Sirach 20

Old Testament · Brenton Septuagint with Greek parallel

Sirach 20

1There is a reproof that is not comely: again, some man holds his tongue, and he is wise.Ἔστιν ἔλεγχος ὃς οὐκ ἔστιν ὡραῖος, καὶ ἔστι σιωπῶν καὶ αὐτὸς φρόνιμος.

2It is much better to reprove, than to be angry secretly: and he that confesses his fault shall be preserved from hurt.Ὡς καλὸν ἐλέγξαι ἢ θυμοῦσθαι,

3How good is it, when you are reproved, to show repentance! for so shall you escape wilful sin.καὶ ὁ ἀνθομολογούμενος ἀπὸ ἐλαττώσεως κωλυθήσεται.

4As is the lust of an eunuch to deflower a virgin; so is he that executes judgment with violence.Ἐπιθυμία εὐνούχου ἀποπαρθενῶσαι νεανίδα, οὕτως ὁ ποιῶν ἐν βίᾳ κρίματα.

5There is one that keeps silence, and is found wise: and another by much babbling becomes hateful.Εστι σιωπῶν εὑρισκόμενος σοφὸς, καὶ ἔστι μισητὸς ἀπὸ πολλῆς λαλιᾶς.

6Some man holds his tongue, because he has not to answer: and some keeps silence, knowing his time.Ἔστι σιωπῶν, οὐ γὰρ ἔχει ἀπόκρισιν, καὶ ἔστι σιωπῶν εἰδὼς καιρόν.

7A wise man will hold his tongue till he see opportunity: but a babbler and a fool will regard no time.Ἄνθρωπος σοφὸς σιγήσει ἕως καιροῦ, ὁ δὲ λαπιστὴς καὶ ἄφρων ὑπερβήσεται καιρόν.

8He that uses many words shall be abhorred; and he that takes to himself authority therein shall be hated.Ὁ πλεονάζων λόγῳ βδελυχθήσεται, καὶ ὁ ἐνεξουσιαζόμενος μισηθήσεται.

9There is a sinner that has good success in evil things; and there is a gain that turns to loss.Ἔστιν εὐοδία ἐν κακοῖς ἀνδρί, καὶ ἔστιν εὕρεμα εἰς ἐλάττωσιν.

10There is a gift that shall not profit you; and there is a gift whose recompence is double.Ἔστι δόσις ἣ οὐ λυσιτελήσει σοι, καὶ ἔστι δόσις ἧς τὸ ἀνταπόδομα διπλοῦν.

11There is an abasement because of glory; and there is that lifts up his head from a low estate.Ἔστιν ἐλάττωσις ἕνεκεν δόξης, καὶ ἔστιν ὃς ἀπὸ ταπεινώσεως ᾖρε κεφαλήν.

12There is that buys much for a little, and repays it sevenfold.Ἔστιν ἀγοράζων πολλὰ ὀλίγου, καὶ ἀποτιννύων αὐτὰ ἑπταπλάσιον.

13A wise man by his words makes him beloved: but the graces of fools shall be poured out.Ὁ σοφὸς ἐν λόγῳ ἑαυτὸν προσφιλῆ ποιήσει, χάριτες δὲ μωρῶν ἐκχυθήσονται.

14The gift of a fool shall do you no good when you have it; neither yet of the envious for his necessity: for he looks to receive many things for one.Δόσις ἄφρονος οὐ λυσιτελήσει σοι, οἱ γὰρ ὀφθαλμοὶ αὐτοῦ ἀνθʼ ἑνὸς πολλοί.

15He gives little, and upbraids much; he opens his mouth like a crier; to day he lends, and to morrow will he ask it again: such an one is to be hated of God and man.Ὀλίγα δώσει καὶ πολλὰ ὀνειδίσει, καὶ ἀνοίξει τὸ στόμα αὐτοῦ ὡς κήρυξ· σήμερον δανειεῖ καὶ αὔριον ἀπαιτήσει· μισητὸς ἄνθρωπος ὁ τοιοῦτος.

16The fool says, I have no friends, I have no thank for all my good deeds, and they that eat my bread speak evil of me.Μωρὸς ἐρεῖ, οὐχ ὑπάρχει μοι φίλος, καὶ οὐκ ἔστι χάρις τοῖς ἀγαθοῖς μου· οἱ ἔσθοντες τὸν ἄρτον μου, φαῦλοι γλώσσῃ.

17How often, and of how many shall he be laughed to scorn! for he knows not aright what it is to have; and it is all one to him as if he had it not.Ποσάκις, καὶ ὅσοι καταγελάσονται αὐτοῦ;

18To slip upon a pavement is better than to slip with the tongue: so the fall of the wicked shall come speedily.Ὀλίσθημα ἀπὸ ἐδάφους μᾶλλον ἢ ἀπὸ γλώσσης, οὕτως πτῶσις κακῶν κατὰ σπουδὴν ἥξει.

19An unseasonable tale will always be in the mouth of the unwise.Ἄνθρωπος ἄχαρις, μύθος ἄκαιρος, ἐν στόματι ἀπαιδεύτων ἐνδελεχισθήσεται.

20A wise sentence shall be rejected when it comes out of a fool's mouth; for he will not speak it in due season.Ἀπὸ στόματος μωροῦ ἀποδοκιμασθήσεται παραβολὴ, οὐ γὰρ μὴ εἴπῃ αὐτὴν ἐν καιρῷ αὐτῆς.

21There is that is hindered from sinning through lack: and when he takes rest, he shall not be troubled.Ἔστι κωλυόμενος ἁμαρτάνειν ἀπὸ ἐνδείας, καὶ ἐν τῇ ἀναπαύσει αὐτοῦ οὐ κατανυγήσεται.

22There is that destroys his own soul through bashfulness, and by accepting of persons overthrows himself.Ἔστιν ἀπολλύων τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ διʼ αἰσχύνην, καὶ ἀπὸ ἄφρονος προσώπου ἀπολεῖ αὐτήν.

23There is that for bashfulness promises to his friend, and makes him his enemy for nothing.Ἔστι χάριν αἰσχύνης ἐπαγγελλόμενος φίλῳ, καὶ ἐκτήσατο αὐτὸν ἐχθρὸν δωρεάν.

24A lie is a foul blot in a man, yet it is continually in the mouth of the untaught.Μῶμος πονηρὸς ἐν ἀνθρώπῳ ψεῦδος, ἐν στόματι ἀπαιδεύτων ἐνδελεχισθήσεται.

25A thief is better than a man that is accustomed to lie: but they both shall have destruction to heritage.Αἱρετὸν κλέπτης, ἢ ὁ ἐνδελεχίζων ψεύδει, ἀμφότεροι δὲ ἀπώλειαν κληρονομήσουσιν.

26The disposition of a liar is dishonourable, and his shame is ever with him.Ἦθος ἀνθρώπου ψευδοῦς ἀτιμία, καὶ ἡ αἰσχύνη αὐτοῦ μετʼ αὐτοῦ ἐνδελεχῶς. ΛΟΓΟΙ ΠΑΡΑΒΟΛΩΝ.

27A wise man shall promote himself to honor with his words: and he that has understanding will please great men.Ο σοφὸς ἐν λόγοις προάξει ἑαυτὸν, καὶ ἄνθρωπος φρόνιμος ἀρέσει μεγιστᾶσιν.

28He that tils his land shall increase his heap: and he that pleases great men shall get pardon for iniquity.Ὁ ἐργαζόμενος γῆν ἀνυψώσει θημωνίαν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ὁ ἀρέσκων μεγιστᾶσιν ἐξιλάσεται ἀδικίαν.

29Presents and gifts blind the eyes of the wise, and stop up his mouth that he can’t reprove.Ξένια καὶ δῶρα ἀποτυφλοῖ ὀφθαλμοὺς σοφῶν, καὶ ὡς φιμὸς ἐν στόματι ἀποτρέπει ἐλεγμούς.

30Wisdom that is hid, and treasure that is hoarded up, what profit is in them both?Σοφία κεκρυμμένη καὶ θησαυρὸς ἀφανὴς, τίς ὠφέλεια ἐν ἀμφοτέροις;

31Better is he that hides his folly than a man that hides his wisdom.Κρείσσων ἄνθρωπος ἀποκρύπτων τὴν μωρίαν αὐτοῦ, ἢ ἄνθρωπος ἀποκρύπτων τὴν σοφίαν αὐτοῦ.

32Necessary patience in seeking the Lord is better than he that leads his life without a guide.