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Sirach 28

Old Testament · Brenton Septuagint with Greek parallel

Sirach chapter 28 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 28

1He that revenges shall find vengeance from the Lord, and he will surely keep his sins in remembrance.Ὁ ἐκδίκων παρὰ Κυρίου εὑρήσει ἐκδίκησιν, καὶ τὰς ἁμαρτίας αὐτοῦ διατηρῶν διατηρήσει.

2Forgive your neighbor the hurt that he has done to you, so shall your sins also be forgiven when you pray.Ἄφες ἀδίκημα τῷ πλησίον σου, καὶ τότε δεηθέντος σου αἱ ἁμαρτίαι σου λυθήσονται.

3One man bears hatred against another, and does he seek pardon from the Lord?Ἄνθρωπος ἀνθρώπῳ συντηρεῖ ὀργὴν, καὶ παρὰ Κυρίου ζητεῖ ἴασιν.

4He shows no mercy to a man, which is like himself: and does he ask forgiveness of his own sins?Ἐπʼ ἄνθρωπον ὅμοιον αὐτῷ οὐκ ἔχει ἔλεος, καὶ περὶ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν αὐτοῦ δεῖται.

5If he that is but flesh nourish hatred, who will entreat for pardon of his sins?Αὐτὸς σὰρξ ὢν διατηρεῖ μῆνιν, τίς ἐξιλάσεται τὰς ἁμαρτίας αὐτοῦ;

6Remember your end, and let enmity cease; remember corruption and death, and abide in the commandments.Μνήσθητι τὰ ἔσχατα, καὶ παῦσαι ἔχθραίνων· καταφθορὰν καὶ θάνατον, καὶ ἔμμενε ἐντολαῖς.

7Remember the commandments, and bear no malice to your neighbor: remember the covenant of the Highest, and wink at ignorance.Μνήσθητι ἐντολῶν, καὶ μὴ μηνίσῃς τῷ πλησίον· καὶ διαθήκην ὑψίστου, καὶ πάριδε ἄγνοιαν.

8Abstain from strife, and you shall diminish your sins: for a furious man will kindle strife,Ἀπόσχου ἀπὸ μάχης, καὶ ἐλαττώσεις ἁμαρτίας· ἄνθρωπος γὰρ θυμώδης ἐκκαύσει μάχην.

9A sinful man disquiets friends, and makes debate among them that be at peace.Καὶ ἀνὴρ ἁμαρτωλὸς ταράξει φίλους, καὶ ἀναμέσον εἰρηνευόντων ἐμβάλλει διαβολήν.

10As the matter of the fire is, so it burns: and as a man's strength is, so is his wrath; and according to his riches his anger rises; and the stronger they are which contend, the more they will be inflamed.Κατὰ τὴν ὕλην πυρὸς οὕτως ἐκκαυθήσεται, κατὰ τὴν ἰσχὺν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ὁ θυμὸς αὐτοῦ ἔσται, καὶ κατὰ τὸν πλοῦτον ἀνυψώσει ὀργὴν αὐτοῦ, καὶ κατὰ τὴν στερέωσιν τῆς μάχης ἐκκαυθήσεται.

11An hasty contention kindles a fire: and an hasty fighting sheds blood.Ἔρις κατασπευδομένη ἐκκαίει πῦρ, καὶ μάχη κατασπεύδουσα ἐκχέει αἷμα.

12If you blow the spark, it shall burn: if you spit upon it, it shall be quenched: and both these come out of your mouth.Ἐὰν φυσήσῃς σπινθῆρα ἐκκαήσεται, καὶ ἐὰν πτύσῃς ἐπʼ αὐτὸν σβεσθήσεται· καὶ ἀμφότερα ἐκ τοῦ στόματός σου ἐκπορεύεται.

13Curse the whisperer and double-tongued: for such have destroyed many that were at peace.Ψίθυρον καὶ δίγλωσσον καταρᾶσθαι, πολλοὺς γὰρ εἰρηνεύοντας ἀπώλεσαν.

14A backbiting tongue has disquieted many, and driven them from nation to nation: strong cities has it pulled down, and overthrown the houses of great men.Γλῶσσα τρίτη πολλοὺς ἐσάλευσε, καὶ διέστησεν αὐτοὺς ἀπὸ ἔθνους εἰς ἔθνος, καὶ πόλεις ὀχυρὰς καθεῖλε, καὶ οἰκίας μεγιστάνων κατέστρεψε.

15A backbiting tongue has cast out virtuous women, and deprived them of their labors.Γλῶσσα τρίτη γυναῖκας ἀνδρείας ἐξέβαλε, καὶ ἐστέρησεν αὐτὰς τῶν πόνων αὐτῶν.

16Whoso hearkens to it shall never find rest, and never dwell quietly.Ὁ προσέχων αὐτῇ οὐ μὴ εὕρῃ ἀνάπαυσιν, οὐδὲ κατασκηνώσει μεθʼ ἡσυχίας.

17The stroke of the whip makes marks in the flesh: but the stroke of the tongue breaks the bones.Πληγὴ μάστιγος ποιεῖ μώλωπας, πληγὴ δὲ γλώσσης συγκλάσει ὀστᾶ.

18Many have fallen by the edge of the sword: but not so many as have fallen by the tongue.Πολλοὶ ἔπεσαν ἐν στόματι μαχαίρας, καὶ οὐχ ὡς οἱ πεπτωκότες διὰ γλῶσσαν.

19Well is he that is defended through the venom thereof; who has not drawn the yoke thereof, nor has been bound in her bands.Μακάριος ὁ σκεπασθεὶς ἀπʼ αὐτῆς, ὃς οὐ διῆλθεν ἐν τῷ θυμῷ αὐτῆς, ὃς οὐχ εἵλκυσε τὸν ζυγὸν αὐτῆς, καὶ ἐν τοῖς δεσμοῖς αὐτῆς οὐκ ἐδέθη.

20For the yoke thereof is a yoke of iron, and the bands thereof are bands of brass.Ὁ γὰρ ζυγὸς αὐτῆς ζυγὸς σιδηροῦς, καὶ οἱ δεσμοὶ αὐτῆς δεσμοὶ χάλκεοι.

21The death thereof is an evil death, the grave were better than it.Θάνατος πονηρὸς ὁ θάνατος αὐτῆς, καὶ λυσιτελὴς μᾶλλον ὁ ᾅδης αὐτῆς.

22It shall not have rule over them that fear God, neither shall they be burned with the flame thereof.Οὐ μὴ κρατήσῃ εὐσεβῶν, καὶ ἐν τῇ φλογὶ αὐτῆς οὐ καήσονται.

23Such as forsake the Lord shall fall into it; and it shall burn in them, and not be quenched; it shall be sent upon them as a lion, and devour them as a leopard.Οἱ καταλείποντες Κύριον ἐμπεσοῦνται εἰς αὐτὴν, καὶ ἐν αὐτοῖς ἐκκαήσεται, καὶ οὐ μὴ σβεσθῇ· ἐξαποσταλήσεται ἐπʼ αὐτοῖς ὡς λέων, καὶ ὡς πάρδαλις λυμανεῖται αὐτούς.

24Look that you hedge your possession about with thorns, and bind up your silver and gold,Ἴδε περίφραξον τὸ κτῆμά σου ἀκάνθαις, τὸ ἀργύριόν σου καὶ τὸ χρυσίον κατάδησον·

25And weigh your words in a balance, and make a door and bar for your mouth.καὶ τοῖς λόγοις σου ποίησον ζυγὸν καὶ σταθμὸν, καὶ τῷ στόματί σου ποίησον θύραν καὶ μοχλόν.

26Beware you slide not by it, lest you fall before him that lies in wait.Πρόσεχε μήπως ὀλισθήσῃς ἐν αὐτῇ, μὴ πέσῃς κατέναντι ἐνεδρεύοντος.

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