Sirach 25

Old Testament · Brenton Septuagint with Greek parallel

Sirach 25

1In three things I was beautified, and stood up beautiful both before God and men: the unity of brethren, the love of neighbors, a man and a wife that agree together.Ἐν τρισὶν ὡραΐσθην, καὶ ἀνέστην ὡραία ἔναντι Κυρίου καὶ ἀνθρώπων· ὁμόνοια ἀδελφῶν, καὶ φιλία τῶν πλησίον, καὶ γυνὴ καὶ ἀνὴρ ἑαυτοῖς συπεριφερόμενοι.

2Three sorts of men my soul hates, and I am greatly offended at their life: a poor man that is proud, a rich man that is a liar, and an old adulterer that doats.Τρία δὲ εἴδη ἐμίσησεν ἡ ψυχή μου, καὶ προσώχθισα σφόδρα τῇ ζωῇ αὐτῶν· πτωχὸν ὑπερήφανον, καὶ πλούσιον ψεύστην, γέροντα μοιχὸν ἐλαττούμενον συνέσει.

3If you have gathered nothing in your youth, how can you find any thing in your age?Ἐν νεότητι οὐ συναγήοχας, καὶ πῶς ἂν εὕροις ἐν τῷ γήρᾳ σου;

4O how comely a thing is judgment for gray hairs, and for ancient men to know counsel!Ὡς ὡραῖον πολιαῖς κρίσις, καὶ πρεσβυτέροις ἐπιγνῶναι βουλην;

5O how comely is the wisdom of old men, and understanding and counsel to men of honor.Ὡς ὡραία γερόντων σοφία, καὶ δεδοξασμένοις διανόημα καὶ βουλή.

6Much experience is the crown of old men, and the fear of God is their glory.Στέφανος γερόντων πολυπειρία, καὶ τὸ καύχημα αὐτῶν φόβος Κυρίου.

7There be nine things which I have judged in my heart to be happy, and the tenth I will utter with my tongue: A man that has joy of his children; and he that lives to see the fall of his enemy:Ἐννέα ὑπονοήματα ἐμακάρισα ἐν καρδίᾳ, καὶ τὸ δέκατον ἐρῶ ἐπὶ γλώσσης· ἄνθρωπος εὐφραινόμενος ἐπὶ τέκνοις, ζῶν καὶ βλέπων ἐπὶ πτώσει ἐχθρῶν.

8Well is him that dwells with a wife of understanding, and that has not slipped with his tongue, and that has not served a man more unworthy than himself:Μακάριος ὁ συνοικῶν γυναικὶ συνετῇ, καὶ ὃς ἐν γλώσσῃ οὐκ ὠλίσθησε, καὶ ὃς οὐκ ἐδούλευσεν ἀναξίῳ αὐτοῦ.

9Well is him that has found prudence, and he that speaks in the ears of them that will hear:Μακάριος ὃς εὗρε φρόνησιν, καὶ ὁ διηγούμενος εἰς ὦτα ἀκουόντων.

10O how great is he that finds wisdom! yet is there none above him that fears the Lord.Ὡς μέγας ὁ εὑρὼν σοφίαν, ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἔστιν ὑπὲρ τὸν φοβούμενον τὸν Κύριον.

11But the love of the Lord passes all things for illumination: he that holds it, whereto shall he be likened?Φόβος Κυρίου ὑπὲρ πᾶν ὑπερέβαλεν, ὁ κρατῶν αὐτοῦ τίνι ὁμοιωθήσεται;

12The fear of the Lord is the beginning of his love: and faith is the beginning of cleaving to him.

13Give me any plague, but the plague of the heart: and any wickedness, but the wickedness of a woman:Πᾶσαν πληγήν καὶ μὴ πληγὴν καρδίας, καὶ πᾶσαν πονηρίαν καὶ μὴ πονηρίαν γυναικός·

14And any affliction, but the affliction from them that hate me: and any revenge, but the revenge of enemies.πᾶσαν ἐπαγωγήν καὶ μὴ ἐπαγωγὴν μισούντων, καὶ πᾶσαν ἐκδίκησιν καὶ μὴ ἐκδίκησιν ἐχθρῶν.

15There is no head above the head of a serpent; and there is no wrath above the wrath of an enemy.Οὐκ ἔστι κεφαλὴ ὑπὲρ κεφαλὴν ὄφεως, καὶ οὐκ ἔστι θυμὸς ὑπὲρ θυμὸν ἐχθροῦ.

16I had rather dwell with a lion and a dragon, than to keep house with a wicked woman.Συνοικῆσαι λέοντι καὶ δράκοντι εὐδοκήσω, ἢ ἐνοικῆσαι μετὰ γυναικὸς πονηρᾶς.

17The wickedness of a woman changes her face, and darkens her countenance like sackcloth.Πονηρία γυναικὸς ἀλλοιοῖ τὴν ὅρασιν αὐτῆς, καὶ σκοτοῖ τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτῆς ὡς σάκκον.

18Her husband shall sit among his neighbors; and when he hears it shall sigh bitterly.Ἀναμέσον τοῦ πλησίον αὐτοῦ ἀναπεσεῖται ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς, καὶ ἀκούσας ἀνεστέναξε πικρά.

19All wickedness is but little to the wickedness of a woman: let the portion of a sinner fall upon her.Μικρὰ πᾶσα κακία πρὸς κακίαν γυναικός· κλῆρος ἁμαρτωλοῦ ἐπιπέσοι αὐτῇ.

20As the climbing up a sandy way is to the feet of the aged, so is a wife full of words to a quiet man.Ἀνάβασις ἀμμώδης ἐν ποσὶ πρεσβυτέρου· οὕτως γυνὴ γλωσσώδης ἀνδρὶ ἡσύχῳ.

21Stumble not at the beauty of a woman, and desire her not for pleasure.Μὴ προσπέσῃς ἐπὶ κάλλος γυναικὸς, καὶ γυναῖκα μὴ ἐπιποθήσῃς.

22A woman, if she maintain her husband, is full of anger, impudence, and much reproach.Ὀργὴ καὶ ἀναίδεια καὶ αἰσχύνη μεγάλη, γυνὴ ἐὰν ἐπιχορηγῇ τῷ ἀνδρὶ αὐτῆς.

23A wicked woman abates the courage, makes an heavy countenance and a wounded heart: a woman that will not comfort her husband in distress makes weak hands and feeble knees.Καρδία ταπεινὴ καὶ πρόσωπον σκυθρωπὸν καὶ πληγὴ καρδίας γυνὴ πονηρά· χεῖρες παρειμέναι καὶ γόνατα παραλελυμένα, ἥτις οὐ μακαριεῖ τὸν ἄνδρα αὐτῆς.

24Of the woman came the beginning of sin, and through her we all die.Ἀπὸ γυναικὸς ἀρχὴ ἁμαρτίας, καὶ διʼ αὐτὴν ἀποθνήσκομεν πάντες.

25Give the water no passage; neither a wicked woman liberty to gad abroad.Μὴ δῷς ὕδατι διέξοδον, μηδὲ γυναικὶ πωνηρᾷ ἐξουσίαν.

26If she go not as you would have her, cut her off from your flesh, and give her a bill of divorce, and let her go.Εἰ μὴ πορεύεται κατὰ χεῖρά σου, ἀπὸ τῶν σαρκῶν σου ἀπότεμε αὐτήν.