Wisdom of Sirach 19

A labouring man that is given to drunkenness shall not be rich: and he that contemneth small things shall fall by little and little.

Ἐργάτης μέθυσος οὐ πλουτισθήσεται, ὁ ἐξουθενῶν τὰ ὀλίγα κατὰ μικρὸν πεσεῖται.

Wine and women will make men of understanding to fall away: and he that cleaveth to harlots will become impudent.

Οἶνος καὶ γυναῖκες ἀποστήσουσι συνετοὺς, καὶ ὁ κολλώμενος πόρναις τολμηρότερος ἔσται.

Moths and worms shall have him to heritage, and a bold man shall be taken away.

Σήτες καὶ σκώληκες κληρονομήσουσιν αὐτόν, καὶ ψυχὴ τολμηρὰ ἐξαρθήσεται.

He that is hasty to give credit is light-minded; and he that sinneth shall offend against his own soul.

Ὁ ταχὺ ἐμπιστεύων, κοῦφος καρδίᾳ, καὶ ὁ ἁμαρτάνων εἰς ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ πλημμελήσει.

Whoso taketh pleasure in wickedness shall be condemned:

Ὁ εὐφραινόμενος καρδίᾳ καταγνωσθήσεται,

but he that hateth babbling hath less of evil.

καὶ ὁ μισῶν λαλιὰν ἐλαττονοῦται κακίᾳ.

Rehearse not unto another that which is told unto thee, and thou shalt fare never the worse.

Μηδέποτε δευτερώσῃς λόγον, καὶ οὐθέν σοι οὐ μὴ ἐλαττονωθῇ.

Whether it be to friend or foe, talk not of other men's lives; and if thou canst not without offence, reveal them not.

Ἐν φίλῳ καὶ ἐν ἐχθρῷ μὴ διηγοῦ, καὶ εἰ μή ἐστί σοι ἁμαρτία, μὴ ἀποκάλυπτε.

For he heard and observed thee, and when time cometh he will hate thee.

Ἀκήκοε γάρ σου καὶ ἐφυλάξατό σε, καὶ ἐν καιρῷ μισήσει σε.

If thou hast heard a word, let it die with thee; and be bold, it will not burst thee.

Ἀκήκοας λόγον; συναποθανέτω σοι, θάρσει, οὐ μή σε ῥήξει.

A fool travaileth with a word, as a woman in labour of a child.

Ἀπὸ προσώπου λόγου ὠδινήσει μωρὸς, ὡς ἀπὸ προσώπου βρέφους ἡ τίκτουσα.

As an arrow that sticketh in a man's thigh, so is a word within a fool's belly.

Βέλος πεπηγὸς ἐν μηρῷ σαρκὸς, οὕτως λόγος ἐν κοιλίᾳ μωροῦ.

Admonish a friend, it may be he hath not done it: and if he have done it, that he do it no more.

Ἔλεγξον φίλον, μήποτε οὐκ ἐποίησε, καὶ εἴ τι ἐποίησε, μήποτε προσθῇ.

Admonish thy friend, it may be he hath not said it: and if he have, that he speak it not again.

Ἔλεγξον τὸν φίλον, μήποτε οὐκ εἶπε, καὶ εἰ εἴρηκεν, ἵνα μὴ δευτερώσῃ.

Admonish a friend: for many times it is a slander, and believe not every tale.

Ἔλεγξον φίλον, πολλάκις γὰρ γίνεται διαβολὴ, καὶ μὴ παντὶ λόγῳ πίστευε.

There is one that slippeth in his speech, but not from his heart; and who is he that hath not offended with his tongue?

Ἔστιν ὀλισθαίνων καὶ οὐκ ἀπὸ ψυχῆς· καὶ τίς οὐχ ἡμάρτησεν ἐν τῇ γλώσσῃ αὐτοῦ;

Admonish thy neighbour before thou threaten him; and give place to the law of the most High.

Ἔλεγξον τὸν πλησίον σου πρινη ἀπειλῆσαι, καὶ δὸς τόπον νόμῳ ὑψίστου.

The fear of the Lord is all wisdom; and in all wisdom is the performance of the law.

Πᾶσα σοφία φόβος Κυρίου, καὶ ἐν πάσῃ σοφίᾳ ποίησις νόμου.

The knowledge of wickedness is not wisdom, neither at any time the counsel of sinners prudence.

Καὶ οὐκ ἔστι σοφία πονηρίας ἐπιστήμη, καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν, ὅπου βουλὴ ἁμαρτωλῶν, φρόνησις.

There is a wickedness, and the same an abomination; and there is a fool wanting in wisdom.

Ἔστι πονηρία καὶ αὕτη βδέλυγμα, καὶ ἔστιν ἄφρων ἐλαττούμενος σοφίᾳ.

He that hath small understanding, and feareth God, is better than one that hath much wisdom, and transgresseth the law of the most High.

Κρείττων ἡττώμενος ἐν συνέσει ἔμφοβος, ἢ περισσεύων ἐν φρονήσει καὶ παραβαίνων νόμον.

There is an exquisite subtilty, and the same is unjust; and there is one that turneth aside to make judgment appear.

Ἔστι πανουργία ἀκριβὴς καὶ αὕτη ἄδικος, καὶ ἔστι διαστρέφων χάριν τοῦ ἐκφᾶναι κρίμα.

There is a wicked man that hangeth down his head sadly; but inwardly he is full of deceit,

Ἔστι πονηρευόμενος συγκεκυφὼς μελανίᾳ, καὶ τὰ ἐντὸς αὐτοῦ πλήρης δόλου.

casting down his countenance, and making as if he heard not: where he is not known, he will do thee a mischief before thou be aware.

Συγκύφων πρόσωπον καὶ ἑτεροκωφῶν, ὅπου οὐκ ἐπεγνώσθη, προφθάσει σε.

And if for want of power he be hindered from sinning, yet when he findeth opportunity he will do evil.

Καὶ ἐὰν ὑπὸ ἐλαττώματος ἰσχύος κωλυθῇ ἁμαρτεῖν, ἐὰν εὕρῃ καιρὸν, κακοποιήσει.

A man may be known by his look, and one that hath understanding by his countenance, when thou meetest him.

Ἀπὸ ὁράσεως ἐπιγνωσθήσεται ἀνὴρ, καὶ ἀπὸ ἀπαντήσεως προσώπου ἐπιγνωσθήσεται νοήμων.

A man's attire, and excessive laughter, and gait, shew what he is.

Στολισμὸς ἀνδρὸς καὶ γέλως ὀδόντων καὶ βήματα ἀνθρώπου ἀναγγέλλει τὰ περὶ αὐτοῦ.