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Sirach 11

Old Testament · Brenton Septuagint with Greek parallel

Sirach chapter 11 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. Related material may be found among the Church Fathers and the theology tables.

Sirach 11

1Wisdom lifts up the head of him that is of low degree, and makes him to sit among great men.Σοφία ταπεινοῦ ἀνύψωσε κεφαλὴν, καὶ ἐν μέσῳ μεγιστάνων καθίσει αὐτόν.

2Commend not a man for his beauty; neither abhor a man for his outward appearance.Μὴ αἰνέσεις ἄνδρα ἐν κάλλει αὐτοῦ, καὶ μὴ βδελύξῃ ἄνθρωπον ἐν ὁράσει αὐτοῦ.

3The bee is little among such as fly; but her fruit is the chief of sweet things.Μικρὰ ἐν πετεινοῖς μέλισσα, καὶ ἀρχὴ γλυκασμάτων ὁ καρπὸς αὐτῆς.

4Boast not of your clothing and raiment, and exalt not yourself in the day of honor: for the works of the Lord are wonderful, and his works among men are hidden.Ἐν περιβολῇ ἱματίων μὴ καυχήσῃ, καὶ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ δόξης μὴ ἐπαίρου, ὅτι θαυμαστὰ τὰ ἔργα Κυρίου, καὶ κρυπτὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ ἐν ἀνθρώποις.

5Many kings have sat down upon the ground; and one that was never thought of has worn the crown.Πολλοὶ τύραννοι ἐκάθισαν ἐπὶ ἐδάφους, ὁ δὲ ἀνυπονόητος ἐφόρεσε διάδημα.

6Many mighty men have been greatly disgraced; and the honorable delivered into other men's hands.Πολλοὶ δυνάσται ἠτιμάσθησαν σφόδρα, καὶ ἔνδοξοι παρεδόθησαν εἰς χεῖρας ἑτέρων.

7Blame not before you have examined the truth: understand first, and then rebuke.Πρὶν ἐξετάσῃς μὴ μέμψῃ· νόησον πρῶτον καὶ τότε ἐπιτιμα.

8Answer not before you have heard the cause: neither interrupt men in the midst of their talk.Πρὶν ἢ ἀκοῦσαι μὴ ἀποκρίνου, καὶ ἐν μέσῳ λόγων μὴ παρεμβάλλου.

9Strive not in a matter that concerns you not; and sit not in judgment with sinners.Περὶ πράγματος οὗ οὐκ ἔστι σοι χρεία, μὴ ἔριζε, καὶ ἐν κρίσει ἁμαρτωλῶν μὴ συνέδρευε.

10My son, meddle not with many matters: for if you meddle much, you shall not be innocent; and if you follow after, you shall not obtain, neither shall you escape by fleeing.Τέκνον, μὴ περὶ πολλὰ ἔστωσαν αἱ πράξεις σου· ἐὰν πληθυνῇς, οὐκ ἀθωωθήσῃ· καὶ ἐὰν διώκῃς, οὐ μὴ καταλάβῃς, καὶ οὐ μὴ ἐκφύγῃς διαδράς.

11There is one that labores, and takes pains, and makes haste, and is so much the more behind.Ἔστι κοπιῶν καὶ πονῶν καὶ σπεύδων, καὶ τόσῳ μᾶλλον ὑστερεῖται.

12Again, there is another that is slow, and has need of help, lacking ability, and full of poverty; yet the eye of the Lord looked upon him for good, and set him up from his low estate,Ἔστι νωθρὸς καὶ προσδεόμενος ἀντιλήψεως, ὑστερῶν ἰσχύϊ, καὶ πτωχείᾳ περισσεύει, καὶ οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ Κυρίου ἐπέβλεψαν αὐτῷ εἰς ἀγαθὰ, καὶ ἀνώρθωσεν αὐτὸν ἐκ ταπεινώσεως αὐτοῦ·

13And lifted up his head from misery; so that many that saw from him is peace over all theΚαὶ ἀνύψωσε κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἀπεθαύμασαν ἐπʼ αὐτῷ πολλοί.

14Prosperity and adversity, life and death, poverty and riches, come of the Lord.Ἀγαθὰ καὶ κακά, ζωὴ καὶ θάνατος, πτωχεία καὶ πλοῦτος παρὰ Κυρίου ἐστί.

15Wisdom, knowledge, and understanding of the law, are of the Lord: love, and the way of good works, are from him.

16Error and darkness had their beginning together with sinners: and evil shall wax old with them that glory therein.

17The gift of the Lord remains with the ungodly, and his favor brings prosperity for ever.Δόσις Κυρίου παραμένει εὐσεβέσι, καὶ ἡ εὐδοκία αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα εὐοδωθήσεται.

18There is that waxes rich by his wariness and pinching, and this his the portion of his reward:Ἔστι πλουτῶν ἀπὸ προσοχῆς καὶ σφιγγίας αὐτοῦ, καὶ αὕτη ἡ μερὶς τοῦ μισθοῦ αὐτοῦ.

19Whereas he says, I have found rest, and now will eat continually of my goods; and yet he knows not what time shall come upon him, and that he must leave those things to others, and die.Ἐν τῷ εἰπεῖν αὐτὸν, εὗρον ἀνάπαυσιν, καὶ νῦν φάγωμαι ἐκ τῶν ἀγαθῶν μου, καὶ οὐκ οἶδε τίς καιρὸς παρελεύσεται, καὶ καταλείψει αὐτὰ ἑτέροις, καὶ ἀποθανεῖται.

20Be stedfast in your covenant, and be conversant therein, and wax old in your work.Στῆθι ἐν διαθήκῃ σου καὶ ὁμίλει ἐν αὐτῇ, καὶ ἐν τῷ ἔργῳ σου παλαιώθητι.

21Marvel not at the works of sinners; but trust in the Lord, and abide in your labor: for it is an easy thing in the sight of the Lord on the sudden to make a poor man rich.Μὴ θαύμαζε ἐν ἔργοις ἁμαρτωλοῦ, πίστευε τῷ Κυρίῳ καὶ ἔμμενε τῷ πόνῳ σου· ὅτι κοῦφον ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς Κυρίου διὰ τάχους ἐξάπινα πλουτίσαι πένητα.

22The blessing of the Lord is in the reward of the godly, and suddenly he makes his blessing flourish.Εὐλογία Κυρίου ἐν μισθῷ εὐσεβοῦς, καὶ ἐν ὥρᾳ ταχινῇ ἀναθάλλει εὐλογίαν αὐτοῦ.

23Say not, What profit is there of my service? and what good things shall I have hereafter?Μὴ εἴπῃς, τίς ἐστί μου χρεία; καὶ τίνα ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν ἔσται μου τὰ ἀγαθά;

24Again, say not, I have enough, and possess many things, and what evil shall I have hereafter?Μὴ εἴπῃς, αὐτάρκη μοι ἐστὶ, καὶ τί ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν κακωθήσομαι;

25In the day of prosperity there is a forgetfulness of affliction: and in the day of affliction there is no more remembrance of prosperity.Ἐν ἡμέρᾳ ἀγαθῶν ἀμνησία κακῶν, καὶ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ κακῶν οὐ μνησθήσεται ἀγαθῶν·

26For it is an easy thing to the Lord in the day of death to reward a man according to his ways.ὅτι κοῦφον ἔναντι Κυρίου ἐν ἡμέρᾳ τελευτῆς ἀποδοῦναι ἀνθρώπῳ κατὰ τὰς ὁδοὺς αὐτοῦ.

27The affliction of an hour makes a man forget pleasure: and in his end his deeds shall be revealed.Κάκωσις ὥρας ἐπιλησμονὴν ποιεῖ τρυφῆς, καὶ ἐν συντελείᾳ ἀνθρώπου ἀποκάλυψις ἔργων αὐτοῦ.

28Judge none blessed before his death: for a man shall be known in his children.Πρὸ τελευτῆς μὴ μακάριζε μηδένα, καὶ ἐν τέκνοις αὐτῶυ γνωσθήσεται ἀνήρ.

29Bring not every man into your house: for the deceitful man has many trains.Μὴ πάντα ἄνθρωπον εἴσαγε εἰς τὸν οἶκόν σου, πολλὰ γὰρ τὰ ἔνεδρα τοῦ δολίου.

30Like as a partridge taken and kept in a cage, so is the heart of the proud; and like as a spy, watches he for your fall:Πέρδιξ θηρευτὴς ἐν καρτάλλῳ, οὕτως καρδία ὑπερηφάνου, καὶ ὡς ὁ κατάσκοπος ἐπιβλέπει πτῶσιν.

31For he lies in wait, and turns good into evil, and in things worthy praise will lay blame upon you.Τὰ γὰρ ἀγαθὰ εἰς κακὰ μεταστρέφων ἐνεδρεύει, καὶ ἐν τοῖς αἱρετοῖς ἐπιθήσει μῶμον.

32Of a spark of fire a heap of coals is kindled: and a sinful man lays wait for blood.Ἀπὸ σπινθῆρος πυρὸς πληθύνεται ἀνθρακία, καὶ ἄνθρωπος ἁμαρτωλὸς εἰς αἷμα ἐνεδρεύει.

33Take heed of a mischievous man, for he works wickedness; lest he bring upon you a perpetual blot.Πρόσεχε ἀπὸ κακούργου, πονηρὰ γὰρ τεκταίνει, μήποτε μῶμον εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα δῷ σοι.

34Receive a stranger into your house, and he will disturb you, and turn you out of your own.Ἐνοίκισον ἀλλότριον, καὶ διαστρέψει σε ἐν ταραχαῖς, καὶ ἀπαλλοτριώσει σε τῶν ἰδίων σου.

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