1 μη διαμαχου μετα ανθρωπου δυναστου μηποτε εμπεσης εις τας χειρας αυτου | 1 Strive not with a mighty man' lest thou fall into his hands. |
2 μη εριζε μετα ανθρωπου πλουσιου μηποτε αντιστηση σου την ολκην πολλους γαρ απωλεσεν το χρυσιον και καρδιας βασιλεων εξεκλινεν | 2 Be not at variance with a rich man, lest he overweigh thee: for gold hath destroyed many, and perverted the hearts of kings. |
3 μη διαμαχου μετα ανθρωπου γλωσσωδους και μη επιστοιβασης επι το πυρ αυτου ξυλα | 3 Strive not with a man that is full of tongue, and heap not wood upon his fire. |
4 μη προσπαιζε απαιδευτω ινα μη ατιμαζωνται οι προγονοι σου | 4 Jest not with a rude man, lest thy ancestors be disgraced. |
5 μη ονειδιζε ανθρωπον αποστρεφοντα απο αμαρτιας μνησθητι οτι παντες εσμεν εν επιτιμοις | 5 Reproach not a man that turneth from sin, but remember that we are all worthy of punishment. |
6 μη ατιμασης ανθρωπον εν γηρα αυτου και γαρ εξ ημων γηρασκουσιν | 6 Dishonour not a man in his old age: for even some of us wax old. |
7 μη επιχαιρε επι νεκρω μνησθητι οτι παντες τελευτωμεν | 7 Rejoice not over thy greatest enemy being dead, but remember that we die all. |
8 μη παριδης διηγημα σοφων και εν ταις παροιμιαις αυτων αναστρεφου οτι παρ' αυτων μαθηση παιδειαν και λειτουργησαι μεγιστασιν | 8 Despise not the discourse of the wise, but acquaint thyself with their proverbs: for of them thou shalt learn instruction, and how to serve great men with ease. |
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 Miss not the discourse of the elders: for they also learned of their fathers, and of them thou shalt learn understanding, and to give answer as need requireth. |
10 μη εκκαιε ανθρακας αμαρτωλου μη εμπυρισθης εν πυρι φλογος αυτου | 10 Kindle not the coals of a sinner, lest thou be burnt with the flame of his fire. |
11 μη εξαναστης απο προσωπου υβριστου ινα μη εγκαθιση ως ενεδρον τω στοματι σου | 11 Rise not up [in anger] at the presence of an injurious person, lest he lie in wait to entrap thee in thy words |
12 μη δανεισης ανθρωπω ισχυροτερω σου και εαν δανεισης ως απολωλεκως γινου | 12 Lend not unto him that is mightier than thyself; for if thou lendest him, count it but lost. |
13 μη εγγυηση υπερ δυναμιν σου και εαν εγγυηση ως αποτεισων φροντιζε | 13 Be not surety above thy power: for if thou be surety, take care to pay it. |
14 μη δικαζου μετα κριτου κατα γαρ την δοξαν αυτου κρινουσιν αυτω | 14 Go not to law with a judge; for they will judge for him according to his honour. |
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 Travel not by the way with a bold fellow, lest he become grievous unto thee: for he will do according to his own will, and thou shalt perish with him through his folly. |
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 Strive not with an angry man, and go not with him into a solitary place: for blood is as nothing in his sight, and where there is no help, he will overthrow thee. |
17 μετα μωρου μη συμβουλευου ου γαρ δυνησεται λογον στεξαι | 17 Consult not with a fool; for he cannot keep counsel. |
18 ενωπιον αλλοτριου μη ποιησης κρυπτον ου γαρ γινωσκεις τι τεξεται | 18 Do no secret thing before a stranger; for thou knowest not what he will bring forth. |
19 παντι ανθρωπω μη εκφαινε σην καρδιαν και μη αναφερετω σοι χαριν | 19 Open not thine heart to every man, lest he requite thee with a shrewd turn. |