by Septuagint
[30] Be not ready to quarrel with a man without a cause, lest he do thee some harm.
[31] μὴ κτήσῃ κακῶν ἀνδρῶν ὀνείδη, μηδὲ ζηλώσῃς τὰς ὁδοὺς αὐτῶν·
[31] Procure not the reproaches of bad men, neither do thou covet their ways.
[32] ἀκάθαρτος γὰρ ἔναντι Κυρίου πᾶς παράνομος, ἐν δὲ δικαίοις οὐ συνεδριάζει.
[32] For every transgressor is unclean before the Lord; neither does he sit among the righteous.
[33] κατάρα Θεοῦ ἐν οἴκοις ἀσεβῶν, ἐπαύλεις δὲ δικαίων εὐλογοῦνται.
[33] The curse of God is in the houses of the ungodly; but the habitations of the just are blessed.
[34] Κύριος ὑπερηφάνοις ἀντιτάσσεται, ταπεινοῖς δὲ δίδωσιν χάριν.
[34] The Lord resists the proud; but he gives grace to the humble.
[35] δόξαν σοφοὶ κληρονομήσουσιν, οἱ δὲ ἀσεβεῖς ὕψωσαν ἀτιμίαν.
[35] The wise shall inherit glory; but the ungodly have exalted their own dishonour.
Chapter 4
ΑΚΟΥΣΑΤΕ, παῖδες, παιδείαν πατρὸς καὶ προσέχετε γνῶναι ἔννοιαν·
Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
[2] δῶρον γὰρ ἀγαθὸν δωροῦμαι ὑμῖν, τὸν ἐμὸν νόμον μὴ ἐγκαταλίπητε.
[2] For I give you a good gift; forsake ye not my law.
[3] υἱὸς γὰρ ἐγενόμην κἀγὼ πατρὶ ὑπήκοος καὶ ἀγαπώμενος ἐν προσώπῳ μητρός,
[3] For I also was a son obedient to my father, and loved in the sight of my mother:
[4] οἳ ἐδίδασκόν με καὶ ἔλεγον· ἐρειδέτω ὁ ἡμέτερος λόγος εἰς σὴν καρδίαν· φύλασσε ἐντολάς, μὴ ἐπιλάθῃ
[4] who spoke and instructed me, saying, Let our speech be fixed in thine heart, keep our commandments, forget them not:
[5] μηδὲ παρίδῃς ρῆσιν ἐμοῦ στόματος,
[5] and do not neglect the speech of my mouth.
[6] μηδὲ ἐγκαταλίπῃς αὐτήν, καὶ ἀνθέξεταί σου· ἐράσθητι αὐτῆς, καὶ τηρήσει σε·
[6] And forsake it not, and it shall cleave to thee: love it, and it shall keep thee.
[8] περιχαράκωσον αὐτήν, καὶ ὑψώσει σε· τίμησον αὐτήν, ἵνα σε περιλάβῃ,
[8] Secure it, and it shall exalt thee: honour it, that it may embrace thee;
[9] ἵνα δῷ τῇ σῇ κεφαλῇ στέφανον χαρίτων, στεφάνῳ δὲ τρυφῆς ὑπερασπίσῃ σου.
[9] that it may give unto thy head a crown of graces, and may cover thee with a crown of delight.
[10] ῎Ακουε, υἱέ, καὶ δέξαι ἐμοὺς λόγους, καὶ πληθυνθήσεται ἔτη ζωῆς σου, ἵνα σοι γένωνται πολλαὶ ὁδοὶ βίου·
[10] Hear, my son, and receive my words; and the years of thy life shall be increased, that the resources of thy life may be many.
[11] ὁδοὺς γὰρ σοφίας διδάσκω σε, ἐμβιβάζω δέ σε τροχιαῖς ὀρθαῖς.
[11] For I teach thee the ways of wisdom; and I cause thee to go in right paths.
[12] ἐὰν γὰρ πορεύῃ, οὐ συγκλεισθήσεταί σου τὰ διαβήματα, ἐὰν δὲ τρέχῃς οὐ κοπιάσεις.
[12] For when thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not be distressed.
[13] ἐπιλαβοῦ ἐμῆς παιδείας, μὴ ἀφῇς, ἀλλὰ φύλαξον αὐτὴν σεαυτῷ εἰς ζωήν σου.
[13] Take hold of my instruction; let it not go, — but keep it for thyself for thy life.
[14] ὁδοὺς ἀσεβῶν μὴ ἐπέλθῃς, μηδὲ ζηλώσῃς ὁδοὺς παρανόμων·
[14] Go not in the ways of the ungodly, neither covet the ways of transgressors.
[15] ἐν ᾧ ἂν τόπῳ στρατοπεδεύσωσι, μὴ ἐπέλθῃς ἐκεῖ, ἔκκλινον δὲ ἀπ᾿ αὐτῶν καὶ παράλλαξον.
[15] In whatever place they shall pitch their camp, go not thither; but turn from them, and pass away.
[16] οὐ γὰρ μὴ ὑπνώσωσιν, ἐὰν μὴ κακοποιήσωσιν, ἀφῄρηται ὁ ὕπνος αὐτῶν, καὶ οὐ κοιμῶνται·
[16] For they cannot sleep, unless they have done evil: their sleep is taken away, and they rest not.
[17] οἵδε γὰρ σιτοῦνται σῖτα ἀσεβείας, οἴνῳ δὲ παρανόμῳ μεθύσκονται.
[17] For these live upon the bread of ungodliness, and are drunken with wine of transgression.
[18] αἱ δὲ ὁδοὶ τῶν δικαίων ὁμοίως φωτὶ λάμπουσι, προπορεύονται καὶ φωτίζουσιν, ἕως κατορθώσῃ ἡ ἡμέρα·
[18] But the ways of the righteous shine like light; they go on and shine, until the day be fully come.
[19] αἱ δὲ ὁδοὶ τῶν ἀσεβῶν σκοτειναί, οὐκ οἴδασι πῶς προσκόπτουσιν.
[19] But the ways of the ungodly are dark; they know not how they stumble.
[20] Υἱέ, ἐμῇ ρήσει πρόσεχε, τοῖς δὲ ἐμοῖς λόγοις παράβαλλε σὸν οὖς,
[20] My son, attend to my speech; and apply thine ear to my words:
[21] ὅπως μὴ ἐκλίπωσί σε αἱ πηγαί σου, φύλασσε αὐτὰς ἐν καρδίᾳ·
[21] that thy fountains may not fail thee; keep them in thine heart.
[22] ζωὴ γάρ ἐστι τοῖς εὑρίσκουσιν αὐτὰς καὶ πάσῃ σαρκὶ ἴασις.
[22] For they are life to those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
[23] πάσῃ φυλακῇ τήρει σὴν καρδίαν, ἐκ γὰρ τούτων ἔξοδοι ζωῆς.
[23] Keep thine heart with the utmost care; for out of these are the issues of life.
[24] περίελε σεαυτοῦ σκολιὸν στόμα καὶ ἄδικα χείλη μακρὰν ἀπὸ σοῦ ἄπωσαι.
[24] Remove from thee a froward mouth, and put far away from thee unjust lips.
[25] οἱ ὀφθαλμοί σου ὀρθὰ βλεπέτωσαν, τὰ δὲ βλέφαρά σου νευέτω δίκαια.
[25] Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids assent to just things.
[26] ὀρθὰς τροχιὰς ποίει σοῖς ποσὶ καὶ τὰς ὁδούς σου κατεύθυνε.
[26] Make straight paths for thy feet, and order thy ways aright.
[27] μὴ ἐκκλίνῃς εἰς τὰ δεξιὰ μηδὲ εἰς τὰ ἀριστερά, ἀπόστρεψον δὲ σὸν πόδα ἀπὸ ὁδοῦ κακῆς· ὁδοὺς γὰρ τὰς ἐκ δεξιῶν οἶδεν ὁ Θεός, διεστραμμέναι δέ εἰσιν αἱ ἐξ ἀριστερῶν· αὐτὸς δὲ ὀρθὰς ποιήσει τὰς τροχιάς σου, τὰς δὲ πορείας σου ἐν εἰρήνῃ προάξει.
[27] Turn not aside to the right hand nor to the left, but turn away thy foot from an evil way: [for God knows the ways on the right hand, but those on the left are crooked:] and he will make thy ways straight, and will guide thy steps in peace.
Chapter 5
ΥΙΕ, ἐμῇ σο�
�ίᾳ πρόσεχε, ἐμοῖς δὲ λόγοις παράβαλλε σὸν οὗς,
My son, attend to my wisdom, and apply thine ear to my words;
[2] ἵνα φυλάξῃς ἔννοιαν ἀγαθήν· αἴσθησις δὲ ἐμῶν χειλέων ἐντέλλεταί σοι.
[2] that thou mayest keep good understanding, and the discretion of my lips gives thee a charge.
[3] μὴ πρόσεχε φαύλῃ γυναικί· μέλι γὰρ ἀποστάζει ἀπὸ χειλέων γυναικὸς πόρνης, ἣ πρὸς καιρὸν λιπαίνει σὸν φάρυγγα,
[3] Give no heed to a worthless woman; for honey drops from the lips of a harlot, who for a season pleases thy palate:
[4] ὕστερον μέντοι πικρότερον χολῆς εὑρήσεις καὶ ἠκονημένον μᾶλλον μαχαίρας διστόμου.
[4] but afterwards thou wilt find her more bitter than gall, and sharper than a two-edged sword.
[5] τῆς γὰρ ἀφροσύνης οἱ πόδες κατάγουσι τοὺς χρωμένους αὐτῇ μετὰ θανάτου εἰς τὸν ᾅδην, τὰ δὲ ἴχνη αὐτῆς οὐκ ἐρείδεται·
[5] For the feet of folly lead those who deal with her down to the grave with death; and her steps are not established.
[6] ὁδοὺς γὰρ ζωῆς οὐκ ἐπέρχεται, σφαλεραὶ δὲ αἱ τροχιαὶ αὐτῆς καὶ οὐκ εὔγνωστοι.
[6] For she goes not upon the paths of life; but her ways are slippery, and not easily known.
[7] νῦν οὖν, υἱέ, ἄκουέ μου καὶ μὴ ἀκύρους ποιήσῃς ἐμοὺς λόγους.
[7] Now then, my son, hear me, and make not my words of none effect.
[8] μακρὰν ποίησον ἀπ᾿ αὐτῆς σὴν ὁδόν, μὴ ἐγγίσῃς πρὸς θύραις οἴκων αὐτῆς,
[8] Remove thy way far from her; draw not near to the doors of her house:
[9] ἵνα μὴ πρόῃ ἄλλοις ζωήν σου καὶ σὸν βίον ἀνελεήμοσιν·
[9] lest thou give away thy life to others, and thy substance to the merciless:
[10] ἵνα μὴ πλησθῶσιν ἀλλότριοι σῆς ἰσχύος, οἱ δὲ σοὶ πόνοι εἰς οἴκους ἀλλοτρίων ἔλθωσι
[10] lest strangers be filled with thy strength, and thy labours come into the houses of strangers;
[11] καὶ μεταμεληθήσῃ ἐπ᾿ ἐσχάτων, ἡνίκα ἂν κατατριβῶσι σάρκες σωματός σου,
[11] And thou repent at last, when the flesh of thy body is consumed,
[12] καὶ ἐρεῖς· πῶς ἐμίσησα παιδείαν, καὶ ἐλέγχους ἐξέκλινεν ἡ καρδία μου;
[12] and thou shalt say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart avoided reproofs!
[13] οὐκ ἤκουον φωνὴν παιδεύοντός με καὶ διδάσκοντός με, οὐδὲ παρέβαλλον τὸ οὖς μου·
[13] I heard not the voice of him that instructed me, and taught me, neither did I apply mine ear.
[14] παρ᾿ ὀλίγον ἐγενόμην ἐν παντὶ κακῷ ἐν μέσῳ ἐκκλησίας καὶ συναγωγῆς.
[14] I was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly.
[15] πῖνε ὕδατα ἀπὸ σῶν ἀγγείων καὶ ἀπὸ σῶν φρεάτων πηγῆς.
[15] Drink waters out of thine own vessels, and out of thine own springing wells.
[16] μὴ ὑπερεκχείσθω σοι ὕδατα ἐκ τῆς σῆς πηγῆς, εἰς δὲ σὰς πλατείας διαπορευέσθω τὰ σὰ ὕδατα·
[16] Let not waters out of thy fountain be spilt by thee, but let thy waters go into thy streets.
[17] ἔστω σοι μόνῳ ὑπάρχοντα, καὶ μηδεὶς ἀλλότριος μετασχέτω σοι·
[17] Let them be only thine own, and let no stranger partake with thee.
[18] ἡ πηγή σου τοῦ ὕδατος ἔστω σοι ἰδία, καὶ συνευφραίνου μετὰ γυναικὸς τῆς ἐκ νεότητός σου.
[18] Let thy fountain of water be truly thine own; and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.
[19] ἔλαφος φιλίας καὶ πῶλος σῶν χαρίτων ὁμιλείτω σοι· ἡ δὲ ἰδία ἡγείσθω σου καὶ συνέστω σοι ἐν παντὶ καιρῷ, ἐν γὰρ τῇ ταύτης φιλίᾳ συμπεριφερόμενος πολλοστὸς ἔσῃ.
[19] Let thy loving hart and thy graceful colt company with thee, and let her be considered thine own, and be with thee at all times; for ravished with her love thou shalt be greatly increased.
[20] μὴ πολὺς ἴσθι πρὸς ἀλλοτρίαν, μηδὲ συνέχου ἀγκάλαις τῆς μὴ ἰδίας·
[20] Be not intimate with a strange woman, neither fold thyself in the arms of a woman not thine own.
[21] ἐνώπιον γάρ εἰσι τῶν τοῦ Θεοῦ ὀφθαλμῶν ὁδοὶ ἀνδρός, εἰς δὲ πάσας τὰς τροχιὰς αὐτοῦ σκοπεύει.
[21] For the ways of a man are before the eyes of God, and he looks on all his paths.
[22] παρονομίαι ἄνδρα ἀγρεύουσι, σειραῖς δὲ τῶν ἑαυτοῦ ἁμαρτιῶν ἕκαστος σφίγγεται·
[22] Iniquities ensnare a man, and every one is bound in the chains of his own sins.
[23] οὗτος τελευτᾷ μετὰ ἀπαιδεύτων, ἐκ δὲ πλήθους τῆς ἑαυτοῦ βιότητος ἐξερρίφη καὶ ἀπώλετο δι᾿ ἀφροσύνην.
[23] Such a man dies with the uninstructed; and he is cast forth from the abundance of his own substance, and has perished through folly.
Chapter 6
ΥΙΕ, ἐὰν ἐγγυήσῃ σὸν φίλον, παραδώσεις σὴν χεῖρα ἐχθρῷ·
My son, if thou become surety for thy friend, thou shalt deliver thine hand to an enemy.
[2] παγὶς γὰρ ἰσχυρὰ ἀνδρὶ τὰ ἴδια χείλη, καὶ ἁλίσκεται χείλεσιν ἰδίου στόματος.
[2] For a man’s own lips become a strong snare to him, and he is caught with the lips of his own mouth.
[3] ποίει, υἱέ, ἃ ἐγώ σοι ἐντέλλομαι, καὶ σώζου· ἥκεις γὰρ εἰς χεῖρας κακῶν διὰ σὸν φίλον. ἴσθι μὴ ἐκλυόμενος, παρόξυνε δὲ καὶ τὸν φίλον σου, ὃν ἐνεγγυήσω.
[3] My son, do what I command thee, and deliver thyself; for on thy friend’s account thou art come into the power of evil men: faint not, but stir up even thy friend for whom thou art become surety.
[4] μὴ δῷς ὕπνον σοῖς ὄμμασι, μηδὲ ἐπινυστάξῃς σοῖς βλεφάροις,
[4] Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber with thine eyelids;
[5] ἵνα σώζῃ ὥσπερ δορκὰς ἐκ βρόχων καὶ ὥσπερ ὄρνεον ἐκ παγίδος.
[5] that thou mayest deliver thyself as a doe out of the toils, and as a bird out of a snare.
[6] ῎Ιθι πρὸς τὸν μύρμηκα, ὦ ὀκνηρέ, καὶ ζήλωσον ἰδὼν τὰς ὁδοὺς αὐτοῦ καὶ γενοῦ ἐκείνου σοφώτερος·
[6] Go to the ant, O sluggard; and see, and emulate his ways, and become wiser than he.
[7] ἐκείνῳ γὰρ γεωργίου μὴ ὑπάρχοντος, μηδὲ τὸν ἀναγκάζοντα ἔχων, μηδὲ ὑπὸ δεσπότην ὤν,
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[7] For whereas he has no husbandry, nor any one to compel him, and is under no master,
[8] ἑτοιμάζεται θέρους τὴν τροφὴν πολλήν τε ἐν τῷ ἀμητῷ ποιεῖται τὴν παράθεσιν.
[8] he prepares food for himself in the summer, and lays by abundant store in harvest.
[8]α ἢ πορεύθητι πρὸς τὴν μέλισσαν καὶ μάθε ὡς ἐργάτις ἐστὶ τήν τε ἐργασίαν ὡς σεμνὴν ποιεῖται·
[8a] Or go to the bee, and learn how diligent she is, and how earnestly she is engaged in her work;
[8]β ἦς τοὺς πόνους βασιλεῖς καὶ ἰδιῶται πρὸς ὑγίειαν προσφέρονται· ποθεινὴ δέ ἐστι πᾶσι καὶ ἐπίδοξος·
[8b] whose labours kings and private men use for health, and she is desired and respected by all:
[8]γ καί περ οὖσα τῇ ρώμῃ ἀσθενής, τὴν σοφίαν τιμήσασα προήχθη.
[8c] though weak in body, she is advanced by honouring wisdom.
[9] ἕως τίνος, ὀκνηρέ, κατάκεισαι; πότε δὲ ἐξ ὕπνου ἐγερθήσῃ;
[9] How long wilt thou lie, O sluggard? and when wilt thou awake out of sleep?
[10] ὀλίγον μὲν ὑπνοῖς, ὀλίγον δὲ κάθησαι, μικρὸν δὲ νυστάζεις, ὀλίγον δὲ ἐναγκαλίζῃ χερσὶ στήθη·
[10] Thou sleepest a little, and thou restest a little, and thou slumberest a short time, and thou foldest thine arms over thy breast a little.
[11] εἶτ᾿ ἐμπαραγίνεταί σοι ὥσπερ κακὸς ὁδοιπόρος ἡ πενία καὶ ἡ ἔνδεια ὥσπερ ἀγαθὸς δρομεύς.
[11] Then poverty comes upon thee as an evil traveller, and want as a swift courier:
[11]α ἐὰν δὲ ἄοκνος ᾖς, ἥξει ὥσπερ πηγὴ ὁ ἀμητός σου, ἡ δὲ ἔνδεια ὥσπερ κακὸς δρομεὺς ἀπαυτομολήσει.
[11a] but if thou be diligent, thine harvest shall arrive as a fountain, and poverty shall flee away as a bad courier.