Wisdom of Sirach 6

Instead of a friend become not an enemy; for [thereby] thou shalt inherit an ill name, shame, and reproach: even so shall a sinner that hath a double tongue.

Καὶ ἀντὶ φίλου μὴ γίνου ἐχθρός· ὄνομα γὰρ πονηρὸν αἰσχύνην καὶ ὄνειδος κληρονομήσει· οὕτως ὁ ἁμαρτωλὸς ὁ δίγλωσσος.

Extol not thyself in the counsel of thine own heart: that thy soul be not torn in pieces as a bull [straying alone].

Μὴ ἐπάρῃς σεαυτὸν ἐν βουλῇ ψυχῆς σου, ἵνα μὴ διαρπαγῇ ὡς ταῦρος ἡ ψυχή σου.

Thou shalt eat up thy leaves, and lose thy fruit, and leave thyself as a dry tree.

Τὰ φύλλα σου καταφάγεσαι, καὶ τοὺς καρπούς σου ἀπολέσεις, καὶ ἀφήσεις σεαυτὸν ὡς ξύλον ξηρόν.

A wicked soul shall destroy him that hath it, and shall make him to be laughed to scorn of his enemies.

Ψυχὴ πονηρὰ ἀπολεῖ τὸν κτησάμενον αὐτήν, καὶ ἐπίχαρμα ἐχθρῶν ποιήσει αὐτόν.

Sweet language will multiply friends: and a fairspeaking tongue will increase kind greetings.

Λάρυγξ γλυκὺς πληθυνεῖ φίλους αὐτοῦ, καὶ γλῶσσα εὔλαλος πληθυνεῖ εὐπροσήγορα.

Be in peace with many: nevertheless have but one counsellor of a thousand.

Οἱ εἰρηνεύοντές σοι ἔστωσαν πολλοὶ, οἱ δὲ σύμβουλοί σου εἷς ἀπὸ χιλίων.

If thou wouldest get a friend, prove him first, and be not hasty to credit him.

Εἰ κτᾶσαι φίλον, ἐν πειρασμῷ κτῆσαι αὐτόν, καὶ μὴ ταχὺ ἐμπιστεύσῃς αὐτῷ.

For some man is a friend for his own occasion, and will not abide in the day of thy trouble.

Ἔστι γὰρ φίλος ἐν καιρῷ αὐτοῦ, καὶ οὐ μὴ παραμείνῃ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ θλίψεώς σου.

And there is a friend, who being turned to enmity and strife will discover thy reproach.

Καὶ ἔστι φίλος μετατιθέμενος εἰς ἔχθραν, καὶ μάχην ὀνειδισμοῦ σου ἀποκαλύψει.

Again, some friend is a companion at the table, and will not continue in the day of thy affliction.

Καὶ ἔστι φίλος κοινωνὸς τραπεζῶν, καὶ οὐ μὴ παραμείνῃ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ θλίψεώς σου.

But in thy prosperity he will be as thyself, and will be bold over thy servants.

Καὶ ἐν τοῖς ἀγαθοῖς σου ἔσται ὡς σὺ, καὶ ἐπὶ τοὺς οἰκέτας σου παῤῥησιάσεται.

If thou be brought low, he will be against thee, and will hide himself from thy face.

Ἐὰν ταπεινωθῇς, ἔσται κατὰ σοῦ, καὶ ἀπὸ τοῦ προσώπου σου κρυβήσεται.

Separate thyself from thine enemies, and take heed of thy friends.

Ἀπὸ τῶν ἐχθρῶν σου διαχωρίσθητι, καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν φίλων σου πρόσεχε.

A faithful friend is a strong defence: and he that hath found such an one hath found a treasure.

Φίλος πιστὸς σκέπη κραταιὰ, ὁ δὲ εὑρὼν αὐτὸν εὗρε θησαυρόν.

Nothing doth countervail a faithful friend, and his excellency is invaluable.

Φίλου πιστοῦ οὐκ ἔστιν ἀντάλλαγμα, καὶ οὐκ ἔστι σταθμὸς τῆς καλλονῆς αὐτοῦ.

A faithful friend is the medicine of life; and they that fear the Lord shall find him.

Φίλος πιστὸς φάρμακον ζωῆς, καὶ οἱ φοβούμενοι Κύριον εὑρήσουσιν αὐτόν.

Whoso feareth the Lord shall direct his friendship aright: for as he is, so shall his neighbour be also.

Ὁ φοβούμενος Κύριον εὐθύνει φιλίαν αὐτοῦ, ὅτι κατʼ αὐτὸν οὕτως καὶ ὁ πλησίον αὐτοῦ.

My son, gather instruction from thy youth up: so shalt thou find wisdom till thine old age.

Τέκνον, ἐκ νεότητός σου ἐπίλεξαι παιδείαν, καὶ ἕως πολιῶν εὑρήσεις σοφίαν.

Come unto her as one that ploweth and soweth, and wait for her good fruits: for thou shalt not toil much in labouring about her, but thou shalt eat of her fruits right soon.

Ὡς ὁ ἀροτριῶν καὶ ὁ σπείρων πρόσελθε αὐτῇ, καὶ ἀνάμενε τοὺς ἀγαθοὺς καρποὺς αὐτῆς· ἐν γὰρ τῇ ἐργασίᾳ αὐτῆς ὀλίγον κοπιάσεις, καὶ ταχὺ φάγεσαι γεννημάτων αὐτῆς.

She is very unpleasant to the unlearned: he that is without understanding will not remain with her.

Ὡς τραχεῖά ἐστι σφόδρα τοῖς ἀπαιδεύτοις, καὶ οὐκ ἐμμενεῖ ἐν αὐτῇ ἀκάρδιος.

She will lie upon him as a mighty stone of trial; and he will cast her from him ere it be long.

Ὡς λίθος δοκιμασίας ἰσχυρὸς ἔσται ἐπʼ αὐτῷ, καὶ οὐ χρονιεῖ ἀποῤῥίψαι αὐτήν.

For wisdom is according to her name, and she is not manifest unto many.

Σοφία γὰρ κατὰ τὸ ὄνομα αὐτῆς ἐστι, καὶ οὐ πολλοῖς ἐστι φανερά.

Give ear, my son, receive my advice, and refuse not my counsel,

Ἄκουσον, τέκνον, καὶ δέξαι γνώμην μου, καὶ μὴ ἀπαναίνου τὴν συμβουλίαν μου.

and put thy feet into her fetters, and thy neck into her chain.

Καὶ εἰσένεγκον τοὺς πόδας σου εἰς τὰς πέδας αὐτῆς, καὶ εἰς τὸν κλοίον αὐτῆς τὸν τράχηλόν σου.

Bow down thy shoulder, and bear her, and be not grieved with her bonds.

Ὑπόθες τὸν ὦμόν σοῦ, καὶ βάσταξον αὐτὴν, καὶ μὴ προσοχθίσῃς τοῖς δεσμοῖς αὐτῆς.

Come unto her with thy whole heart, and keep her ways with all thy power.

Ἐν πάσῃ ψυχῇ σου πρόσελθε αὐτῇ, καὶ ἐν ὅλῃ δυνάμει σου συντήρησον τὰς ὁδοὺς αὐτῆς.

Search, and seek, and she shall be made known unto thee: and when thou hast got hold of her, let her not go.

Ἐξίχνεύσον καὶ ζήτησον, καὶ γνωσθήσεταί σοι, καὶ ἐγκρατὴς γενόμενος μὴ ἀφῇς αὐτήν.

For at the last thou shalt find her rest, and that shall be turned to thy joy.

Ἐπʼ ἐσχάτων γὰρ εὑρήσεις τὴν ἀνάπαυσιν αὐτῆς, καὶ στραφήσεταί σοι εἰς εὐφροσύνην.

Then shall her fetters be a strong defence for thee, and her chains a robe of glory.

Καὶ ἔσονταί σοι αἱ πέδαι εἰς σκέπην ἰσχύος, καὶ οἱ κλοιοὶ αὐτῆς εἰς στολὴν δόξης.

For there is a golden ornament upon her, and her bands are purple lace.

Κόσμος γὰρ χρύσεός ἐστιν ἐπʼ αὐτῆς, καὶ οἱ δεσμοὶ αὐτῆς κλῶσμα ὑακίνθινον.

Thou shalt put her on as a robe of honour, and shalt put her about thee as a crown of joy.

Στολὴν δόξης ἐνδύσῃ αὐτὴν, καὶ στέφανον ἀγαλλιάματος περιθήσεις σεαυτῷ.

My son, if thou wilt, thou shalt be taught: and if thou wilt apply thy mind, thou shalt be prudent.

Ἐὰν θέλῃς, τέκνον, παιδευθήσῃ, καὶ ἐὰν δῷς τὴν ψυχήν σου, πανοῦργος ἔσῃ.

If thou love to hear, thou shalt receive understanding: and if thou bow thine ear, thou shalt be wise.

Ἐὰν ἀγαπήσῃς ἀκούειν ἐκδέξῃ, καὶ ἐὰν κλίνῃς τὸ οὖς σου σοφὸς ἔσῃ.

Stand in the multitude of the elders; and cleave unto him that is wise.

Ἐν πλήθει πρεσβυτέρων στῆθι, καὶ, τίς σοφός; αὐτῷ προσκολλήθητι.

Be willing to hear every godly discourse: and let not the parables of understanding escape thee.

Πᾶσαν διήγησιν θείαν θέλε ἀκούειν, καὶ παροιμίαι συνέσεως μὴ ἐκφευγέτωσάν σε.

And if thou seest a man of understanding, get thee betimes unto him, and let thy foot wear the steps of his door.

Ἐὰν ἴδῃς συνετὸν, ὄρθριζε πρὸς αὐτὸν, καὶ βαθμοὺς θυρῶν αὐτοῦ ἐκτριβέτω ὁ πούς σου.

Let thy mind be upon the ordinances of the Lord, and meditate continually in his commandments: he shall establish thine heart, and give thee wisdom at thine own desire.

Διανοοῦ ἐν τοῖς προστάγμασιν Κυρίου, καὶ ἐν ταῖς ἐντολαῖς αὐτοῦ μελέτα διαπαντός· αὐτὸς στηριεῖ τὴν καρδίαν σου, καὶ ἡ ἐπιθυμία τῆς σοφίας σου δοθήσεταί σοι.