ΣΟΦΙΑ ΣΕΙΡΑΧ - Siracide - Sirach 37

LXX	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 πας φιλος ερει εφιλιασα καγω αλλ' εστιν φιλος ονοματι μονον φιλος	1 Every friend will say: “I also am a close friend.” But there is a friend who is a friend in name only. Is this not a grief even unto death?
2 ουχι λυπη ενι εως θανατου εταιρος και φιλος τρεπομενος εις εχθραν	2 But a companion and friend may turn into an enemy.
3 ω πονηρον ενθυμημα ποθεν ενεκυλισθης καλυψαι την ξηραν εν δολιοτητι	3 O wicked presumption! From what were you created that you would cover the dry land with your malice and deceitfulness?
4 εταιρος φιλου εν ευφροσυνη ηδεται και εν καιρω θλιψεως εσται απεναντι	4 A companion may rejoice with his friend in good times, but in a time of tribulation, he will be an adversary.
5 εταιρος φιλω συμπονει χαριν γαστρος εναντι πολεμου λημψεται ασπιδα	5 There is a companion who commiserates with a friend for the sake of the stomach, but he will shield himself from the enemy.
6 μη επιλαθη φιλου εν τη ψυχη σου και μη αμνημονησης αυτου εν χρημασιν σου	6 You should not forget your friend in your soul, and you should not be unmindful of him in your wealth.
7 πας συμβουλος εξαιρει βουλην αλλ' εστιν συμβουλευων εις εαυτον	7 Do not choose to consult with someone who waits in ambush for you. And hide your counsel from those who rival you.
8 απο συμβουλου φυλαξον την ψυχην σου και γνωθι προτερον τις αυτου χρεια και γαρ αυτος εαυτω βουλευσεται μηποτε βαλη επι σοι κληρον	8 Every counselor offers advice, but some are counselors only for themselves.
9 και ειπη σοι καλη η οδος σου και στησεται εξ αναντιας ιδειν το συμβησομενον σοι	9 Guard your soul from a counselor. And know beforehand what his interests are. For he will form thoughts from his own soul.
10 μη βουλευου μετα του υποβλεπομενου σε και απο των ζηλουντων σε κρυψον βουλην	10 Otherwise, he may set a signpost in the ground, and he may say to you:
11 μετα γυναικος περι της αντιζηλου αυτης και μετα δειλου περι πολεμου μετα εμπορου περι μεταβολιας και μετα αγοραζοντος περι πρασεως μετα βασκανου περι ευχαριστιας και μετα ανελεημονος περι χρηστοηθειας μετα οκνηρου περι παντος εργου και μετα μισθιου εφετιου περι συντελειας οικετη αργω περι πολλης εργασιας μη επεχε επι τουτοις περι πασης συμβουλιας	11 “Your own way is good.” But then he will stand at a distance to see what befalls you.
12 αλλ' η μετα ανδρος ευσεβους ενδελεχιζε ον αν επιγνως συντηρουντα εντολας ος εν τη ψυχη αυτου κατα την ψυχην σου και εαν πταισης συναλγησει σοι	12 Do not discuss holiness with an irreligious man, nor justice with one who is unjust. You should not speak with a woman about her who is a rival, nor with a coward about war, nor with a merchant about exaggeration, nor with a buyer about selling, nor with a spiteful man about giving thanks,
13 και βουλην καρδιας στησον ου γαρ εστιν σοι πιστοτερος αυτης	13 nor with the impious about piety, nor with the dishonest about honesty, nor with the field worker about other kinds of work,
14 ψυχη γαρ ανδρος απαγγελλειν ενιοτε ειωθεν η επτα σκοποι επι μετεωρου καθημενοι επι σκοπης	14 nor with a worker hired for a year about the end of the year, nor with a lazy servant about great works. You should pay no heed to these persons in any matter of counsel.
15 και επι πασι τουτοις δεηθητι υψιστου ινα ευθυνη εν αληθεια την οδον σου	15 But be continually with a holy man, with anyone whom you know to observe the fear of God,
16 αρχη παντος εργου λογος και προ πασης πραξεως βουλη	16 whose soul is in agreement with your own soul, and who, when you falter in the dark, will share your sorrows.
17 ιχνος αλλοιωσεως καρδιας τεσσαρα μερη ανατελλει	17 And establish a heart of good counsel within yourself. For there is nothing of greater usefulness to you than this.
18 αγαθον και κακον ζωη και θανατος και η κυριευουσα ενδελεχως αυτων γλωσσα εστιν	18 At any time, the soul of a holy man declares more truths than seven vigilant watchmen sitting in a high place.
19 εστιν ανηρ πανουργος πολλων παιδευτης και τη ιδια ψυχη εστιν αχρηστος	19 But concerning all things, pray to the Most High, so that he may direct your way in truth.
20 εστιν σοφιζομενος εν λογοις μισητος ουτος πασης τροφης καθυστερησει	20 In all your works, let a true word precede you, with steadfast counsel before every deed.
21 ου γαρ εδοθη αυτω παρα κυριου χαρις οτι πασης σοφιας εστερηθη	21 A wicked word can change the heart. From the heart four kinds of things arise: good and evil, life and death. And the tongue is continually their ruler. There is a man who is an astute teacher of many, and yet this is useless to his own soul.
22 εστιν σοφος τη ιδια ψυχη και οι καρποι της συνεσεως αυτου επι στοματος πιστοι	22 A man of experience has taught many, and this is pleasant to his own soul.
23 ανηρ σοφος τον εαυτου λαον παιδευσει και οι καρποι της συνεσεως αυτου πιστοι	23 Whoever speaks mere rhetoric is hateful; he will be deceived in every matter.
24 ανηρ σοφος πλησθησεται ευλογιας και μακαριουσιν αυτον παντες οι ορωντες	24 Grace is not given to him from the Lord. For he has been deprived of all wisdom.
25 ζωη ανδρος εν αριθμω ημερων και αι ημεραι του ισραηλ αναριθμητοι	25 There is a wise man who is wise within his own soul, and the fruit of his understanding is praiseworthy.
26 ο σοφος εν τω λαω αυτου κληρονομησει πιστιν και το ονομα αυτου ζησεται εις τον αιωνα	26 A wise man instructs his own people, and the fruit of his understanding is faithful.
27 τεκνον εν ζωη σου πειρασον την ψυχην σου και ιδε τι πονηρον αυτη και μη δως αυτη	27 A wise man will be filled with blessings, and those who see will praise him.
28 ου γαρ παντα πασιν συμφερει και ου πασα ψυχη εν παντι ευδοκει	28 The life of a man is in the number of his days. But the days of Israel are innumerable.
29 μη απληστευου εν παση τρυφη και μη εκχυθης επι εδεσματων	29 A wise man will inherit honor among the people, and his name will live in eternity.
30 εν πολλοις γαρ βρωμασιν εσται νοσος και η απληστια εγγιει εως χολερας	30 Son, test your own mind in your life, and if it is lacking, you should not give it authority.
31 δι' απληστιαν πολλοι ετελευτησαν ο δε προσεχων προσθησει ζωην	31 For not all things are fitting for all persons, and not every kind of thing is agreeable to every soul.
	32 Do not choose to be eager during any feast, and you should not act with excess toward any food.
	33 For in excessive eating there will be infirmity, and gluttony will continue even unto illness.
	34 By excessive drinking, many have passed away. But he who abstains will add to his life.