Delphi Septuagint

by Lancelot C L Brenton (ed)

[6] μέγα ἄνθρωπος καὶ τίμιον ἀνὴρ ἐλεήμων, ἄνδρα δὲ πιστὸν ἔργον εὑρεῖν.

  [6] A man is valuable, and a merciful man precious: but it is hard to find a faithful man.

  [7] ὃς ἀναστρέφεται ἄμωμος ἐν δικαιοσύνῃ, μακαρίους τοὺς παῖδας αὐτοῦ καταλείψει.

  [7] He that walks blameless in justice, shall leave his children blessed.

  [8] ὅταν βασιλεὺς δίκαιος καθίσῃ ἐπὶ θρόνου, οὐκ ἐναντιοῦται ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς αὐτοῦ πᾶν πονηρόν.

  [8] Whenever a righteous king sits on the throne, no evil thing can stand before his presence.

  [9] τίς καυχήσεται ἁγνὴν ἔχειν τὴν καρδίαν; ἢ τίς παρρησιάσεται καθαρὸς εἶναι ἀπὸ ἁμαρτιῶν;

  [9] Who will boast that he has a pure heart? or who will boldly say that he is pure from sins?

  [20] κακολογοῦντος πατέρα ἢ μητέρα σβεσθήσεται λαμπτήρ, αἱ δὲ κόραι τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν αὐτοῦ ὄψονται σκότος.

  [20] The lamp of him that reviles father or mother shall be put out, and his eyeballs shall see darkness.

  [21] μερὶς ἐπισπουδαζομένη ἐν πρώτοις, ἐν τοῖς τελευταίοις οὐκ εὐλογηθήσεται.

  [21] A portion hastily gotten at first shall not be blessed in the end.

  [22] μὴ εἴπῃς· τίσομαι τὸν ἐχθρόν, ἀλλ᾿ ὑπόμεινον τὸν Κύριον, ἵνα σοι βοηθήσῃ.

  [22] Say not, I will avenge myself on my enemy; but wait on the Lord, that he may help thee.

  [10] στάθμιον μέγα καὶ μικρὸν καὶ μέτρα δισσά, ἀκάθαρτα ἐνώπιον Κυρίου καὶ ἀμφότερα καὶ ὁ ποιῶν αὐτά.

  [10] A large and small weight, and divers measures, are even both of them unclean before the Lord; and so is he that makes them.

  [11] ἐν τοῖς ἐπιτηδεύμασιν αὐτοῦ συμποδισθήσεται νεανίσκος μετὰ ὁσίου, καὶ εὐθεῖα ἡ ὁδὸς αὐτοῦ.

  [11] A youth when in company with a godly man, will be restrained in his devices, and then his way will be straight.

  [12] οὖς ἀκούει καὶ ὀφθαλμὸς ὁρᾷ· Κυρίου ἔργα καὶ ἀμφότερα.

  [12] The ear hears, and the eye sees: even both of them are the Lord’s work.

  [13] μὴ ἀγάπα καταλαλεῖν, ἵνα μὴ ἐξαρθῇς· διάνοιξον τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς σου καὶ ἐμπλήσθητι ἄρτων.

  [13] Love not to speak ill, lest thou be cut off: open thine eyes, and be filled with bread.

  [23] βδέλυγμα Κυρίῳ δισσὸν στάθμιον, καὶ ζυγὸς δόλιος οὐ καλὸν ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ.

  [23] A double weight is an abomination to the Lord; and a deceitful balance is not good in his sight.

  [24] παρὰ Κυρίου εὐθύνεται τὰ διαβήματα ἀνδρί, θνητὸς δὲ πῶς ἂν νοήσαι τὰς ὁδοὺς αὐτοῦ;

  [24] A man’s goings are directed of the Lord: how then can a mortal understand his ways?

  [25] παγὶς ἀνδρὶ ταχύ τι τῶν ἰδίων ἁγιάσαι, μετὰ γὰρ τὸ εὔξασθαι μετανοεῖν γίνεται.

  [25] It is a snare to a man hastily to consecrate some of his own property: for in that case repentance comes after vowing.

  [26] λικμήτωρ ἀσεβῶν βασιλεὺς σοφός, καὶ ἐπιβαλεῖ αὐτοῖς τροχόν.

  [26] A wise king utterly crushes the ungodly, and will bring a wheel upon them.

  [27] φῶς Κυρίου πνοὴ ἀνθρώπων, ὃς ἐρευνᾷ ταμιεῖα κοιλίας.

  [27] The spirit of man is a light of the Lord, who searches the inmost parts of the belly.

  [28] ἐλεημοσύνη καὶ ἀλήθεια φυλακὴ βασιλεῖ, καὶ περικυκλώσουσιν ἐν δικαιοσύνῃ τὸν θρόνον αὐτοῦ.

  [28] Mercy and truth are a guard to a king, and will surround his throne with righteousness.

  [29] κόσμος νεανίαις σοφία, δόξα δὲ πρεσβυτέρων πολιαί.

  [29] Wisdom is an ornament to young men; and grey hairs are the glory of old men.

  [30] ὑπώπια καὶ συντρίμματα συναντᾷ κακοῖς, πληγαὶ δὲ εἰς ταμιεῖα κοιλίας.

  [30] Bruises and contusions befall bad men; and plagues shall come in the inward parts of their belly.

  Chapter 21

  ΩΣΠΕΡ ὁρμὴ ὕδατος, οὕτως καρδία βασιλέως ἐν χειρὶ Θεοῦ· οὗ ἐὰν θέλων νεύσῃ, ἐκεῖ ἔκλινεν αὐτήν.

  As a rush of water, so is the king’s heart in God’s hand: he turns it whithersoever he may desire to point out.

  [2] πᾶς ἀνὴρ φαίνεται ἑαυτῷ δίκαιος, κατευθύνει δὲ καρδίας Κύριος.

  [2] Every man seems to himself righteous; but the Lord directs the hearts.

  [3] ποιεῖν δίκαια καὶ ἀληθεύειν ἀρεστὰ παρὰ Θεῷ μᾶλλον ἢ θυσιῶν αἷμα.

  [3] To do justly and to speak truth, are more pleasing to God than the blood of sacrifices.

  [4] μεγαλόφρων ἐν ὕβρει θρασυκάρδιος, λαμπτὴρ δὲ ἀσεβῶν ἁμαρτία.

  [4] A high-minded man is stout-hearted in his pride; and the lamp of the wicked is sin.

  [6] ὁ ἐνεργῶν θησαυρίσματα γλώσσῃ ψευδεῖ μάταια διώκει καὶ ἔρχεται ἐπὶ παγίδας θανάτου.

  [5] 6 He that gathers treasures with a lying tongue pursues vanity on to the snares of death.

  [7] ὄλεθρος ἀσεβέσιν ἐπιξενωθήσεται, οὐ γὰρ βούλονται πράσσειν τὰ δίκαια.

  [7] Destruction shall lodge with the ungodly; for they refuse to do justly.

  [8] πρὸς τοὺς σκολιοὺς σκολιὰς ὁδοὺς ἀποστέλλει ὁ Θεός, ἁγνὰ γὰρ καὶ ὀρθὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ.

  [8] To the froward God sends froward ways; for his works are pure and right.

  [9] κρεῖσσον οἰκεῖν ἐπὶ γωνίας ὑπαίθρου ἢ ἐν κεκονιαμένοις μετὰ ἀδικίας καὶ ἐν οἴκῳ κοινῷ.

  [9] It is better to dwell in a corner on the house-top, than in plastered rooms with unrighteousness, and in an open house.

  [10] ψυχὴ ἀσεβοῦς οὐκ ἐλεηθήσεται ὑπ᾿ οὐδενὸς τῶν ἀνθρώπων.

  [10] The soul of the ungodly shall not be pitied by any man.

  [11] ζημιουμένου ἀκολάστου πανουργότερος γίνεται ὁ ἄκακος, συνίων δὲ σοφὸς δέξεται γνῶσιν.

  [11] When an intemperate man is punished the simple becomes wiser: and a wise man understanding will receive knowledge.

  [12] συνίει δίκαιος καρδίας ἀσεβῶν καὶ φαυλίζει ἀσεβεῖς ἐν κακοῖς.

  [12] A righteous man understands the hearts of the ungodly: and despises the ungodly for their wickedness.

  [13] ὃς φράσσει τὰ ὧτα αὐτοῦ τοῦ μὴ ἐπακοῦσαι ἀσθενοῦς, καὶ αὐτὸς ἐπικαλέσεται, καὶ οὐκ ἔσται ὁ εἰσακούων.

  [13] He that stops his ears from hearing
the poor, himself also shall cry, and there shall be none to hear him.

  [14] δόσις λάθριος ἀνατρέπει ὀργάς, δώρων δὲ ὁ φειδόμενος θυμὸν ἐγείρει ἰσχυρόν.

  [14] A secret gift calms anger: but he that forbears to give stirs up strong wrath.

  [15] εὐφροσύνη δικαίων ποιεῖν κρίμα, ὅσιος δὲ ἀκάθαρτος παρὰ κακούργοις.

  [15] It is the joy of the righteous to do judgment: but a holy man is abominable with evil-doers.

  [16] ἀνὴρ πλανώμενος ἐξ ὁδοῦ δικαιοσύνης ἐν συναγωγῇ γιγάντων ἀναπαύσεται.

  [16] A man that wanders out of the way of righteousness, shall rest in the congregation of giants.

  [17] ἀνὴρ ἐνδεὴς ἀγαπᾷ εὐφροσύνην, φιλῶν οἶνον καὶ ἔλαιον εἰς πλοῦτον·

  [17] A poor man loves mirth, loving wine and oil in abundance;

  [18] περικάθαρμα δὲ δικαίου ἄνομος.

  [18] and a transgressor is the abomination of a righteous man.

  [19] κρεῖσσον οἰκεῖν ἐν γῇ ἐρήμῳ ἢ μετὰ γυναικὸς μαχίμου καὶ γλωσσώδους καὶ ὀργίλου.

  [19] It is better to dwell in a wilderness than with a quarrelsome and talkative and passionate woman.

  [20] θησαυρὸς ἐπιθυμητὸς ἀναπαύσεται ἐπὶ στόματος σοφοῦ, ἄφρονες δὲ ἄνδρες καταπίονται αὐτόν.

  [20] A desirable treasure will rest on the mouth of the wise; but foolish men will swallow it up.

  [21] ὁδὸς δικαιοσύνης καὶ ἐλεημοσύνης εὑρήσει ζωὴν καὶ δόξαν.

  [21] The way of righteousness and mercy will find life and glory.

  [22] πόλεις ὀχυρὰς ἐπέβη σοφὸς καὶ καθεῖλε τὸ ὀχύρωμα, ἐφ᾿ ᾧ ἐπεποίθεισαν οἱ ἀσεβεῖς.

  [22] A wise man assaults strong cities, and demolishes the fortress in which the ungodly trusted.

  [23] ὃς φυλάσσει τὸ στόμα αὐτοῦ καὶ τὴν γλῶσσαν, διατηρεῖ ἐκ θλίψεως τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ.

  [23] He that keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from trouble.

  [24] θρασὺς καὶ αὐθάδης καὶ ἀλαζὼν λοιμὸς καλεῖται, ὃς δὲ μνησικακεῖ, παράνομος.

  [24] A bold and self-willed and insolent man is called a pest: and he that remembers injuries is a transgressor.

  [25] ἐπιθυμίαι ὀκνηρὸν ἀποκτείνουσιν, οὐ γὰρ προαιροῦνται αἱ χεῖρες αὐτοῦ ποιεῖν τι.

  [25] Desires kill the sluggard; for his hands do not choose to do anything.

  [26] ἀσεβὴς ἐπιθυμεῖ ὅλην τὴν ἡμέραν ἐπιθυμίας κακάς, ὁ δὲ δίκαιος ἐλεᾷ καὶ οἰκτείρει ἀφειδῶς.

  [26] An ungodly man entertains evil desires all the day: but the righteous is unsparingly merciful and compassionate.

  [27] θυσίαι ἀσεβῶν βδέλυγμα Κυρίῳ, καὶ γὰρ παρανόμως προσφέρουσιν αὐτάς.

  [27] The sacrifices of the ungodly are abomination to the Lord, for they offer them wickedly.

  [28] μάρτυς ψευδὴς ἀπολεῖται, ἀνὴρ δὲ ὑπήκοος φυλασσόμενος λαλήσει.

  [28] A false witness shall perish; but an obedient man will speak cautiously.

  [29] ἀσεβὴς ἀνὴρ ἀναιδῶς ὑφίσταται προσώπῳ, ὁ δὲ εὐθὴς αὐτὸς συνίει τὰς ὁδοὺς αὐτοῦ.

  [29] An ungodly man impudently withstands with his face; but the upright man himself understands his ways.

  [30] οὐκ ἔστι σοφία, οὐκ ἔστιν ἀνδρεία, οὐκ ἔστι βουλὴ πρὸς τὸν ἀσεβῆ.

  [30] There is no wisdom, there is no courage, there is no counsel against the ungodly.

  [31] ἵππος ἑτοιμάζεται εἰς ἡμέραν πολέμου, παρὰ δὲ Κυρίου ἡ βοήθεια.

  [31] A horse is prepared for the day of battle; but help is of the Lord.

  Chapter 22

  ΑΙΡΕΤΩΤΕΡΟΝ ὄνομα καλὸν ἢ πλοῦτος πολύς, ὑπὲρ δὲ ἀργύριον καὶ χρυσίον χάρις ἀγαθή,

  A fair name is better than much wealth, and good favour is above silver and gold.

  [2] πλούσιος καὶ πτωχὸς συνήντησαν ἀλλήλοις, ἀμφοτέρους δὲ ὁ Κύριος ἐποίησε.

  [2] The rich and the poor meet together; but the Lord made them both.

  [3] πανοῦργος ἱδὼν πονηρὸν τιμωρούμενον κραταιῶς αὐτὸς παιδεύεται, οἱ δὲ ἄφρονες παρελθόντες ἐζημιώθησαν.

  [3] An intelligent man seeing a bad man severely punished is himself instructed, but fools pass by and are punished.

  [4] γενεὰ σοφίας φόβος Κυρίου καὶ πλοῦτος καὶ δόξα καὶ ζωή.

  [4] The fear of the Lord is the offspring of wisdom, and wealth, and glory, and life.

  [5] τρίβολοι καὶ παγίδες ἐν ὁδοῖς σκολιαῖς, ὁ δὲ φυλάσσων τὴν ἑαυτοῦ ψυχὴν ἀφέξεται αὐτῶν.

  [5] Thistles and snares are in perverse ways; but he that keeps his soul will refrain from them.

  [7] πλούσιοι πτωχῶν ἄρξουσι, καὶ οἰκέται ἰδίοις δεσπόταις δανειοῦσι.

  [7] The rich will rule over the poor, and servants will lend to their own masters.

  [8] ὁ σπείρων φαῦλα θερίσει κακά, πληγὴν δὲ ἔργων αὐτοῦ συντελέσει.

  [8] He that sows wickedness shall reap troubles; and shall fully receive the punishment of his deeds.

  [8]α ἄνδρα ἱλαρὸν καὶ δότην εὐλογεῖ ὁ Θεός, ματαιότητα δὲ ἔργων αὐτοῦ συντελέσει.

  [8a] God loves a cheerful and liberal man; but a man shall fully prove the folly of his works.

  [9] ὁ ἐλεῶν πτωχὸν αὐτὸς διατραφήσεται, τῶν γὰρ ἑαυτοῦ ἄρτων ἔδωκε τῷ πτωχῷ.

  [9] He that has pity on the poor shall himself be maintained; for he has given of his own bread to the poor.

  [9]α νίκην καὶ τιμὴν περιποιεῖται ὁ δῶρα δούς, τὴν μέντοι ψυχὴν ἀφαιρεῖται τῶν κεκτημένων.

  [9a] He that gives liberally secures victory an honour; but he takes away the life of them that posses them.

  [10] ἔκβαλε ἐκ συνεδρίου λοιμόν, καὶ συνεξελεύσεται αὐτῷ νεῖκος· ὅταν γὰρ καθίσῃ ἐν συνεδρίῳ, πάντας ἀτιμάζει.

  [10] Cast out a pestilent person from the council, and strife shall go out with him; for when he sits in the council he dishonours all.

  [11] ἀγαπᾷ Κύριος ὁσίας καρδίας, δεκτοὶ δὲ αὐτῷ πάντες ἄμωμοι· χείλεσι ποιμαίνει βασιλεύς.

  [11] The Lord loves holy hearts, and all blameless persons are acceptable with him: a king rules with his lips.

  [12] οἱ δὲ ὀφθαλμοὶ Κυρίου διατηροῦσιν αἴσθησιν, φαυλίζει δὲ λόγους παράνομος.

  [12] But the eyes of the Lord preserve discretion; but the transgressor despises wise words.

  [13]
προφασίζεται καὶ λέγει ὀκνηρός· λέων ἐν ταῖς ὁδοῖς, ἐν δὲ ταῖς πλατείαις φονευταί.

  [13] The sluggard makes excuses, and says, There is a lion in the ways, and murderers in the streets.

  [14] βόθρος βαθὺς στόμα παρανόμου, ὁ δὲ μισηθεὶς ὑπὸ Κυρίου ἐμπεσεῖται εἰς αὐτόν.

  [14] The mouth of a transgressor is a deep pit; and he that is hated of the Lord shall fall into it.

  [14]α εἰσὶν ὁδοὶ κακαὶ ἐνώπιον ἀνδρός, καὶ οὐκ ἀγαπᾷ τοῦ ἀποστρέψαι ἀπ᾿ αὐτῶν· ἀποστρέφειν δὲ δεῖ ἀπὸ ὁδοῦ σκολιᾶς καὶ κακῆς.

  [14a] Evil ways are before a man, and he does not like to turn away from them; but it is needful to turn aside from a perverse and bad way.

  [15] ἄνοια ἐξῆπται καρδίας νέου, ράβδος δὲ καὶ παιδεία μακρὰν ἀπ᾿ αὐτοῦ.

  [15] Folly is attached to the heart of a child, but the rod and instruction are then far from him.

  [16] ὁ συκοφαντῶν πένητα πολλὰ ποιεῖ τὰ ἑαυτοῦ· δίδωσι δὲ πλουσίῳ ἐπ᾿ ἐλλάσσονι.

  [16] He that oppresses the poor, increases his own substance, yet gives to the rich so as to make it less.

  [17] Λόγοις σοφῶν παράβαλλε σὸν οὗς καὶ ἄκουε ἐμὸν λόγον, τὴν δὲ σὴν καρδίαν ἐπίστησον, ἵνα γνῷς, ὅτι καλοί εἰσι·

  [17] Incline thine ear to the words of wise men: hear also my word, and apply thine heart, that thou mayest know that they are good:

  [18] καὶ ἐὰν ἐμβάλῃς αὐτοὺς εἰς τὴν καρδίαν σου, εὐφρανοῦσί σε ἅμα ἐπὶ σοῖς χείλεσιν,

  [18] and if thou lay them to heart, they shall also gladden thee on thy lips.

  [19] ἵνα σου γένηται ἐπὶ Κύριον ἡ ἐλπὶς καὶ γνωρίσῃ σοι τὴν ὁδόν σου.

  [19] That thy hope may be in the Lord, and he may make thy way known to thee.

  [20] καὶ σὺ δὲ ἀπόγραψαι αὐτὰ σεαυτῷ τρισσῶς εἰς βουλὴν καὶ γνῶσιν ἐπὶ τὸ πλάτος τῆς καρδίας σου.