Delphi Septuagint

by Lancelot C L Brenton (ed)

  [27] A righteous man is an abomination to an unrighteous man, and the direct way is an abomination to the sinner. Who shall find a virtuous woman? for such a one is more valuable than precious stones.

  [11] θάρσει ἐπ᾿ αὐτῇ ἡ καρδία τοῦ ἀνδρὸς αὐτῆς, ἡ τοιαύτη καλῶν σκύλων οὐκ ἀπορήσει·

  [11] The heart of her husband trusts in her: such a one shall stand in no need of fine spoils.

  [12] ἐνεργεῖ γὰρ τῷ ἀνδρὶ ἀγαθὰ πάντα τὸν βίον.

  [12] For she employs all her living for her husband’s good.

  [13] μηρυομένη ἔρια καὶ λίνον ἐποίησεν εὔχρηστον ταῖς χερσὶν αὐτῆς.

  [13] Gathering wool and flax, she makes it serviceable with her hands.

  [14] ἐγένετο ὡσεὶ ναῦς ἐμπορευομένη μακρόθεν, συνάγει δὲ αὐτῆς τὸν πλοῦτον.

  [14] She is like a ship trading from a distance: so she procures her livelihood.

  [15] καὶ ἀνίσταται ἐκ νυκτῶν καὶ ἔδωκε βρώματα τῷ οἴκῳ καὶ ἔργα ταῖς θεραπαίναις.

  [15] And she rises by night, and gives food to her household, and appointed tasks to her maidens.

  [16] θεωρήσασα γεώργιον ἐπρίατο, ἀπὸ δὲ καρπῶν χειρῶν αὐτῆς κατεφύτευσε κτῆμα.

  [16] She views a farm, and buys it: and with the fruit of her hands she plants and a possession.

  [17] ἀναζωσαμένη ἰσχυρῶς τὴν ὀσφὺν αὐτῆς ἤρεισε τοὺς βραχίονας αὐτῆς εἰς ἔργον.

  [17] She strongly girds her loins, and strengthens her arms for work.

  [18] ἐγεύσατο ὅτι καλόν ἐστι τὸ ἐργάζεσθαι, καὶ οὐκ ἀποσβέννυται ὁ λύχνος αὐτῆς ὅλην τὴν νύκτα.

  [18] And she finds by experience that working is good; and her candle goes not out all night.

  [19] τοὺς πήχεις αὐτῆς ἐκτείνει ἐπὶ τὰ συμφέροντα, τὰς δὲ χεῖρας αὐτῆς ἐρείδει εἰς ἄτρακτον.

  [19] She reaches forth her arms to needful works, and applies her hands to the spindle.

  [20] χεῖρας δὲ αὐτῆς διήνοιξε πένητι, καρπὸν δὲ ἐξέτεινε πτωχῷ.

  [20] And she opens her hands to the needy, and reaches out fruit to the poor.

  [21] οὐ φροντίζει τῶν ἐν οἴκῳ ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς, ὅταν που χρονίζῃ· πάντες γὰρ οἱ παρ᾿ αὐτῆς ἐνδεδυμένοι εἰσί.

  [21] Her husband is not anxious about those at home when he tarries anywhere abroad: for all her household are clothed.

  [22] δισσὰς χλαίνας ἐποίησε τῷ ἀνδρὶ αὐτῆς, ἐκ δὲ βύσσου καὶ πορφύρας ἑαυτῇ ἐνδύματα.

  [22] She makes for her husband clothes of double texture, and garments for herself of fine linen and scarlet.

  [23] περίβλεπτος δὲ γίνεται ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς ἐν πύλαις, ἡνίκα ἂν καθίση ἐν συνεδρίῳ μετὰ τῶν γερόντων κατοίκων τῆς γῆς.

  [23] And her husband becomes a distinguished person in the gates, when he sits in council with the old inhabitants of the land.

  [24] σινδόνας ἐποίησε καὶ ἀπέδοτο τοῖς Φοίνιξι, περιζώματα δὲ τοῖς Χαναναίοις.

  [24] She makes fine linens and sells them to the Phoenicians, and sells girdles to the Chananites:

  [25] ἰσχὺν καὶ εὐπρέπειαν ἐνεδύσατο καὶ εὐφράνθη ἐν ἡμέραις ἐσχάταις.

  [25] She puts on strength and honour; and rejoices in the last days.

  [26] στόμα αὐτῆς διήνοιξε προσεχόντως καὶ ἐννόμως, καὶ τάξιν ἐστείλατο τῇ γλώσσῃ αὐτῆς.

  [26] she opens her mouth heedfully and with propriety, and controls her tongue.

  [27] στεγναὶ διατριβαὶ οἴκων αὐτῆς, σῖτα δὲ ὀκνηρὰ οὐκ ἔφαγε.

  [27] The ways of her household are careful, and she eats not the bread of idleness.

  [28] τὸ στόμα δὲ ἀνοίγει σοφῶς καὶ νομοθέσμως, ἡ δὲ ἐλεημοσύνη αὐτῆς ἀνέστησε τὰ τέκνα αὐτῆς καὶ ἐπλούτησαν, καὶ ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς ᾔνεσεν αὐτήν.

  [28] But she opens her mouth wisely, and according to law. And her kindness to them sets up her children for them, and they grow rich, and her husband praises her.

  [29] Πολλαὶ θυγατέρες ἐκτήσαντο πλοῦτον, πολλαὶ ἐποίησαν δύναμιν, σὺ δὲ ὑπέρκεισαι καὶ ὑπερῇρας πάσας.

  [29] Many daughters have obtained wealth, many have wrought valiantly; but thou hast exceeded, thou hast surpassed all.

  [30] ψευδεῖς ἀρέσκειαι καὶ μάταιον κάλλος γυναικός· γυνὴ γὰρ συνετὴ εὐλογεῖται, φόβον δὲ Κυρίου αὕτη αἰνείτω.

  [30] Charms are false, and woman’s beauty is vain: for it is a wise woman that is blessed, and let her praise the fear the Lord.

  [31] δότε αὐτῇ ἀπὸ καρπῶν χειλέων αὐτῆς, καὶ αἰνείσθω ἐν πύλαις ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς.

  [31] Give her of the fruit of her lips; and let her husband be praised in the gates.

  Ecclesiastes

  Ecclesiastes

  CHAPTER 1

  [1] Ῥήματα Ἐκκλησιαστοῦ υἱοῦ Δαυιδ βασιλέως Ισραηλ ἐν Ιερουσαλημ.

  [1] The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king of Israel in Jerusalem.

  [2] Ματαιότης ματαιοτήτων, εἶπεν ὁ Ἐκκλησιαστής, ματαιότης ματαιοτήτων, τὰ πάντα ματαιότης.

  [2] Vanity of vanities, said the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

  [3] τίς περισσεία τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ ἐν παντὶ μόχθῳ αὐτοῦ, ᾧ μοχθεῖ ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον;

  [3] What advantage is there to a man in all his labour that he takes under the sun?

  [4] γενεὰ πορεύεται καὶ γενεὰ ἔρχεται, καὶ ἡ γῆ εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα ἕστηκεν.

  [4] A generation goes, and a generation comes: but the earth stands for ever.

  [5] καὶ ἀνατέλλει ὁ ἥλιος καὶ δύνει ὁ ἥλιος καὶ εἰς τὸν τόπον αὐτοῦ ἕλκει·

  [5] And the sun arises, and the sun goes down and draws toward its place;

  [6] ἀνατέλλων αὐτὸς ἐκεῖ πορεύεται πρὸς νότον καὶ κυκλοῖ πρὸς βορρᾶν· κυκλοῖ κυκλῶν, πορεύεται τὸ πνεῦμα, καὶ ἐπὶ κύκλους αὐτοῦ ἐπιστρέφει τὸ πνεῦμα.

  [6] arising there it proceeds southward, and goes round toward the north. The wind goes round and round, and the wind returns to its circuits.

  [7] πάντες οἱ χείμαρροι, πορεύονται εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν, καὶ ἡ θάλασσα οὐκ ἔσται ἐμπιμπλαμένη· εἰς τόπον, οὗ οἱ χείμαρροι πορεύονται, ἐκεῖ αὐτοὶ ἐπιστρέφουσιν τοῦ πορευθῆναι.

  [7] All the rivers run into the sea; and yet the sea is not filled: to the place whence the rivers come, thither they return again.

  [8] πά�
�τες οἱ λόγοι ἔγκοποι· οὐ δυνήσεται ἀνὴρ τοῦ λαλεῖν, καὶ οὐκ ἐμπλησθήσεται ὀφθαλμὸς τοῦ ὁρᾶν, καὶ οὐ πληρωθήσεται οὖς ἀπὸ ἀκροάσεως.

  [8] All things are full of labour; a man will not be able to speak of them: neither shall the eye be satisfied with seeing, neither shall the ear be filled with hearing.

  [9] τί τὸ γεγονός, αὐτὸ τὸ γενησόμενον· καὶ τί τὸ πεποιημένον, αὐτὸ τὸ ποιηθησόμενον· καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν πᾶν πρόσφατον ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον.

  [9] What is that which has been? the very thing which shall be: and what is that which has been done? the very thing which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

  [10] ὃς λαλήσει καὶ ἐρεῖ Ἰδὲ τοῦτο καινόν ἐστιν, ἤδη γέγονεν ἐν τοῖς αἰῶσιν τοῖς γενομένοις ἀπὸ ἔμπροσθεν ἡμῶν.

  [10] Who is he that shall speak and say, Behold, this is new? it has already been in the ages that have passed before us.

  [11] οὐκ ἔστιν μνήμη τοῖς πρώτοις, καί γε τοῖς ἐσχάτοις γενομένοις οὐκ ἔσται αὐτοῖς μνήμη μετὰ τῶν γενησομένων εἰς τὴν ἐσχάτην.

  [11] There is no memorial to the first things; neither to the things that have been last shall their memorial be with them that shall at the last time.

  [12] Ἐγὼ Ἐκκλησιαστὴς ἐγενόμην βασιλεὺς ἐπὶ Ισραηλ ἐν Ιερουσαλημ·

  [12] I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

  [13] καὶ ἔδωκα τὴν καρδίαν μου τοῦ ἐκζητῆσαι καὶ τοῦ κατασκέψασθαι ἐν τῇ σοφίᾳ περὶ πάντων τῶν γινομένων ὑπὸ τὸν οὐρανόν· ὅτι περισπασμὸν πονηρὸν ἔδωκεν ὁ θεὸς τοῖς υἱοῖς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου τοῦ περισπᾶσθαι ἐν αὐτῷ.

  [13] And I applied my heart to seek out and examine by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven, for God has given to the sons of men an evil trouble to be troubled therewith.

  [14] εἶδον σὺν πάντα τὰ ποιήματα τὰ πεποιημένα ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον, καὶ ἰδοὺ τὰ πάντα ματαιότης καὶ προαίρεσις πνεύματος.

  [14] I beheld all the works that were wrought under the sun; and, beheld, all were vanity and waywardness of spirit.

  [15] διεστραμμένον οὐ δυνήσεται τοῦ ἐπικοσμηθῆναι, καὶ ὑστέρημα οὐ δυνήσεται τοῦ ἀριθμηθῆναι.

  [15] That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and deficiency cannot be numbered.

  [16] ἐλάλησα ἐγὼ ἐν καρδίᾳ μου τῷ λέγειν Ἐγὼ ἰδοὺ ἐμεγαλύνθην καὶ προσέθηκα σοφίαν ἐπὶ πᾶσιν, οἳ ἐγένοντο ἔμπροσθέν μου ἐν Ιερουσαλημ, καὶ καρδία μου εἶδεν πολλά, σοφίαν καὶ γνῶσιν.

  [16] I spoke in my heart, saying, Behold, I am increased, and have acquired wisdom beyond all who were before me in Jerusalem: also I applied my heart to know wisdom and knowledge.

  [17] καὶ ἔδωκα καρδίαν μου τοῦ γνῶναι σοφίαν καὶ γνῶσιν, παραβολὰς καὶ ἐπιστήμην ἔγνων, ὅτι καί γε τοῦτ’ ἔστιν προαίρεσις πνεύματος·

  [17] And my heart knew much — wisdom, and knowledge, parables and understanding: I perceived that this also is waywardness of spirit.

  [18] ὅτι ἐν πλήθει σοφίας πλῆθος γνώσεως, καὶ ὁ προστιθεὶς γνῶσιν προσθήσει ἄλγημα.

  [18] For in the abundance of wisdom is abundance of knowledge; and he that increases knowledge will increase sorrow.

  CHAPTER 2

  [1] Εἶπον ἐγὼ ἐν καρδίᾳ μου Δεῦρο δὴ πειράσω σε ἐν εὐφροσύνῃ, καὶ ἰδὲ ἐν ἀγαθῷ· καὶ ἰδοὺ καί γε τοῦτο ματαιότης.

  [1] I said in my heart, Come now, I will prove thee with mirth, and behold thou good: and, behold, this is also vanity.

  [2] τῷ γέλωτι εἶπα περιφορὰν καὶ τῇ εὐφροσύνῃ Τί τοῦτο ποιεῖς;

  [2] I said to laughter, Madness: and to mirth, Why doest thou this:

  [3] κατεσκεψάμην ἐν καρδίᾳ μου τοῦ ἑλκύσαι εἰς οἶνον τὴν σάρκα μου – καὶ καρδία μου ὡδήγησεν ἐν σοφίᾳ – καὶ τοῦ κρατῆσαι ἐπ’ ἀφροσύνῃ, ἕως οὗ ἴδω ποῖον τὸ ἀγαθὸν τοῖς υἱοῖς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου, ὃ ποιήσουσιν ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον ἀριθμὸν ἡμερῶν ζωῆς αὐτῶν.

  [3] And I examined whether my heart would excite my flesh as with wine, (though my heart guided me in wisdom,) and I desired to lay hold of mirth, until I should see of what kind is the good to the sons of men, which they should do under the sun all the days of their life.

  [4] ἐμεγάλυνα ποίημά μου, ᾠκοδόμησά μοι οἴκους, ἐφύτευσά μοι ἀμπελῶνας,

  [4] I enlarged my work; I built me houses; I planted me vineyards.

  [5] ἐποίησά μοι κήπους καὶ παραδείσους καὶ ἐφύτευσα ἐν αὐτοῖς ξύλον πᾶν καρποῦ·

  [5] I made me gardens and orchards, and planted in them every kind of fruit-tree.

  [6] ἐποίησά μοι κολυμβήθρας ὑδάτων τοῦ ποτίσαι ἀπ’ αὐτῶν δρυμὸν βλαστῶντα ξύλα·

  [6] I made me pools of water, to water from them the timber-bearing wood.

  [7] ἐκτησάμην δούλους καὶ παιδίσκας, καὶ οἰκογενεῖς ἐγένοντό μοι, καί γε κτῆσις βουκολίου καὶ ποιμνίου πολλὴ ἐγένετό μοι ὑπὲρ πάντας τοὺς γενομένους ἔμπροσθέν μου ἐν Ιερουσαλημ·

  [7] I got servants and maidens, and servants were born to me in the house: also I had abundant possession of flocks and herds, beyond all who were before me in Jerusalem.

  [8] συνήγαγόν μοι καί γε ἀργύριον καὶ χρυσίον καὶ περιουσιασμοὺς βασιλέων καὶ τῶν χωρῶν· ἐποίησά μοι ᾄδοντας καὶ ᾀδούσας καὶ ἐντρυφήματα υἱῶν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου οἰνοχόον καὶ οἰνοχόας·

  [8] Moreover I collected for myself both silver and gold also, and the peculiar treasures of kings and provinces: I procured me singing men and singing women, and delights of the sons of men, a butler and female cupbearers.

  [9] καὶ ἐμεγαλύνθην καὶ προσέθηκα παρὰ πάντας τοὺς γενομένους ἔμπροσθέν μου ἐν Ιερουσαλημ· καί γε σοφία μου ἐστάθη μοι.

  [9] So I became great, and advanced beyond all that were before in Jerusalem: also my wisdom was established to me.

  [10] καὶ πᾶν, ὃ ᾔτησαν οἱ ὀφθαλμοί μου, οὐχ ὑφεῖλον ἀπ’ αὐτῶν, οὐκ ἀπεκώλυσα τὴν καρδίαν μου ἀπὸ πάσης εὐφροσύνης, ὅτι καρδία μου εὐφράνθη ἐν παντὶ μόχθῳ μου, καὶ τοῦτο ἐγένετο μερίς μου ἀπὸ παντὸς μόχθου μου.

  [10] And whatever mine eyes desired, I withheld not from them, I withheld not my heart from all my mirth: for my heart rejoiced in all my labour; and this was my portion of all my labour.

  [11] καὶ ἐπέβλεψα ἐγὼ ἐ�
� πᾶσιν ποιήμασίν μου, οἷς ἐποίησαν αἱ χεῖρές μου, καὶ ἐν μόχθῳ, ᾧ ἐμόχθησα τοῦ ποιεῖν, καὶ ἰδοὺ τὰ πάντα ματαιότης καὶ προαίρεσις πνεύματος, καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν περισσεία ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον.

  [11] And I looked on all my works which my hands had wrought, and on my labour which I laboured to perform: and behold, all was vanity and waywardness of spirit, and there is no advantage under the sun.

  [12] Καὶ ἐπέβλεψα ἐγὼ τοῦ ἰδεῖν σοφίαν καὶ περιφορὰν καὶ ἀφροσύνην· ὅτι τίς ὁ ἄνθρωπος, ὃς ἐπελεύσεται ὀπίσω τῆς βουλῆς τὰ ὅσα ἐποίησεν αὐτήν;

  [12] Then I looked on to see wisdom, and madness, and folly: for who is the man who will follow after counsel, in all things where in he employs it?

  [13] καὶ εἶδον ἐγὼ ὅτι ἔστιν περισσεία τῇ σοφίᾳ ὑπὲρ τὴν ἀφρο σύνην ὡς περισσεία τοῦ φωτὸς ὑπὲρ τὸ σκότος·

  [13] And I saw that wisdom excels folly, as much as light excels darkness.

  [14] τοῦ σοφοῦ οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ αὐτοῦ ἐν κεφαλῇ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ὁ ἄφρων ἐν σκότει πορεύεται. καὶ ἔγνων καί γε ἐγὼ ὅτι συνάντημα ἓν συναντήσεται τοῖς πᾶσιν αὐτοῖς.

  [14] The wise man’s eyes are in his head; but the fool walks in darkness: and I perceived, even I, that one event shall happen to them all.

  [15] καὶ εἶπα ἐγὼ ἐν καρδίᾳ μου Ὡς συνάντημα τοῦ ἄφρονος καί γε ἐμοὶ συναντήσεταί μοι, καὶ ἵνα τί ἐσοφισάμην; ἐγὼ τότε περισσὸν ἐλάλησα ἐν καρδίᾳ μου, διότι ἄφρων ἐκ περισσεύματος λαλεῖ, ὅτι καί γε τοῦτο ματαιότης.