by Septuagint
[22]γ μάχαιρα γλῶσσα βασιλέως καὶ οὐ σαρκίνη, ὃς δ᾿ ἂν παραδοθῇ, συντριβήσεται·
[22c] The king’s tongue is a sword, and not one of flesh; and whosoever shall be given up to it shall be destroyed:
[22]δ ἐὰν γὰρ ὀξυνθῇ ὁ θυμὸς αὐτοῦ, σὺν νεύροις ἀνθρώπους ἀναλίσκει, καὶ ὀστᾶ ἀνθρώπων κατατρώγει, καὶ συγκαίει ὥσπερ φλόξ, ὥστε ἄβρωτα εἶναι νεοσσοῖς ἀετῶν.
[22d] for if his wrath should be provoked, he destroys men with cords, and devours men’s bones, and burns them up as a flame, so that they are not even fit to be eaten by the young eagles.
[22]ε Τοὺς ἐμοὺς λόγους, υἱέ, φοβήθητι, καὶ δεξάμενος αὐτοὺς μετανόει· τάδε λέγει ὁ ἀνὴρ τοῖς πιστεύουσι Θεῷ, καὶ παύομαι·
[22e] My son, reverence my words, and receive them, and repent. These things says the man to them that trust in God; and I cease.
[2] ἀφρονέστατος γάρ εἰμι ἁπάντων ἀνθρώπων, καὶ φρόνησις ἀνθρώπων οὐκ ἔστιν ἐν ἐμοί·
[2] For I am the most simple of all men, and there is not in me the wisdom of men.
[3] Θεὸς δεδίδαχέ με σοφίαν, καὶ γνῶσιν ἁγίων ἔγνωκα.
[3] God has taught me wisdom, and I know the knowledge of the holy.
[4] τίς ἀνέβη εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ κατέβη; τίς συνήγαγεν ἀνέμους ἐν κόλπῳ; τίς συνέστρεψεν ὕδωρ ἐν ἱματίῳ; τίς ἐκράτησε πάντων τῶν ἄκρων τῆς γῆς; τί ὄνομα αὐτῷ, ἢ τί ὄνομα τοῖς τέκνοις αὐτοῦ;
[4] Who has gone up to heaven, and come down? who has gathered the winds in his bosom? who has wrapped up the waters in a garment? who has dominion of all the ends of the earth? what is his name? or what is the name of his children?
[5] πάντες γὰρ λόγοι Θεοῦ πεπυρωμένοι, ὑπερασπίζει δὲ αὐτὸς τῶν εὐλαβουμένων αὐτόν.
[5] For all the words of God are tried in the fire, and he defends those that reverence him.
[6] μὴ προσθῇς τοῖς λόγοις αὐτοῦ, ἵνα μὴ ἐλέγξῃ σε καὶ ψευδὴς γένῃ.
[6] Add not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be made a liar.
[7] δύο αἰτοῦμαι παρὰ σοῦ, μὴ ἀφέλῃς μου χάριν πρὸ τοῦ ἀποθανεῖν με·
[7] Two things I ask of thee; take not favour from me before I die.
[8] μάταιον λόγον καὶ ψευδῆ μακράν μου ποίησον, πλοῦτον δὲ καὶ πενίαν μή μοι δῷς, σύνταξόν δέ μοι τὰ δέοντα καὶ τὰ αὐτάρκη,
[8] Remove far from me vanity and falsehood: and give me not wealth or poverty; but appoint me what is needful and sufficient:
[9] ἵνα μὴ πλησθεὶς ψευδὴς γένωμαι καὶ εἴπω· τίς με ὁρᾶ; ἢ πενηθεὶς κλέψω καὶ ὀμόσω τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ Θεοῦ.
[9] lest I be filled and become false, and say, Who sees me? or be poor and steal, and swear vainly by the name of God.
[10] μὴ παραδῷς οἰκέτην εἰς χεῖρας δεσπότου, μήποτε καταράσηταί σε καὶ ἀφανισθῇς.
[10] Deliver not a servant into the hands of his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be utterly destroyed.
[11] ἔκγονον κακὸν πατέρα καταρᾶται, τὴν δὲ μητέρα οὐκ εὐλογεῖ.
[11] A wicked generation curse their father, and do not bless their mother.
[12] ἔκγονον κακὸν δίκαιον ἑαυτὸν κρίνει. τὴν δ᾿ ἔξοδον αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἀπένιψεν.
[12] A wicked generation judge themselves to be just, but do not cleanse their way.
[13] ἔκγονον κακὸν ὑψηλοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς ἔχει, τοῖς δὲ βλεφάροις αὐτοῦ ἐπαίρεται.
[13] A wicked generation have lofty eyes, and exalt themselves with their eyelids.
[14] ἔκγονον κακὸν μαχαίρας τοὺς ὀδόντας ἔχει καὶ τὰς μύλας τομίδας, ὥστε ἀναλίσκειν καὶ κατεσθίειν τοὺς ταπεινοὺς ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς καὶ τοὺς πένητας αὐτῶν ἐξ ἀνθρώπων. Ταῦτα δὲ λέγω ὑμῖν τοῖς σοφοῖς ἐπιγινώσκειν· αἰδεῖσθαι πρόσωπον ἐν κρίσει οὐ καλόν.
[14] A wicked generation have swords for teeth and jaw-teeth as knives, so as to destroy and devour the lowly from the earth, and the poor of them from among men. And this thing I say to you that are wise for you to learn: It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.
[24] ὁ εἰπὼν τὸν ἀσεβῆ· δίκαιός ἐστιν, ἐπικατάρατος λαοῖς ἔσται καὶ μισητὸς εἰς ἔθνη·
[24] He that says of the ungodly, He is righteous, shall be cursed by peoples, and hateful among the nations.
[25] οἱ δὲ ἐλέγχοντες βελτίους φανοῦνται, ἐπ᾿ αὐτοὺς δὲ ἥξει εὐλογία·
[25] But they that reprove him shall appear more excellent, and blessing shall come upon them;
[26] χείλη δὲ φιλήσουσιν ἀποκρινόμενα λόγους ἀγαθούς.
[26] and men will kiss lips that answer well.
[27] ἑτοίμαζε εἰς τὴν ἔξοδον τὰ ἔργα σου καὶ παρασκευάζου εἰς τὸν ἀγρὸν καὶ πορεύου κατόπισθέν μου καὶ ἀνοικοδομήσεις τὸν οἶκον σου.
[27] Prepare thy works for thy going forth, and prepare thyself for the field; and come after me, and thou shalt rebuild thine house.
[28] μή ἴσθι ψευδὴς μάρτυς ἐπὶ σὸν πολίτην, μηδὲ πλατύνου σοῖς χείλεσι.
[28] Be not a false witness against thy fellow citizen, neither exaggerate with thy lips.
[29] μὴ εἴπῃς· ὃν τρόπον ἐχρήσατό μοι, χρήσομαι αὐτῷ, τίσομαι δὲ αὐτὸν ἅ με ἠδίκησεν.
[29] Say not, As he has treated me, so will I treat him, and I will avenge myself on him for that wherein he has injured me.
[30] ὥσπερ γεώργιον ἀνὴρ ἄφρων, καὶ ὥσπερ ἀμπελὼν ἄνθρωπος ἐνδεὴς φρενῶν·
[30] A foolish man is like a farm, and a senseless man is like a vineyard.
[31] ἐὰν ἀφῇς αὐτόν, χερσωθήσεται καὶ χορτομανήσει ὅλος καὶ γίνεται ἐκλελειμμένος, οἱ δὲ φραγμοὶ τῶν λίθων αὐτοῦ κατασκάπτονται.
[31] If thou let him alone, he will altogether remain barren and covered with weeds; and he becomes destitute, and his stone walls are broken down.
[32] ὕστερον ἐγὼ μετενόησα, ἐπέβλεψα τοῦ ἐκλέξασθαι παιδείαν,
[32] Afterwards I reflected, I looked that I might receive instruction.
[33] ὀλίγον νυστάζω, ὀλίγον δὲ καθυπνῶ, ὀλίγον δὲ ἐναγκαλίζομαι χερσὶ στήθη·
[33] The sluggard says,I slumber a little, and I sleep a little, and for a little while I fold my arms across my breast.
[34] ἐὰν δὲ τοῦτο ποιῇς, ἥξει προπορευομέ
νη ἡ πενία σου καὶ ἡ ἔνδειά σου ὥσπερ ἀγαθὸς δρομεύς. Τῇ βδέλλῃ τρεῖς θυγατέρες ἦσαν ἀγαπήσει ἀγαπώμεναι, καὶ αἱ τρεῖς αὗται οὐκ ἐνεπίμπλασαν αὐτήν, καὶ ἡ τετάρτη οὐκ ἠρκέσθη εἰπεῖν· ἱκανόν.
[34] But if thou do this, thy poverty will come speedily; and thy want like a swift courier. The horse-leech had three dearly-beloved daughters: and these three did not satisfy her; and the fourth was not contented so as to say, Enough.
[16] ᾅδης καὶ ἔρως γυναικὸς καὶ γῆ οὐκ ἐμπιπλαμένη ὕδατος καὶ ὕδωρ καὶ πῦρ οὐ μὴ εἴπωσιν· ἀρκεῖ·
[16] The grave, and the love of a woman, and the earth not filled with water; water also and fire will not say, It is enough.
[17] ὀφθαλμὸν καταγελῶντα πατρὸς καὶ ἀτιμάζοντα γῆρας μητρός, ἐκκόψαισαν αὐτὸν κόρακες ἐκ τῶν φαράγγων καὶ καταφάγοισαν αὐτὸν νεοσσοὶ ἀετῶν.
[17] The eye that laughs to scorn a father, and dishonours the old age of a mother, let the ravens of the valleys pick it out, and let the young eagles devour it.
[18] τρία δέ ἐστι ἀδύνατά μοι νοῆσαι, καὶ τὸ τέταρτον οὐκ ἐπιγινώσκω·
[18] Moreover there are three things impossible for me to comprehend, and the fourth I know not:
[19] ἴχνη ἀετοῦ πετομένου καὶ ὁδοὺς ὄφεως ἐπὶ πέτρας καὶ τρίβους νηὸς ποντοπορούσης καὶ ὁδοὺς ἀνδρὸς ἐν νεότητι.
[19] the track of a flying eagle; and the ways of a serpent on a rock; and the paths of a ship passing through the sea; and the ways of a man in youth.
[20] τοιαύτη ὁδὸς γυναικὸς μοιχαλίδος, ἥ, ὅταν πράξῃ, ἀπονιψαμένη, οὐδέν φησι πεπραχέναι ἄτοπον.
[20] Such is the way of an adulterous woman, who having washed herself from what she has done, says she has done nothing amiss.
[21] διὰ τριῶν σείεται ἡ γῆ, τὸ δὲ τέταρτον οὐ δύναται φέρειν·
[21] By three thing the earth is troubled, and the fourth it cannot bear:
[22] ἐὰν οἰκέτης βασιλεύσῃ καὶ ἄφρων πλησθῇ σιτίων
[22] if a servant reign; or a fool be filled with food;
[23] καὶ οἰκέτις ἐὰν ἐκβάλῃ τὴν ἑαυτῆς κυρίαν καὶ μισητὴ γυνὴ ἐὰν τύχῃ ἀνδρὸς ἀγαθοῦ.
[23] or if a maid-servant should cast out her own mistress; and if a hateful woman should marry a good man.
[24] τέσσαρα δὲ ἐλάχιστα ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, ταῦτα δέ ἐστι σοφώτερα τῶν σοφῶν·
[24] And there are four very little things upon the earth, but these are wiser than the wise:
[25] οἱ μύρμηκες, οἷς μὴ ἔστιν ἰσχὺς καὶ ἑτοιμάζονται θέρους τὴν τροφήν·
[25] the ants which are weak, and yet prepare their food in summer;
[26] καὶ οἱ χοιρογρύλλιοι, ἔθνος οὐκ ἰσχυρόν, οἳ ἐποιήσαντο ἐν πέτραις τοὺς ἑαυτῶν οἴκους·
[26] the rabbits also are a feeble race, who make their houses in the rocks.
[27] ἀβασίλευτόν ἐστιν ἡ ἀκρὶς καὶ στρατεύει ἀφ᾿ ἑνὸς κελεύσματος εὐτάκτως·
[27] The locusts have no king, and yet march orderly at one command.
[28] καὶ καλαβώτης χερσὶν ἐρειδόμενος καὶ εὐάλωτος ὢν κατοικεῖ ἐν ὀχυρώμασι βασιλέως.
[28] And the eft, which supports itself by its hands, and is easily taken, dwells in the fortresses of kings.
[29] τρία δέ ἐστιν, ἃ εὐόδως πορεύεται, καὶ τέταρτον, ὃ καλῶς διαβαίνει·
[29] And there are three things which go well, and a fourth which passes along finely.
[30] σκύμνος λέοντος ἰσχυρότερος κτηνῶν, ὃς οὐκ ἀποστρέφεται οὐδὲ καταπτήσσει κτῆνος,
[30] A lion’s whelp, stronger than all other beasts, which turns not away, nor fears any beast;
[31] καὶ ἀλέκτωρ ἐμπεριπατῶν θηλείαις εὔψυχος καὶ τράγος ἡγούμενος αἰπολίου καὶ βασιλεὺς δημηγορῶν ἐν ἔθνει.
[31] and a cock walking in boldly among the hens, and the goat leading the herd; and a king publicly speaking before a nation.
[32] ἐὰν πρόῃ σεαυτὸν ἐν εὐφροσύνῃ καὶ ἐκτείνῃς τὴν χεῖρά σου μετὰ μάχης, ἀτιμασθήσῃ.
[32] If thou abandon thyself to mirth, and stretch forth thine hand in a quarrel, thou shalt be disgraced.
[33] ἄμελγε γάλα, καὶ ἔσται βούτυρον· ἐὰν δὲ ἐκπιέζῃς μυκτῆρας, ἐξελεύσεται αἷμα· ἐὰν δὲ ἐξέλκῃς λόγους, ἐξελεύσονται κρίσεις καὶ μάχαι. Οἱ ἐμοὶ λόγοι εἴρηνται ὑπὸ Θεοῦ, βασιλέως χρηματισμός, ὃν ἐπαίδευσεν ἡ μήτηρ αὐτοῦ.
[33] Milk out milk, and there shall be butter, and if thou wing one’s nostrils there shall come out blood: so if thou extort words, there will come forth quarrels and strifes. My words have been spoken by God — the oracular answer of a king, whom his mother instructed.
[2] τί, τέκνον, τηρήσεις; τί; ρήσεις Θεοῦ. πρωτογενές, σοὶ λέγω, υἱέ· τί τέκνον ἐμῆς κοιλίας; τί τέκνον ἐμῶν εὐχῶν;
[2] What wilt thou keep, my son, what? the words of God. My firstborn son, I speak to thee: what? son of my womb? what? son of my vows?
[3] μὴ δῷς γυναιξὶ σὸν πλοῦτον, καὶ τὸν σὸν νοῦν καὶ βίον εἰς ὑστεροβουλίαν.
[3] Give not thy wealth to women, nor thy mind and living to remorse.
[4] μετὰ βουλῆς πάντα ποίει, μετὰ βουλῆς οἰνοπότει· οἱ δυνάσται θυμώδεις εἰσίν, οἶνον δὲ μὴ πινέτωσαν,
[4] Do all things with counsel: drink wine with counsel. Princes are prone to anger: let them then not drink wine:
[5] ἵνα μὴ πιόντες ἐπιλάθωνται τῆς σοφίας καὶ ὀρθὰ κρῖναι οὐ μὴ δύνωνται τοὺς ἀσθενεῖς.
[5] lest they drink, and forget wisdom, and be not able to judge the poor rightly.
[6] δίδοτε μέθην τοῖς ἐν λύπαις καὶ οἶνον πίνειν τοῖς ἐν ὀδύναις,
[6] Give strong drink to those that are in sorrow, and the wine to drink to those in pain:
[7] ἵνα ἐπιλάθωνται τῆς πενίας καὶ τῶν πόνων μὴ μνησθῶσιν ἔτι.
[7] that they may forget their poverty, and may not remember their troubles any more.
[8] ἄνοιγε σὸν στόμα λόγῳ Θεοῦ, καὶ κρῖνε πάντας ὑγιῶς.
[8] Open thy mouth with the word of God, and judge all fairly.
[9] ἄνοιγε σὸν στόμα καὶ κρῖνε δικαίως, διάκρινε δὲ πένητα καὶ ἀσθενῆ.
[9] Open thy mouth and judge justly, and plead the cause of the poor and weak.
Chapter 25
ΑΥΤ�
�Ι αἱ παιδεῖαι Σολομῶντος αἱ ἀδιάκριτοι, ἃς ἐξεγράψαντο οἱ φίλοι ᾿Εζεκίου τοῦ βασιλέως τῆς ᾿Ιουδαίας.
These are the miscellaneous instructions of Solomon, which the friends of Ezekias king of Judea copied out.
[2] Δόξα Θεοῦ κρύπτει λόγον, δόξα δὲ βασιλέως τιμᾷ πράγματα.
[2] The glory of God conceals a matter: but the glory of a king honours business.
[3] οὐρανὸς ὑψηλός, γῆ δὲ βαθεῖα, καρδία δὲ βασιλέως ἀνεξέλεγκτος.
[3] Heaven is high, and earth is deep, and a king’s heart is unsearchable.
[4] τύπτε ἀδόκιμον ἀργύριον, καὶ καθαρισθήσεται καθαρὸν ἅπαν·
[4] Beat the drossy silver, and it shall be made entirely pure.
[5] κτεῖνε ἀσεβεῖς ἐκ προσώπου βασιλέως, καὶ κατορθώσει ἐν δικαιοσύνῃ ὁ θρόνος αὐτοῦ.
[5] Slay the ungodly from before the king, and his throne shall prosper in righteousness.
[6] μὴ ἀλαζονεύου ἐνώπιον βασιλέως, μηδὲ ἐν τόποις δυναστῶν ὑφίστασο·
[6] Be not boastful in the presence of the king, and remain not in the places of princes;
[7] κρεῖσσον γάρ σοι τὸ ρηθῆναι· ἀνάβαινε πρός με ἢ ταπεινῶσαί σε ἐν προσώπῳ δυνάστου. ἃ εἶδον οἱ ὀφθαλμοί σου, λέγε.
[7] for it is better for thee that it should be said, Come up to me, than that one should humble thee in the presence of the prince; speak of that which thine eyes have seen.
[8] μὴ πρόσπιπτε εἰς μάχην ταχέως, ἵνα μὴ μεταμεληθῇς ἐπ᾿ ἐσχάτων. ἡνίκα ἄν σε ὀνειδίσῃ ὁ σὸς φίλος,
[8] Get not suddenly into a quarrel, lest thou repent at last. Whenever thy friend shall reproach thee,