Sirach 41
Old Testament · Brenton Septuagint with Greek parallel
Sirach chapter 41 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 41
1O death, how bitter is the remembrance of you to a man that lives at rest in his possessions, to the man that has nothing to vex him, and that has prosperity in all things: yes, to him that is yet able to receive meat!Ὦ θάνατε, ὡς πικρόν σου τὸ μνημόσυνόν ἐστιν ἀνθρώπῳ εἰρηνεύοντι ἐν τοῖς ὑπάρχουσιν αὐτοῦ, ἀνδρὶ ἀπερισπάστῳ, καὶ εὐοδουμένῳ ἐν πᾶσι, καὶ ἔτι ἰσχύοντι ἐπιδέξασθαι τροφήν;
2O death, acceptable is your sentence to the needy, and to him whose strength fails, that is now in the last age, and is vexed with all things, and to him that despairs, and has lost patience!Ὦ θάνατε, καλόν σου τὸ κρίμα ἐστὶν ἀνθρώπῳ ἐπιδεομένῳ καὶ ἐλασσουμένῳ ἰσχύϊ, ἐσχατογήρῳ, καὶ περισπωμένῳ περὶ πάντων, καὶ ἀπειθοῦντι, καὶ ἀπολωλεκότι ὑπομονήν.
3Fear not the sentence of death, remember them that have been before you, and that come after; for this is the sentence of the Lord over all flesh.Μὴ εὐλαβοῦ κρίμα θανάτου· μνήσθητι προτέρων σου καὶ ἐσχάτων, τοῦτο τὸ κρίμα παρὰ Κυρίου πάσῃ σαρκί.
4And why are you against the pleasure of the most High? there is no inquisition in the grave, whether you have lived ten, or one hundred, or a thousand years.Καὶ τί ἀπαναίνῃ ἐν εὐδοκίᾳ ὑψίστου; εἴτε δέκα, εἴτε ἑκατὸν, εἴτε χίλια ἔτη· οὐκ ἔστιν ἐν ᾅδου ἐλεγμὸς ζωῆς.
5The children of sinners are abominable children, and they that are conversant in the dwelling of the ungodly.Τέκνα βδελυκτὰ γίνεται τέκνα ἁμαρτωλῶν, καὶ συναναστρεφόμενα παροικίαις ἀσεβῶν.
6The inheritance of sinners' children shall perish, and their posterity shall have a perpetual reproach.Τέκνων ἁμαρτωλῶν ἀπολεῖται κληρονομία, καὶ μετὰ τοῦ σπέρματος αὐτῶν ἐνδελεχιεῖ ὄνειδος.
7The children will complain of an ungodly father, because they shall be reproached for his sake.Πατρὶ ἀσεβεῖ μέμψεται τέκνα, ὅτι διʼ αὐτὸν ὀνειδισθήσονται.
8Woe be to you, ungodly men, which have forsaken the law of the most high God! for if you increase, it shall be to your destruction:Οὐαὶ ὑμῖν ἄνδρες ἀσεβεῖς, οἵτινες ἐγκατελίπετε νόμον Θεοῦ ὑψίστου.
9And if you be born, you shall be born to a curse: and if you die, a curse shall be your portion.Καὶ ἐὰν γεννηθῆτε, εἰς κατάραν γεννηθήσεσθε· καὶ ἐὰν ἀποθάνητε, εἰς κατάραν μερισθήσεσθε.
10All that are of the earth shall turn to earth again: so the ungodly shall go from a curse to destruction.Πάντα ὅσα ἐκ γῆς, εἰς γῆν ἀπελεύσεται· οὕτως ἀσεβεῖς ἀπὸ κατάρας εἰς ἀπώλείαν.
11The mourning of men is about their bodies: but an ill name of sinners shall be blotted out.Πένθος ἀνθρώπων ἐν σώμασιν αὐτῶν, ὄνομα δὲ ἁμαρτωλῶν οὐκ ἀγαθὸν, ἐξαλειφθήσεται.
12Have regard to your name; for that shall continue with you above a thousand great treasures of gold.Φρόντισον περὶ ὀνόματος, αὐτὸ γάρ σοι διαμενεῖ, ἢ χίλιοι μεγάλοι θησαυροὶ χρυσίου.
13A good life has but few days: but a good name endures for ever.Ἀγαθῆς ζωῆς ἀριθμὸς ἡμερῶν, καὶ ἀγαθὸν ὄνομα εἰς αἰῶνα διαμένει.
14My children, keep discipline in peace: for wisdom that is hid, and a treasure that is not seen, what profit is in them both?Παιδείαν ἐν εἰρήνῃ συντηρήσατε τέκνα, σοφία δὲ κεκρυμμένη καὶ θησαυρὸς ἀφανὴς, τίς ὠφέλεια ἐν ἀμφοτέροις;
15A man that hides his foolishness is better than a man that hides his wisdom.Κρείσσων ἄνθρωπος ἀποκρύπτων τὴν μωρίαν αὐτοῦ, ἢ ἄνθρωπος ἀποκρύπτων τὴν σοφίαν αὐτοῦ.
16Therefore be shamefaced according to my word: for it is not good to retain all shamefacedness; neither is it altogether approved in every thing.Τοιγαροῦν ἐντράπητε ἐπὶ τῷ ῥήματί μου· οὐ γάρ ἐστι πᾶσαν αἰσχύνην διαφυλάξαι καλὸν, καὶ οὐ πάντα πᾶσιν ἐν πίστει εὐδοκιμεῖται.
17Be ashamed of whoredom before father and mother: and of a lie before a prince and a mighty man;Αἰσχύνεσθε ἀπὸ πατρὸς καὶ μητρὸς περὶ πορνείας, καὶ ἀπὸ ἡγουμένου καὶ δυνάστου περὶ ψεύδους·
18Of an offense before a judge and ruler; of iniquity before a congregation and people; of unjust dealing before your partner and friend;ἀπὸ κριτοῦ καὶ ἄρχοντος περὶ πλημμελείας, ἀπὸ συναγωγῆς καὶ λαοῦ περὶ ἀνομίας· ἀπὸ κοινωνοῦ καὶ φίλου περὶ ἀδικίας, καὶ ἀπὸ τόπου οὗ παροικεῖς περὶ κλοπῆς·
19And of theft in regard of the place where you sojourn, and in regard of the truth of God and his covenant; and to lean with your elbow upon the meat; and of scorning to give and take;καὶ ἀπὸ ἀληθείας Θεοῦ καὶ διαθήκης, καὶ ἀπὸ πήξεως ἀγκῶνος ἐπʼ ἄρτοις· ἀπὸ σκορακισμοῦ λήψεως καὶ δόσεως,
20And of silence before them that salute you; and to look upon an harlot;καὶ ἀπὸ ἀσπαζομένων περὶ σιωπῆς· ἀπὸ ὁράσεως γυναικὸς ἑταίρας,
21And to turn away your face from your kinsman; or to take away a portion or a gift; or to gaze upon another man's wife.καὶ ἀπὸ ἀποστροφῆς προσώπου συγγενοῦς· ἀπὸ ἀφαιρέσεως μερίδος καὶ δόσεως, καὶ ἀπὸ κατανοήσεως γυναικὸς ὑπάνδρου,
22Or to be overbusy with his maid, and come not near her bed; or of upbraiding speeches before friends; and after you have given, upbraid not;ἀπὸ περιεργείας παιδίσκης αὐτοῦ, καὶ μὴ ἐπιστῇς ἐπὶ τὴν κοίτην αὐτῆς, ἀπὸ φίλων περὶ λόγων ὀνειδισμοῦ, καὶ μετὰ τὸ δοῦναι, μὴ ὀνείδιζε.
23Ἀπὸ δευτερώσεως καὶ λόγου ἀκοῆς, καὶ ἀπὸ ἀποκαλύψεων λόγων κρυφίων·
24καὶ ἔσῃ αἰσχυντηρὸς ἀληθινῶς, καὶ εὑρίσκων χάριν ἔναντι παντὸς ἀνθρώπου·
Open Sirach 41 in the interactive reader Switch translations, hear the chapter read aloud, tap any verse for its patristic commentary, and study the Greek word by word.