ΣΟΦΙΑ ΣΕΙΡΑΧ - Siracide - Sirach 6

GREEK BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 -	1 Do not be willing to become an enemy instead of a friend to your neighbor. For an evil man will inherit reproach and disgrace, as will every sinner who is envious and double-tongued.
2 μη επαρης σεαυτον εν βουλη ψυχης σου ινα μη διαρπαγη ως ταυρος η ψυχη σου	2 You should not extol yourself, like a bull, in the thoughts of your soul, lest perhaps your strength may be cast down through foolishness,
3 τα φυλλα σου καταφαγεσαι και τους καρπους σου απολεσεις και αφησεις σεαυτον ως ξυλον ξηρον	3 which would consume your leaves, and destroy your fruit, and leave you behind like a dry tree in the desert.
4 ψυχη πονηρα απολει τον κτησαμενον αυτην και επιχαρμα εχθρων ποιησει αυτον	4 For a wicked soul will destroy the one who has it. For it gladly provides enemies to him, and it will lead him to the fate of the impious.
5 λαρυγξ γλυκυς πληθυνει φιλους αυτου και γλωσσα ευλαλος πληθυνει ευπροσηγορα	5 A sweet word multiplies friends and mitigates enemies. And thankful words abound in a good man.
6 οι ειρηνευοντες σοι εστωσαν πολλοι οι δε συμβουλοι σου εις απο χιλιων	6 Allow many to be at peace with you, but allow one out of a thousand to be your counselor.
7 ει κτασαι φιλον εν πειρασμω κτησαι αυτον και μη ταχυ εμπιστευσης αυτω	7 If you would obtain a friend, test him before you accept him, and do not trust him readily.
8 εστιν γαρ φιλος εν καιρω αυτου και ου μη παραμεινη εν ημερα θλιψεως σου	8 For there is a friend according to his own time, but he will not remain in the day of tribulation.
9 και εστιν φιλος μετατιθεμενος εις εχθραν και μαχην ονειδισμου σου αποκαλυψει	9 And there is a friend who can be turned to animosity. And there is a friend who will reveal hatred and ridicule and insults.
10 και εστιν φιλος κοινωνος τραπεζων και ου μη παραμεινη εν ημερα θλιψεως σου	10 And there is a friend who is a companion at table, but he will not remain in a day of need.
11 και εν τοις αγαθοις σου εσται ως συ και επι τους οικετας σου παρρησιασεται	11 A friend, if he remains steadfast, will be to you as you are to yourself, and he will act with faithfulness among those of your household.
12 εαν ταπεινωθης εσται κατα σου και απο του προσωπου σου κρυβησεται	12 If he humbles himself before you and hides himself from your face, you shall have a noble and harmonious friendship.
13 απο των εχθρων σου διαχωρισθητι και απο των φιλων σου προσεχε	13 Distance yourself from your enemies, and pay attention to your friends.
14 φιλος πιστος σκεπη κραταια ο δε ευρων αυτον ευρεν θησαυρον	14 A faithful friend is a strong shelter, and whoever has found one has found a treasure.
15 φιλου πιστου ουκ εστιν ανταλλαγμα και ουκ εστιν σταθμος της καλλονης αυτου	15 Nothing is comparable to a faithful friend, and no weight of silver or gold is worth more than the goodness of his fidelity.
16 φιλος πιστος φαρμακον ζωης και οι φοβουμενοι κυριον ευρησουσιν αυτον	16 A faithful friend is a medicine for life and immortality; 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 He who fears God will have a similar good friendship, because his friend will be like him.
18 τεκνον εκ νεοτητος σου επιλεξαι παιδειαν και εως πολιων ευρησεις σοφιαν	18 Son, from your youth receive instruction, and then you will find wisdom, even to your grey hairs.
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 Approach wisdom like one who plows and sows, and then wait for her good fruits.
20 ως τραχεια εστιν σφοδρα τοις απαιδευτοις και ουκ εμμενει εν αυτη ακαρδιος	20 For in doing her work, you will labor a little, but you will soon eat from her produce.
21 ως λιθος δοκιμασιας ισχυρος εσται επ' αυτω και ου χρονιει απορριψαι αυτην	21 How exceedingly harsh is wisdom to unlearned men! And so, the witless will not remain with her.
22 σοφια γαρ κατα το ονομα αυτης εστιν και ου πολλοις εστιν φανερα	22 She will be to them like a great stone of trial, and they will cast her away from them without delay.
23 ακουσον τεκνον και εκδεξαι γνωμην μου και μη απαναινου την συμβουλιαν μου	23 For the wisdom of doctrine is in accord with her name, and she is not manifest to many. But she continues with those by whom she is recognized, even in the sight of God.
24 και εισενεγκον τους ποδας σου εις τας πεδας αυτης και εις τον κλοιον αυτης τον τραχηλον σου	24 Listen, son, and accept an understanding counsel, for you should not discard my advice.
25 υποθες τον ωμον σου και βασταξον αυτην και μη προσοχθισης τοις δεσμοις αυτης	25 Set your feet in her fetters and your neck in her chains.
26 εν παση ψυχη σου προσελθε αυτη και εν ολη δυναμει σου συντηρησον τας οδους αυτης	26 Incline your shoulder, and carry her, for you will not be grieved by her bindings.
27 εξιχνευσον και ζητησον και γνωσθησεται σοι και εγκρατης γενομενος μη αφης αυτην	27 Approach her with all your soul, and serve her ways with all your strength.
28 επ' εσχατων γαρ ευρησεις την αναπαυσιν αυτης και στραφησεται σοι εις ευφροσυνην	28 Examine her, and she will be revealed to you, and when you have obtained her, you should not abandon her.
29 και εσονται σοι αι πεδαι εις σκεπην ισχυος και οι κλοιοι αυτης εις στολην δοξης	29 For, in the very end, you will find rest in her, and she will turn into your delight.
30 κοσμος γαρ χρυσεος εστιν επ' αυτης και οι δεσμοι αυτης κλωσμα υακινθινον	30 Then her fetters will be a strong protection and a firm foundation for you, and her chains will be a robe of glory.
31 στολην δοξης ενδυση αυτην και στεφανον αγαλλιαματος περιθησεις σεαυτω	31 For in her is the beauty of life, and her bindings are a healing bandage.
32 εαν θελης τεκνον παιδευθηση και εαν επιδως την ψυχην σου πανουργος εση	32 You will be clothed with her as with a robe of glory, and you will set her upon your head like a crown of rejoicing.
33 εαν αγαπησης ακουειν εκδεξη και εαν κλινης το ους σου σοφος εση	33 Son, if you heed me, you will learn. And if you adapt your mind, you will be wise.
34 εν πληθει πρεσβυτερων στηθι και τις σοφος αυτω προσκολληθητι	34 If you incline your ear, you will receive doctrine. And if you love to listen, you will be wise.
35 πασαν διηγησιν θειαν θελε ακροασθαι και παροιμιαι συνεσεως μη εκφευγετωσαν σε	35 Stand among the multitude of prudent elders, and join yourself to their wisdom from the heart, so that you may be able to hear every discourse about God, and so that the proverbs of praise may not flee from you.
36 εαν ιδης συνετον ορθριζε προς αυτον και βαθμους θυρων αυτου εκτριβετω ο πους σου	36 And if you see a man of understanding, stand watch for him, and let your feet wear down the steps of his doors.
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 Set your thoughts on the precepts of God, and be entirely constant in his commandments. And he himself will give a heart to you, and the desire of wisdom will be given to you.