Wisdom of Sirach 11

Wisdom lifteth up the head of him that is of low degree, and maketh him to sit among great men.

Σοφία ταπεινοῦ ἀνύψωσε κεφαλὴν, καὶ ἐν μέσῳ μεγιστάνων καθίσει αὐτόν.

Commend not a man for his beauty; neither abhor a man for his outward appearance.

Μὴ αἰνέσεις ἄνδρα ἐν κάλλει αὐτοῦ, καὶ μὴ βδελύξῃ ἄνθρωπον ἐν ὁράσει αὐτοῦ.

The bee is little among such as fly; but her fruit is the chief of sweet things.

Μικρὰ ἐν πετεινοῖς μέλισσα, καὶ ἀρχὴ γλυκασμάτων ὁ καρπὸς αὐτῆς.

Boast not of thy clothing and raiment, and exalt not thyself in the day of honour: for the works of the Lord are wonderful, and his works among men are hidden.

Ἐν περιβολῇ ἱματίων μὴ καυχήσῃ, καὶ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ δόξης μὴ ἐπαίρου, ὅτι θαυμαστὰ τὰ ἔργα Κυρίου, καὶ κρυπτὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ ἐν ἀνθρώποις.

Many kings have sat down upon the ground; and one that was never thought of hath worn the crown.

Πολλοὶ τύραννοι ἐκάθισαν ἐπὶ ἐδάφους, ὁ δὲ ἀνυπονόητος ἐφόρεσε διάδημα.

Many mighty men have been greatly disgraced; and the honourable delivered into other men's hands.

Πολλοὶ δυνάσται ἠτιμάσθησαν σφόδρα, καὶ ἔνδοξοι παρεδόθησαν εἰς χεῖρας ἑτέρων.

Blame not before thou hast examined the truth: understand first, and then rebuke.

Πρὶν ἐξετάσῃς μὴ μέμψῃ· νόησον πρῶτον καὶ τότε ἐπιτιμα.

Answer not before thou hast heard the cause: neither interrupt men in the midst of their talk.

Πρὶν ἢ ἀκοῦσαι μὴ ἀποκρίνου, καὶ ἐν μέσῳ λόγων μὴ παρεμβάλλου.

Strive not in a matter that concerneth thee not; and sit not in judgment with sinners.

Περὶ πράγματος οὗ οὐκ ἔστι σοι χρεία, μὴ ἔριζε, καὶ ἐν κρίσει ἁμαρτωλῶν μὴ συνέδρευε.

My son, meddle not with many matters: for if thou meddle much, thou shalt not be innocent; and if thou follow after, thou shalt not obtain, neither shalt thou escape by fleeing.

Τέκνον, μὴ περὶ πολλὰ ἔστωσαν αἱ πράξεις σου· ἐὰν πληθυνῇς, οὐκ ἀθωωθήσῃ· καὶ ἐὰν διώκῃς, οὐ μὴ καταλάβῃς, καὶ οὐ μὴ ἐκφύγῃς διαδράς.

There is one that laboureth, and taketh pains, and maketh haste, and is so much the more behind.

Ἔστι κοπιῶν καὶ πονῶν καὶ σπεύδων, καὶ τόσῳ μᾶλλον ὑστερεῖται.

Again, there is another that is slow, and hath need of help, wanting ability, and full of poverty; yet the eye of the Lord looked upon him for good, and set him up from his low estate,

Ἔστι νωθρὸς καὶ προσδεόμενος ἀντιλήψεως, ὑστερῶν ἰσχύϊ, καὶ πτωχείᾳ περισσεύει, καὶ οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ Κυρίου ἐπέβλεψαν αὐτῷ εἰς ἀγαθὰ, καὶ ἀνώρθωσεν αὐτὸν ἐκ ταπεινώσεως αὐτοῦ·

and lifted up his head from misery; so that many that saw it marvelled at him.

Καὶ ἀνύψωσε κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἀπεθαύμασαν ἐπʼ αὐτῷ πολλοί.

Prosperity and adversity, life and death, poverty and riches, come of the Lord.

Ἀγαθὰ καὶ κακά, ζωὴ καὶ θάνατος, πτωχεία καὶ πλοῦτος παρὰ Κυρίου ἐστί.

The gift of the Lord remaineth with the godly, and his favour bringeth prosperity for ever.

Δόσις Κυρίου παραμένει εὐσεβέσι, καὶ ἡ εὐδοκία αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα εὐοδωθήσεται.

There is that waxeth rich by his wariness and pinching, and this is the portion of his reward:

Ἔστι πλουτῶν ἀπὸ προσοχῆς καὶ σφιγγίας αὐτοῦ, καὶ αὕτη ἡ μερὶς τοῦ μισθοῦ αὐτοῦ.

whereas he saith, I have found rest, and now will eat continually of my goods; and yet he knoweth not what time shall come upon him, and that he must leave those things to others, and die.

Ἐν τῷ εἰπεῖν αὐτὸν, εὗρον ἀνάπαυσιν, καὶ νῦν φάγωμαι ἐκ τῶν ἀγαθῶν μου, καὶ οὐκ οἶδε τίς καιρὸς παρελεύσεται, καὶ καταλείψει αὐτὰ ἑτέροις, καὶ ἀποθανεῖται.

Be stedfast in thy covenant, and be conversant therein, and wax old in thy work.

Στῆθι ἐν διαθήκῃ σου καὶ ὁμίλει ἐν αὐτῇ, καὶ ἐν τῷ ἔργῳ σου παλαιώθητι.

Marvel not at the works of sinners; but trust in the Lord, and abide in thy labour: for it is an easy thing in the sight of the Lord on the sudden to make a poor man rich.

Μὴ θαύμαζε ἐν ἔργοις ἁμαρτωλοῦ, πίστευε τῷ Κυρίῳ καὶ ἔμμενε τῷ πόνῳ σου· ὅτι κοῦφον ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς Κυρίου διὰ τάχους ἐξάπινα πλουτίσαι πένητα.

The blessing of the Lord is in the reward of the godly, and suddenly he maketh his blessing to flourish.

Εὐλογία Κυρίου ἐν μισθῷ εὐσεβοῦς, καὶ ἐν ὥρᾳ ταχινῇ ἀναθάλλει εὐλογίαν αὐτοῦ.

Say not, What profit is there of my service? and what good things shall I have hereafter?

Μὴ εἴπῃς, τίς ἐστί μου χρεία; καὶ τίνα ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν ἔσται μου τὰ ἀγαθά;

Again, say not, I have enough, and possess many things, and what evil can come to me hereafter?

Μὴ εἴπῃς, αὐτάρκη μοι ἐστὶ, καὶ τί ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν κακωθήσομαι;

In the day of prosperity there is a forgetfulness of affliction: and in the day of affliction there is no more remembrance of prosperity.

Ἐν ἡμέρᾳ ἀγαθῶν ἀμνησία κακῶν, καὶ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ κακῶν οὐ μνησθήσεται ἀγαθῶν·

For it is an easy thing unto the Lord in the day of death to reward a man according to his ways.

ὅτι κοῦφον ἔναντι Κυρίου ἐν ἡμέρᾳ τελευτῆς ἀποδοῦναι ἀνθρώπῳ κατὰ τὰς ὁδοὺς αὐτοῦ.

The affliction of an hour maketh a man forget pleasure: and in his end his deeds shall be discovered.

Κάκωσις ὥρας ἐπιλησμονὴν ποιεῖ τρυφῆς, καὶ ἐν συντελείᾳ ἀνθρώπου ἀποκάλυψις ἔργων αὐτοῦ.

Judge none blessed before his death: for a man shall be known in his children.

Πρὸ τελευτῆς μὴ μακάριζε μηδένα, καὶ ἐν τέκνοις αὐτῶυ γνωσθήσεται ἀνήρ.

Bring not every man into thine house: for the deceitful man hath many trains.

Μὴ πάντα ἄνθρωπον εἴσαγε εἰς τὸν οἶκόν σου, πολλὰ γὰρ τὰ ἔνεδρα τοῦ δολίου.

Like as a partridge taken [and kept] in a cage, so is the heart of the proud: and like as a spy, watcheth he for thy fall:

Πέρδιξ θηρευτὴς ἐν καρτάλλῳ, οὕτως καρδία ὑπερηφάνου, καὶ ὡς ὁ κατάσκοπος ἐπιβλέπει πτῶσιν.

for he lieth in wait, and turneth good into evil, and in things worthy praise will lay blame upon thee.

Τὰ γὰρ ἀγαθὰ εἰς κακὰ μεταστρέφων ἐνεδρεύει, καὶ ἐν τοῖς αἱρετοῖς ἐπιθήσει μῶμον.

Of a spark of fire a heap of coals is kindled: and a sinful man layeth wait for blood.

Ἀπὸ σπινθῆρος πυρὸς πληθύνεται ἀνθρακία, καὶ ἄνθρωπος ἁμαρτωλὸς εἰς αἷμα ἐνεδρεύει.

Take heed of a mischievous man, for he worketh wickedness: lest he bring upon thee a perpetual blot.

Πρόσεχε ἀπὸ κακούργου, πονηρὰ γὰρ τεκταίνει, μήποτε μῶμον εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα δῷ σοι.

Receive a stranger into thine house, and he will disturb thee, and turn thee out of thine own.

Ἐνοίκισον ἀλλότριον, καὶ διαστρέψει σε ἐν ταραχαῖς, καὶ ἀπαλλοτριώσει σε τῶν ἰδίων σου.