Wisdom of Sirach 17

The Lord created man of the earth, and turned him into it again.

Κύριος ἔκτισεν ἐκ γῆς ἄνθρωπον, καὶ πάλιν ἀπέστρεψεν αὐτὸν εἰς αὐτήν.

He gave them few days, and a short time, and power also over the things therein.

Ἡμέρας ἀριθμοῦ καὶ καιρὸν ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς, καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς ἐξουσίαν τῶν ἐπʼ αὐτῆς.

He endued them with strength by themselves, and made them according to his image,

Καθʼ ἑαυτοὺς ἐνέδυσεν αὐτοὺς ἰσχὺν, καὶ κατʼ εἰκόνα αὐτοῦ ἐποίησεν αὐτούς.

and put the fear of man upon all flesh, and gave him dominion over beasts and fowls.

Καὶ ἔθηκε τὸν φόβον αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ πάσης σαρκός, καὶ κατακυριεύειν θηρίων καὶ πετεινῶν.

Counsel, and a tongue, and eyes, ears, and a heart, gave he them to understand.

Διαβούλιον καὶ γλῶσσαν καὶ ὀφθαλμοὺς, ὦτα καὶ καρδίαν ἔδωκε διανοεῖσθαι αὐτοῖς.

Withal he filled them with the knowledge of understanding, and shewed them good and evil.

Ἐπιστήμην συνέσεως ἐνέπλησεν αὐτοὺς, καὶ ἀγαθὰ καὶ κακὰ ὑπέδειξεν αὐτοῖς.

He set his eye upon their hearts, that he might shew them the greatness of his works;

Ἔθηκε τὸν ὀφθαλμὸν αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τὰς καρδίας αὐτῶν, δεῖξαι αὐτοῖς τὸ μεγαλεῖον τῶν ἔργων αὐτοῦ·

and they shall praise his holy name, that they may search out his marvellous works.

καὶ ὄνομα ἁγιασμοῦ αἰνέσουσιν, ἵνα διηγῶνται τὰ μεγαλεῖα τῶν ἔργων αὐτοῦ.

Beside this he gave them knowledge, and the law of life for an heritage.

Προσέθηκεν αὐτοῖς ἐπιστήμην, καὶ νόμον ζωῆς ἐκληροδότησεν αὐτοῖς.

He made an everlasting covenant with them, and shewed them his judgments.

Διαθήκην αἰῶνος ἔστησε μετʼ αὐτῶν, καὶ τὰ κρίματα αὐτοῦ ὑπέδειξεν αὐτοῖς.

Their eyes saw the majesty of his glory, and their ears heard his glorious voice.

Μεγαλεῖον δόξης εἶδον οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ αὐτῶν, καὶ δόξαν φωνῆς αὐτῶν ἤκουσε τὸ οὖς αὐτῶν.

And he said unto them, Beware of all unrighteousness; and he gave every man commandment concerning his neighbour.

Καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς, προσέχετε ἀπὸ παντὸς ἀδίκου· καὶ ἐνετείλατο αὐτοῖς ἑκάστῳ περὶ τοῦ πλησίον.

Their ways are ever before him, and shall not be hid from his eyes.

Αἱ ὁδοὶ αὐτῶν ἐναντίον αὐτοῦ διαπαντὸς, οὐ κρυβήσονται ἀπὸ τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν αὐτοῦ.

For in the division of the nations of the whole earth he set a ruler over every people; but Israel is the Lord's portion:

Ἑκάστῳ ἔθνει κατέστησεν ἡγούμενον, καὶ μερὶς Κυρίου Ἰσραήλ ἐστιν.

Therefore all their works are as the sun before him, and his eyes are continually upon their ways.

Ἅπαντα τὰ ἔργα αὐτῶν ὡς ὁ ἥλιος ἐναντίον αὐτοῦ, καὶ οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ αὐτοῦ ἐνδελεχεῖς ἐπὶ τὰς ὁδοὺς αὐτῶν.

None of their unrighteous deeds are hid from him, but all their sins are before the Lord.

Οὐκ ἐκρύβησαν αἱ ἀδικίαι αὐτῶν ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ, καὶ πᾶσαι αἱ ἁμαρτίαι αὐτῶν ἔναντι Κυρίου.

The alms of a man is as a signet with him, and he will keep the good deeds of man as the apple of the eye, and give repentance to his sons and daughters.

Ἐλεημοσύνη ἀνδρὸς ὡς σφραγὶς μετʼ αὐτοῦ, καὶ χάριν ἀνθρώπου ὡς κόρην συντηρήσει.

Afterwards he will rise up and reward them, and render their recompence upon their heads.

Μετὰ ταῦτα ἐξαναστήσεται καὶ ἀνταποδώσει αὐτοῖς, καὶ τὸ ἀνταπόδομα αὐτῶν εἰς κεφαλὴν αὐτῶν ἀποδώσει.

But unto them that repent, he granted them return, and comforted those that failed in patience.

Πλὴν μετανοοῦσιν ἔδωκεν ἐπάνοδον, καὶ παρεκάλεσεν ἐκλείποντας ὑπομονήν.

Return unto the Lord, and forsake thy sins, make thy prayer before his face, and offend less.

Ἐπίστρεφε ἐπὶ Κύριον καὶ ἀπόλειπε ἁμαρτίας, δεήθητι κατὰ πρόσωπον καὶ σμίκρυνον πρόσκομμα.

Turn again to the most High, and turn away from iniquity: for he will lead thee out of darkness into the light of health, and hate thou abomination vehemently.

Ἐπάναγε ἐπὶ ὕψιστον, καὶ ἀπόστρεφε ἀπὸ ἀδικίας, καὶ σφόδρα μίσησον βδέλυγμα.

Who shall praise the most High in the grave, instead of them which live and give thanks?

Ὑψίστῳ τίς αἰνέσει ἐν ᾅδου; ἀντὶ ζώντων καὶ ζώντων καὶ διδόντων ἀνθομολόγησιν.

Thanksgiving perisheth from the dead, as from one that is not: the living and sound in heart shall praise the Lord.

Ἀπὸ νεκροῦ ὡς μηδὲ ὄντος ἀπόλλυται ἐξομολόγησις· ζῶν καὶ ὑγιὴς αἰνέσει τὸν Κύριον.

How great is the lovingkindness of the Lord our God, and his compassion unto such as turn unto him in holiness!

Ὡς μεγάλη ἡ ἐλεημοσύνη τοῦ Κυρίου, καὶ ἐξιλασμὸς τοῖς ἐπιστρέφουσιν ἐπʼ αὐτόν·

For all things cannot be in men, because the son of man is not immortal.

οὐ γὰρ δύναται πάντα εἶναι ἐν ἀνθρώποις, ὅτι οὐκ ἀθάνατος υἱὸς ἀνθρώπου.

What is brighter than the sun? yet the light thereof faileth: and flesh and blood will imagine evil.

Τί φωτεινότερον ἡλίου; καὶ τοῦτο ἐκλείπει, καὶ πονηρὸς ἐνθυμηθήσεται σάρκα καὶ αἷμα.

He vieweth the power of the height of heaven; and all men are but earth and ashes.

Δύναμιν ὕψους οὐρανοῦ αὐτὸς ἐπισκέπτεται, καὶ οἱ ἄνθρωποι πάντες γῆ καὶ σποδός.