Sirach 37

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	LXX
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?	1 πας φιλος ερει εφιλιασα καγω αλλ' εστιν φιλος ονοματι μονον φιλος
2 But a companion and friend may turn into an enemy.	2 ουχι λυπη ενι εως θανατου εταιρος και φιλος τρεπομενος εις εχθραν
3 O wicked presumption! From what were you created that you would cover the dry land with your malice and deceitfulness?	3 ω πονηρον ενθυμημα ποθεν ενεκυλισθης καλυψαι την ξηραν εν δολιοτητι
4 A companion may rejoice with his friend in good times, but in a time of tribulation, he will be an adversary.	4 εταιρος φιλου εν ευφροσυνη ηδεται και εν καιρω θλιψεως εσται απεναντι
5 There is a companion who commiserates with a friend for the sake of the stomach, but he will shield himself from the enemy.	5 εταιρος φιλω συμπονει χαριν γαστρος εναντι πολεμου λημψεται ασπιδα
6 You should not forget your friend in your soul, and you should not be unmindful of him in your wealth.	6 μη επιλαθη φιλου εν τη ψυχη σου και μη αμνημονησης αυτου εν χρημασιν σου
7 Do not choose to consult with someone who waits in ambush for you. And hide your counsel from those who rival you.	7 πας συμβουλος εξαιρει βουλην αλλ' εστιν συμβουλευων εις εαυτον
8 Every counselor offers advice, but some are counselors only for themselves.	8 απο συμβουλου φυλαξον την ψυχην σου και γνωθι προτερον τις αυτου χρεια και γαρ αυτος εαυτω βουλευσεται μηποτε βαλη επι σοι κληρον
9 Guard your soul from a counselor. And know beforehand what his interests are. For he will form thoughts from his own soul.	9 και ειπη σοι καλη η οδος σου και στησεται εξ αναντιας ιδειν το συμβησομενον σοι
10 Otherwise, he may set a signpost in the ground, and he may say to you:	10 μη βουλευου μετα του υποβλεπομενου σε και απο των ζηλουντων σε κρυψον βουλην
11 “Your own way is good.” But then he will stand at a distance to see what befalls 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
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,	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
13 nor with the impious about piety, nor with the dishonest about honesty, nor with the field worker about other kinds of work,	13 και βουλην καρδιας στησον ου γαρ εστιν σοι πιστοτερος αυτης
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.	14 ψυχη γαρ ανδρος απαγγελλειν ενιοτε ειωθεν η επτα σκοποι επι μετεωρου καθημενοι επι σκοπης
15 But be continually with a holy man, with anyone whom you know to observe the fear of God,	15 και επι πασι τουτοις δεηθητι υψιστου ινα ευθυνη εν αληθεια την οδον σου
16 whose soul is in agreement with your own soul, and who, when you falter in the dark, will share your sorrows.	16 αρχη παντος εργου λογος και προ πασης πραξεως βουλη
17 And establish a heart of good counsel within yourself. For there is nothing of greater usefulness to you than this.	17 ιχνος αλλοιωσεως καρδιας τεσσαρα μερη ανατελλει
18 At any time, the soul of a holy man declares more truths than seven vigilant watchmen sitting in a high place.	18 αγαθον και κακον ζωη και θανατος και η κυριευουσα ενδελεχως αυτων γλωσσα εστιν
19 But concerning all things, pray to the Most High, so that he may direct your way in truth.	19 εστιν ανηρ πανουργος πολλων παιδευτης και τη ιδια ψυχη εστιν αχρηστος
20 In all your works, let a true word precede you, with steadfast counsel before every deed.	20 εστιν σοφιζομενος εν λογοις μισητος ουτος πασης τροφης καθυστερησει
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.	21 ου γαρ εδοθη αυτω παρα κυριου χαρις οτι πασης σοφιας εστερηθη
22 A man of experience has taught many, and this is pleasant to his own soul.	22 εστιν σοφος τη ιδια ψυχη και οι καρποι της συνεσεως αυτου επι στοματος πιστοι
23 Whoever speaks mere rhetoric is hateful; he will be deceived in every matter.	23 ανηρ σοφος τον εαυτου λαον παιδευσει και οι καρποι της συνεσεως αυτου πιστοι
24 Grace is not given to him from the Lord. For he has been deprived of all wisdom.	24 ανηρ σοφος πλησθησεται ευλογιας και μακαριουσιν αυτον παντες οι ορωντες
25 There is a wise man who is wise within his own soul, and the fruit of his understanding is praiseworthy.	25 ζωη ανδρος εν αριθμω ημερων και αι ημεραι του ισραηλ αναριθμητοι
26 A wise man instructs his own people, and the fruit of his understanding is faithful.	26 ο σοφος εν τω λαω αυτου κληρονομησει πιστιν και το ονομα αυτου ζησεται εις τον αιωνα
27 A wise man will be filled with blessings, and those who see will praise him.	27 τεκνον εν ζωη σου πειρασον την ψυχην σου και ιδε τι πονηρον αυτη και μη δως αυτη
28 The life of a man is in the number of his days. But the days of Israel are innumerable.	28 ου γαρ παντα πασιν συμφερει και ου πασα ψυχη εν παντι ευδοκει
29 A wise man will inherit honor among the people, and his name will live in eternity.	29 μη απληστευου εν παση τρυφη και μη εκχυθης επι εδεσματων
30 Son, test your own mind in your life, and if it is lacking, you should not give it authority.	30 εν πολλοις γαρ βρωμασιν εσται νοσος και η απληστια εγγιει εως χολερας
31 For not all things are fitting for all persons, and not every kind of thing is agreeable to every soul.	31 δι' απληστιαν πολλοι ετελευτησαν ο δε προσεχων προσθησει ζωην
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.