Proverbs 18
Old Testament · Brenton Septuagint with Greek parallel
Proverbs chapter 18 is given here in full, verse by verse, in Sir Lancelot Brenton's classic English translation of the Septuagint (LXX), with the Greek text of the Septuagint set beneath each verse. The text follows the Septuagint tradition received throughout the Orthodox Church.
Patristic commentary for this chapter has not yet been attached. The translator's notes for this chapter (5) follow the text. Related material may be found among the Church Fathers and the theology tables.
Proverbs 18
1A man who wishes to separate from friends seeks excuses; but at all times he will be liable to reproach.Προφάσεις ζητεῖ ἀνὴρ βουλόμενος χωρίζεσθαι ἀπὸ φίλων, ἐν παντὶ δὲ καιρῷ ἐπονείδιστος ἔσται.
2A senseless man feels no need of wisdom, for he is rather led by folly.Οὐ χρείαν ἔχει σοφίας ἐνδεὴς φρενῶν, μᾶλλον γᾶρ ἄγεται ἀφροσύνῃ.
3When an ungodly man comes into a depth of evils, he despises them; but dishonor and reproach come upon him.Ὅταν ἔλθῃ ἀσεβὴς εἰς βάθος κακῶν, καταφρονεῖ, ἐπέρχεται δὲ αὐτῷ ἀτιμία καὶ ὄνειδος.
4A word in the heart of a man is a deep water, and a river and fountain of life spring forth.Ὕδωρ βαθὺ λόγος ἐν καρδίᾳ ἀνδρὸς, ποταμὸς δὲ ἀναπηδύει καὶ πηγὴ ζωῆς.
5It is not good to accept the person of the ungodly, nor is it holy to pervert justice in judgment.Θαυμάσαι πρόσωπον ἀσεβοῦς οὐ καλὸν, οὐδὲ ὅσιον ἐκκλίνειν τὸ δίκαιον ἐν κρίσει.
6The lips of a fool bring him into troubles, and his bold mouth calls for death.Χείλη ἄφρονος ἄγουσιν αὐτὸν εἰς κακὰ, τὸ δὲ στόμα αὐτοῦ τὸ θρασὺ θάνατον ἐπικαλεῖται.
7A fool's mouth is ruin to him, and his lips are a snare to his soul.Στόμα ἄφρονος συντριβὴ αὐτῷ, τὰ δὲ χείλη αὐτοῦ παγὶς τῇ ψυχῇ αὐτοῦ.
8Fear casts down the slothful; and the souls of the effeminate shall hunger.Ὀκνηροὺς καταβάλλει φόβος, ψυχαὶ δὲ ἀνδρογύνων πεινάσουσιν.
9A man who helps not himself by his labor is brother of him that ruins himself.Ὁ μὴ ἰώμενος αὐτὸν ἐν τοῖς ἔργοις αὐτοῦ, ἀδελφός ἐστι τοῦ λυμαινομένου ἑαυτόν.
10The name of the Lord is of great strength; and the righteous * running to it are exalted.Ἐκ μεγαλωσύνης ἰσχύος ὄνομα Κυρίου, αὐτῷ δὲ προσδραμόντες δίκαιοι ὑψοῦνται.
11The wealth of a rich man is a strong city; and its glory casts a broad shadow.Ὕπαρξις πλουσίου ἀνδρὸς πόλις ὀχυρὰ, ἡ δὲ δόξα αὐτῆς μέγα ἐπισκιάζει.
12Before ruin a man's heart is exalted, and before honor it is humble.Πρὸ συντριβῆς ὑψοῦται καρδία ἀνδρὸς, καὶ πρὸ δόξης ταπεινοῦνται.
13Whoso answers a word before he hears a cause, it is folly and reproach to him.Ὃς ἀποκρίνεται λόγον πρὶν ἀκοῦσαι, ἀφροσύνη αὐτῷ ἐστι καὶ ὄνειδος.
14A wise servant calms a man's anger; but who can endure a faint-hearted man?Θυμὸν ἀνδρὸς πρᾳΰνει θεράπων φρόνιμος, ὀλιγόψυχον δὲ ἄνδρα τίς ὑποίσει;
15The heart of the sensible man purchases discretion; and the ears of the wise seek understanding.Καρδία φρονίμου κτᾶται αἴσθησιν, ὦτα δὲ σοφῶν ζητεῖ ἔννοιαν.
16A man's gift † enlarges him, and seats him among princes.Δόμα ἀνθρώπου ἐμπλατύνει αὐτὸν, καὶ παρὰ δυνάσταις καθιζάνει αὐτόν.
17A righteous man accuses himself at the beginning of his speech, but ‡ when he has entered upon the attack, the adversary is reproved.Δίκαιος ἑαυτοῦ κατήγορος ἐν πρωτολογίᾳ, ὡς δʼ ἂν ἐπιβάλῃ ὁ ἀντίδικος ἐλέγχεται.
18A silent man quells strifes, and determines between great powers.Ἀντιλογίας παύει σιγηρὸς, ἐν δὲ δυναστείαις ὁρίζει.
19A brother helped by a brother is as a strong and high city; and is as strong as a well-founded palace.Ἀδελφὸς ὑπὸ ἀδελφοῦ βοηθούμενος, ὡς πόλις ὀχυρὰ καὶ ὑψηλὴ, ἰσχύει δὲ ὥσπερ τεθεμελιωμένον βασίλειον.
20A man fills his belly with the fruits of his mouth; and he shall be satisfied with the fruits of his lips.Ἀπὸ καρπῶν στόματος ἀνὴρ πίμπλησι κοιλίαν αὐτοῦ, ἀπὸ δὲ καρπῶν χειλέων αὐτοῦ ἐμπλησθήσεται.
21Life and death are in the power of the tongue; and they that rule it shall eat the fruits thereof.Θάνατος καὶ ζωὴ ἐν χειρὶ γλώσσης, οἱ δὲ κρατοῦντες αὐτῆς ἔδονται τοὺς καρποὺς αὐτῆς.
22He that has found a good wife has found favours, and has received gladness from God. § He that puts away a good wife, puts away a **good thing, and he that keeps an adulteress is foolish and ungodly.Ὃς εὗρε γυναῖκα ἀγαθὴν, εὗρε χάριτας, ἔλαβε δὲ παρὰ Θεοῦ ἱλαρότητα·
22aὃς ἐκβάλλει γυναῖκα ἀγαθὴν, ἐκβάλλει τὰ ἀγαθὰ, ὁ δὲ κατέχων μοιχαλίδα, ἄφρων καὶ ἀσεβής.
Translator's Notes
These notes come from the printed edition of Sir Lancelot Brenton's classic English translation of the Septuagint (LXX), and record where the Greek differs from the English rendering or admits more than one reading.
- v. 10*Gr. having run.
- v. 16†See Ps 188. (119) 32.
- v. 17‡Comp. Mark 14. ult. and margin, with 2 Tim 4. 14-17.
- v. 22§Heb. omits this verse.
- v. 22**Gr. plural.