Sirach 34
Old Testament · Brenton Septuagint with Greek parallel
Sirach chapter 34 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 34
1The hopes of a man void of understanding are vain and false: and dreams lift up fools.Ἀγρυπνία πλούτου ἐκτήκει σάρκας, καὶ ἡ μέριμνα αὐτοῦ ἀφιστᾷ ὕπνον.
2Whoso regards dreams is like him that catches at a shadow, and follows after the wind.Μέριμνα ἀγρυπνίας ἀπαιτήσει νυσταγμὸν, καὶ ἀῤῥώστημα βαρὺ ἐκνήψει ὕπνος.
3The vision of dreams is the resemblance of one thing to another, even as the likeness of a face to a face.Ἐκοπίασε πλούσιος ἐν συναγωγῇ χρημάτων, καὶ ἐν τῇ ἀναπαύσει ἐμπίπλαται τῶν τρυφημάτων αὐτοῦ·
4Of an unclean thing what can be cleansed? and from that thing which is false what truth can come?ἐκοπίασε πτωχὸς ἐν ἐλαττώσει βίου, καὶ ἐν τῇ ἀναπαύσει ἐπιδεὴς γίνεται.
5Divinations, and soothsayings, and dreams, are vain: and the heart fancies, as a woman's heart in travail.Ὁ ἀγαπῶν χρυσίον οὐ δικαιωθήσεται, καὶ ὁ διώκων διαφθορὰν, αὐτὸς πλησθήσεται.
6If they be not sent from the most High in your visitation, set not your heart upon them.Πολλοὶ ἐδόθησαν εἰς πτῶμα χάριν χρυσίου, καὶ ἐγενήθη ἀπώλεια αὐτῶν κατὰ πρόσωπον αὐτῶν.
7For dreams have deceived many, and they have failed that put their trust in them.Ξύλον προσκόμματός ἐστι τοῖς ἐνθυσιάζουσιν αὐτῷ, καὶ πᾶς ἄφρων ἁλώσεται ἐν αὐτῷ.
8The law shall be found perfect without lies: and wisdom is perfection to a faithful mouth.Μακάριος πλούσιος ὃς εὑρέθη ἄμωμος, καὶ ὃς ὀπίσω χρυσίου οὐκ ἐπορεύθη.
9A man that has travelled knows many things; and he that has much experience will declare wisdom.Τίς ἐστι καὶ μακαριοῦμεν αὐτόν; ἐποίησε γὰρ θαυμάσια ἐν λαῷ αὐτοῦ.
10He that has no experience knows little: but he that has travelled is full of prudence.Τίς ἐδοκιμάσθη ἐν αὐτῷ καὶ ἐτελειώθη, καὶ ἔστω εἰς καύχησιν; τίς ἐδύνατο παραβῆναι, καὶ οὐ παρέβη, καὶ ποιῆσαι κακὰ, καὶ οὐκ ἐποίησε;
11When I travelled, I saw many things; and I understand more than I can express.Στερεωθήσεται τὰ ἀγαθὰ αὐτοῦ, καὶ τὰς ἐλεημοσύνας αὐτοῦ ἐκδιηγήσεται ἐκκλησία.
12I was ofttimes in danger of death: yet I was delivered because of these things.Ἐπὶ τραπέζης μεγάλης ἐκάθισας; μὴ ἀνοίξῃς ἐπʼ αὐτῆς φάρυγγά σου· καὶ μὴ εἴπῃς, πολλά γε τὰ ἐπʼ αὐτῆς.
13The spirit of those that fear the Lord shall live; for their hope is in him that saves them.Μνήσθητι ὅτι κακὸν ὀφθαλμὸς πονηρὸς, πονηρότερον ὀφθαλμοῦ τί ἔκτισται; διὰ τοῦτο ἀπὸ παντὸς προσώπου δακρύει.
14Whoso fears the Lord shall not fear nor be afraid; for he is his hope.Οὗ ἐὰν ἐπιβλέψῃ, μὴ ἐκτείνῃς χεῖρα, καὶ μὴ συνθλίβου αὐτῷ ἐν τρυβλίῳ.
15Blessed is the soul of him that fears the Lord: to whom does he look? and who is his strength?Νόει τὰ τοῦ πλησίον ἐκ σεαυτοῦ, καὶ ἐπὶ παντὶ πράγματι διανοοῦ.
16For the eyes of the Lord are upon them that love him, he is their mighty protection and strong stay, a defence from heat, and a cover from the sun at noon, a preservation from stumbling, and an help from falling.Φάγε ὡς ἄνθρωπος τὰ παρακείμενά σοι, καὶ μὴ διαμασῷ, μὴ μισηθῇς.
17He raises up the soul, and lightens the eyes: he gives health, life, and blessing.Παῦσαι πρῶτος χάριν παιδείας, καὶ μὴ ἀπληστεύου, μήποτε προσκόψῃς.
18He that sacrifices of a thing wrongfully gotten, his offering is ridiculous; and the gifts of unjust men are not accepted.Καὶ εἰ ἀναμέσον πλειόνων ἐκάθισας, πρότερος αὐτῶν μὴ ἐκτείνῃς τὴν χεῖρά σου.
19The most High is not pleased with the offerings of the wicked; neither is he pacified for sin by the multitude of sacrifices.Ὡς ἱκανὸν ἀνθρώπῳ πεπαιδευμένῳ τὸ ὀλίγον, καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς κοίτης αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἀσθμαίνει.
20Whoso brings an offering of the goods of the poor does as one that kills the son before his father's eyes.Ὕπνος ὑγείας ἐπὶ ἐντέρῳ μετρίῳ, ἀνέστη πρωῒ, καὶ ἡ ψυχὴ αὐτοῦ μετʼ αὐτοῦ· πόνος ἀγρυπνίας καὶ χολέρας καὶ στρόφος μετὰ ἀνδρὸς ἀπλήστου.
21The bread of the needy is their life: he that defrauds him thereof is a man of blood.Καὶ εἰ ἐβιάσθης ἐν ἐδέσμασιν, ἀνάστα μεσοπωρῶν καὶ ἀναπαύσῃ.
22He that takes away his neighbor's living slays him; and he that defrauds the labourer of his hire is a bloodshedder.Ἄκουσόν μου τέκνον καὶ μὴ ἐξουδενώσῃς με, καὶ ἐπʼ ἐσχάτῳ εὑρήσεις τοὺς λόγους μου· ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς ἔργοις σου γίνου ἐντρεχὴς, καὶ πᾶν αρρώστημα οὐ μή σοι ἀπαντήσῃ.
23When one builds, and another pulls down, what profit have they then but labor?Λαμπρὸν ἐπʼ ἄρτοῖς εὐλογήσει χείλη, καὶ μαρτυρία τῆς καλλονῆς αὐτοῦ πιστή.
24When one prays, and another curses, whose voice will the Lord hear?Πονηρῷ ἐπʼ ἄρτῳ διαγογγύσει πόλις, καὶ ἡ μαρτυρία τῆς πονηρίας αὐτοῦ ἐκριβής.
25He that washes himself after the touching of a dead body, if he touch it again, what avails his washing?Ἐν οἴνῳ μὴ ἀνδρίζου, πολλοὺς γὰρ ἀπώλεσεν ὁ οἶνος·
26So is it with a man that fasts for his sins, and goes again, and does the same: who will hear his prayer? or what does his humbling profit him?Κάμινος δοκιμάζει στόμωμα ἐν βαφῇ, οὕτως οἶνος καρδίας ἐν μάχῃ ὑπερηφάνων.
27Ἐπίσον ζωῆς οἶνος ἀνθρώπῳ, ἐὰν πίνῃς αὐτὸν μέτρῳ αὐτοῦ· τίς ζωὴ ἐλασσουμένῳ οἴνῳ; καὶ αὐτὸς ἔκτισται εἰς εὐφροσύνην ἀνθρώποις.
28Ἀγαλλίαμα καρδίας καὶ εὐφροσύνη ψυχῆς οἶνος πινόμενος ἐν καιρῷ αὐτάρκης·
29πικρία ψυχῆς οἶνος πινόμενος πολὺς, ἐν ὀρεθισμῷ καὶ ἀντιπτώματι.
30Πληθύνει μέθη θυμὸν ἄφρονος εἰς πρόσκομμα, ἐλαττῶν ἰσχὺν καὶ προσποιῶν τραύματα.
31Ἐν συμποσίῳ οἴνου μὴ ἐλέγξῃς τὸν πλησίον, καὶ μὴ ἐξουδενώσῃς αὐτὸν ἐν εὐφροσύνῃ αὐτοῦ· λόγον ὀνειδισμοῦ μὴ εἴπῃς αὐτῷ, καὶ μὴ αὐτὸν θλίψῃς ἐν ἀπαιτήσει. ΠΕΡΙ ἩΓΟΥΜΕΝΩΝ.
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