Ecclesiasticus, 18

1. He that liveth for ever created all things together. God only shall be justified, and he remaineth an invincible king for ever.

1. ὁ ζῶν εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα ἔκτισεν τὰ πάντα κοινῇ

2. Who is able to declare his works?

2. κύριος μόνος δικαιωθήσεται

3. For who shall search out his glorious acts?

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4. And who shall shew forth the power of his majesty? or who shall be able to declare his mercy?

4. οὐθενὶ ἐξεποίησεν ἐξαγγεῖλαι τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ καὶ τίς ἐξιχνεύσει τὰ μεγαλεῖα αὐτοῦ

5. Nothing may be taken away, nor added, neither is it possible to find out the glorious works of God:

5. κράτος μεγαλωσύνης αὐτοῦ τίς ἐξαριθμήσεται καὶ τίς προσθήσει ἐκδιηγήσασθαι τὰ ἐλέη αὐτοῦ

6. When a man hath done, then shall he begin: and when he leaveth off, he shall be at a loss.

6. οὐκ ἔστιν ἐλαττῶσαι οὐδὲ προσθεῖναι καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ἐξιχνιάσαι τὰ θαυμάσια τοῦ κυρίου

7. What is man, and what is his grace? and what is his good, or what is his evil?

7. ὅταν συντελέσῃ ἄνθρωπος τότε ἄρχεται καὶ ὅταν παύσηται τότε ἀπορηθήσεται

8. The number of the days of men at the most are a hundred years: as a drop of water of the sea are they esteemed: and as a pebble of the sand, so are a few years compared to eternity.

8. τί ἄνθρωπος καὶ τί ἡ χρῆσις αὐτοῦ τί τὸ ἀγαθὸν αὐτοῦ καὶ τί τὸ κακὸν αὐτοῦ

9. Therefore God is patient in them, and poureth forth his mercy upon them.

9. ἀριθμὸς ἡμερῶν ἀνθρώπου πολλὰ ἔτη ἑκατόν

10. He hath seen the presumption of their heart that it is wicked, and hath known their end that it is evil.

10. ὡς σταγὼν ὕδατος ἀπὸ θαλάσσης καὶ ψῆφος ἄμμου οὕτως ὀλίγα ἔτη ἐν ἡμέρᾳ αἰῶνος

11. Therefore bath he filled up his mercy in their favour, and hath shewn them the way of justice.

11. διὰ τοῦτο ἐμακροθύμησεν κύριος ἐπ’ αὐτοῖς καὶ ἐξέχεεν ἐπ’ αὐτοὺς τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ

12. The compassion of man is toward his neighbour: but the mercy of God is upon all flesh.

12. εἶδεν καὶ ἐπέγνω τὴν καταστροφὴν αὐτῶν ὅτι πονηρά διὰ τοῦτο ἐπλήθυνεν τὸν ἐξιλασμὸν αὐτοῦ

13. He hath mercy, and teacheth, and correcteth, as a shepherd doth his hock.

13. ἔλεος ἀνθρώπου ἐπὶ τὸν πλησίον αὐτοῦ ἔλεος δὲ κυρίου ἐπὶ πᾶσαν σάρκα ἐλέγχων καὶ παιδεύων καὶ διδάσκων καὶ ἐπιστρέφων ὡς ποιμὴν τὸ ποίμνιον αὐτοῦ

14. He hath mercy on him that receiveth the discipline of mercy, and that maketh haste in his judgments.

14. τοὺς ἐκδεχομένους παιδείαν ἐλεᾷ καὶ τοὺς κατασπεύδοντας ἐπὶ τὰ κρίματα αὐτοῦ

15. My son, in thy good deeds, make no complaint, and when thou givest any thing, add not grief by an evil word.

15. τέκνον ἐν ἀγαθοῖς μὴ δῷς μῶμον καὶ ἐν πάσῃ δόσει λύπην λόγων

16. Shall not the dew assuage the heat? so also the good word is better than the gift.

16. οὐχὶ καύσωνα ἀναπαύσει δρόσος οὕτως κρείσσων λόγος ἢ δόσις

17. Lo, is not a word better than a gift? but both are with a justified man.

17. οὐκ ἰδοὺ λόγος ὑπὲρ δόμα ἀγαθόν καὶ ἀμφότερα παρὰ ἀνδρὶ κεχαριτωμένῳ

18. A fool will upbraid bitterly: and a gift of one ill taught consumeth the eyes.

18. μωρὸς ἀχαρίστως ὀνειδιεῖ καὶ δόσις βασκάνου ἐκτήκει ὀφθαλμούς

19. Before judgment prepare thee justice, and learn before thou speak.

19. πρὶν ἢ λαλῆσαι μάνθανε καὶ πρὸ ἀρρωστίας θεραπεύου

20. Before sickness take a medicine, and before judgment examine thyself, and thou shalt find mercy in the sight of God.

20. πρὸ κρίσεως ἐξέταζε σεαυτόν καὶ ἐν ὥρᾳ ἐπισκοπῆς εὑρήσεις ἐξιλασμόν

21. Humble thyself before thou art sick, and in the time of sickness shew thy conversation.

21. πρὶν ἀρρωστῆσαί σε ταπεινώθητι καὶ ἐν καιρῷ ἁμαρτημάτων δεῖξον ἐπιστροφήν

22. Let nothing hinder thee from praying always, and be not afraid to be justified even to death: for the reward of God continueth for ever.

22. μὴ ἐμποδισθῇς τοῦ ἀποδοῦναι εὐχὴν εὐκαίρως καὶ μὴ μείνῃς ἕως θανάτου δικαιωθῆναι

23. Before prayer prepare thy soul: and be not as a man that tempteth God.

23. πρὶν εὔξασθαι ἑτοίμασον σεαυτὸν καὶ μὴ γίνου ὡς ἄνθρωπος πειράζων τὸν κύριον

24. Remember the wrath that shall be at the last day, and the time of repaying when he shall turn away his face.

24. μνήσθητι θυμοῦ ἐν ἡμέραις τελευτῆς καὶ καιρὸν ἐκδικήσεως ἐν ἀποστροφῇ προσώπου

25. Remember poverty is the time of abundance, and the necessities of poverty in the day of riches.

25. μνήσθητι καιρὸν λιμοῦ ἐν καιρῷ πλησμονῆς πτωχείαν καὶ ἔνδειαν ἐν ἡμέραις πλούτου

26. From the morning until the evening the time shall be changed, and all these are swift in the eyes of God.

26. ἀπὸ πρωίθεν ἕως ἑσπέρας μεταβάλλει καιρός καὶ πάντα ἐστὶν ταχινὰ ἔναντι κυρίου

27. A wise man will fear in every thing, and in the days of sine will beware of sloth.

27. ἄνθρωπος σοφὸς ἐν παντὶ εὐλαβηθήσεται καὶ ἐν ἡμέραις ἁμαρτιῶν προσέξει ἀπὸ πλημμελείας

28. Every man of understanding knoweth wisdom, and will give praise to him that findeth her.

28. πᾶς συνετὸς ἔγνω σοφίαν καὶ τῷ εὑρόντι αὐτὴν δώσει ἐξομολόγησιν

29. They that were of good understanding in words, have also done wisely themselves: and have understood truth and justice, and have poured forth pro- verbs and judgments.

29. συνετοὶ ἐν λόγοις καὶ αὐτοὶ ἐσοφίσαντο καὶ ἀνώμβρησαν παροιμίας ἀκριβεῖς

30. Go not after thy lusts, but turn away from thy own will.

30. ὀπίσω τῶν ἐπιθυμιῶν σου μὴ πορεύου καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν ὀρέξεών σου κωλύου

31. If thou give to thy soul her desires, she will make thee a joy to thy enemies.

31. ἐὰν χορηγήσῃς τῇ ψυχῇ σου εὐδοκίαν ἐπιθυμίας ποιήσει σε ἐπίχαρμα τῶν ἐχθρῶν σου

32. Take no pleasure in riotous assemblies, be they ever so small: for their concertation is continual.

32. μὴ εὐφραίνου ἐπὶ πολλῇ τρυφῇ μὴ προσδεθῇς συμβολῇ αὐτῆς

33. Make not thyself poor by borrowing to contribute to feasts when thou hast nothing in thy purse : for thou shalt be an enemy to thy own life.

33. μὴ γίνου πτωχὸς συμβολοκοπῶν ἐκ δανεισμοῦ καὶ οὐδέν σοί ἐστιν ἐν μαρσιππίῳ