Ecclesiasticus, 31

1. Watching for riches consumeth the flesh, and the thought thereof driveth away sleep.

1. ἀγρυπνία πλούτου ἐκτήκει σάρκας καὶ ἡ μέριμνα αὐτοῦ ἀφιστᾷ ὕπνον

2. The thinking beforehand turneth away the understanding, and a grievous sickness maketh the soul sober.

2. μέριμνα ἀγρυπνίας ἀποστήσει νυσταγμόν καὶ ἀρρώστημα βαρὺ ἐκνήψει ὕπνον

3. The rich man hath laboured in gathering riches together, and when he resteth he shall be filled with his goods.

3. ἐκοπίασεν πλούσιος ἐν συναγωγῇ χρημάτων καὶ ἐν τῇ ἀναπαύσει ἐμπίμπλαται τῶν τρυφημάτων αὐτοῦ

4. The poor man hath laboured in his low way of life, and in the end he is still poor.

4. ἐκοπίασεν πτωχὸς ἐν ἐλαττώσει βίου καὶ ἐν τῇ ἀναπαύσει ἐπιδεὴς γίνεται

5. He that loveth gold, shall not be justified: and he that followeth after corruption, shall be filled with it.

5. ὁ ἀγαπῶν χρυσίον οὐ δικαιωθήσεται καὶ ὁ διώκων διάφορα ἐν αὐτοῖς πλανηθήσεται

6. Many have been brought to fall for gold, and the beauty thereof hath been their ruin.

6. πολλοὶ ἐδόθησαν εἰς πτῶμα χάριν χρυσίου καὶ ἐγενήθη ἡ ἀπώλεια αὐτῶν κατὰ πρόσωπον αὐτῶν

7. Gold is a stumblingblock to them that sacrifice to it: woe to them that eagerly follow after it, and every fool shall perish by it.

7. ξύλον προσκόμματός ἐστιν τοῖς ἐνθουσιάζουσιν αὐτῷ καὶ πᾶς ἄφρων ἁλώσεται ἐν αὐτῷ

8. Blessed is the rich man that is found without blemish: and that hath not gone after gold, nor put his trust in money nor in treasures.

8. μακάριος πλούσιος ὃς εὑρέθη ἄμωμος καὶ ὃς ὀπίσω χρυσίου οὐκ ἐπορεύθη

9. Who is he, and we will praise him? for he hath done wonderful things in his life.

9. τίς ἐστιν καὶ μακαριοῦμεν αὐτόν ἐποίησεν γὰρ θαυμάσια ἐν λαῷ αὐτοῦ

10. Who hath been tried thereby, and made perfect, he shall have glory everlasting. He that could have transgressed, and hath not transgressed: and could do evil things, and hath not done them:

10. τίς ἐδοκιμάσθη ἐν αὐτῷ καὶ ἐτελειώθη καὶ ἔσται αὐτῷ εἰς καύχησιν τίς ἐδύνατο παραβῆναι καὶ οὐ παρέβη καὶ ποιῆσαι κακὰ καὶ οὐκ ἐποίησεν

11. Therefore are his goods established in the Lord, and all the church of the saints shall declare his alms.

11. στερεωθήσεται τὰ ἀγαθὰ αὐτοῦ καὶ τὰς ἐλεημοσύνας αὐτοῦ ἐκδιηγήσεται ἐκκλησία

12. Art thou set at a great table? be not the first to open thy mouth upon it.

12. ἐπὶ τραπέζης μεγάλης ἐκάθισας μὴ ἀνοίξῃς ἐπ’ αὐτῆς φάρυγγά σου καὶ μὴ εἴπῃς πολλά γε τὰ ἐπ’ αὐτῆς

13. Say not: There are many things which are upon it.

13. μνήσθητι ὅτι κακὸν ὀφθαλμὸς πονηρός πονηρότερον ὀφθαλμοῦ τί ἔκτισται διὰ τοῦτο ἀπὸ παντὸς προσώπου δακρύει

14. Remember that a wicked eye is evil.

14. οὗ ἐὰν ἐπιβλέψῃ μὴ ἐκτείνῃς χεῖρα καὶ μὴ συνθλίβου αὐτῷ ἐν τρυβλίῳ

15. What is created more wicked than an eye? therefore shall it weep over all the face when it shall see.

15. νόει τὰ τοῦ πλησίον ἐκ σεαυτοῦ καὶ ἐπὶ παντὶ πράγματι διανοοῦ

16. Stretch not out thy hand first, lest being disgraced with envy thou be put to confusion.

16. φάγε ὡς ἄνθρωπος τὰ παρακείμενά σοι καὶ μὴ διαμασῶ μὴ μισηθῇς

17. Be not hasty in a feast.

17. παῦσαι πρῶτος χάριν παιδείας καὶ μὴ ἀπληστεύου μήποτε προσκόψῃς

18. Judge of the disposition of thy neighbour by thyself.

18. καὶ εἰ ἀνὰ μέσον πλειόνων ἐκάθισας πρότερος αὐτῶν μὴ ἐκτείνῃς τὴν χεῖρά σου

19. Use as a frugal man the things that are set before thee: lest if thou eatest much, thou be hated.

19. ὡς ἱκανὸν ἀνθρώπῳ πεπαιδευμένῳ τὸ ὀλίγον καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς κοίτης αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἀσθμαίνει

20. Leave off first, for manners' sake: and exceed not, lest thou offend.

20. ὕπνος ὑγιείας ἐπὶ ἐντέρῳ μετρίῳ ἀνέστη πρωί καὶ ἡ ψυχὴ αὐτοῦ μετ’ αὐτοῦ πόνος ἀγρυπνίας καὶ χολέρας καὶ στρόφος μετὰ ἀνδρὸς ἀπλήστου

21. 21And if thou sittest among many, reach not thy hand out first of all: and be not the first to ask for drink.

21. καὶ εἰ ἐβιάσθης ἐν ἐδέσμασιν ἀνάστα ἔμεσον πόρρω καὶ ἀναπαύσῃ

22. How sufficient is a little wine for a man well taught, and in sleeping thou shalt not be uneasy with it, and thou shalt feel no pain.

22. ἄκουσόν μου τέκνον καὶ μὴ ἐξουδενήσῃς με καὶ ἐπ’ ἐσχάτων εὑρήσεις τοὺς λόγους μου ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς ἔργοις σου γίνου ἐντρεχής καὶ πᾶν ἀρρώστημα οὐ μή σοι ἀπαντήσῃ

23. Watching, and choler, and gripes, are with an intemperate man:

23. λαμπρὸν ἐπ’ ἄρτοις εὐλογήσει χείλη καὶ ἡ μαρτυρία τῆς καλλονῆς αὐτοῦ πιστή

24. Sound and wholesome sleep with a moderate man: he shall sleep till morning, and his soul shall be delighted with him.

24. πονηρῷ ἐπ’ ἄρτῳ διαγογγύσει πόλις καὶ ἡ μαρτυρία τῆς πονηρίας αὐτοῦ ἀκριβής

25. And if thou hast been forced to eat much, arise, go out, and vomit: and it shall refresh thee, and thou shalt not bring sickness upon thy body.

25. ἐν οἴνῳ μὴ ἀνδρίζου πολλοὺς γὰρ ἀπώλεσεν ὁ οἶνος

26. Hear me, my son, and despise me not: and in the end thou shalt find my words.

26. κάμινος δοκιμάζει στόμωμα ἐν βαφῇ οὕτως οἶνος καρδίας ἐν μάχῃ ὑπερηφάνων

27. In all thy works be quick, and no infirmity shall come to thee.

27. ἔφισον ζωῆς οἶνος ἀνθρώποις ἐὰν πίνῃς αὐτὸν ἐν μέτρῳ αὐτοῦ τίς ζωὴ ἐλασσουμένῳ οἴνῳ καὶ αὐτὸς ἔκτισται εἰς εὐφροσύνην ἀνθρώποις

28. The lips of many shall bless him that is liberal of his bread, and the testimony of his truth is faithful.

28. ἀγαλλίαμα καρδίας καὶ εὐφροσύνη ψυχῆς οἶνος πινόμενος ἐν καιρῷ αὐτάρκης

29. Against him that is niggardly of his bread, the city will murmur, and the testimony of his niggardliness is true.

29. πικρία ψυχῆς οἶνος πινόμενος πολὺς ἐν ἐρεθισμῷ καὶ ἀντιπτώματι

30. Challenge not them that love wine: for wine hath destroyed very many.

30. πληθύνει μέθη θυμὸν ἄφρονος εἰς πρόσκομμα ἐλαττῶν ἰσχὺν καὶ προσποιῶν τραύματα

31. Fire trieth hard iron: so wine drunk to excess shall rebuke the hearts of the proud.

31. ἐν συμποσίῳ οἴνου μὴ ἐλέγξῃς τὸν πλησίον καὶ μὴ ἐξουθενήσῃς αὐτὸν ἐν εὐφροσύνῃ αὐτοῦ λόγον ὀνειδισμοῦ μὴ εἴπῃς αὐτῷ καὶ μὴ αὐτὸν θλίψῃς ἐν ἀπαιτήσει

32. Wine taken with sobriety is equal lire to men: if thou drink it moderately, thou shalt be sober.

32.

33. What is his life, who is diminished with wine?

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34. What taketh away life? death.

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35. Wine was created from the beginning to make men joyful, and not to make them drunk.

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36. Wine drunken with moderation is the joy of the soul and the heart.

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37. Sober drinking is health to soul and body.

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38. Wine drunken with excess raiseth quarrels; and wrath, and many ruins.

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39. Wine drunken with excess is bitterness of the soul.

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40. The heat of drunkenness is the stumblingblock of the fool, lessening strength and causing wounds.

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41. Rebuke not thy neighbour in a banquet of wine: and despise him not in hip mirth.

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42. Speak not to him words of reproach: and press him not in demanding again.

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