by Septuagint
[9] ἀναχώρει εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω μὴ καταφρόνει,
[9] retreat backward, despise him not;
[10] μή σε ὀνειδίσῃ μὲν ὁ φίλος, ἡ δὲ μάχη σου καὶ ἡ ἔχθρα οὐκ ἀπέσται, ἀλλὰ ἔσται σοι ἴση θανάτῳ.
[10] lest thy friend continue to reproach thee, so thy quarrel and enmity shall not depart, but shall be to thee like death.
[10]α χάρις καὶ φιλία ἐλευθεροῖ, ἃς τήρησον σεαυτῷ, ἵνα μὴ ἐπονείδιστος γένῃ, ἀλλὰ φύλαξον τὰς ὁδούς σου εὐσυναλλάκτως.
[10a] Favour and friendship set a man free, which do thou keep for thyself, lest thou be made liable to reproach; but take heed to thy ways peaceably.
[11] μῆλον χρυσοῦν ἐν ὁρμίσκῳ σαρδίου, οὕτως εἰπεῖν λόγον.
[11] As a golden apple in a necklace of sardius, so is it to speak a wise word.
[12] εἰς ἐνώτιον χρυσοῦν καὶ σάρδιον πολυτελὲς δέδεται, λόγος σοφὸς εἰς εὐήκοον οὖς.
[12] In an ear-ring of gold a precious sardius is also set; so is a wise word to an obedient ear.
[13] ὥσπερ ἔξοδος χιόνος ἐν ἀμήτῳ κατὰ καῦμα ὠφελεῖ, οὕτως ἄγγελος πιστὸς τοὺς ἀποστείλαντας αὐτόν· ψυχὰς γὰρ τῶν αὐτῷ χρωμένων ὠφελεῖ.
[13] As a fall of snow in the time of harvest is good against heat, so a faithful messenger refreshes those that send him; for he helps the souls of his employers.
[14] ὥσπερ ἄνεμοι καὶ νέφη καὶ ὑετοὶ ἐπιφανέστατα, οὕτως ὁ καυχώμενος ἐπὶ δόσει ψευδεῖ.
[14] As winds and clouds and rains are most evident objects, so is he that boasts of a false gift.
[15] ἐν μακροθυμίᾳ εὐοδία βασιλεῦσι, γλῶσσα δὲ μαλακὴ συντρίβει ὀστᾶ.
[15] In long-suffering is prosperity to kings, and a soft tongue breaks the bones.
[16] μέλι εὑρὼν φάγε τὸ ἱκανόν, μήποτε πλησθεὶς ἐξεμέσῃς.
[16] Having found honey, eat only what is enough, lest haply thou be filled, and vomit it up.
[17] σπάνιον εἴσαγε σὸν πόδα πρὸς σεαυτοῦ φίλον, μήποτε πλησθείς σου μισήσῃ σε.
[17] Enter sparingly into thy friend’s house, lest he be satiated with thy company, and hate thee.
[18] ρόπαλον καὶ μάχαιρα καὶ τόξευμα ἀκιδωτόν, οὕτως καὶ ἀνὴρ ὁ καταμαρτυρῶν τοῦ φίλου αὐτοῦ μαρτυρίαν ψευδῆ.
[18] As a club, and a dagger, and a pointed arrow, so also is a man who bears false witness against his friend.
[19] ὁδὸς κακοῦ καὶ ποὺς παρανόμου ὀλεῖται ἐν ἡμέρᾳ κακῇ.
[19] The way of the wicked and the foot of the transgressor shall perish in an evil day.
[20] ὥσπερ ὄξος ἕλκει ἀσύμφορον, οὕτως προσπεσὸν πάθος ἐν σώματι καρδίαν λυπεῖ.
[20] As vinegar is bad for a sore, so trouble befalling the body afflicts the heart.
[20]α ὥσπερ σὴς ἐν ἱματίῳ καὶ σκώληξ ξύλῳ, οὕτως λύπη ἀνδρὸς βλάπτει καρδίαν.
[20a] As a moth in a garment, and a worm in wood, so the grief of a man hurts the heart.
[21] ἐὰν πεινᾷ ὁ ἐχθρός σου, ψώμιζε αὐτόν, ἐὰν διψᾷ, πότιζε αὐτόν·
[21] If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink;
[22] τοῦτο γὰρ ποιῶν ἄνθρακας πυρὸς σωρεύσεις ἐπὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ, ὁ δὲ Κύριος ἀνταποδώσει σοι ἀγαθά.
[22] for so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee with good.
[23] ἄνεμος Βορέας ἐξεγείρει νέφη, πρόσωπον δὲ ἀναιδὲς γλῶσσαν ἐρεθίζει.
[23] The north wind raises clouds; so an impudent face provokes the tongue.
[24] κρεῖσσον οἰκεῖν ἐπὶ γωνίας δώματος ἢ μετὰ γυναικὸς λοιδόρου ἐν οἰκίᾳ κοινῇ.
[24] It is better to dwell on a corner of the roof, than with a railing woman in an open house.
[25] ὥσπερ ὕδωρ ψυχρὸν ψυχῇ διψώσῃ προσηνές, οὕτως ἀγγελία ἀγαθὴ ἐκ γῆς μακρόθεν.
[25] As cold water is agreeable to a thirsting soul, so is a good message from a land far off.
[26] ὥσπερ εἴ τις πηγὴ φράσσοι καὶ ὕδατος ἔξοδον λυμαίνοιτο, οὕτως ἄκοσμον δίκαιον πεπτωκέναι ἐνώπιον ἀσεβοῦς.
[26] As if one should stop a well, and corrupt a spring of water, so is it unseemly for a righteous man to fall before an ungodly man.
[27] ἐσθίειν μέλι πολὺ οὐ καλόν, τιμᾶ δὲ χρὴ λόγους ἐνδόξους.
[27] It is not good to eat much honey; but it is right to honour venerable sayings.
[28] ὥσπερ πόλις τὰ τείχει καταβεβλημένη καὶ ἀτείχιστος, οὕτως ἀνὴρ ὃς οὐ μετὰ βουλῆς τι πράσσει.
[28] As a city whose walls are broken down, and which is unfortified, so is a man who does anything without counsel.
Chapter 26
ΩΣΠΕΡ δρόσος ἐν ἀμήτῳ καὶ ὥσπερ ὑετὸς ἐν θέρει, οὕτως οὐκ ἔστιν ἄφρονι τιμή.
As dew in harvest, and as rain in summer, so honour is not seemly for a fool.
[2] ὥσπερ ὄρνεα πέταται καὶ στρουθοί, οὕτως ἀρὰ ματαία οὐκ ἐπελεύσεται οὐδενί.
[2] As birds and sparrows fly, so a curse shall not come upon any one without a cause.
[3] ὥσπερ μάστιξ ἵππῳ καὶ κέντρον ὄνῳ, οὕτως ράβδος ἔθνει παρανόμῳ.
[3] As a whip for a horse, and a goad for an ass, so is a rod for a simple nation.
[4] μὴ ἀποκρίνου ἄφρονι πρὸς τὴν ἐκείνου ἀφροσύνην, ἵνα μὴ ὅμοιος γένῃ αὐτῷ·
[4] Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou become like him.
[5] ἀλλὰ ἀποκρίνου ἄφρονι κατὰ τὴν ἀφροσύνην αὐτοῦ, ἵνα μὴ φαίνηται σοφός παρ᾿ ἑαυτῷ.
[5] Yet answer a fool according to his folly, lest he seem wise in his own conceit.
[6] ἐκ τῶν ὁδῶν ἑαυτοῦ ὄνειδος ποιεῖται ὁ ἀποστείλας δι᾿ ἀγγέλου ἄφρονος λόγον.
[6] He that sends a message by a foolish messenger procures for himself a reproach from his own ways.
[7] ἀφελοῦ πορείαν σκελῶν καὶ παρανομίαν ἐκ στόματος ἀφρόνων.
[7] As well take away the motion of the legs, as transgression from the mouth of fools.
[8] ὃς ἀποδεσμεύει λίθον ἐν σφενδόνῃ, ὅμοιός ἐστι τῷ διδόντι ἄφρονι δόξαν.
[8] He that binds up a stone in a sling, is like one that gives glory to a fool.
[9] ἄκανθαι φύονται ἐν χειρὶ μεθύσου, δουλεία δὲ ἐν χειρὶ τῶν ἀφρόνων.
[9] Thorns
grow in the hand of a drunkard, and servitude in the hand of fools.
[10] πολλὰ χειμάζεται πᾶσα σάρξ ἀφρόνων· συντρίβεται γὰρ ἡ ἔκστασις αὐτῶν.
[10] All the flesh of fools endures much hardship; for their fury is brought to nought.
[11] ὥσπερ κύων ὅταν ἐπέλθῃ ἐπὶ τὸν ἑαυτοῦ ἔμετον καὶ μισητὸς γένηται, οὕτως ἄφρων τῇ ἑαυτοῦ κακίᾳ ἀναστρέψας ἐπὶ τὴν ἑαυτοῦ ἁμαρτίαν.
[11] As when a dog goes to his own vomit, and becomes abominable, so is fool who returns in his wickedness to his own sin.
[11]α ἔστιν αἰσχύνη ἐπάγουσα ἁμαρτίαν, καί ἐστιν αἰσχύνη δόξα καὶ χάρις.
[11a] There is a shame that brings sin: and there is a shame that is glory and grace.
[12] εἶδον ἄνδρα δόξαντα παρ᾿ αὑτῷ σοφὸν εἶναι, ἐλπίδα μέντοι ἔσχε μᾶλλον ἄφρων αὐτοῦ.
[12] I have seen a man who seemed to himself to be wise; but a fool had more hope than he.
[13] λέγει ὀκνηρὸς ἀποστελλόμενος εἰς ὁδόν· λέων ἐν ταῖς ὁδοῖς, ἐν δὲ ταῖς πλατείαις φονευταί.
[13] A sluggard when sent on a journey says, There is a lion in the ways, and there are murderers in the streets.
[14] ὥσπερ θύρα στρέφεται ἐπὶ τοῦ στρόφιγγος, οὕτως ὀκνηρὸς ἐπὶ τῆς κλίνης αὐτοῦ.
[14] As a door turns on the hinge, so does a sluggard on his bed.
[15] κρύψας ὀκνηρὸς τὴν χεῖρα ἐν τῷ κόλπῳ αὐτοῦ, οὐ δυνήσεται ἐπενεγκεῖν ἐπὶ στόμα.
[15] A sluggard having hid his hand in his bosom, will not be able to bring it up to his mouth.
[16] σοφώτερος ἑαυτῷ ὀκνηρὸς φαίνεται τοῦ ἐν πλησμονῇ ἀποκομίζοντος ἀγγελίαν.
[16] A sluggard seems to himself wiser than one who most satisfactorily brings back a message.
[17] ὥσπερ ὁ κρατῶν κέρκου κυνός, οὕτως ὁ προεστὼς ἀλλοτρίας κρίσεως.
[17] As he that lays hold of a dog’s tail, so is he that makes himself the champion of another’s cause.
[18] ὥσπερ οἱ ἰώμενοι προβάλλουσι λόγους εἰς ἀνθρώπους, ὁ δὲ ἀπαντήσας τῷ λόγῳ πρῶτος ὑποσκελισθήσεται,
[18] As those who need correction put forth fair words to men, and he that first falls in with the proposal will be overthrown;
[19] οὕτως πάντες οἱ ἐνεδρεύοντες τοὺς ἑαυτῶν φίλους, ὅταν δὲ ὁραθῶσι, λέγουσι ὅτι παίζων ἔπραξα.
[19] so are all that lay wait for their own friends, and when they are discovered, say, I did it in jest.
[20] ἐν πολλοῖς ξύλοις θάλλει πῦρ, ὅπου δὲ οὐκ ἔστι δίθυμος, ἡσυχάζει μάχη.
[20] With much wood fire increases; but where there is not a double-minded man, strife ceases.
[21] ἐσχάρα ἄνθραξι καὶ ξύλα πυρί, ἀνὴρ δὲ λοίδορος εἰς ταραχὴν μάχης.
[21] A hearth for coals, and wood for fire; and railing man for the tumult of strife.
[22] λόγοι κερκώπων μαλακοί, οὗτοι δὲ τύπτουσιν εἰς ταμιεῖα σπλάγχνων.
[22] The words of cunning knaves are soft; but they smite even to the inmost parts of the bowels.
[23] ἀργύριον διδόμενον μετὰ δόλου, ὥσπερ ὄστρακον ἡγητέον. χείλη λεῖα καρδίαν καλύπτει λυπηράν.
[23] Silver dishonestly given is to be considered as a potsherd: smooth lips cover a grievous heart.
[24] χείλεσι πάντα ἐπινεύει ἀποκλαιόμενος ἐχθρός, ἐν δὲ τῇ καρδίᾳ τεκταίνεται δόλους.
[24] A weeping enemy promises all things with his lips, but in his heart he contrives deceit.
[25] ἐάν σου δέηται ὁ ἐχθρὸς μεγάλῃ τῇ φωνῇ, μὴ πεισθῆς, ἑπτὰ γάρ εἰσι πονηρίαι ἐν τῇ ψυχῇ αὐτοῦ.
[25] Though thine enemy intreat thee with a loud voice, consent not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.
[26] ὁ κρύπτων ἔχθραν συνίστησι δόλον, ἐκκαλύπτει δὲ τὰς ἑαυτοῦ ἁμαρτίας εὔγνωστος ἐν συνεδρίοις.
[26] He that hides enmity frames deceit: but being easily discerned, exposes his own sins in the public assemblies.
[27] ὁ ὀρύσσων βόθρον τῷ πλησίον ἐμπεσεῖται εἰς αὐτόν, ὁ δὲ κυλίων λίθον ἐφ᾿ ἑαυτὸν κυλίει.
[27] He that digs a pit for his neighbour shall fall into it: and he that rolls a stone, rolls it upon himself.
[28] γλῶσσα ψευδὴς μισεῖ ἀλήθειαν, στόμα δὲ ἄστεγον ποιεῖ ἀκαταστασίας.
[28] A lying tongue hates the truth; and an unguarded mouth causes tumults.
Chapter 27
ΜΗ καυχῶ τὰ εἰς αὔριον, οὐ γὰρ γινώσκεις τί τέξεται ἡ ἐπιοῦσα.
Boast not of to-morrow; for thou knowest not what the next day shall bring forth.
[2] ἐγκωμιαζέτω σε ὁ πέλας καὶ μὴ τὸ σὸν στόμα, ἀλλότριος καὶ μὴ τὰ σὰ χείλη.
[2] Let thy neighbour, and not thine own mouth, praise thee; a stranger, and not thine own lips.
[3] βαρὺ λίθος καὶ δυσβάστακτον ἄμμος, ὀργὴ δὲ ἄφρονος βαρυτέρα ἀμφοτέρων.
[3] A stone is heavy, and sand cumbersome; but a fool’s wrath is heavier than both.
[4] ἀνελεήμων θυμὸς καὶ ὀξεῖα ὀργή, ἀλλ᾿ οὐδένα ὑφίσταται ζῆλος.
[4] Wrath is merciless, and anger sharp: but envy can bear nothing.
[5] κρείσσους ἔλεγχοι ἀποκεκαλυμμένοι κρυπτομένης φιλίας.
[5] Open reproofs are better than secret love.
[6] ἀξιοπιστόστερά εἰσι τραύματα φίλου ἢ ἐκούσια φιλήματα ἐχθροῦ.
[6] The wounds of a friend are more to be trusted than the spontaneous kisses of an enemy.
[7] ψυχὴ ἐν πλησμονῇ οὖσα κηρίοις ἐμπαίζει, ψυχῇ δὲ ἐνδεεῖ καὶ τὰ πικρὰ γλυκέα φαίνεται.
[7] A full soul scorns honeycombs; but to a hungry soul even bitter things appear sweet.
[8] ὥσπερ ὅταν ὄρνεον καταπετασθῇ ἐκ τῆς ἰδίας νοσσιᾶς, οὕτως ἄνθρωπος δουλοῦται ὅταν ἀποξενωθῇ ἐκ τῶν ἰδίων τόπων.
[8] As when a bird flies down from its own nest, so a man is brought into bondage whenever he estranges himself from his own place.
[9] μύροις καὶ οἴνοις καὶ θυμιάμασι τέρπεται καρδία, καταρρήγνυται δὲ ὑπὸ συμπτωμάτων ψυχή.
[9] The heart delights in ointments and wines and perfumes: but the soul is broken by calamities.
[10] φίλον σὸν ἢ φίλον πατρῷον μὴ ἐγκαταλίπῃς, εἰς δὲ τὸν οἶκον τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ σου μὴ εἰσέλθης ἀτυχῶν· κρείσ
σων φίλος ἐγγὺς ἢ ἀδελφὸς μακρὰν οἰκῶν.
[10] Thine own friend, and thy father’s friend, forsake not; and when thou art in distress go not into thy brother’s house: better is a friend that is near than a brother living far off.
[11] σοφὸς γίνου, υἱέ, ἵνα σου εὐφραίνηται ἡ καρδία, καὶ ἀπόστρεψον ἀπὸ σοῦ ἐπονειδίστους λόγους.
[11] Son, be wise, that thy heart may rejoice; and remove thou from thyself reproachful words.
[12] πανοῦργος κακῶν ἐπερχομένων ἀπεκρύβη, ἄφρονες δὲ ἐπελθόντες ζημίαν τίσουσιν.
[12] A wise man, when evils are approaching, hides himself; but fools pass on, and will be punished.
[13] ἀφελοῦ τὸ ἱμάτιον αὐτοῦ, παρῆλθε γὰρ ὑβριστής, ὅστις τὰ ἀλλότρια λυμαίνεται.
[13] Take away the man’s garment, (for a scorner has passed by) whoever lays waste another’s goods.
[14] ὃς ἂν εὐλογῇ φίλον τὸ πρωΐ μεγάλῃ τῇ φωνῇ, καταρωμένου οὐδὲν διαφέρειν δόξει.
[14] Whosoever shall bless a friend in the morning with a loud voice, shall seem to differ nothing from one who curses him.
[15] σταγόνες ἐκβάλλουσιν ἄνθρωπον ἐν ἡμέρᾳ χειμερινῇ ἐκ τοῦ οἴκου αὐτοῦ, ὡσαύτως καὶ γυνὴ λοίδορος ἐκ τοῦ ἱδίου οἴκου.
[15] On a stormy day drops of rain drive a man out of his house; so also does a railing woman drive a man out of his own house.
[16] Βορέας σκληρὸς ἄνεμος, ὀνόματι δὲ ἐπιδέξιος καλεῖται.
[16] The north wind is sharp, but it is called by name propitious.
[17] σίδηρος σίδηρον ὀξύνει, ἀνὴρ δὲ παροξύνει πρόσωπον ἑταίρου.
[17] Iron sharpens iron; and a man sharpens his friend’s countenance.
[18] ὃς φυτεύει συκῆν φάγεται τοὺς καρποὺς αὐτῆς, ὃς δὲ φυλάσσει τὸν ἑαυτοῦ κύριον, τιμηθήσεται.