Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 21

1My son, hast thou sinned? do so no more, but ask pardon for thy former sins.

τέκνον ἥμαρτες μὴ προσθῇς μηκέτι καὶ περὶ τῶν προτέρων σου δεήθητι (6142)

2Flee from sin as from the face of a serpent: for if thou comest too near it, it will bite thee: the teeth thereof are as the teeth of a lion, slaying the souls of men.

ὡς ἀπὸ προσώπου ὄφεως φεῦγε ἀπὸ ἁμαρτίας ἐὰν γὰρ προσέλθῃς δήξεταί σε ὀδόντες λέοντος οἱ ὀδόντες αὐτῆς ἀναιροῦντες ψυχὰς ἀνθρώπων (15788)

3All iniquity is as a two edged sword, the wounds whereof cannot be healed.

ὡς ῥομφαία δίστομος πᾶσα ἀνομία τῇ πληγῇ αὐτῆς οὐκ ἔστιν ἴασις (5892)

4To terrify and do wrong will waste riches: thus the house of proud men shall be made desolate.

καταπληγμὸς καὶ ὕβρις ἐρημώσουσιν πλοῦτον οὕτως οἶκος ὑπερηφάνου ἐρημωθήσεται (9619)

5A prayer out of a poor man’s mouth reacheth to the ears of God, and his judgment cometh speedily.

δέησις πτωχοῦ ἐκ στόματος ἕως ὠτίων αὐτοῦ καὶ τὸ κρίμα αὐτοῦ κατὰ σπουδὴν ἔρχεται (11917)

6He that hateth to be reproved is in the way of sinners: but he that feareth the Lord will repent from his heart.

μισῶν ἐλεγμὸν ἐν ἴχνει ἁμαρτωλοῦ καὶ ὁ φοβούμενος κύριον ἐπιστρέψει ἐν καρδίᾳ (7539)

7An eloquent man is known far and near; but a man of understanding knoweth when he slippeth.

γνωστὸς μακρόθεν ὁ δυνατὸς ἐν γλώσσῃ ὁ δὲ νοήμων οἶδεν ἐν τῷ ὀλισθάνειν αὐτόν (7956)

8He that buildeth his house with other men’s money is like one that gathereth himself stones for the tomb of his burial.

ὁ οἰκοδομῶν τὴν οἰκίαν αὐτοῦ ἐν χρήμασιν ἀλλοτρίοις ὡς συνάγων αὐτοῦ τοὺς λίθους εἰς χειμῶνα (11864)

9The congregation of the wicked is like tow wrapped together: and the end of them is a flame of fire to destroy them.

στιππύον συνηγμένον συναγωγὴ ἀνόμων καὶ ἡ συντέλεια αὐτῶν φλὸξ πυρός (8643)

10The way of sinners is made plain with stones, but at the end thereof is the pit of hell.

ὁδὸς ἁμαρτωλῶν ὡμαλισμένη ἐκ λίθων καὶ ἐπ' ἐσχάτων αὐτῆς βόθρος ᾅδου (8481)

11He that keepeth the law of the Lord getteth the understanding thereof: and the perfection of the fear of the Lord is wisdom.

ὁ φυλάσσων νόμον κατακρατεῖ τοῦ ἐννοήματος αὐτοῦ καὶ συντέλεια τοῦ φόβου κυρίου σοφία (10649)

12He that is not wise will not be taught: but there is a wisdom which multiplieth bitterness.

οὐ παιδευθήσεται ὃς οὐκ ἔστιν πανοῦργος ἔστιν δὲ πανουργία πληθύνουσα πικρίαν (6610)

13The knowledge of a wise man shall abound like a flood: and his counsel is like a pure fountain of life.

γνῶσις σοφοῦ ὡς κατακλυσμὸς πληθυνθήσεται καὶ ἡ βουλὴ αὐτοῦ ὡς πηγὴ ζωῆς (9729)

14The inner parts of a fool are like a broken vessel, and he will hold no knowledge as long as he liveth.

ἔγκατα μωροῦ ὡς ἀγγεῖον συντετριμμένον καὶ πᾶσαν γνῶσιν οὐ κρατήσει (7092)

15If a skilful man hear a wise word, he will commend it, and add unto it: but as soon as one of no understanding heareth it, it displeaseth him, and he casteth it behind his back.

λόγον σοφὸν ἐὰν ἀκούσῃ ἐπιστήμων αἰνέσει αὐτὸν καὶ ἐπ' αὐτὸν προσθήσει ἤκουσεν ὁ σπαταλῶν καὶ ἀπήρεσεν αὐτῷ καὶ ἀπέστρεψεν αὐτὸν ὀπίσω τοῦ νώτου αὐτοῦ (17367)

16The talking of a fool is like a burden in the way: but grace shall be found in the lips of the wise.

ἐξήγησις μωροῦ ὡς ἐν ὁδῷ φορτίον ἐπὶ δὲ χείλους συνετοῦ εὑρεθήσεται χάρις (9731)

17They enquire at the mouth of the wise man in the congregation, and they shall ponder his words in their heart.

στόμα φρονίμου ζητηθήσεται ἐν ἐκκλησίᾳ καὶ τοὺς λόγους αὐτοῦ διανοηθήσονται ἐν καρδίᾳ (6983)

18As is a house that is destroyed, so is wisdom to a fool: and the knowledge of the unwise is as talk without sense.

ὡς οἶκος ἠφανισμένος οὕτως μωρῷ σοφία καὶ γνῶσις ἀσυνέτου ἀδιεξέταστοι λόγοι (10664)

19Doctrine unto fools is as fetters on the feet, and like manacles on the right hand.

πέδαι ἐν ποσὶν ἀνοήτου παιδεία καὶ ὡς χειροπέδαι ἐπὶ χειρὸς δεξιᾶς (4851)

20A fool lifteth up his voice with laughter; but a wise man doth scarce smile a little.

μωρὸς ἐν γέλωτι ἀνυψοῖ φωνὴν αὐτοῦ ἀνὴρ δὲ πανοῦργος μόλις ἡσυχῇ μειδιάσει (9216)

21Learning is unto a wise man as an ornament of gold, and like a bracelet upon his right arm.

ὡς κόσμος χρυσοῦς φρονίμῳ παιδεία καὶ ὡς χλιδὼν ἐπὶ βραχίονι δεξιῷ (9593)

22A foolish man’s foot is soon in his [neighbour’s] house: but a man of experience is ashamed of him.

ποὺς μωροῦ ταχὺς εἰς οἰκίαν ἄνθρωπος δὲ πολύπειρος αἰσχυνθήσεται ἀπὸ προσώπου (10146)

23A fool will peep in at the door into the house: but he that is well nurtured will stand without.

ἄφρων ἀπὸ θύρας παρακύπτει εἰς οἰκίαν ἀνὴρ δὲ πεπαιδευμένος ἔξω στήσεται (6692)

24It is the rudeness of a man to hearken at the door: but a wise man will be grieved with the disgrace.

ἀπαιδευσία ἀνθρώπου ἀκροᾶσθαι παρὰ θύραν ὁ δὲ φρόνιμος βαρυνθήσεται ἀτιμίᾳ (5943)

25The lips of talkers will be telling such things as pertain not unto them: but the words of such as have understanding are weighed in the balance.

χείλη ἀλλοτρίων ἐν τούτοις διηγήσονται λόγοι δὲ φρονίμων ἐν ζυγῷ σταθήσονται (8339)

26The heart of fools is in their mouth: but the mouth of the wise is in their heart.

ἐν στόματι μωρῶν ἡ καρδία αὐτῶν καρδία δὲ σοφῶν στόμα αὐτῶν (8388)

27When the ungodly curseth Satan, he curseth his own soul.

ἐν τῷ καταρᾶσθαι ἀσεβῆ τὸν σατανᾶν αὐτὸς καταρᾶται τὴν ἑαυτοῦ ψυχήν (8034)

28A whisperer defileth his own soul, and is hated wheresoever he dwelleth.

μολύνει τὴν ἑαυτοῦ ψυχὴν ὁ ψιθυρίζων καὶ ἐν παροικήσει μισηθήσεται (7434)