by Septuagint
[9] ἐν μέσῳ μεγιστάνων μὴ ἐξισάζου καὶ ἑτέρου λέγοντος μὴ πολλὰ ἀδολέσχει.
[9] If thou be among great men, make not thyself equal with them; and when ancient men are in place, use not many words.
[10] πρὸ βροντῆς κατασπεύδει ἀστραπή, καὶ πρὸ αἰσχυντηροῦ προελεύσεται χάρις.
[10] Before the thunder goeth lightning; and before a shamefaced man shall go favour.
[11] ἐν ὥρᾳ ἐξεγείρου καὶ μὴ οὐράγει, ἀπότρεχε εἰς οἶκον καὶ μὴ ρᾳθύμει·
[11] Rise up betimes, and be not the last; but get thee home without delay.
[12] ἐκεῖ παῖζε καὶ ποίει τὰ ἐνθυμήματά σου καὶ μὴ ἁμάρτῃς λόγῳ ὑπερηφάνῳ.
[12] There take thy pastime, and do what thou wilt: but sin not by proud speech.
[13] καὶ ἐπὶ τούτοις εὐλόγησον τὸν ποιήσαντά σε καὶ μεθύσκοντά σε ἀπὸ τῶν ἀγαθῶν αὐτοῦ.
[13] And for these things bless him that made thee, and hath replenished thee with his good things.
[14] ῾Ο φοβούμενος Κύριον ἐκδέξεται παιδείαν, καὶ οἱ ὀρθρίζοντες εὑρήσουσιν εὐδοκίαν.
[14] Whoso feareth the Lord will receive his discipline; and they that seek him early shall find favour.
[15] ὁ ζητῶν νόμον ἐμπλησθήσεται αὐτοῦ, καὶ ὁ ὑποκρινόμενος σκανδαλισθήσεται ἐν αὐτῷ.
[15] He that seeketh the law shall be filled therewith: but the hypocrite will be offended thereat.
[16] οἱ φοβούμενοι Κύριον εὑρήσουσι κρίμα καὶ δικαιώματα ὡς φῶς ἐξάψουσιν.
[16] They that fear the Lord shall find judgment, and shall kindle justice as a light.
[17] ἄνθρωπος ἁμαρτωλὸς ἐκκλίνει ἐλεγμὸν καὶ κατὰ τὸ θέλημα αὐτοῦ εὑρήσει σύγκριμα.
[17] A sinful man will not be reproved, but findeth an excuse according to his will.
[18] ᾿Ανὴρ βουλῆς οὐ μὴ παρίδῃ διανόημα, ἀλλότριος καὶ ὑπερήφανος οὐ καταπτήξει φόβον, καὶ μετὰ τὸ ποιῆσαι μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ ἄνευ βουλῆς.
[18] A man of counsel will be considerate; but a strange and proud man is not daunted with fear, even when of himself he hath done without counsel.
[19] ἄνευ βουλῆς μηθὲν ποιήσῃς καὶ ἐν τῷ ποιῆσαί σε μὴ μεταμελοῦ.
[19] Do nothing without advice; and when thou hast once done, repent not.
[20] ἐν ὁδῷ ἀντιπτώματος μὴ πορεύου καὶ μὴ προσκόψῃς ἐν λιθώδεσι.
[20] Go not in a way wherein thou mayest fall, and stumble not among the stones.
[21] μὴ πιστεύσῃς ἐν ὁδῷ ἀπροσκόπῳ,
[21] Be not confident in a plain way.
[22] καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν τέκνων σου φύλαξαι.
[22] And beware of thine own children.
[23] ἐν παντὶ ἔργῳ πίστευε τῇ ψυχῇ σου, καὶ γὰρ τοῦτό ἐστι τήρησις ἐντολῶν.
[23] In every good work trust thy own soul; for this is the keeping of the commandments.
[24] ὁ πιστεύων νόμῳ προσέχει ἐντολαῖς, καὶ ὁ πεποιθὼς Κυρίῳ οὐκ ἐλαττωθήσεται.
[24] He who has faith in the law attends to the commandments, and he who trusts in the Lord will not suffer loss.
CHAPTER 33
ΤΩ φοβουμένῳ Κύριον οὐκ ἀπαντήσει κακόν, ἀλλ᾿ ἐν πειρασμῷ καὶ πάλιν ἐξελεῖται.
There shall no evil happen unto him that feareth the Lord; but in temptation even again he will deliver him.
[2] ἀνὴρ σοφὸς οὐ μισήσει νόμον, ὁ δὲ ὑποκρινόμενος ἐν αὐτῷ, ὡς ἐν καταιγίδι πλοῖον.
[2] A wise man hateth not the law; but he that is an hypocrite therein is as a ship in a storm.
[3] ἄνθρωπος συνετὸς ἐμπιστεύσει νόμῳ, καὶ ὁ νόμος αὐτῷ πιστὸς ὡς ἐρώτημα δήλων.
[3] A man of understanding trusteth in the law; and the law is faithful unto him, as an oracle.
[4] ἑτοίμασον λόγον καὶ οὕτως ἀκουσθήσῃ, σύνδησον παιδείαν καὶ ἀποκρίθητι.
[4] Prepare what to say, and so thou shalt be heard: and bind up instruction, and then make answer.
[5] τροχὸς ἁμάξης σπλάγχνα μωροῦ, καὶ ὡς ἄξων στρεφόμενος ὁ διαλογισμὸς αὐτοῦ.
[5] The heart of the foolish is like a cartwheel; and his thoughts are like a rolling axletree.
[6] ἵππος εἰς ὀχείαν ὡς φίλος μωκός, ὑποκάτω παντὸς ἐπικαθημένου χρεμετίζει.
[6] A stallion horse is as a mocking friend, he neigheth under every one that sitteth upon him.
[7] Διατί ἡμέρα ἡμέρας ὑπερέχει, καὶ πᾶν φῶς ἡμέρας ἐνιαυτοῦ ἀφ᾿ ἡλίου;
[7] Why doth one day excel another, when as all the light of every day in the year is of the sun?
[8] ἐν γνώσει Κυρίου διεχωρίσθησαν, καὶ ἠλλοίωσε καιροὺς καὶ ἑορτάς·
[8] By the knowledge of the Lord they were distinguished: and he altered seasons and feasts.
[9] ἀπ᾿ αὐτῶν ἀνύψωσε καὶ ἡγίασε καὶ ἐξ αὐτῶν ἔθηκεν εἰς ἀριθμὸν ἡμερῶν.
[9] Some of them hath he made high days, and hallowed them, and some of them hath he made ordinary days.
[10] καὶ ἄνθρωποι πάντες ἀπὸ ἐδάφους, καὶ ἐκ γῆς ἐκτίσθη ᾿Αδάμ.
[10] And all men are from the ground, and Adam was created of earth:
[11] ἐν πλήθει ἐπιστήμης Κύριος διεχώρισεν αὐτοὺς καὶ ἠλλοίωσε τὰς ὁδοὺς αὐτῶν.
[11] In much knowledge the Lord hath divided them, and made their ways diverse.
[12] ἐξ αὐτῶν εὐλόγησε καὶ ἀνύψωσε καὶ ἐξ αὐτῶν ἡγίασε, καὶ πρὸς αὐτὸν ἤγγισεν· ἀπ᾿ αὐτῶν κατηράσατο καὶ ἐταπείνωσε καὶ ἀνέστρεψεν αὐτοὺς ἀπὸ στάσεως αὐτῶν.
[12] Some of them hath he blessed and exalted and some of them he sanctified, and set near himself: but some of them hath he cursed and brought low, and turned out of their places.
[13] ὡς πηλὸς κεραμέως ἐν χειρὶ αὐτοῦ -πᾶσαι αἱ ὁδοὶ αὐτοῦ κατὰ τὴν εὐδοκίαν αὐτοῦ-, οὕτως ἄνθρωποι ἐν χειρὶ τοῦ ποιήσαντος αὐτοὺς ἀποδοῦναι αὐτοῖς κατὰ τὴν κρίσιν αὐτοῦ.
[13] As the clay is in the potter’s hand, to fashion it at his pleasure: so man is in the hand of him that made him, to render to them as liketh him best.
[14] ἀπέναντι τοῦ κακοῦ τὸ ἀγαθὸν καὶ ἀπέναντι τοῦ θανάτου ἡ ζωή· οὕτως ἀπέναντι εὐσεβοῦς ἁμαρτωλός.
[14] Good is set against evil, and life against death: so is the sinner against the godly.
[15] καὶ οὕτως �
��μβλεψον εἰς πάντα τὰ ἔργα τοῦ ῾Υψίστου, δύο δύο, ἓν κατέναντι τοῦ ἑνός.
[15] So look upon all the works of the most High; and there are two and two, one against another.
[16] Κἀγὼ ἔσχατος ἠγρύπνησα ὡς καλαμώμενος ὀπίσω τρυγητῶν·
[16] As a last one, it was I who kept vigil, as one who gleaned after the grape pickers.
[17] ἐν εὐλογίᾳ Κυρίου ἔφθασα καὶ ὡς τρυγῶν ἐπλήρωσα ληνόν.
[17] By the blessing of the Lord I arrived first, and like one who picks grapes I filled a wine vat.
[18] κατανοήσατε ὅτι οὐκ ἐμοὶ μόνῳ ἐκοπίασα, ἀλλὰ πᾶσι τοῖς ζητοῦσι παιδείαν.
[18] Consider that I have not laboured for myself alone but for all those who seek instruction.
[19] ἀκούσατέ μου, μεγιστάνες λαοῦ, καὶ οἱ ἡγούμενοι ἐκκλησίας, ἐνωτίσασθε·
[19] Listen to me, nobles of the people, and leaders of the assembly, give ear.
[20] υἱῷ καὶ γυναικί, ἀδελφῷ καὶ φίλῳ μὴ δῷς ἐξουσίαν ἐπὶ σὲ ἐν ζωῇ σου· καὶ μὴ δῷς ἑτέρῳ τὰ χρήματά σου, ἵνα μὴ μεταμεληθεὶς δέῃ περὶ αὐτῶν.
[20] To son and wife, to brother and friend do not give authority over thee in thy lifetime, and do not give thy property to another, lest thou dost change your mind and ask for it.
[21] ἕως ἔτι ζῇς καὶ πνοὴ ἐν σοί, μὴ ἀλλάξῃς σεαυτὸν πάσῃ σαρκί.
[21] While thou art still alive and there is breath in thee, do not exchange thyself with any flesh.
[22] κρείσσων γάρ ἐστι τὰ τέκνα δεηθῆναί σου ἢ σὲ ἐμβλέπειν εἰς χεῖρας υἱῶν σου.
[22] For it is better that thy children ask of thee than that thou should look to the hands of thy sons.
[23] ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς ἔργοις σου γίνου ὑπεράγων, μὴ δῷς μῶμον ἐν τῇ δόξῃ σου.
[23] In all thy works be one who excels; do not bring a stain on thy reputation.
[24] ἐν ἡμέρᾳ συντελείας ἡμερῶν ζωῆς σου καὶ ἐν καιρῷ τελευτῆς διάδος κληρονομίαν.
[24] In the day of the completion of the days of thy life and at the moment of death, distribute an inheritance.
ΠΕΡΙ ΔΟΥΛΩΝ.
CONCERNING SERVANTS
[25] Χορτάσματα καὶ ράβδος καὶ φορτία ὄνῳ, ἄρτος καὶ παιδεία καὶ ἔργον οἰκέτῃ.
[25] Fodder and a rod and burdens for a donkey; bread and instruction and work for a domestic.
[26] ἔργασαι ἐν παιδί, καὶ εὑρήσεις ἀνάπαυσιν· ἄνες χεῖρας αὐτῷ, καὶ ζητήσει ἐλευθερίαν.
[26] Work with instruction, and thou shalt find rest; let loose his hands, and he will seek freedom.
[27] ζυγὸς καὶ ἱμὰς κάμψουσι τράχηλον, καὶ οἰκέτῃ κακούργῳ στρέβλαι καὶ βάσανοι.
[27] A yoke and a thong will bow a neck, and for a wicked domestic there are racks and tortures.
[28] ἔμβαλε αὐτὸν εἰς ἐργασίαν. ἵνα μὴ ἀργῇ, πολλὴν γὰρ κακίαν ἐδίδαξεν ἡ ἀργία.
[28] Put him to work so that he might not be unoccupied, for lack of work has taught much evil.
[29] εἰς ἔργα κατάστησον, καθὼς πρέπει αὐτῷ, κἂν μὴ πειθαρχῇ, βάρυνον τὰς πέδας αὐτοῦ.
[29] Set him to work as is fitting for him, and if he does not obey, make his fetters heavy.
[30] καὶ μὴ περισσεύσῃς ἐν πάσῃ σαρκί, καὶ ἄνευ κρίσεως μὴ ποιήσῃς μηδέν.
[30] And do not be excessive over any flesh, and without judgment do not do anything.
[31] εἰ ἔστι σοι οἰκέτης, ἔστω ὡς σύ, ὅτι ἐν αἵματι ἐκτήσω αὐτόν.
[31] If thou hast a domestic, let him be like thee, because with blood thou hast acquired him;
[32] εἰ ἔστι σοι οἰκέτης, ἄγε αὐτὸν ὡς ἀδελφόν, ὅτι ὡς ἡ ψυχή σου ἐπιδεήσεις αὐτοῦ.
[32] if thou hast a domestic, treat him like a brother, because thou will need him like your own soul.
[33] ἐὰν κακώσῃς αὐτὸν καὶ ἀπάρας ἀποδρᾷ, ἐν ποίᾳ ὁδῷ ζητήσεις αὐτόν;
[33] If thou does him evil and he departs and runs away, on which road will thou seek him?
CHAPTER 34
ΚΕΝΑΙ ἐλπίδες καὶ ψευδεῖς ἀσυνέτῳ ἀνδρί, καὶ ἐνύπνια ἀναπτεροῦσιν ἄφρονας.
The hopes of a man void of understanding are vain and false: and dreams lift up fools.
[2] ὡς δρασσόμενος σκιᾶς καὶ διώκων ἄνεμον, οὕτως ὁ ἐπέχων ἐνυπνίοις.
[2] Whoso regardeth dreams is like him that catcheth at a shadow, and followeth after the wind.
[3] τοῦτο κατὰ τούτου ὅρασις ἐνυπνίων, κατέναντι προσώπου ὁμοίωμα προσώπου.
[3] The vision of dreams is the resemblance of one thing to another, even as the likeness of a face to a face.
[4] ἀπὸ ἀκαθάρτου τί καθαρισθήσεται; καὶ ἀπὸ ψευδοῦς τί ἀληθεύσει;
[4] Of an unclean thing what can be cleansed? and from that thing which is false what truth can come?
[5] μαντεῖαι καὶ οἰωνισμοὶ καὶ ἐνύπνια μάταιά ἐστι, καὶ ὡς ὠδινούσης φαντάζεται καρδία.
[5] Divinations, and soothsayings, and dreams, are vain: and the heart fancieth, as a woman’s heart in travail.
[6] ἐὰν μὴ παρὰ ῾Υψίστου ἀποσταλῇ ἐν ἐπισκοπῇ, μὴ δῷς εἰς αὐτὰ τὴν καρδίαν σου·
[6] If they be not sent from the most High in thy visitation, set not thy heart upon them.
[7] πολλοὺς γὰρ ἐπλάνησε τὰ ἐνύπνια, καὶ ἐξέπεσον ἐλπίζοντες ἐπ᾿ αὐτοῖς.
[7] For dreams have deceived many, and they have failed that put their trust in them.
[8] ῎Ανευ ψεύδους συντελεσθήσεται νόμος, καὶ σοφία στόματι πιστῷ τελείωσις.
[8] The law shall be found perfect without lies: and wisdom is perfection to a faithful mouth.
[9] ἀνὴρ πεπαιδευμένος ἔγνω πολλά, καὶ ὁ πολύπειρος ἐκδιηγήσεται σύνεσιν.
[9] A man that hath travelled knoweth many things; and he that hath much experience will declare wisdom.
[10] ὃς οὐκ ἐπειράθη ὀλίγα οἶδεν, ὁ δὲ πεπλανημένος πληθυνεῖ πανουργίαν.
[10] He that hath no experience knoweth little: but he that hath travelled is full of prudence.
[11] πολλὰ ἑώρακα ἐν τῇ ἀποπλανήσει μου, καὶ πλείονα τῶν λόγων μου σύνεσίς μου.
[11] When I travelled, I saw many things; and I understand more than I can express.
[12] πλεονάκις ἕως θανάτου ἐκινδύνευσα καὶ διεσώθην τούτων χάριν.
[12] I was ofttimes in danger of death: yet I was delivered becaus
e of these things.
[13] πνεῦμα φοβουμένων Κύριον ζήσεται, ἡ γὰρ ἐλπὶς αὐτῶν ἐπὶ τὸν σώζοντα αὐτούς.
[13] The spirit of those that fear the Lord shall live; for their hope is in him that saveth them.
[14] ὁ φοβούμενος Κύριον οὐδὲν εὐλαβηθήσεται καὶ οὐ μὴ δειλιάσῃ, ὅτι αὐτὸς ἐλπὶς αὐτοῦ.
[14] Whoso feareth the Lord shall not fear nor be afraid; for he is his hope.
[15] φοβουμένου τὸν Κύριον μακαρία ἡ ψυχή· τίνι ἐπέχει καὶ τίς ἀντιστήριγμα αὐτοῦ;
[15] Blessed is the soul of him that feareth the Lord: to whom doth he look? and who is his strength?
[16] οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ Κυρίου ἐπὶ τοὺς ἀγαπῶντας αὐτόν· ὑπερασπισμὸς δυναστείας καὶ στήριγμα ἰσχύος, σκέπη ἀπὸ καύσωνος καὶ σκέπη ἀπὸ μεσημβρίας, φυλακὴ ἀπὸ προσκόμματος καὶ βοήθεια ἀπὸ πτώσεως,
[16] For the eyes of the Lord are upon them that love him, he is their mighty protection and strong stay, a defence from heat, and a cover from the sun at noon, a preservation from stumbling, and an help from falling.
[17] ἀνυψῶν ψυχὴν καὶ φωτίζων ὀφθαλμούς, ἴασιν διδούς, ζωὴν καὶ εὐλογίαν.
[17] He raiseth up the soul, and lighteneth the eyes: he giveth health, life, and blessing.
[18] Θυσιάζων ἐξ ἀδίκου, προσφορὰ μεμωκημένη, καὶ οὐκ εἰς εὐδοκίαν δωρήματα ἀνόμων.
[18] He that sacrificeth of a thing wrongfully gotten, his offering is ridiculous; and the gifts of unjust men are not accepted.
[19] οὐκ εὐδοκεῖ ὁ ῞Υψιστος ἐν προσφοραῖς ἀσεβῶν, οὐδὲ ἐν πλήθει θυσιῶν ἐξιλάσκεται ἁμαρτίας.
[19] The most High is not pleased with the offerings of the wicked; neither is he pacified for sin by the multitude of sacrifices.