrogant and broken the sceptres of the wicked,
22 εως ανταποδω ανθρωπω κατα τας πραξεις αυτου και τα εργα των ανθρωπων κατα τα ενθυμηματα αυτων	22 until he has repaid al people as their deeds deserve and human actions as their intentions merit,
23 εως κρινη την κρισιν του λαου αυτου και ευφρανει αυτους εν τω ελεει αυτου	23 until he has judged the case of his people and made them rejoice in his mercy.
24 ωραιον ελεος εν καιρω θλιψεως αυτου ως νεφελαι υετου εν καιρω αβροχιας	24 Mercy is welcome in time of trouble, like rain clouds in time of drought.