by Septuagint
[16] Δύο εἴδη πληθύνουσιν ἁμαρτίας, καὶ τὸ τρίτον ἐπάξει ὀργήν·
[16] Two kinds multiply sins, and a third will bring on wrath.
[17] ψυχὴ θερμὴ ὡς πῦρ καιόμενον, οὐ μὴ σβεσθῇ ἕως ἂν καταποθῇ· ἄνθρωπος πόρνος ἐν σώματι σαρκὸς αὐτοῦ, οὐ μὴ παύσηται ἕως ἂν ἐκκαύσῃ πῦρ· ἀνθρώπω πόρνῳ πᾶς ἄρτος ἡδύς, οὐ μὴ κοπάσῃ ἕως ἂν τελευτήσῃ.
[17] A hot temperament like a burning fire will never be quenched until it is consumed; a person who is sexually promiscuous with the body of his flesh will never cease until a fire burns out. To a sexually promiscuous person all bread is sweet; he will never grow weary until he dies.
[18] ἄνθρωπος παραβαίνων ἀπὸ τῆς κλίνης αὐτοῦ, λέγων ἐν τῇ ψυχῇ αὐτοῦ· τίς με ὁρᾷ; σκότος κύκλῳ μου, καὶ οἱ τοῖχοί με καλύπτουσι, καὶ οὐθείς με ὁρᾷ· τί εὐλαβοῦμαι; τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν μου οὐ μὴ μνησθήσεται ὁ ῞Υψιστος.
[18] There is a person who transgresses against his bed, saying in his soul, “Who will see me? Darkness surrounds me, and the walls will hide me, and no one will see me. Why am I discreet? The Most High will never remember my sins.”
[19] καὶ ὀφθαλμοὶ ἀνθρώπων ὁ φόβος αὐτοῦ, καὶ οὐκ ἔγνω ὅτι ὀφθαλμοὶ Κυρίου μυριοπλασίως ἡλίου φωτεινότεροι, ἐπιβλέποντες πάσας ὁδοὺς ἀνθρώπων καὶ κατανοοῦντες εἰς ἀπόκρυφα μέρη.
[19] Such a man only feareth the eyes of men, and knoweth not that the eyes of the Lord are ten thousand times brighter than the sun, beholding all the ways of men, and considering the most secret parts.
[20] πρὶν ἢ κτισθῆναι τὰ πάντα, ἔγνωσται αὐτῷ, οὕτως καὶ μετὰ τὸ συντελεσθῆναι.
[20] Before all things were created, they were known to him, so also after they were completed.
[21] οὗτος ἐν πλατείαις πόλεως ἐκδικηθήσεται, καὶ οὗ οὐχ ὑπενόησεν πιασθήσεται.
[21] This man shall be punished in the streets of the city, and where he suspecteth not he shall be taken.
[22] Οὕτως καὶ γυνὴ καταλιποῦσα τὸν ἄνδρα καὶ παριστῶσα κληρονόμον ἐξ ἀλλοτρίου·
[22] Thus shall it go also with the wife that leaveth her husband, and bringeth in an heir by another.
[23] πρῶτον μὲν γὰρ ἐν νόμῳ ῾Υψίστου ἠπείθησε, καὶ δεύτερον εἰς ἄνδρα ἑαυτῆς ἐπλημμέλησε, καὶ τὸ τρίτον ἐν πορνείᾳ ἐμοιχεύθη, ἐξ ἀλλοτρίου ἀνδρὸς τέκνα παρέστησεν.
[23] For first, she hath disobeyed the law of the most High; and secondly, she hath trespassed against her own husband; and thirdly, she hath played the whore in adultery, and brought children by another man.
[24] αὕτη εἰς ἐκκλησίαν ἐξαχθήσεται, καὶ ἐπὶ τὰ τέκνα αὐτῆς ἐπισκοπὴ ἔσται.
[24] She shall be brought out into the congregation, and inquisition shall be made of her children.
[25] οὐ διαδώσουσι τὰ τέκνα αὐτῆς εἰς ρίζαν, καὶ οἱ κλάδοι αὐτῆς οὐ δώσουσι καρπόν.
[25] Her children shall not take root, and her branches shall bring forth no fruit.
[26] καταλείψει εἰς κατάραν τὸ μνημόσυνον αὐτῆς, καὶ τὸ ὄνειδος αὐτῆς οὐκ ἐξαλειφθήσεται.
[26] She shall leave her memory to be cursed, and her reproach shall not be blotted out.
[27] καὶ ἐπιγνώσονται οἱ καταλειφθέντες ὅτι οὐθὲν κρεῖττον φόβου Κυρίου καὶ οὐθὲν γλυκύτερον τοῦ προσέχειν ἐντολαῖς Κυρίου.
[27] And they that remain shall know that there is nothing better than the fear of the Lord, and that there is nothing sweeter than to take heed unto the commandments of the Lord.
CHAPTER 24
ΑΙΝΕΣΙΣ ΣΟΦΙΑΣ.
PRAISE OF WISDOM
῾Η σοφία αἰνέσει ψυχὴν αὐτῆς καὶ ἐν μέσῳ λαοῦ αὐτῆς καυχήσεται.
Wisdom shall praise herself, and shall glory in the midst of her people.
[2] ἐν ἐκκλησίᾳ ῾Υψίστου στόμα αὐτῆς ἀνοίξει καὶ ἔναντι δυνάμεως αὐτοῦ καυχήσεται·
[2] In the congregation of the most High shall she open her mouth, and boast before his power.
[3] ἐγὼ ἀπὸ στόματος ῾Υψίστου ἐξῆλθον, καὶ ὡς ὁμίχλη κατεκάλυψα γῆν·
[3] I came out of the mouth of the most High, and covered the earth as a mist.
[4] ἐγὼ ἐν ὑψηλοῖς κατεσκήνωσα, καὶ ὁ θρόνος μου ἐν στύλῳ νεφέλης·
[4] I dwelt in high places, and my throne is in a pillar of cloud.
[5] γῦρον οὐρανοῦ ἐκύκλωσα μόνη καὶ ἐν βάθει ἀβύσσων περιεπάτησα·
[5] I alone compassed the circuit of heaven, and walked in the bottom of the deep.
[6] ἐν κύμασι θαλάσσης καὶ ἐν πάσῃ τῇ γῇ καὶ ἐν παντὶ λαῷ καὶ ἔθνει ἐκτησάμην.
[6] In the waves of the sea and in all the earth, and in every people and nation, I got a possession.
[7] μετὰ τούτων πάντων ἀνάπαυσιν ἐζήτησα καὶ ἐν κληρονομίᾳ τίνος αὐλισθήσομαι.
[7] With all these I sought rest: and in whose inheritance shall I abide?
[8] τότε ἐνετείλατό μοι ὁ κτίστης ἁπάντων, καὶ ὁ κτίσας με κατέπαυσε τὴν σκηνήν μου καὶ εἶπεν· ἐν ᾿Ιακὼβ κατασκήνωσον καὶ ἐν ᾿Ισραὴλ κατακληρονομήθητι.
[8] So the Creator of all things gave me a commandment, and he that made me caused my tabernacle to rest, and said, Let thy dwelling be in Jacob, and thine inheritance in Israel.
[9] πρὸ τοῦ αἰῶνος ἀπ᾿ ἀρχῆς ἔκτισέ με, καὶ ἕως αἰῶνος οὐ μὴ ἐκλίπω.
[9] He created me from the beginning before the world, and I shall never fail.
[10] ἐν σκηνῇ ἁγίᾳ ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ ἐλειτούργησα καὶ οὕτως ἐν Σιὼν ἐστηρίχθην·
[10] In the holy tabernacle I served before him; and so was I established in Sion.
[11] ἐν πόλει ἠγαπημένῃ ὁμοίως με κατέπαυσε, καὶ ἐν ῾Ιερουσαλὴμ ἡ ἐξουσία μου·
[11] Likewise in the beloved city he gave me rest, and in Jerusalem was my power.
[12] καὶ ἐρρίζωσα ἐν λαῷ δεδοξασμένῳ, ἐν μερίδι Κυρίου κληρονομίας αὐτοῦ.
[12] And I took root in an glorified people, even in the portion of the Lord’s inheritance.
[13] ὡς κέδρος ἀνυψώθην ἐν τῷ Λιβάνῳ καὶ ὡς κυπάρισσος ἐν ὄρεσιν ᾿Αερμών·
[13] I was exalted like a cedar in Libanus, and as a cypress tree upon the mountains of Aermon.
[14] ὡς φοῖνιξ ἀνυψώθην ἐν αἰγιαλοῖς καὶ ὡς φυτὰ ρό
δου ἐν ῾Ιεριχώ, ὡς ἐλαία εὐπρεπὴς ἐν πεδίῳ, καὶ ἀνυψώθην ὡς πλάτανος.
[14] I was exalted like a palm tree by the shore, and as a rose plant in Jericho, as a fair olive tree in a plain, and I was raised up like a plane tree.
[15] ὡς κιννάμωμον καὶ ἀσπάλαθος ἀρωμάτων δέδωκα ὀσμὴν καὶ ὡς σμύρνα ἐκλεκτὴ διέδωκα εὐωδίαν, ὡς χαλβάνη καὶ ὄνυξ καὶ στακτὴ καὶ ὡς λιβάνου ἀτμὶς ἐν σκηνῇ.
[15] I gave a sweet smell like cinnamon and aspalathus, and I yielded a pleasant odour like the best myrrh, as galbanum, and onyx, and sweet storax, and as the fume of frankincense in the tabernacle.
[16] ἐγὼ ὡς τερέμινθος ἐξέτεινα κλάδους μου, καὶ οἱ κλάδοι μου κλάδοι δόξης καὶ χάριτος.
[16] As the turpentine tree I stretched out my branches, and my branches are the branches of glory and grace.
[17] ἐγὼ ὡς ἄμπελος βλαστήσασα χάριν, καὶ τὰ ἄνθη μου καρπὸς δόξης καὶ πλούτου. [
[17] As the vine I brought forth pleasant favour, and my flowers are the fruit of glory and wealth.
[18] ἐγὼ μήτηρ τῆς ἀγαπήσεως τῆς καλῆς, καὶ φόβου καὶ γνώσεως καὶ τῆς ὁσίας ἐλπίδος, δίδομαι οὖν πᾶσι τοῖς τέκνοις μου, ἀειγενὴς τοῖς λεγομένοις ὑπ’ αὐτοῦ.
[18] I am the mother of fair love, and fear, and knowledge, and holy hope: I therefore, being eternal, am given to all my children which are named of him.
[19] προσέλθετε πρός με οἱ ἐπιθυμοῦντές μου, καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν γεννημάτων μου ἐμπλήσθητε·
[19] Come unto me, all ye that be desirous of me, and fill yourselves with my fruits.
[20] τὸ γὰρ μνημόσυνόν μου ὑπὲρ τὸ μέλι γλυκύ, καὶ ἡ κληρονομία μου ὑπὲρ μέλιτος κηρίον.
[20] For my memorial is sweeter than honey, and mine inheritance than the honeycomb.
[21] οἱ ἐσθίοντές με ἔτι πεινάσουσι, καὶ οἱ πίνοντές με ἔτι διψήσουσιν.
[21] They that eat me shall yet be hungry, and they that drink me shall yet be thirsty.
[22] ὁ ὑπακούων μου οὐκ αἰσχυνθήσεται, καὶ οἱ ἐργαζόμενοι ἐν ἐμοὶ οὐχ ἁμαρτήσουσι.
[22] He that obeyeth me shall never be confounded, and they that work by me shall not do amiss.
[23] ταῦτα πάντα βίβλος διαθήκης Θεοῦ ῾Υψίστου, νόμον ὃν ἐνετείλατο ἡμῖν Μωυσῆς κληρονομίαν συναγωγαῖς ᾿Ιακώβ.
[23] All these things are the book of the covenant of the most high God, even the law which Moses commanded for an heritage unto the congregations of Jacob.
[24] μὴ ἐκλύεσθε ἰσχὺν ἐν Κυρίῳ, κολλᾶσθε δὲ πρὸς αὐτόν, ἵνα κραταιώσῃ ὑμᾶς, Κύριος παντοκράτωρ Θεὸς μόνος ἐστί, καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ἔτι πλὴν αὐτοῦ σωτήρ].
[24] Faint not to be strong in the Lord; and cling to him so that he might strengthen thee: for the Lord Almighty is God alone, and beside him there is no other Saviour.
[25] ὁ πιμπλῶν ὡς Φεισὼν σοφίαν καὶ ὡς Τίγρις ἐν ἡμέραις νέων,
[25] He filleth all things with his wisdom, as Phison and as Tigris in days of new things.
[26] ὁ ἀναπληρῶν ὡς Εὐφράτης σύνεσιν καὶ ὡς ᾿Ιορδάνης ἐν ἡμέραις θερισμοῦ,
[26] He maketh the understanding to abound like Euphrates, and as Jordan in the time of the harvest.
[27] ὁ ἐκφαίνων ὡς φῶς παιδείαν, ὡς Γηὼν ἐν ἡμέραις τρυγητοῦ.
[27] He maketh the doctrine of knowledge appear as the light, and as Geon in the time of vintage.
[28] οὐ συνετέλεσεν ὁ πρῶτος γνῶναι αὐτήν, καὶ οὕτως ὁ ἔσχατος οὐκ ἐξιχνίασεν αὐτήν·
[28] The first man knew her not perfectly: no more shall the last find her out.
[29] ἀπὸ γὰρ θαλάσσης ἐπληθύνθη διανόημα αὐτῆς καὶ ἡ βουλὴ αὐτῆς ἀπὸ ἀβύσσου μεγάλης.
[29] For her thoughts are more than the sea, and her counsels profounder than the great deep.
[30] κἀγὼ ὡς διῶρυξ ἀπὸ ποταμοῦ καὶ ὡς ὑδραγωγὸς ἐξῆλθον εἰς παράδεισον·
[30] I also came out as a brook from a river, and as a conduit into a garden.
[31] εἶπα· ποτιῶ μου τὸν κῆπον καὶ μεθύσω μου τὴν πρασιάν· καὶ ἰδοὺ ἐγένετό μοι ἡ διῶρυξ εἰς ποταμόν, καὶ ὁ ποταμός μου ἐγένετο εἰς θάλασσαν.
[31] I said, I will water my best garden, and will water abundantly my garden bed: and, lo, my brook became a river, and my river became a sea.
[32] ἔτι παιδείαν ὡς ὄρθρον φωτιῶ καὶ ἐκφανῶ αὐτὰ ἕως εἰς μακράν·
[32] I will yet make doctrine to shine as the morning, and will send forth her light afar off.
[33] ἔτι διδασκαλίαν ὡς προφητείαν ἐκχεῶ καὶ καταλείψω αὐτὴν εἰς γενεὰς αἰώνων.
[33] I will yet pour out doctrine as prophecy, and leave it to all ages for ever.
[34] ἴδετε ὅτι οὐκ ἐμοὶ μόνῳ ἐκοπίασα, ἀλλὰ πᾶσι τοῖς ἐκζητοῦσιν αὐτήν.
[34] Behold that I have not laboured for myself only, but for all them that seek wisdom.
CHAPTER 25
ΕΝ τρισὶν ὡραΐσθην καὶ ἀνέστην ὡραία ἔναντι Κυρίου καὶ ἀνθρώπων· ὁμόνοια ἀδελφῶν, καὶ φιλία τῶν πλησίον, καὶ γυνὴ καὶ ἀνὴρ ἑαυτοῖς συμπεριφερόμενοι.
In three things I was beautified, and stood up beautiful both before God and men: the unity of brethren, the love of neighbours, a man and a wife that agree together.
[2] τρία δὲ εἴδη ἐμίσησεν ἡ ψυχή μου καὶ προσώχθισα σφόδρα τῇ ζωῇ αὐτῶν· πτωχὸν ὑπερήφανον, καὶ πλούσιον ψεύστην, γέροντα μοιχὸν ἐλαττούμενον συνέσει.
[2] Three sorts of men my soul hateth, and I am greatly offended at their life: a poor man that is proud, a rich man that is a liar, and an old adulterer lacking in understanding.
[3] ᾿Εν νεότητι οὐ συναγήοχας, καὶ πῶς ἂν εὕροις ἐν τῷ γήρᾳ σου;
[3] If thou hast gathered nothing in thy youth, how canst thou find any thing in thine old age?
[4] ὡς ὡραῖον πολιαῖς κρίσις καὶ πρεσβυτέροις ἐπιγνῶναι βουλήν.
[4] O how comely a thing is judgment for gray hairs, and for ancient men to know counsel!
[5] ὡς ὡραία γερόντων σοφία καὶ δεδοξασμένοις διανόημα καὶ βουλή.
[5] O how comely is the wisdom of old men, and understanding and counsel to men of honour.
[6] στέφανος γερόντων πολυπειρία, καὶ τὸ καύχημα αὐτῶν φόβος Κυρίου.
[6] Much experience is the crown of old men, and the fear o
f God is their glory.
[7] ᾿Εννέα ὑπονοήματα ἐμακάρισα ἐν καρδίᾳ καὶ τὸ δέκατον ἐρῶ ἐπὶ γλώσσης· ἄνθρωπος εὐφραινόμενος ἐπὶ τέκνοις, ζῶν καὶ βλέπων ἐπὶ πτώσει ἐχθρῶν·
[7] There be nine things which I have judged in mine heart to be happy, and the tenth I will utter with my tongue: A man that hath joy of his children; and he that liveth to see the fall of his enemy:
[8] μακάριος ὁ συνοικῶν γυναικὶ συνετῇ, καὶ ὃς ἐν γλώσσῃ οὐκ ὠλίσθησε, καὶ ὃς οὐκ ἐδούλευσεν ἀναξίῳ αὐτοῦ·
[8] Well is him that dwelleth with a wife of understanding, and that hath not slipped with his tongue, and that hath not served a man more unworthy than himself:
[9] μακάριος ὃς εὗρε φρόνησιν, καὶ ὁ διηγούμενος εἰς ὦτα ἀκουόντων·
[9] Happy is him that hath found prudence, and he that speaketh in the ears of them that will hear:
[10] ὡς μέγας ὁ εὑρὼν σοφίαν· ἀλλ᾿ οὐκ ἔστιν ὑπὲρ τὸν φοβούμενον τὸν Κύριον·
[10] O how great is he that findeth wisdom! yet is there none above him that feareth the Lord.
[11] φόβος Κυρίου ὑπὲρ πᾶν ὑπερέβαλεν, ὁ κρατῶν αὐτοῦ τίνι ὁμοιωθήσεται;
[11] But the love of the Lord passeth all things for illumination: he that holdeth it, whereto shall he be likened?
[12] φόβος Κυρίου ἀρχὴ ἀγαπήσεως αὐτοῦ, πίστις δὲ ἀρχὴ κολλήσεως αὐτοῦ.
[12] The fear of the Lord is the beginning of his love: and faith is the beginning of cleaving unto him.
[13] Πᾶσαν πληγὴν καὶ μὴ πληγὴν καρδίας, καὶ πᾶσαν πονηρίαν καὶ μὴ πονηρίαν γυναικός·
[13] Give me any plague, but the plague of the heart: and any wickedness, but the wickedness of a woman:
[14] πᾶσαν ἐπαγωγὴν καὶ μὴ ἐπαγωγὴν μισούντων, καὶ πᾶσαν ἐκδίκησιν καὶ μὴ ἐκδίκησιν ἐχθρῶν.