1 τους εμους λογους υιε φοβηθητι και δεξαμενος αυτους μετανοει ταδε λεγει ο ανηρ τοις πιστευουσιν θεω και παυομαι | 1 These, too, are parables of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, transferred. |
2 αφρονεστατος γαρ ειμι παντων ανθρωπων και φρονησις ανθρωπων ουκ εστιν εν εμοι | 2 It is to the glory of God to conceal a word, and it is to the glory of kings to investigate speech. |
3 θεος δεδιδαχεν με σοφιαν και γνωσιν αγιων εγνωκα | 3 Heaven above, and earth below, and the heart of kings are each unsearchable. |
4 τις ανεβη εις τον ουρανον και κατεβη τις συνηγαγεν ανεμους εν κολπω τις συνεστρεψεν υδωρ εν ιματιω τις εκρατησεν παντων των ακρων της γης τι ονομα αυτω η τι ονομα τοις τεκνοις αυτου ινα γνως | 4 Take away the tarnish from silver, and a most pure vessel will go forth. |
5 παντες λογοι θεου πεπυρωμενοι υπερασπιζει δε αυτος των ευλαβουμενων αυτον | 5 Take away impiety from the face of the king, and his throne shall be made firm by justice. |
6 μη προσθης τοις λογοις αυτου ινα μη ελεγξη σε και ψευδης γενη | 6 Do not appear glorious before the king, and do not stand in the place of the great. |
7 δυο αιτουμαι παρα σου μη αφελης μου χαριν προ του αποθανειν με | 7 For it is better that it should be said to you, “Ascend to here,” than that you should be humbled before the prince. |
8 ματαιον λογον και ψευδη μακραν μου ποιησον πλουτον δε και πενιαν μη μοι δως συνταξον δε μοι τα δεοντα και τα αυταρκη | 8 The things that your eyes have seen, do not offer hastily in a quarrel, lest afterward you may not be able to make amends, when you have dishonored your friend. |
9 ινα μη πλησθεις ψευδης γενωμαι και ειπω τις με ορα η πενηθεις κλεψω και ομοσω το ονομα του θεου | 9 Argue your case with your friend, and do not reveal the secret to an outsider, |
10 μη παραδως οικετην εις χειρας δεσποτου μηποτε καταρασηται σε και αφανισθης | 10 lest perhaps he may insult you, when he has heard it, and he might not cease to reproach you. Grace and friendship free a man; preserve these for yourself, lest you fall under reproach. |
11 εκγονον κακον πατερα καταραται την δε μητερα ουκ ευλογει | 11 Whoever speaks a word at an opportune time is like apples of gold on beds of silver. |
12 εκγονον κακον δικαιον εαυτον κρινει την δε εξοδον αυτου ουκ απενιψεν | 12 Whoever reproves the wise and obedient ear is like an earring of gold with a shining pearl. |
13 εκγονον κακον υψηλους οφθαλμους εχει τοις δε βλεφαροις αυτου επαιρεται | 13 Just like the cold of snow in a time of harvest, so also is a faithful messenger to him who sent him: he causes his soul to rest. |
14 εκγονον κακον μαχαιρας τους οδοντας εχει και τας μυλας τομιδας ωστε αναλισκειν και κατεσθιειν τους ταπεινους απο της γης και τους πενητας αυτων εξ ανθρωπων | 14 A man who boasts and does not fulfill his promises is like clouds and wind, when rain does not follow. |
15 τη βδελλη τρεις θυγατερες ησαν αγαπησει αγαπωμεναι και αι τρεις αυται ουκ ενεπιμπλασαν αυτην και η τεταρτη ουκ ηρκεσθη ειπειν ικανον | 15 By patience, a leader shall be appeased, and a soft tongue shall break hardness. |
16 αδης και ερως γυναικος και ταρταρος και γη ουκ εμπιπλαμενη υδατος και υδωρ και πυρ ου μη ειπωσιν αρκει | 16 You have discovered honey; eat what is sufficient for you, lest perhaps, being filled up, you may vomit it. |
17 οφθαλμον καταγελωντα πατρος και ατιμαζοντα γηρας μητρος εκκοψαισαν αυτον κορακες εκ των φαραγγων και καταφαγοισαν αυτον νεοσσοι αετων | 17 Withdraw your feet from the house of your neighbor, lest, when he has had his fill, he may hate you. |
18 τρια δε εστιν αδυνατα μοι νοησαι και το τεταρτον ουκ επιγινωσκω | 18 A man who speaks false testimony against his neighbor is like a dart and a sword and a sharp arrow. |
19 ιχνη αετου πετομενου και οδους οφεως επι πετρας και τριβους νηος ποντοπορουσης και οδους ανδρος εν νεοτητι | 19 Whoever sets his hopes on the unfaithful in a day of anguish is like a rotten tooth and weary foot, |
20 τοιαυτη οδος γυναικος μοιχαλιδος η οταν πραξη απονιψαμενη ουδεν φησιν πεπραχεναι ατοπον | 20 and like one who loosens his garment in cold weather. Whoever sings verses to a wicked heart is like vinegar on baking soda. Just like a moth to a garment, and a worm to wood, so too does the sadness of a man do harm to the heart. |
21 δια τριων σειεται η γη το δε τεταρτον ου δυναται φερειν | 21 If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him water to drink. |
22 εαν οικετης βασιλευση και αφρων πλησθη σιτιων | 22 For you will gather hot coals upon his head, and the Lord will repay you. |
23 και οικετις εαν εκβαλη την εαυτης κυριαν και μισητη γυνη εαν τυχη ανδρος αγαθου | 23 The north wind brings forth the rain, and a sorrowful face brings forth a detracting tongue. |
24 τεσσαρα δε εστιν ελαχιστα επι της γης ταυτα δε εστιν σοφωτερα των σοφων | 24 It is better to sit in a corner of the attic, than with an argumentative woman and in a shared house. |
25 οι μυρμηκες οις μη εστιν ισχυς και ετοιμαζονται θερους την τροφην | 25 Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so too are good reports from a far away land. |
26 και οι χοιρογρυλλιοι εθνος ουκ ισχυρον οι εποιησαντο εν πετραις τους εαυτων οικους | 26 The just falling down before the impious is like a fountain stirred up by feet and like a corrupted spring. |
27 αβασιλευτον εστιν η ακρις και εκστρατευει αφ' ενος κελευσματος ευτακτως | 27 Just as whoever eats too much honey, it is not good for him, so also whoever is an investigator of what is majestic will be overwhelmed by glory. |
28 και καλαβωτης χερσιν ερειδομενος και ευαλωτος ων κατοικει εν οχυρωμασιν βασιλεως | 28 Just like a city lying in the open and without surrounding walls, so also is a man who is unable to restrain his own spirit in speaking. |
29 τρια δε εστιν α ευοδως πορευεται και το τεταρτον ο καλως διαβαινει | |
30 σκυμνος λεοντος ισχυροτερος κτηνων ος ουκ αποστρεφεται ουδε καταπτησσει κτηνος | |
31 και αλεκτωρ εμπεριπατων θηλειαις ευψυχος και τραγος ηγουμενος αιπολιου και βασιλευς δημηγορων εν εθνει | |
32 εαν προη σεαυτον εις ευφροσυνην και εκτεινης την χειρα σου μετα μαχης ατιμασθηση | |
33 αμελγε γαλα και εσται βουτυρον εαν δε εκπιεζης μυκτηρας εξελευσεται αιμα εαν δε εξελκης λογους εξελευσονται κρισεις και μαχαι | |