Delphi Septuagint

by Lancelot C L Brenton (ed)

  [16] There is no end to all the people, to all who were before them: and the last shall not rejoice in him: for this also is vanity and waywardness of spirit.

  [17] Φύλαξον πόδα σου, ἐν ᾧ ἐὰν πορεύῃ εἰς οἶκον τοῦ θεοῦ, καὶ ἐγγὺς τοῦ ἀκούειν· ὑπὲρ δόμα τῶν ἀφρόνων θυσία σου, ὅτι οὔκ εἰσιν εἰδότες τοῦ ποιῆσαι κακόν.

  [17] Keep thy foot, whensoever thou goest to the house of God; and when thou art near to hear, let thy sacrifice be better than the gift of fools: for they know not that they are doing evil.

  CHAPTER 5

  [1] μὴ σπεῦδε ἐπὶ στόματί σου, καὶ καρδία σου μὴ ταχυνάτω τοῦ ἐξενέγκαι λόγον πρὸ προσώπου τοῦ θεοῦ· ὅτι ὁ θεὸς ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ, καὶ σὺ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, ἐπὶ τούτῳ ἔστωσαν οἱ λόγοι σου ὀλίγοι.

  [1] Be not hasty with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be swift to utter anything before God; for God is in heaven above, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.

  [2] ὅτι παραγίνεται ἐνύπνιον ἐν πλήθει περισπασμοῦ καὶ φωνὴ ἄφρονος ἐν πλήθει λόγων.

  [2] For through the multitude of trial a dream comes; and a fool’s voice is with a multitude of words.

  [3] καθὼς ἂν εὔξῃ εὐχὴν τῷ θεῷ, μὴ χρονίσῃς τοῦ ἀποδοῦναι αὐτήν· ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν θέλημα ἐν ἄφροσιν, σὺν ὅσα ἐὰν εὔξῃ ἀπόδος.

  [3] Whenever thou shalt vow a vow to God, defer not to pay it; for he has no pleasure in fools: pay thou therefore whatsoever thou shalt have vowed.

  [4] ἀγαθὸν τὸ μὴ εὔξασθαί σε ἢ τὸ εὔξασθαί σε καὶ μὴ ἀποδοῦναι.

  [4] It is better that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.

  [5] μὴ δῷς τὸ στόμα σου τοῦ ἐξαμαρτῆσαι τὴν σάρκα σου καὶ μὴ εἴπῃς πρὸ προσώπου τοῦ θεοῦ ὅτι Ἄγνοιά ἐστιν, ἵνα μὴ ὀργισθῇ ὁ θεὸς ἐπὶ φωνῇ σου καὶ διαφθείρῃ τὰ ποιήματα χειρῶν σου.

  [5] Suffer not thy mouth to lead thy flesh to sin; and say not in the presence of God, It was an error: lest God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the works of thy hands.

  [6] ὅτι ἐν πλήθει ἐνυπνίων καὶ ματαιότητες καὶ λόγοι πολλοί· ὅτι σὺν τὸν θεὸν φοβοῦ.

  [6] For there is evil in a multitude of dreams and vanities and many words: but fear thou God.

  [7] Ἐὰν συκοφαντίαν πένητος καὶ ἁρπαγὴν κρίματος καὶ δι’ καιοσύνης ἴδῃς ἐν χώρᾳ, μὴ θαυμάσῃς ἐπὶ τῷ πράγματι· ὅτι ὑψηλὸς ἐπάνω ὑψηλοῦ φυλάξαι καὶ ὑψηλοὶ ἐπ’ αὐτούς.

  [7] If thou shouldest see the oppression of the poor, and the wresting of judgment and of justice in the land, wonder not at the matter: for there is a high one to watch over him that is high, and high ones over them.

  [8] καὶ περισσεία γῆς ἐν παντί ἐστι, βασιλεὺς τοῦ ἀγροῦ εἰργασμένου.

  [8] Also the abundance of the earth is for every one: the king is dependent on the tilled field.

  [9] Ἀγαπῶν ἀργύριον οὐ πλησθήσεται ἀργυρίου· καὶ τίς ἠγάπησεν ἐν πλήθει αὐτῶν γένημα; καί γε τοῦτο ματαιότης.

  [9] He that loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver: and who has loved gain, in the abundance thereof? this is also vanity.

  [10] ἐν πλήθει τῆς ἀγαθωσύνης ἐπληθύνθησαν ἔσθοντες αὐτήν· καὶ τί ἀνδρεία τῷ παρ’ αὐτῆς ὅτι ἀλλ’ ἢ τοῦ ὁρᾶν ὀφθαλμοῖς αὐτοῦ;

  [10] In the multitude of good they are increased that eat it: and what virtue has the owner, but the right of beholding it with his eyes?

  [11] γλυκὺς ὕπνος τοῦ δούλου, εἰ ὀλίγον καὶ εἰ πολὺ φάγεται· καὶ τῷ ἐμπλησθέντι τοῦ πλουτῆσαι οὐκ ἔστιν ἀφίων αὐτὸν τοῦ ὑπνῶσαι.

  [11] The sleep of a servant is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but to one who is satiated with wealth, there is none that suffers him to sleep.

  [12] ἔστιν ἀρρωστία, ἣν εἶδον ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον, πλοῦτον φυλασσόμενον τῷ παρ’ αὐτοῦ εἰς κακίαν αὐτοῦ,

  [12] There is an infirmity which I have seen under the sun, namely, wealth kept for its owner to his hurt.

  [13] καὶ ἀπολεῖται ὁ πλοῦτος ἐκεῖνος ἐν περισπασμῷ πονηρῷ, καὶ ἐγέννησεν υἱόν, καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ἐν χειρὶ αὐτοῦ οὐδέν.

  [13] And that wealth shall perish in an evil trouble: and the man begets a son, and there is nothing in his hand.

  [14] καθὼς ἐξῆλθεν ἀπὸ γαστρὸς μητρὸς αὐτοῦ γυμνός, ἐπιστρέψει τοῦ πορευθῆναι ὡς ἥκει καὶ οὐδὲν οὐ λήμψεται ἐν μόχθῳ αὐτοῦ, ἵνα πορευθῇ ἐν χειρὶ αὐτοῦ.

  [14] As he came forth naked from his mother’s womb, he shall return back as he came, and he shall receive nothing for his labour, that it should go with him in his hand.

  [15] καί γε τοῦτο πονηρὰ ἀρρωστία· ὥσπερ γὰρ παρεγένετο, οὕτως καὶ ἀπελεύσεται, καὶ τίς περισσεία αὐτῷ, ᾗ μοχθεῖ εἰς ἄνεμον;

  [15] And this is also an evil infirmity: for as he came, so also shall he return: and what is his gain, for which he vainly labours?

  [16] καί γε πᾶσαι αἱ ἡμέραι αὐτοῦ ἐν σκότει καὶ πένθει καὶ θυμῷ πολλῷ καὶ ἀρρωστίᾳ καὶ χόλῳ.

  [16] Yea, all his days are in darkness, and in mourning, and much sorrow, and infirmity, and wrath.

  [17] Ἰδοὺ ὃ εἶδον ἐγὼ ἀγαθόν, ὅ ἐστιν καλόν, τοῦ φαγεῖν καὶ τοῦ πιεῖν καὶ τοῦ ἰδεῖν ἀγαθωσύνην ἐν παντὶ μόχθῳ αὐτοῦ, ᾧ ἐὰν μοχθῇ ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον ἀριθμὸν ἡμερῶν ζωῆς αὐτοῦ, ὧν ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ ὁ θεός· ὅτι αὐτὸ μερὶς αὐτοῦ.

  [17] Behold, I have seen good, that it is a fine thing for a man to eat and to drink, and to see good in all his labour in which he may labour under the sun, all the number of the days of his life which God has given to him: for it is his portion.

  [18] καί γε πᾶς ὁ ἄνθρωπος, ᾧ ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ ὁ θεὸς πλοῦτον καὶ ὑπάρχοντα καὶ ἐξουσίασεν αὐτὸν τοῦ φαγεῖν ἀπ’ αὐτοῦ καὶ τοῦ λαβεῖν τὸ μέρος αὐτοῦ καὶ τοῦ εὐφρανθῆναι ἐν μόχθῳ αὐτοῦ, τοῦτο δόμα θεοῦ ἐστιν.

  [18] Yea, and as for every man to whom God has given wealth and possessions, and has given him power to eat thereof, and to receive his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God.

  [19] ὅτι οὐ πολλὰ μνησθήσεται τὰς ἡμέρας τῆς ζωῆς αὐτοῦ· ὅτι ὁ θεὸς περισπᾷ αὐτὸν ἐν εὐφροσύνῃ καρδίας αὐτοῦ.

  [19] For he shall not much remember the days of his life; for God troubles him in the mirth of his heart.

  CHAPTER 6

  [1] Ἔστιν πονηρία, ἣν εἶδον ὑπὸ �
�ὸν ἥλιον, καὶ πολλή ἐστιν ἐπὶ τὸν ἄνθρωπον·

  There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is abundant with man:

  [2] ἀνήρ, ᾧ δώσει αὐτῷ ὁ θεὸς πλοῦτον καὶ ὑπάρχοντα καὶ δόξαν, καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ὑστερῶν τῇ ψυχῇ αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ πάντων, ὧν ἐπιθυμήσει, καὶ οὐκ ἐξουσιάσει αὐτῷ ὁ θεὸς τοῦ φαγεῖν ἀπ’ αὐτοῦ, ὅτι ἀνὴρ ξένος φάγεται αὐτόν· τοῦτο ματαιότης καὶ ἀρρωστία πονηρά ἐστιν.

  [2] a man to whom God shall give wealth, and substance, and honour, and he wants nothing for his soul of all things that he shall desire, yet God shall not give him power to eat of it, for a stranger shall devour it: this is vanity, and an evil infirmity.

  [3] ἐὰν γεννήσῃ ἀνὴρ ἑκατὸν καὶ ἔτη πολλὰ ζήσεται, καὶ πλῆθος ὅ τι ἔσονται ἡμέραι ἐτῶν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ψυχὴ αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἐμπλησθήσεται ἀπὸ τῆς ἀγαθωσύνης, καί γε ταφὴ οὐκ ἐγένετο αὐτῷ, εἶπα Ἀγαθὸν ὑπὲρ αὐτὸν τὸ ἔκτρωμα,

  [3] If a man beget a hundred children, and live many years, yea, however abundant the days of his years shall be, yet if his soul shall not be satisfied with good, and also he have no burial; I said, An untimely birth is better than he.

  [4] ὅτι ἐν ματαιότητι ἦλθεν καὶ ἐν σκότει πορεύεται, καὶ ἐν σκότει ὄνομα αὐτοῦ καλυφθήσεται,

  [4] For he came in vanity, and departs in darkness, and his name shall be covered in darkness.

  [5] καί γε ἥλιον οὐκ εἶδεν καὶ οὐκ ἔγνω, ἀνάπαυσις τούτῳ ὑπὲρ τοῦτον.

  [5] Moreover he has not seen the sun, nor known rest: there is no more rest to this one than another.

  [6] καὶ εἰ ἔζησεν χιλίων ἐτῶν καθόδους καὶ ἀγαθωσύνην οὐκ εἶδεν, μὴ οὐκ εἰς τόπον ἕνα τὰ πάντα πορεύεται;

  [6] Though he has lived to the return of a thousand years, yet he has seen no good: do not all go to one place?

  [7] Πᾶς μόχθος τοῦ ἀνθρώπου εἰς στόμα αὐτοῦ, καί γε ἡ ψυχὴ οὐ πληρωθήσεται.

  [7] All the labour of a man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite shall not be satisfied.

  [8] ὅτι τίς περισσεία τῷ σοφῷ ὑπὲρ τὸν ἄφρονα; διότι ὁ πένης οἶδεν πορευθῆναι κατέναντι τῆς ζωῆς.

  [8] For what advantage has the wise man over the fool, since even the poor knows how to walk in the direction of life?

  [9] ἀγαθὸν ὅραμα ὀφθαλμῶν ὑπὲρ πορευόμενον ψυχῇ. καί γε τοῦτο ματαιότης καὶ προαίρεσις πνεύματος.

  [9] The sight of the eyes is better than that which wanders in soul: this is also vanity, and waywardness of spirit.

  [10] Εἴ τι ἐγένετο, ἤδη κέκληται ὄνομα αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐγνώσθη ὅ ἐστιν ἄνθρωπος, καὶ οὐ δυνήσεται τοῦ κριθῆναι μετὰ τοῦ ἰσχυροῦ ὑπὲρ αὐτόν·

  [10] If anything has been, its name has already been called: and it is known what man is; neither can he contend with him who is stronger than he.

  [11] ὅτι εἰσὶν λόγοι πολλοὶ πληθύνοντες ματαιότητα. τί περισσὸν τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ;

  [11] For there are many things which increase vanity. What advantage has a man?

  [12] ὅτι τίς οἶδεν τί ἀγαθὸν τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ ἐν τῇ ζωῇ ἀριθμὸν ἡμερῶν ζωῆς ματαιότητος αὐτοῦ; καὶ ἐποίησεν αὐτὰς ἐν σκιᾷ· ὅτι τίς ἀπαγγελεῖ τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ τί ἔσται ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον;

  [12] for who knows what is good for a man in his life, during the number of the life of the days of his vanity? and he has spent them as a shadow; for who shall tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?

  CHAPTER 7

  [1] Ἀγαθὸν ὄνομα ὑπὲρ ἔλαιον ἀγαθὸν καὶ ἡμέρα τοῦ θανάτου ὑπὲρ ἡμέραν γενέσεως αὐτοῦ.

  A good name is better than good oil; and the day of death than the day of birth.

  [2] ἀγαθὸν πορευθῆναι εἰς οἶκον πένθους ἢ ὅτι πορευθῆναι εἰς οἶκον πότου, καθότι τοῦτο τέλος παντὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου, καὶ ὁ ζῶν δώσει εἰς καρδίαν αὐτοῦ.

  [2] It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the banquet house: since this is the end of every man; and the living man will apply good warning to his heart.

  [3] ἀγαθὸν θυμὸς ὑπὲρ γέλωτα, ὅτι ἐν κακίᾳ προσώπου ἀγαθυνθήσεται καρδία.

  [3] Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart will be made better.

  [4] καρδία σοφῶν ἐν οἴκῳ πένθους, καὶ καρδία ἀφρόνων ἐν οἴκῳ εὐφροσύνης.

  [4] The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

  [5] ἀγαθὸν τὸ ἀκοῦσαι ἐπιτίμησιν σοφοῦ ὑπὲρ ἄνδρα ἀκούοντα ᾆσμα ἀφρόνων·

  [5] It is better to hear a reproof of a wise man, than for a man to hear the song of fools.

  [6] ὅτι ὡς φωνὴ τῶν ἀκανθῶν ὑπὸ τὸν λέβητα, οὕτως γέλως τῶν ἀφρόνων· καί γε τοῦτο ματαιότης.

  [6] As the sound of thorns under a caldron, so is the laughter of fools: this is also vanity.

  [7] ὅτι ἡ συκοφαντία περιφέρει σοφὸν καὶ ἀπόλλυσι τὴν καρδίαν εὐτονίας αὐτοῦ.

  [7] for oppression makes a wise man mad, and destroys his noble heart.

  [8] ἀγαθὴ ἐσχάτη λόγων ὑπὲρ ἀρχὴν αὐτοῦ, ἀγαθὸν μακρόθυμος ὑπὲρ ὑψηλὸν πνεύματι.

  [8] The end of a matter is better than the beginning thereof: the patient is better than the high-minded.

  [9] μὴ σπεύσῃς ἐν πνεύματί σου τοῦ θυμοῦσθαι, ὅτι θυμὸς ἐν κόλπῳ ἀφρόνων ἀναπαύσεται.

  [9] Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger will rest in the bosom of fools.

  [10] μὴ εἴπῃς Τί ἐγένετο ὅτι αἱ ἡμέραι αἱ πρότεραι ἦσαν ἀγαθαὶ ὑπὲρ ταύτας; ὅτι οὐκ ἐν σοφίᾳ ἐπηρώτησας περὶ τούτου.

  [10] Say not, What has happened, that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire in wisdom concerning this.

  [11] ἀγαθὴ σοφία μετὰ κληροδοσίας καὶ περισσεία τοῖς θεωροῦσιν τὸν ἥλιον·

  [11] Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and there is an advantage by it to them that see the sun.

  [12] ὅτι ἐν σκιᾷ αὐτῆς ἡ σοφία ὡς σκιὰ τοῦ ἀργυρίου, καὶ περισσεία γνώσεως τῆς σοφίας ζωοποιήσει τὸν παρ’ αὐτῆς.

  [12] For wisdom in its shadow is as the shadow of silver: and the excellence of the knowledge of wisdom will give life to him that has it.

  [13] ἰδὲ τὰ ποιήματα τοῦ θεοῦ· ὅτι τίς δυνήσεται τοῦ κοσμῆσαι ὃν ἂν ὁ θεὸς διαστρέψῃ αὐτόν;

  [13] Behold the works
of God: for who shall be able to straighten him whom God has made crooked?

  [14] ἐν ἡμέρᾳ ἀγαθωσύνης ζῆθι ἐν ἀγαθῷ καὶ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ κακίας ἰδέ· καί γε σὺν τοῦτο σύμφωνον τούτῳ ἐποίησεν ὁ θεὸς περὶ λαλιᾶς, ἵνα μὴ εὕρῃ ὁ ἄνθρωπος ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ μηδέν.

  [14] In the day of prosperity live joyfully, and consider in the day of adversity: consider, I say, God also has caused the one to agree with the other for this reason, that man should find nothing after him.

  [15] Σὺν τὰ πάντα εἶδον ἐν ἡμέραις ματαιότητός μου· ἔστιν δίκαιος ἀπολλύμενος ἐν δικαίῳ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἔστιν ἀσεβὴς μένων ἐν κακίᾳ αὐτοῦ.

  [15] I have seen all things in the days of my vanity: there is a just man perishing in his justice, and there is an ungodly man remaining in his wickedness.

  [16] μὴ γίνου δίκαιος πολὺ καὶ μὴ σοφίζου περισσά, μήποτε ἐκπλαγῇς.

  [16] Be not very just; neither be very wise: lest thou be confounded.

  [17] μὴ ἀσεβήσῃς πολὺ καὶ μὴ γίνου σκληρός, ἵνα μὴ ἀποθάνῃς ἐν οὐ καιρῷ σου.

  [17] Be not very wicked; and be not stubborn: lest thou shouldest die before thy time.

  [18] ἀγαθὸν τὸ ἀντέχεσθαί σε ἐν τούτῳ, καί γε ἀπὸ τούτου μὴ ἀνῇς τὴν χεῖρά σου, ὅτι φοβούμενος τὸν θεὸν ἐξελεύσεται τὰ πάντα.

  [18] It is well for thee to hold fast by this; also by this defile not thine hand: for to them that fear God all things shall come forth well.

  [19] Ἡ σοφία βοηθήσει τῷ σοφῷ ὑπὲρ δέκα ἐξουσιάζοντας τοὺς ὄντας ἐν τῇ πόλει·