ΣΟΦΙΑ ΣΕΙΡΑΧ - Siracide - Sirach 33

GREEK BIBLE	NEW JERUSALEM
1 τω φοβουμενω κυριον ουκ απαντησει κακον αλλ' εν πειρασμω και παλιν εξελειται	1 No evil wil befal one who fears the Lord, such a one will be rescued even in the ordeal.
2 ανηρ σοφος ου μισησει νομον ο δε υποκρινομενος εν αυτω ως εν καταιγιδι πλοιον	2 No one who hates the Law is wise, one who is hypocritical about it is like a storm-tossed ship.
3 ανθρωπος συνετος εμπιστευσει νομω και ο νομος αυτω πιστος ως ερωτημα δηλων	3 An intelligent person will put faith in the Law, for such a one the Law is as dependable as a prophecy.
4 ετοιμασον λογον και ουτως ακουσθηση συνδησον παιδειαν και αποκριθητι	4 Prepare what you have to say and you will get a hearing, marshal your information before you answer.
5 τροχος αμαξης σπλαγχνα μωρου και ως αξων στρεφομενος ο διαλογισμος αυτου	5 The feelings of a fool are like a cart-wheel, a fool's thought revolves like a turning axle.
6 ιππος εις οχειαν ως φιλος μωκος υποκατω παντος επικαθημενου χρεμετιζει	6 A rutting stal ion is like a sarcastic friend; he neighs, whoever rides him.
7 δια τι ημερα ημερας υπερεχει και παν φως ημερας ενιαυτου αφ' ηλιου	7 Why is one day better than another, though the sun gives the same daylight throughout the year?
8 εν γνωσει κυριου διεχωρισθησαν και ηλλοιωσεν καιρους και εορτας	8 They have been differentiated in the mind of the Lord, who has diversified the seasons and feasts;
9 απ' αυτων ανυψωσεν και ηγιασεν και εξ αυτων εθηκεν εις αριθμον ημερων	9 some he has made more important and has hal owed, others he has made ordinary days.
10 και ανθρωποι παντες απο εδαφους και εκ γης εκτισθη αδαμ	10 Human beings come from the ground, Adam himself was formed out of earth;
11 εν πληθει επιστημης κυριος διεχωρισεν αυτους και ηλλοιωσεν τας οδους αυτων	11 in the fullness of his wisdom the Lord has made distinctions between them, and diversified theirconditions.
12 εξ αυτων ευλογησεν και ανυψωσεν και εξ αυτων ηγιασεν και προς αυτον ηγγισεν απ' αυτων κατηρασατο και εταπεινωσεν και ανεστρεψεν αυτους απο στασεως αυτων	12 Some of them he has blessed, hal owing and setting them near him; others he has cursed andhumiliated by degrading them from their positions.
13 ως πηλος κεραμεως εν χειρι αυτου πασαι αι οδοι αυτου κατα την ευδοκιαν αυτου ουτως ανθρωποι εν χειρι του ποιησαντος αυτους αποδουναι αυτοις κατα την κρισιν αυτου	13 Like clay in the hands of the potter to mould as it pleases him, so are human beings in the hands oftheir Maker to reward as he judges right.
14 απεναντι του κακου το αγαθον και απεναντι του θανατου η ζωη ουτως απεναντι ευσεβους αμαρτωλος	14 Opposite evil stands good, opposite death, life; so too opposite the devout stands the sinner.
15 και ουτως εμβλεψον εις παντα τα εργα του υψιστου δυο δυο εν κατεναντι του ενος	15 Contemplate al the works of the Most High, you wil find they go in pairs, by opposites.
16 καγω εσχατος ηγρυπνησα ως καλαμωμενος οπισω τρυγητων	16 Although the last to come, I have kept my eyes open like a man picking up what the grape-pickershave left.
17 εν ευλογια κυριου εφθασα και ως τρυγων επληρωσα ληνον	17 By the blessing of the Lord I have come in first, and like a true grape-picker have fil ed my winepress.
18 κατανοησατε οτι ουκ εμοι μονω εκοπιασα αλλα πασιν τοις ζητουσιν παιδειαν	18 And note, I have not been working merely for myself, but for al who seek instruction.
19 ακουσατε μου μεγιστανες λαου και οι ηγουμενοι εκκλησιας ενωτισασθε	19 Listen to me, important public figures, presidents of the assembly, give ear!
20 υιω και γυναικι αδελφω και φιλω μη δως εξουσιαν επι σε εν ζωη σου και μη δως ετερω τα χρηματα σου ινα μη μεταμεληθεις δεη περι αυτων	20 Neither to son nor wife, brother nor friend, give power over yourself during your own lifetime. And donot give your property to anyone else, in case you regret it and have to ask for it back.
21 εως ετι ζης και πνοη εν σοι μη αλλαξης σεαυτον εν παση σαρκι	21 As long as you live and there is breath in your body, do not yield power over yourself to anyone;
22 κρεισσον γαρ εστιν τα τεκνα δεηθηναι σου η σε εμβλεπειν εις χειρας υιων σου	22 better for your children to come begging to you, than for you to have to go begging to them.
23 εν πασι τοις εργοις σου γινου υπεραγων μη δως μωμον εν τη δοξη σου	23 In al you do be the master, and leave a reputation unstained.
24 εν ημερα συντελειας ημερων ζωης σου και εν καιρω τελευτης διαδος κληρονομιαν	24 The day your life draws to a close, at the hour of death, then distribute your heritage.
25 χορτασματα και ραβδος και φορτια ονω αρτος και παιδεια και εργον οικετη	25 Fodder, the stick and burdens for a donkey, bread, discipline and work for a slave.
26 εργασαι εν παιδι και ευρησεις αναπαυσιν ανες χειρας αυτω και ζητησει ελευθεριαν	26 Work your slave hard, and you wil have peace of mind, leave his hands idle, and he wil be asking forhis freedom.
27 ζυγος και ιμας τραχηλον καμψουσιν και οικετη κακουργω στρεβλαι και βασανοι	27 Yoke and harness wil bow the neck, for a bad servant, torments and the rack.
28 εμβαλε αυτον εις εργασιαν ινα μη αργη πολλην γαρ κακιαν εδιδαξεν η αργια	28 Set him to work, so that he will not be idle; idleness teaches every kind of mischief.
29 εις εργα καταστησον καθως πρεπει αυτω καν μη πειθαρχη βαρυνον τας πεδας αυτου	29 Keep him at his duties, where he should be, if he is disobedient, clap him in irons.
30 και μη περισσευσης επι παση σαρκι και ανευ κρισεως μη ποιησης μηδεν	30 But do not be over-exacting with anyone, and do nothing contrary to justice.
31 ει εστιν σοι οικετης εστω ως συ οτι εν αιματι εκτησω αυτον	31 You have only one slave? Treat him like yourself, since you have acquired him with blood.
32 ει εστιν σοι οικετης αγε αυτον ως αδελφον οτι ως η ψυχη σου επιδεησεις αυτω	32 You have only one slave? Treat him as a brother, since you need him as you need yourself.
33 εαν κακωσης αυτον και απαρας αποδρα εν ποια οδω ζητησεις αυτον	33 If you ill-treat him and he runs away, which way wil you go to look for him?