ΣΟΦΙΑ ΣΕΙΡΑΧ - Siracide - Sirach 18

LXX	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 ο ζων εις τον αιωνα εκτισεν τα παντα κοινη	1 The One who dwells in eternity created all things together. God alone will be justified, and he remains an invincible King for eternity.
2 κυριος μονος δικαιωθησεται	2 Who is able to declare his works?
3 -	3 For who can examine his greatness?
4 ουθενι εξεποιησεν εξαγγειλαι τα εργα αυτου και τις εξιχνευσει τα μεγαλεια αυτου	4 And who will announce the power of his magnitude? Or who would be able to describe his mercy?
5 κρατος μεγαλωσυνης αυτου τις εξαριθμησεται και τις προσθησει εκδιηγησασθαι τα ελεη αυτου	5 There is no diminishing, and no increasing, and there is no discovering, the greatness of God.
6 ουκ εστιν ελαττωσαι ουδε προσθειναι και ουκ εστιν εξιχνιασαι τα θαυμασια του κυριου	6 When man has reached the end, then he will begin. And when he ceases, he will be in need.
7 οταν συντελεση ανθρωπος τοτε αρχεται και οταν παυσηται τοτε απορηθησεται	7 What is man, and what is his grace? And what is his good, or what is his evil?
8 τι ανθρωπος και τι η χρησις αυτου τι το αγαθον αυτου και τι το κακον αυτου	8 The number of the days of men are as many as one hundred years. Like a drop of water in the ocean, so they are considered to be. And like a grain of sand on the shore, so do these few years compare to the days of all time.
9 αριθμος ημερων ανθρωπου πολλα ετη εκατον	9 For this reason, God is patient with them, and he pours forth his mercy upon them.
10 ως σταγων υδατος απο θαλασσης και ψηφος αμμου ουτως ολιγα ετη εν ημερα αιωνος	10 He has seen that the presumption of their heart is evil, and he knows that their rebelliousness is wicked.
11 δια τουτο εμακροθυμησεν κυριος επ' αυτοις και εξεχεεν επ' αυτους το ελεος αυτου	11 Therefore, he has bestowed his forgiveness on them, and he has revealed to them the way of equity.
12 ειδεν και επεγνω την καταστροφην αυτων οτι πονηρα δια τουτο επληθυνεν τον εξιλασμον αυτου	12 The compassion of man is toward those closest to him. But the mercy of God is upon all flesh.
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 He is merciful, and he teaches and corrects, like a shepherd with his flock.
14 τους εκδεχομενους παιδειαν ελεα και τους κατασπευδοντας επι τα κριματα αυτου	14 He takes pity on those who accept the doctrine of compassion, and he applies his judgments promptly.
15 τεκνον εν αγαθοις μη δως μωμον και εν παση δοσει λυπην λογων	15 Son, in your good works, you should not complain, and in giving anything, you should not cause grief with evil words.
16 ουχι καυσωνα αναπαυσει δροσος ουτως κρεισσων λογος η δοσις	16 Is heat not refreshed by the dew? So also is a good word better than a gift.
17 ουκ ιδου λογος υπερ δομα αγαθον και αμφοτερα παρα ανδρι κεχαριτωμενω	17 Behold, is a word not greater than a gift? But both are with a justified man.
18 μωρος αχαριστως ονειδιει και δοσις βασκανου εκτηκει οφθαλμους	18 The foolish place blame sharply. And a gift from the undisciplined causes the eyes to fail.
19 πριν η λαλησαι μανθανε και προ αρρωστιας θεραπευου	19 Before you judge, put justice in order within yourself, and before you speak, learn.
20 προ κρισεως εξεταζε σεαυτον και εν ωρα επισκοπης ευρησεις εξιλασμον	20 Before you become sick, obtain medicine. And before you judge, examine yourself. And then you will find forgiveness in the sight of God.
21 πριν αρρωστησαι σε ταπεινωθητι και εν καιρω αμαρτηματων δειξον επιστροφην	21 Before you become weak, humble yourself; and in a time of infirmity, show your way of life.
22 μη εμποδισθης του αποδουναι ευχην ευκαιρως και μη μεινης εως θανατου δικαιωθηναι	22 Let nothing impede you from praying always. And then you will not dread to be justified, even unto death. For the reward of God dwells in eternity.
23 πριν ευξασθαι ετοιμασον σεαυτον και μη γινου ως ανθρωπος πειραζων τον κυριον	23 Before you pray, prepare your soul. And do not choose to be like a man who tempts God.
24 μνησθητι θυμου εν ημεραις τελευτης και καιρον εκδικησεως εν αποστροφη προσωπου	24 Remember the wrath that will be on the day of consummation, and remember the time of retribution, when he will turn away his face.
25 μνησθητι καιρον λιμου εν καιρω πλησμονης πτωχειαν και ενδειαν εν ημεραις πλουτου	25 Remember poverty in a time of abundance, and remember the deficiency of poverty in a day of riches.
26 απο πρωιθεν εως εσπερας μεταβαλλει καιρος και παντα εστιν ταχινα εναντι κυριου	26 From morning until evening, the time will be changed, and all these are swift in the eyes of God.
27 ανθρωπος σοφος εν παντι ευλαβηθησεται και εν ημεραις αμαρτιων προσεξει απο πλημμελειας	27 A wise man will be cautious in all things, and during a time of many offenses, he will be attentive against inaction.
28 πας συνετος εγνω σοφιαν και τω ευροντι αυτην δωσει εξομολογησιν	28 Anyone who is astute recognizes wisdom, and he will acknowledge anyone who finds it.
29 συνετοι εν λογοις και αυτοι εσοφισαντο και ανωμβρησαν παροιμιας ακριβεις	29 Those who show understanding with words also have acted wisely themselves, and they have understood truth and justice, and they have fulfilled proverbs and judgments.
30 οπισω των επιθυμιων σου μη πορευου και απο των ορεξεων σου κωλυου	30 You should not go after your desires; instead, turn away from your own will.
31 εαν χορηγησης τη ψυχη σου ευδοκιαν επιθυμιας ποιησει σε επιχαρμα των εχθρων σου	31 If you offer your desires to your soul, this will cause you to become a joy to your enemies.
32 μη ευφραινου επι πολλη τρυφη μη προσδεθης συμβολη αυτης	32 Take no delight in disorderly gatherings, whether large or small. For their commission of offenses is unceasing.
33 μη γινου πτωχος συμβολοκοπων εκ δανεισμου και ουδεν σοι εστιν εν μαρσιππιω	33 You should not be reduced by the contention of borrowing, even if there is nothing in your purse. For you would be contending against your own life.