ΣΟΦΙΑ ΣΕΙΡΑΧ - Siracide - Sirach 43

LXX	NEW JERUSALEM
1 γαυριαμα υψους στερεωμα καθαριοτητος ειδος ουρανου εν οραματι δοξης	1 Pride of the heights, a clear vault of the sky -- such is the beauty of the heavens, a glorious sight.
2 ηλιος εν οπτασια διαγγελλων εν εξοδω σκευος θαυμαστον εργον υψιστου	2 The sun, as he emerges, proclaims at his rising, 'How wonderful a thing, the work of the Most High!'
3 εν μεσημβρια αυτου αναξηραινει χωραν και εναντιον καυματος αυτου τις υποστησεται	3 At his zenith, he parches the ground, who can withstand his blaze?
4 καμινον φυσων εν εργοις καυματος τριπλασιως ηλιος εκκαιων ορη ατμιδας πυρωδεις εκφυσων και εκλαμπων ακτινας αμαυροι οφθαλμους	4 We have to blow the furnace to produce any heat, the sun burns the mountains three times as much;breathing out blasts of fire, flashing his rays, he dazzles the eyes.
5 μεγας κυριος ο ποιησας αυτον και εν λογοις αυτου κατεσπευσεν πορειαν	5 Great is the Lord who created him and whose word speeds him on his course.
6 και η σεληνη εν πασιν εις καιρον αυτης αναδειξιν χρονων και σημειον αιωνος	6 And then the moon, ever punctual to mark the times, an everlasting sign:
7 απο σεληνης σημειον εορτης φωστηρ μειουμενος επι συντελειας	7 It is the moon that signals the feasts, a luminary that wanes after being ful .
8 μην κατα το ονομα αυτης εστιν αυξανομενος θαυμαστως εν αλλοιωσει σκευος παρεμβολων εν υψει εν στερεωματι ουρανου εκλαμπων	8 The month derives its name from hers, she waxes wonderful y in her phases, banner of the hosts onhigh, shining in the vault of heaven.
9 καλλος ουρανου δοξα αστρων κοσμος φωτιζων εν υψιστοις κυριου	9 The glory of the stars makes the beauty of the sky, a brilliant adornment of the Lord on High.
10 εν λογοις αγιου στησονται κατα κριμα και ου μη εκλυθωσιν εν φυλακαις αυτων	10 At the words of the Holy One they stand as he decrees, and never grow slack at their watch.
11 ιδε τοξον και ευλογησον τον ποιησαντα αυτο σφοδρα ωραιον εν τω αυγασματι αυτου	11 See the rainbow and praise its Maker, so superbly beautiful in its splendour.
12 εγυρωσεν ουρανον εν κυκλωσει δοξης χειρες υψιστου ετανυσαν αυτο	12 Across the sky it forms a glorious arc drawn by the hands of the Most High.
13 προσταγματι αυτου κατεσπευσεν χιονα και ταχυνει αστραπας κριματος αυτου	13 By his command he sends the snow, he speeds the lightning by his command.
14 δια τουτο ηνεωχθησαν θησαυροι και εξεπτησαν νεφελαι ως πετεινα	14 In the same way, his treasuries open and the clouds fly out like birds.
15 εν μεγαλειω αυτου ισχυσεν νεφελας και διεθρυβησαν λιθοι χαλαζης	15 His great power solidifies the clouds, then pulverises them into hail.
16 και εν οπτασια αυτου σαλευθησεται ορη εν θεληματι αυτου πνευσεται νοτος	16 at the sight of him, the mountains quake. At his wil the south wind blows,or the storm from the northand the whirlwind.
17 φωνη βροντης αυτου ωνειδισεν γην και καταιγις βορεου και συστροφη πνευματος	17 At the roar of his thunder, the earth writhes in labour,
18 ως πετεινα καθιπταμενα πασσει χιονα και ως ακρις καταλυουσα η καταβασις αυτης καλλος λευκοτητος αυτης εκθαυμασει οφθαλμος και επι του υετου αυτης εκστησεται καρδια	18 He sprinkles snow like birds alighting, it comes down like locusts settling. The eye marvels at thebeauty of its whiteness, and the mind is amazed at its falling.
19 και παχνην ως αλα επι γης χεει και παγεισα γινεται σκολοπων ακρα	19 Over the earth, like salt, he also pours hoarfrost, which, when it freezes, bristles like thorns.
20 ψυχρος ανεμος βορεης πνευσει και παγησεται κρυσταλλος εφ' υδατος επι πασαν συναγωγην υδατος καταλυσει και ως θωρακα ενδυσεται το υδωρ	20 The cold wind blows from the north, and ice forms on the water; it forms on every piece of standingwater, covering it like a breastplate.
21 καταφαγεται ορη και ερημον εκκαυσει και αποσβεσει χλοην ως πυρ	21 The wind swal ows up the mountains and scorches the desert, like a fire it consumes the vegetation.
22 ιασις παντων κατα σπουδην ομιχλη δροσος απαντωσα απο καυσωνος ιλαρωσει	22 But cloud brings swift healing, and dew brings joy after the heat.
23 λογισμω αυτου εκοπασεν αβυσσον και εφυτευσεν εν αυτη νησους	23 By his own resourcefulness he has tamed the abyss, and planted it with islands.
24 οι πλεοντες την θαλασσαν διηγουνται τον κινδυνον αυτης και ακοαις ωτιων ημων θαυμαζομεν	24 Those who sail the sea tell of its dangers, their accounts fill our ears with amazement:
25 και εκει τα παραδοξα και θαυμασια εργα ποικιλια παντος ζωου κτισις κητων	25 for there too exist strange and wonderful works, animals of every kind and huge sea creatures.
26 δι' αυτον ευοδοι αγγελος αυτου και εν λογω αυτου συγκειται τα παντα	26 Thanks to God, his messenger reaches port, everything works out according to his word.
27 πολλα ερουμεν και ου μη αφικωμεθα και συντελεια λογων το παν εστιν αυτος	27 We could say much more and stil fal short; to put it concisely, 'He is al .'
28 δοξαζοντες που ισχυσομεν αυτος γαρ ο μεγας παρα παντα τα εργα αυτου	28 Where shall we find sufficient power to glorify him, since he is the Great One, above al his works,
29 φοβερος κυριος και σφοδρα μεγας και θαυμαστη η δυναστεια αυτου	29 the awe-inspiring Lord, stupendously great, and wonderful in his power?
30 δοξαζοντες κυριον υψωσατε καθ' οσον αν δυνησθε υπερεξει γαρ και ετι και υψουντες αυτον πληθυνατε εν ισχυι μη κοπιατε ου γαρ μη αφικησθε	30 Exalt the Lord in your praises as high as you may -- stil he surpasses you. Exert al your strengthwhen you exalt him, do not grow tired -- you wil never come to the end.
31 τις εορακεν αυτον και εκδιηγησεται και τις μεγαλυνει αυτον καθως εστιν	31 Who has ever seen him to describe him? Who can glorify him as he deserves?
32 πολλα αποκρυφα εστιν μειζονα τουτων ολιγα γαρ εωρακαμεν των εργων αυτου	32 Many mysteries remain even greater than these, for we have seen only a few of his works,
33 παντα γαρ εποιησεν ο κυριος και τοις ευσεβεσιν εδωκεν σοφιαν	33 the Lord himself having created al things and given wisdom to those who are devout.