ΣΟΦΙΑ ΣΕΙΡΑΧ - Siracide - Sirach 8

GREEK BIBLE	NEW JERUSALEM
1 μη διαμαχου μετα ανθρωπου δυναστου μηποτε εμπεσης εις τας χειρας αυτου	1 Do not try conclusions with anyone influential, in case you later fal into his clutches.
2 μη εριζε μετα ανθρωπου πλουσιου μηποτε αντιστηση σου την ολκην πολλους γαρ απωλεσεν το χρυσιον και καρδιας βασιλεων εξεκλινεν	2 Do not quarrel with anyone rich, in case he puts his weight against you; for gold has destroyed many,and has swayed the hearts of kings.
3 μη διαμαχου μετα ανθρωπου γλωσσωδους και μη επιστοιβασης επι το πυρ αυτου ξυλα	3 Do not argue with anyone argumentative, do not pile wood on that fire.
4 μη προσπαιζε απαιδευτω ινα μη ατιμαζωνται οι προγονοι σου	4 Do not joke with anyone uncouth, for fear of hearing your ancestors insulted.
5 μη ονειδιζε ανθρωπον αποστρεφοντα απο αμαρτιας μνησθητι οτι παντες εσμεν εν επιτιμοις	5 Do not revile a repentant sinner; remember that we al are guilty.
6 μη ατιμασης ανθρωπον εν γηρα αυτου και γαρ εξ ημων γηρασκουσιν	6 Do not despise anyone in old age; after all, some of us too are growing old.
7 μη επιχαιρε επι νεκρω μνησθητι οτι παντες τελευτωμεν	7 Do not gloat over anyone's death; remember that we al have to die.
8 μη παριδης διηγημα σοφων και εν ταις παροιμιαις αυτων αναστρεφου οτι παρ' αυτων μαθηση παιδειαν και λειτουργησαι μεγιστασιν	8 Do not scorn the discourse of the wise, but make yourself familiar with their maxims, since from theseyou wil learn the theory and the art of serving the great.
9 μη αστοχει διηγηματος γεροντων και γαρ αυτοι εμαθον παρα των πατερων αυτων οτι παρ' αυτων μαθηση συνεσιν και εν καιρω χρειας δουναι αποκρισιν	9 Do not dismiss what the old people have to say, for they too were taught by their parents; from them youwil learn how to think, and the art of the timely answer.
10 μη εκκαιε ανθρακας αμαρτωλου μη εμπυρισθης εν πυρι φλογος αυτου	10 Do not kindle the coals of the sinner, in case you scorch yourself in his blaze.
11 μη εξαναστης απο προσωπου υβριστου ινα μη εγκαθιση ως ενεδρον τω στοματι σου	11 Refuse to be provoked by the insolent, for fear that such a one try to trap you in your words.
12 μη δανεισης ανθρωπω ισχυροτερω σου και εαν δανεισης ως απολωλεκως γινου	12 Do not lend to anyone who is stronger than you are -- if you do lend, resign yourself to loss.
13 μη εγγυηση υπερ δυναμιν σου και εαν εγγυηση ως αποτεισων φροντιζε	13 Do not stand surety beyond your means; if you do stand surety, be prepared to pay up.
14 μη δικαζου μετα κριτου κατα γαρ την δοξαν αυτου κρινουσιν αυτω	14 Do not go to law with a judge, since judgement wil be given in his favour.
15 μετα τολμηρου μη πορευου εν οδω ινα μη βαρυνηται κατα σου αυτος γαρ κατα το θελημα αυτου ποιησει και τη αφροσυνη αυτου συναπολη	15 Do not go travel ing with a rash man, for fear he becomes burdensome to you; he wil act as the whimtakes him, and you wil both be ruined by his fol y.
16 μετα θυμωδους μη ποιησης μαχην και μη διαπορευου μετ' αυτου την ερημον οτι ως ουδεν εν οφθαλμοις αυτου αιμα και οπου ουκ εστιν βοηθεια καταβαλει σε	16 Do not argue with a quick-tempered man, do not go with him where there are no other people, sinceblood counts for nothing in his eyes, and where no help is to be had, he wil strike you down.
17 μετα μωρου μη συμβουλευου ου γαρ δυνησεται λογον στεξαι	17 Do not ask a fool for advice, since a fool wil not be able to keep a confidence.
18 ενωπιον αλλοτριου μη ποιησης κρυπτον ου γαρ γινωσκεις τι τεξεται	18 In a stranger's presence do nothing that should be kept secret, since you cannot tel what use thestranger will make of it.
19 παντι ανθρωπω μη εκφαινε σην καρδιαν και μη αναφερετω σοι χαριν	19 Do not open your heart to al comers, nor lay claim to their good offices.