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Sirach 27

Old Testament · Brenton Septuagint with Greek parallel

Sirach chapter 27 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 27

1Many have sinned for a small matter; and he that seeks for abundance will turn his eyes away.Χαρὶν ἀδιαφόρου πολλοὶ ἥμαρτον, καὶ ὁ ζητῶν πληθύναι ἀποστρέψει ὀφθαλμόν.

2As a nail sticks fast between the joinings of the stones; so does sin stick close between buying and selling.Ἀναμέσον ἁρμῶν λίθων παγήσεται πάσσαλος, καὶ ἀναμέσον πράσεως καὶ ἀγορασμοῦ συντριβήσεται ἁμαρτία.

3Unless a man hold himself diligently in the fear of the Lord, his house shall soon be overthrown.Ἐὰν μὴ ἐν φόβῳ Κυρίου κρατήσῃ κατὰ σπουδὴν, ἐν τάχει καταστραφήσεται αὐτοῦ ὁ οἶκος.

4As when one sifts with a sieve, the refuse remains; so the filth of man in his talk.Ἐν σείσματι κοσκίνου διαμένει κοπρία, οὕτως σκύβαλα ἀνθρώπου ἐν λογισμῷ αὐτοῦ.

5The furnace proves the potter's vessels; so the trial of man is in his reasoning.Σκεύη κεραμέως δοκιμάζει κάμινος, καὶ πειρασμὸς ἀνθρώπου ἐν διαλογισμῷ αὐτοῦ.

6The fruit declares if the tree have been dressed; so is the utterance of a conceit in the heart of man.Γεώργιον ξύλου ἐκφαίνει ὁ καρπὸς αὐτοῦ, οὕτως λόγος ἐνθυμήματος καρδίας ἀνθρώπου.

7Praise no man before you hear him speak; for this is the trial of men.Πρὸ λογισμοῦ μὴ ἐπαινέσῃς ἄνδρα, οὗτος γὰρ πειρασμὸς ἀνθρώπων.

8If you follow righteousness, you shall obtain her, and put her on, as a glorious long robe.Ἐὰν διώκῃς τὸ δίκαιον, καταλήψῃ, καὶ ἐνδύσῃ αὐτὸ ὡς ποδήρη δόξης.

9The birds will resort to their like; so will truth return to them that practise in her.Πετεινὰ πρὸς τὰ ὅμοια αὐτοῖς καταλύσει, καὶ ἀλήθεια πρὸς τοὺς ἐργαζομένους αὐτὴν ἐπανήξει.

10As the lion lies in wait for the prey; so sin for them that work iniquity.Λέων θήραν ἐνεδρεύει, οὕτως ἁμαρτίαι ἐργαζομένους ἄδικα.

11The discourse of a godly man is always with wisdom; but a fool changes as the moon.Διήγησις εὐσεβοῦς διαπαντὸς σοφία, ὁ δὲ ἄφρων ὡς σελήνη ἀλλοιοῦται.

12If you be among the indiscreet, observe the time; but be continually among men of understanding.Εἰς μέσον ἀσυνέτων συντήρησον καιρὸν, εἰς μέσον δὲ διανοουμένων ἐνδελέχιζε.

13The discourse of fools is irksome, and their sport is the wantonness of sin.Διήγησις μωρῶν προσόχθισμα, καὶ ὁ γέλως αὐτῶν ἐν σπατάλῃ ἁμαρτίας.

14The talk of him that swears much makes the hair stand upright; and their brawls make one stop his ears.Λαλιὰ πολυόρκου ὀρθώσει τρίχας, καὶ ἡ μάχη αὐτῶν ἐμφραγμὸς ὠτίων.

15The strife of the proud is blood shedding, and their revilings are grievous to the ear.Ἔκχυσις αἵματος μάχη ὑπερηφάνων, καὶ ἡ διαλοιδόρησις αὐτῶν ἀκοὴ μοχθηρά.

16Whoso discovers secrets loses his credit; and shall never find friend to his mind.Ὁ ἀποκαλύπτων μυστήρια ἀπώλεσε πίστιν, καὶ οὐ μὴ εὕρῃ φίλον πρὸς τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ.

17Love your friend, and be faithful to him: but if you betray his secrets, follow no more after him.Στέρξον φίλον, καὶ πιστώθητι μετʼ αὐτοῦ· ἐὰν δὲ ἀποκαλύψῃς τὰ μυστήρια αὐτοῦ, οὐ μὴ καταδιώξῃς ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ.

18For as a man has destroyed his enemy; so have you lost the love of your neighbor.Καθὼς γὰρ ἀπώλεσεν ἄνθρωπος τὸν ἐχθρὸν αὐτοῦ, οὕτως ἀπώλεσας τὴν φιλίαν τοῦ πλησίου·

19As one that lets a bird go out of his hand, so have you let your neighbor go, and shall not get him againκαὶ ὡς πετεινὸν ἐκ χειρός σου ἀπελύσας, οὕτως ἀφῆκας τὸν πλησίον, καὶ οὐ θηρεύσεις αὐτόν.

20Follow after him no more, for he is too far off; he is as a roe escaped out of the snare.Μὴ αὐτὸν διώξῃς, ὅτι μακρὰν ἀπέστῃ, καὶ ἐξέφυγεν ὡς δορκὰς ἐκ παγίδος.

21As for a wound, it may be bound up; and after reviling there may be reconcilement: but he that betrays secrets is without hope.Ὅτι θραῦσμά ἐστι καταδῆσαι, καὶ λοιδορίας ἐστὶ διαλλαγή· ὁ δὲ ἀποκαλύψας μυστήρια ἀπήλπισε.

22He that winks with the eyes works evil: and he that knows him will depart from him.Διανεύων ὀφθαλμῷ τεκταίνει κακὰ, καὶ οὐδεὶς αὑτὸν ἀποστήσει ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ.

23When you are present, he will speak sweetly, and will admire your words: but at the last he will writhe his mouth, and slander your sayings.Ἀπέναντι τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν σου γλυκανεῖ στόμα σου, καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν λόγων σου ἐκθαυμάσει, ὕστερον δὲ διαστρέψει τὸ στόμα αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐν τοῖς λόγοις σου δώσει σκάνδαλον.

24I have hated many things, but nothing like him; for the Lord will hate him.Πολλὰ ἐμίσησα καὶ οὐχ ὡμοίωσα αὐτῷ, καὶ ὁ Κύριος μισήσει αὐτόν.

25Whoso casts a stone on high casts it on his own head; and a deceitful stroke shall make wounds.Ὁ βάλλων λίθον εἰς ὕψος ἐπὶ κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ βάλλει, καὶ πληγὴ δολία διελεῖ τραύματα.

26Whoso digs a pit shall fall therein: and he that sets a trap shall be taken therein.Ὁ ὀρύσσων βόθρον εἰς αὐτὸν ἐμπεσεῖται, καὶ ὁ ἱστῶν παγίδα ἐν αὐτῇ ἁλώσεται.

27He that works mischief, it shall fall upon him, and he shall not know whence it comes.Ὁ ποιῶν πονηρὰ εἰς αὐτὸν κυλισθήσεται, καὶ οὐ μὴ ἐπιγνῷ πόθεν ἥκει αὐτῷ.

28Mockery and reproach are from the proud; but vengeance, as a lion, shall lie in wait for them.Ἐμπαιγμὸς καὶ ὀνειδισμὸς ὑπερηφάνων, καὶ ἡ ἐκδίκησις ὡς λέων ἐνεδρεύσει αὐτόν.

29They that rejoice at the fall of the righteous shall be taken in the snare; and anguish shall consume them before they die.Παγίδι ἁλώσονται οἱ εὐφραινόμενοι πτώσει εὐσεβῶν, καὶ ὀδύνη καταναλώσει αὐτοὺς πρὸ τοῦ θανάτου αὐτῶν.

30Malice and wrath, even these are abominations; and the sinful man shall have them both.Μῆνις καὶ ὀργὴ, καὶ ταῦτά ἐστι βδελύγματα, καὶ ἀνὴρ ἁμαρτωλὸς ἐγκρατὴς ἔσται αὐτῶν.

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