Wisdom of Sirach 30

He that loveth his son causeth him oft to feel the rod, that he may have joy of him in the end.

Ὁ ἀγαπῶν τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ, ἐνδελεχήσει μάστιγας αὐτῷ, ἵνα εὐφρανθῇ ἐπʼ ἐσχάτῳ αὐτοῦ.

He that chastiseth his son shall have joy in him, and shall rejoice of him among his acquaintance.

Ὁ παιδεύων τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ ὀνήσεται ἐπʼ αὐτῷ, καὶ ἀναμέσον γνωρίμων ἐπʼ αὐτῷ καυχήσεται.

He that teacheth his son grieveth the enemy: and before his friends he shall rejoice of him.

Ὁ διδάσκων τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ παραζηλώσει τὸν ἐχθρὸν, καὶ ἔναντι φίλων ἐπʼ αὐτῷ ἀγαλλιάσεται.

Though his father die, yet he is as though he were not dead: for he hath left one behind him that is like himself.

Ἐτελεύτησεν αὐτοῦ ὁ πατὴρ, καὶ ὡς οὐκ ἀπέθανεν, ὅμοιον γὰρ αὐτῷ κατέλιπε μετʼ αὐτόν.

While he lived, he saw and rejoiced in him: and when he died, he was not sorrowful.

Ἐν τῇ ζωῇ αὐτοῦ εἶδε καὶ εὐφράνθη, καὶ ἐν τῇ τελευτῇ αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἐλυπήθη.

He left behind him an avenger against his enemies, and one that shall requite kindness to his friends.

Ἐναντίον ἐχθρῶν κατέλιπεν ἔκδικον, καὶ τοῖς φίλοις ἀνταποδιδόντα χάριν.

He that maketh too much of his son shall bind up his wounds; and his bowels will be troubled at every cry.

Περιψύχων υἱὸν καταδεσμεύσει τραύματα αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐπὶ πάσῃ βοῇ ταραχθήσεται σπλάγχνα αὐτοῦ.

An horse not broken becometh headstrong: and a child left to himself will be wilful.

Ἵππος ἀδάμαστος ἀποβαίνει σκληρὸς, καὶ υἱὸς ἀνειμένος ἐκβαίνει προαλής.

Cocker thy child, and he shall make thee afraid: play with him, and he will bring thee to heaviness.

Τιθήνησον τέκνον καὶ ἐκθαμβήσει σε, σύμπαιζον αὐτῷ καὶ λυπήσει σε.

Laugh not with him, lest thou have sorrow with him, and lest thou gnash thy teeth in the end.

Μὴ συγγελάσῃς αὐτῷ ἵνα μὴ συνοδυνηθῇς, καὶ ἐπʼ ἐσχάτῳ γομφιάσεις τοὺς ὀδόντας σου.

Give him not liberty in youth.

Μὴ δῷς αὐτῷ ἐξουσίαν ἐν νεότητι.

Beat his sides while he is still young, lest becoming stubborn, he disobey thee.

Θλάσον τὰς πλευρὰς αὐτοῦ, ὡς ἔστι νήπιος, μήποτε σκληρυνθεὶς ἀπειθήσῃ σοι.

Train up thy son, and exercise him with work, lest by thy looseness thou stumble.

Παίδευσον τὸν υἱόν σου, καὶ ἔργασαι ἐναὐτῷ, ἵνα μὴ ἐν τῇ ἀσχημοσύνῃ σου προσκόψῃ.

And overlook not his ignorance.

Καὶ μὴ παρίδῃς τὰς ἀγνοίας αὐτοῦ.

Bow down his neck in his youth.

Κάμψον τὸν τράχηλον αὐτοῦ ἐν νεότητι. ΠΕΡΙ ʼΥΓΙΕΙΑΣ.

Better is the poor, being sound and strong of constitution, than a rich man that is afflicted in his body.

Κρείσσων πτωχὸς ὑγιὴς καὶ ἰσχύων τῇ ἕξει, ἢ πλούσιος μεμαστιγωμένος εἰς σῶμα αὐτοῦ.

Health and good estate of body are above all gold, and a strong body above infinite wealth.

Ὑγιεία καὶ εὐεξία βέλτιον παντὸς χρυσίου, καὶ σῶμα εὔρωστον ἢ ὄλβος ἀμέτρητος.

There is no riches above a sound body, and no joy above the joy of the heart.

Οὐκ ἔστι πλοῦτος βελτίων ὑγιείας σώματος, καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν εὐφροσύνη ὑπὲρ χαρὰν καρδίας.

Death is better than a bitter life or continual sickness.

Κρείσσων θάνατος ὑπὲρ ζωὴν πικρὰν, ἢ ἀῤῥώστημα ἔμμονον.

Delicacies poured upon a mouth shut up are as messes of meat set upon a grave.

Ἀγαθὰ ἐκκεχυμένα ἐπὶ στόματι κεκλεισμένῳ, θέματα βρωμάτων παρακείμενα ἐπὶ τάφῳ.

What good doeth the offering unto an idol? for neither can it eat nor smell: so is he that is persecuted of the Lord.

Τί συμφέρει κάρπωσις εἰδώλῳ; οὔτε γὰρ ἔδεται οὔτε μὴ ὀσφρανθῇ· οὕτως ὁ ἐκδιωκόμενος ὑπὸ Κυρίου.

He seeth with his eyes and groaneth, as an eunuch that embraceth a virgin and sigheth.

Βλέπων ἐν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς καὶ στενάζων, ὥσπερ εὐνοῦχος περιλαμβάνων παρθένον καὶ στενάζων.

Give not over thy mind to heaviness, and afflict not thyself in thine own counsel.

Μὴ δῷς εἰς λύπην τὴν ψυχήν σου, καὶ μὴ θλίψῃς σεαυτὸν ἐν βουλῇ σου.

The gladness of the heart is the life of man, and the joyfulness of a man prolongeth his days.

Εὐφροσύνη καρδίας ζωὴ ἀνθρώπου, καὶ ἀγαλλίαμα ἀνδρὸς μακροημέρευσις.

Love thine own soul, and comfort thy heart, remove sorrow far from thee: for sorrow hath killed many, and there is no profit therein.

Ἀγάπα τὴν ψυχήν σου, καὶ παρακάλει τὴν καρδίαν σου, καὶ λύπην μακρὰν ἀπόστησον ἀπὸ σοῦ· πολλοὺς γὰρ ἀπέκτεινεν ἡ λύπη, καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ὠφέλεια ἐν αὐτῇ.

Envy and wrath shorten the life, and carefulness bringeth age before the time.

Ζῆλος καὶ θυμὸς ἐλαττοῦσιν ἡμέρας, καὶ πρὸ καιροῦ γῆρας ἄγει μέριμνα.

I awaked up last of all, as one that gathereth after the grape-gatherers: by the blessing of the Lord I profited,

Ὡς καλαμώμενος ὀπίσω τρυγητῶν, ἐν εὐλογίᾳ Κυρίου ἔφθασα,

and filled my winepress like a gatherer of grapes. Consider that I laboured not for myself only, but for all them that seek learning.

καὶ ὡς τρυγῶν ἐπλήρωσα ληνόν. Κατανοήσατε ὅτι οὐκ ἐμοὶ μόνῳ ἐκοπίασα, ἀλλὰ πᾶσι τοῖς ζητοῦσι παιδείαν.

Hear me, O ye great men of the people, and hearken with your ears, ye rulers of the congregation.

Ακούσατέ μου μεγιστᾶνες λαοῦ, καὶ οἱ ἡγούμενοι ἐκκλησίας ἐνωτίσασθε.

Give not thy son and wife, thy brother and friend, power over thee while thou livest, and give not thy goods to another, lest it repent thee, and thou intreat for the same again.

Ὑιῷ καὶ γυναικὶ, ἀδελφῷ καὶ φίλῳ μὴ δῷς ἐξουσίαν ἐπὶ σὲ ἐν ζωῇ σου, καὶ μὴ δῷς ἑτέρῳ τὰ χρήματά σου, ἵνα μὴ μεταμεληθεὶς δέῃ περὶ αὐτῶν.

As long as thou livest and hast breath in thee, give not thyself over to any.

Ἕως ἔτι ζῇς καὶ πνοὴ ἐν σοὶ, μὴ ἀλλάξῃς σεαυτὸν πάσῃ σαρκί·

For better it is that thy children should seek to thee, than that thou shouldest stand to their courtesy.

κρεῖσσον γάρ ἐστι τὰ τέκνα δεηθῆναί σου, ἢ σὲ ἐμβλέπειν εἰς χεῖρας υἱῶν σου.

In all thy works keep to thyself the preeminence; leave not a stain in thine honour.

Ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς ἔργοις σου γίνου ὑπεράγων· μὴ δῷς μῶμον ἐν τῇ δόξῃ σου.

At the time when thou shalt end thy days, and finish thy life, distribute thine inheritance.

Ἐν ἡμέρᾳ συντελείας ἡμερῶν ζωῆς σου καὶ ἐν καιρῷ τελευτῆς διάδος κληρονομίαν. ΠΕΡΙ ΔΟΥΛΩΝ.

Fodder, a stick, and burdens, are for the ass; and bread, correction, and work, for a servant.

Χορτάσματα καί ῥάβδος καὶ φορτία ὄνῳ, ἄρτος καὶ παιδεία καὶ ἔργον οἱκέτῃ.

If thou set thy servant to labour, thou shalt find rest: but if thou let him go idle, he will seek liberty.

Ἔργασαι ἐν παιδὶ καὶ εὑρήσεις ἀνάπαυσιν, ἄνες χεῖρας αὐτῷ καὶ ζητήσει ἐλευθερίαν.

A yoke and a collar do bow the neck: so are tortures and torments for an evil servant.

Ζυγὸς καὶ ἱμὰς κάμψουσι τράχηλον, καὶ οἰκέτῃ κακούργῳ στρέβλαι καὶ βάσανοι.

Send him to labour, that he be not idle; for idleness teacheth much evil.

Ἔμβαλε αὐτὸν εἰς ἐργασίαν, ἵνα μὴ ἀργῇ, πολλὴν γὰρ κακίαν ἐδίδαξεν ἡ ἀργία.

Set him to work, as is fit for him: if he be not obedient, put on more heavy fetters.

Εἰς ἔργα κατάστησον καθὼς πρέπει αὐτῷ, κᾂν μὴ πειθαρχῇ, βάρυνον τὰς πέδας αὐτοῦ.

But be not excessive toward any; and without discretion do nothing.

Καὶ μὴ περισσεύσῃς ἐν πάσῃ σαρκὶ, καὶ ἄνευ κρίσεως μὴ ποιήσῃς μηδέν.

If thou have a servant, let him be unto thee as thyself, because thou hast bought him with a price.

Εἰ ἔστι σοι οἰκέτης, ἔστω ὡς σὺ, ὅτι ἐν αἵματι ἐκτήσω αὐτόν.

If thou have a servant, entreat him as a brother: for thou hast need of him, as of thine own soul: if thou entreat him evil, and he run from thee, which way wilt thou go to seek him?

Εἰ ἔστι σοι οἰκέτῃς, ἄγε αὐτὸν ὡς σεαυτὸν, ὅτι ὡς ἡ ψυχή σου ἐπιδεήσεις αὐτοῦ· ἐὰν κακώσῃς αὐτὸν, καὶ ἀπάρας ἀποδρᾷ, ἐν ποίᾳ ὁδῷ ζητήσεις αὐτόν;