Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 40

1Great travail is created for every man, and an heavy yoke is upon the sons of Adam, from the day that they go out of their mother’s womb, till the day that they return to the mother of all things.

ἀσχολία μεγάλη ἔκτισται παντὶ ἀνθρώπῳ καὶ ζυγὸς βαρὺς ἐπὶ υἱοὺς αδαμ ἀφ' ἡμέρας ἐξόδου ἐκ γαστρὸς μητρὸς αὐτῶν ἕως ἡμέρας ἐπιστροφῆς εἰς μητέρα πάντων (16175)

2Their imagination of things to come, and the day of death, [trouble] their thoughts, and [cause] fear of heart;

τοὺς διαλογισμοὺς αὐτῶν καὶ φόβον καρδίας ἐπίνοια προσδοκίας ἡμέρα τελευτῆς (7001)

3From him that sitteth on a throne of glory, unto him that is humbled in earth and ashes;

ἀπὸ καθημένου ἐπὶ θρόνου ἐνδόξου καὶ ἕως τεταπεινωμένου ἐν γῇ καὶ σποδῷ (6610)

4From him that weareth purple and a crown, unto him that is clothed with a linen frock.

ἀπὸ φοροῦντος ὑακίνθινον καὶ στέφανον καὶ ἕως περιβαλλομένου ὠμόλινον θυμὸς καὶ ζῆλος καὶ ταραχὴ καὶ σάλος καὶ φόβος θανάτου καὶ μηνίαμα καὶ ἔρις (11706)

5Wrath, and envy, trouble, and unquietness, fear of death, and anger, and strife, and in the time of rest upon his bed his night sleep, do change his knowledge.

καὶ ἐν καιρῷ ἀναπαύσεως ἐπὶ κοίτης ὕπνος νυκτὸς ἀλλοιοῖ γνῶσιν αὐτοῦ (7803)

6A little or nothing is his rest, and afterward he is in his sleep, as in a day of keeping watch, troubled in the vision of his heart, as if he were escaped out of a battle.

ὀλίγον ὡς οὐδὲν ἐν ἀναπαύσει καὶ ἀπ' ἐκείνου ἐν ὕπνοις ὡς ἐν ἡμέρᾳ σκοπιᾶς τεθορυβημένος ἐν ὁράσει καρδίας αὐτοῦ ὡς ἐκπεφευγὼς ἀπὸ προσώπου πολέμου (14763)

7When all is safe, he awaketh, and marvelleth that the fear was nothing.

ἐν καιρῷ χρείας αὐτοῦ ἐξηγέρθη καὶ ἀποθαυμάζων εἰς οὐδένα φόβον (6198)

8[Such things happen] unto all flesh, both man and beast, and that is sevenfold more upon sinners.

μετὰ πάσης σαρκὸς ἀπὸ ἀνθρώπου ἕως κτήνους καὶ ἐπὶ ἁμαρτωλῶν ἑπταπλάσια πρὸς ταῦτα (9548)

9Death, and bloodshed, strife, and sword, calamities, famine, tribulation, and the scourge;

θάνατος καὶ αἷμα καὶ ἔρις καὶ ῥομφαία ἐπαγωγαί λιμὸς καὶ σύντριμμα καὶ μάστιξ (4880)

10These things are created for the wicked, and for their sakes came the flood.

ἐπὶ τοὺς ἀνόμους ἐκτίσθη ταῦτα πάντα καὶ δι' αὐτοὺς ἐγένετο ὁ κατακλυσμός (7088)

11All things that are of the earth shall turn to the earth again: and that which is of the waters doth return into the sea.

πάντα ὅσα ἀπὸ γῆς εἰς γῆν ἀναστρέφει καὶ ἀπὸ ὑδάτων εἰς θάλασσαν ἀνακάμπτει (5465)

12All bribery and injustice shall be blotted out: but true dealing shall endure for ever.

πᾶν δῶρον καὶ ἀδικία ἐξαλειφθήσεται καὶ πίστις εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα στήσεται (5728)

13The goods of the unjust shall be dried up like a river, and shall vanish with noise, like a great thunder in rain.

χρήματα ἀδίκων ὡς ποταμὸς ξηρανθήσεται καὶ ὡς βροντὴ μεγάλη ἐν ὑετῷ ἐξηχήσει (8552)

14While he openeth his hand he shall rejoice: so shall transgressors come to nought.

ἐν τῷ ἀνοῖξαι αὐτὸν χεῖρας εὐφρανθήσεται οὕτως οἱ παραβαίνοντες εἰς συντέλειαν ἐκλείψουσιν (10169)

15The children of the ungodly shall not bring forth many branches: but are as unclean roots upon a hard rock.

ἔκγονα ἀσεβῶν οὐ πληθυνεῖ κλάδους καὶ ῥίζαι ἀκάθαρτοι ἐπ' ἀκροτόμου πέτρας (5507)

16The weed growing upon every water and bank of a river shall be pulled up before all grass.

ἄχι ἐπὶ παντὸς ὕδατος καὶ χείλους ποταμοῦ πρὸ παντὸς χόρτου ἐκτιλήσεται (8069)

17Bountifulness is as a most fruitful garden, and mercifulness endureth for ever.

χάρις ὡς παράδεισος ἐν εὐλογίαις καὶ ἐλεημοσύνη εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα διαμενεῖ (5835)

18To labour, and to be content with that a man hath, is a sweet life: but he that findeth a treasure is above them both.

ζωὴ αὐτάρκους καὶ ἐργάτου γλυκανθήσεται καὶ ὑπὲρ ἀμφότερα ὁ εὑρίσκων θησαυρόν (8380)

19Children and the building of a city continue a man’s name: but a blameless wife is counted above them both.

τέκνα καὶ οἰκοδομὴ πόλεως στηρίζουσιν ὄνομα καὶ ὑπὲρ ἀμφότερα γυνὴ ἄμωμος λογίζεται (7151)

20Wine and musick rejoice the heart: but the love of wisdom is above them both.

οἶνος καὶ μουσικὰ εὐφραίνουσιν καρδίαν καὶ ὑπὲρ ἀμφότερα ἀγάπησις σοφίας (6271)

21The pipe and the psaltery make sweet melody: but a pleasant tongue is above them both.

αὐλὸς καὶ ψαλτήριον ἡδύνουσιν μέλη καὶ ὑπὲρ ἀμφότερα γλῶσσα ἡδεῖα (6171)

22Thine eye desireth favour and beauty: but more than both corn while it is green.

χάριν καὶ κάλλος ἐπιθυμήσει ὀφθαλμὸς καὶ ὑπὲρ ἀμφότερα χλόην σπόρου (6141)

23A friend and companion never meet amiss: but above both is a wife with her husband.

φίλος καὶ ἑταῖρος εἰς καιρὸν ἀπαντῶντες καὶ ὑπὲρ ἀμφότερα γυνὴ μετὰ ἀνδρός (6645)

24Brethren and help are against time of trouble: but alms shall deliver more than them both.

ἀδελφοὶ καὶ βοήθεια εἰς καιρὸν θλίψεως καὶ ὑπὲρ ἀμφότερα ἐλεημοσύνη ῥύσεται (6441)

25Gold and silver make the foot stand sure: but counsel is esteemed above them both.

χρυσίον καὶ ἀργύριον ἐπιστήσουσιν πόδα καὶ ὑπὲρ ἀμφότερα βουλὴ εὐδοκιμεῖται (6901)

26Riches and strength lift up the heart: but the fear of the Lord is above them both: there is no want in the fear of the Lord, and it needeth not to seek help.

χρήματα καὶ ἰσχὺς ἀνυψώσουσιν καρδίαν καὶ ὑπὲρ ἀμφότερα φόβος κυρίου οὐκ ἔστιν ἐν φόβῳ κυρίου ἐλάττωσις καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ἐπιζητῆσαι ἐν αὐτῷ βοήθειαν (17787)

27The fear of the Lord is a fruitful garden, and covereth him above all glory.

φόβος κυρίου ὡς παράδεισος εὐλογίας καὶ ὑπὲρ πᾶσαν δόξαν ἐκάλυψεν αὐτόν (7397)

28My son, lead not a beggar’s life; for better it is to die than to beg.

τέκνον ζωὴν ἐπαιτήσεως μὴ βιώσῃς κρεῖσσον ἀποθανεῖν ἢ ἐπαιτεῖν (5637)

29The life of him that dependeth on another man’s table is not to be counted for a life; for he polluteth himself with other men’s meat: but a wise man well nurtured will beware thereof.

ἀνὴρ βλέπων εἰς τράπεζαν ἀλλοτρίαν οὐκ ἔστιν αὐτοῦ ὁ βίος ἐν λογισμῷ ζωῆς ἀλισγήσει ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ ἐν ἐδέσμασιν ἀλλοτρίοις ἀνὴρ δὲ ἐπιστήμων καὶ πεπαιδευμένος φυλάξεται (16014)

30Begging is sweet in the mouth of the shameless: but in his belly there shall burn a fire.

ἐν στόματι ἀναιδοῦς γλυκανθήσεται ἐπαίτησις καὶ ἐν κοιλίᾳ αὐτοῦ πῦρ καήσεται (6086)