1 ο ζων εις τον αιωνα εκτισεν τα παντα κοινη | 1 The Eternal is the judge of all things without exception; the LORD alone is just. |
2 κυριος μονος δικαιωθησεται | 2 Whom has he made equal to describing his works, and who can probe his mighty deeds? |
3 - | 3 Who can measure his majestic power, or exhaust the tale of his mercies? |
4 ουθενι εξεποιησεν εξαγγειλαι τα εργα αυτου και τις εξιχνευσει τα μεγαλεια αυτου | 4 One cannot lessen, nor increase, nor penetrate the wonders of the LORD. |
5 κρατος μεγαλωσυνης αυτου τις εξαριθμησεται και τις προσθησει εκδιηγησασθαι τα ελεη αυτου | 5 When a man ends he is only beginning, and when he stops he is still bewildered. |
6 ουκ εστιν ελαττωσαι ουδε προσθειναι και ουκ εστιν εξιχνιασαι τα θαυμασια του κυριου | 6 What is man, of what worth is he? the good, the evil in him, what are these? |
7 οταν συντελεση ανθρωπος τοτε αρχεται και οταν παυσηται τοτε απορηθησεται | 7 The sum of a man's days is great if it reaches a hundred years: |
8 τι ανθρωπος και τι η χρησις αυτου τι το αγαθον αυτου και τι το κακον αυτου | 8 Like a drop of sea water, like a grain of sand, so are these few years among the days of eternity. |
9 αριθμος ημερων ανθρωπου πολλα ετη εκατον | 9 That is why the LORD is patient with men and showers upon them his mercy. |
10 ως σταγων υδατος απο θαλασσης και ψηφος αμμου ουτως ολιγα ετη εν ημερα αιωνος | 10 He sees and understands that their death is grievous, and so he forgives them all the more. |
11 δια τουτο εμακροθυμησεν κυριος επ' αυτοις και εξεχεεν επ' αυτους το ελεος αυτου | 11 Man may be merciful to his fellow man, but the LORD'S mercy reaches all flesh, |
12 ειδεν και επεγνω την καταστροφην αυτων οτι πονηρα δια τουτο επληθυνεν τον εξιλασμον αυτου | 12 Reproving, admonishing, teaching, as a shepherd guides his flock; |
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 Merciful to those who accept his guidance, who are diligent in his precepts. |
14 τους εκδεχομενους παιδειαν ελεα και τους κατασπευδοντας επι τα κριματα αυτου | 14 My son, to your charity add no reproach, nor spoil any gift by harsh words. |
15 τεκνον εν αγαθοις μη δως μωμον και εν παση δοσει λυπην λογων | 15 Like dew that abates a burning wind, so does a word improve a gift. |
16 ουχι καυσωνα αναπαυσει δροσος ουτως κρεισσων λογος η δοσις | 16 Sometimes the word means more than the gift; both are offered by a kindly man. |
17 ουκ ιδου λογος υπερ δομα αγαθον και αμφοτερα παρα ανδρι κεχαριτωμενω | 17 Only a fool upbraids before giving; a grudging gift wears out the expectant eyes. |
18 μωρος αχαριστως ονειδιει και δοσις βασκανου εκτηκει οφθαλμους | 18 Be informed before speaking; before sickness prepare the cure. |
19 πριν η λαλησαι μανθανε και προ αρρωστιας θεραπευου | 19 Before you are judged, seek merit for yourself, and at the time of visitation you will have a ransom. |
20 προ κρισεως εξεταζε σεαυτον και εν ωρα επισκοπης ευρησεις εξιλασμον | 20 Before you have fallen, humble yourself; when you have sinned, show repentance. |
21 πριν αρρωστησαι σε ταπεινωθητι και εν καιρω αμαρτηματων δειξον επιστροφην | 21 Delay not to forsake sins, neglect it not till you are in distress. |
22 μη εμποδισθης του αποδουναι ευχην ευκαιρως και μη μεινης εως θανατου δικαιωθηναι | 22 Let nothing prevent the prompt payment of your vows; wait not to fulfill them when you are dying. |
23 πριν ευξασθαι ετοιμασον σεαυτον και μη γινου ως ανθρωπος πειραζων τον κυριον | 23 Before making a vow have the means to fulfill it; be not one who tries the LORD. |
24 μνησθητι θυμου εν ημεραις τελευτης και καιρον εκδικησεως εν αποστροφη προσωπου | 24 Think of wrath and the day of death, the time of vengeance when he will hide his face. |
25 μνησθητι καιρον λιμου εν καιρω πλησμονης πτωχειαν και ενδειαν εν ημεραις πλουτου | 25 Remember the time of hunger in the time of plenty, poverty and want in the day of wealth. |
26 απο πρωιθεν εως εσπερας μεταβαλλει καιρος και παντα εστιν ταχινα εναντι κυριου | 26 Between morning and evening the weather changes; before the LORD all things are fleeting. |
27 ανθρωπος σοφος εν παντι ευλαβηθησεται και εν ημεραις αμαρτιων προσεξει απο πλημμελειας | 27 A wise man is circumspect in all things; when sin is rife he keeps himself from wrongdoing. |
28 πας συνετος εγνω σοφιαν και τω ευροντι αυτην δωσει εξομολογησιν | 28 Any learned man should make wisdom known, and he who attains to her should declare her praise; |
29 συνετοι εν λογοις και αυτοι εσοφισαντο και ανωμβρησαν παροιμιας ακριβεις | 29 Those trained in her words must show their wisdom, dispensing sound proverbs like life-giving waters. |
30 οπισω των επιθυμιων σου μη πορευου και απο των ορεξεων σου κωλυου | 30 Go not after your lusts, but keep your desires in check. |
31 εαν χορηγησης τη ψυχη σου ευδοκιαν επιθυμιας ποιησει σε επιχαρμα των εχθρων σου | 31 If you satisfy your lustful appetites they will make you the sport of your enemies. |
32 μη ευφραινου επι πολλη τρυφη μη προσδεθης συμβολη αυτης | 32 Have no joy in the pleasures of a moment which bring on poverty redoubled; |
33 μη γινου πτωχος συμβολοκοπων εκ δανεισμου και ουδεν σοι εστιν εν μαρσιππιω | 33 Become not a glutton and a winebibber with nothing in your purse. |