Ecclesiasticus, 5

1. Set not thy heart upon unjust possessions, and say not: I have enough to live on: for it shall be of no service in the time of vengeance and darkness.

1. μὴ ἔπεχε ἐπὶ τοῖς χρήμασίν σου καὶ μὴ εἴπῃς αὐτάρκη μοί ἐστιν

2. Follow not in thy strength the desires of thy heart:

2. μὴ ἐξακολούθει τῇ ψυχῇ σου καὶ τῇ ἰσχύι σου πορεύεσθαι ἐν ἐπιθυμίαις καρδίας σου

3. And say not: How mighty am I? and who shall bring me under for my deeds? for God will surely take revenge.

3. καὶ μὴ εἴπῃς τίς με δυναστεύσει ὁ γὰρ κύριος ἐκδικῶν ἐκδικήσει

4. Say not: I have sinned, and whet harm hath befallen me? for the most High is a patient rewarder.

4. μὴ εἴπῃς ἥμαρτον καὶ τί μοι ἐγένετο ὁ γὰρ κύριός ἐστιν μακρόθυμος

5. Be not without fear about sin forgiven, and add not sin upon sin:

5. περὶ ἐξιλασμοῦ μὴ ἄφοβος γίνου προσθεῖναι ἁμαρτίαν ἐφ’ ἁμαρτίαις

6. And say not: The mercy of the Lord is great, he will have mercy on the multitude of my sins.

6. καὶ μὴ εἴπῃς ὁ οἰκτιρμὸς αὐτοῦ πολύς τὸ πλῆθος τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν μου ἐξιλάσεται ἔλεος γὰρ καὶ ὀργὴ παρ’ αὐτῷ καὶ ἐπὶ ἁμαρτωλοὺς καταπαύσει ὁ θυμὸς αὐτοῦ

7. For mercy and wrath quickly come from him, and his wrath looketh upon sinners.

7. μὴ ἀνάμενε ἐπιστρέψαι πρὸς κύριον καὶ μὴ ὑπερβάλλου ἡμέραν ἐξ ἡμέρας ἐξάπινα γὰρ ἐξελεύσεται ὀργὴ κυρίου καὶ ἐν καιρῷ ἐκδικήσεως ἐξολῇ

8. Delay not to be converted to the Lord, and defer it not from day to day.

8. μὴ ἔπεχε ἐπὶ χρήμασιν ἀδίκοις οὐδὲν γὰρ ὠφελήσει σε ἐν ἡμέρᾳ ἐπαγωγῆς

9. For his wrath shall come on a sudden, and in the time of vengeance he will destroy thee.

9. μὴ λίκμα ἐν παντὶ ἀνέμῳ καὶ μὴ πορεύου ἐν πάσῃ ἀτραπῷ οὕτως ὁ ἁμαρτωλὸς ὁ δίγλωσσος

10. Be not anxious for goods unjustly gotten: for they shall not profit thee in the day of calamity and revenge.

10. ἴσθι ἐστηριγμένος ἐν συνέσει σου καὶ εἷς ἔστω σου ὁ λόγος

11. Winnow not with every wind, and go not into every way: for so is every sinner proved by a double tongue.

11. γίνου ταχὺς ἐν ἀκροάσει σου καὶ ἐν μακροθυμίᾳ φθέγγου ἀπόκρισιν

12. Be steadfast in the way of the Lord, and in the truth of thy judgment, and in knowledge, and let the word of peace and justice keep with thee.

12. εἰ ἔστιν σοι σύνεσις ἀποκρίθητι τῷ πλησίον εἰ δὲ μή ἡ χείρ σου ἔστω ἐπὶ τῷ στόματί σου

13. Be meek to hear the word, that thou mayst understand: and return a true answer with wisdom.

13. δόξα καὶ ἀτιμία ἐν λαλιᾷ καὶ γλῶσσα ἀνθρώπου πτῶσις αὐτῷ

14. If thou have understanding, answer thy neighbour: but if not, let thy hand be upon thy mouth, lest thou be surprised in an unskilful word, and be confounded.

14. μὴ κληθῇς ψίθυρος καὶ τῇ γλώσσῃ σου μὴ ἐνέδρευε ἐπὶ γὰρ τῷ κλέπτῃ ἐστὶν αἰσχύνη καὶ κατάγνωσις πονηρὰ ἐπὶ διγλώσσου

15. Honour and glory is in the word of the wise, but the tongue of the fool is his ruin.

15. ἐν μεγάλῳ καὶ ἐν μικρῷ μὴ ἀγνόει καὶ ἀντὶ φίλου μὴ γίνου ἐχθρός ὄνομα γὰρ πονηρὸν αἰσχύνην καὶ ὄνειδος κληρονομήσει οὕτως ὁ ἁμαρτωλὸς ὁ δίγλωσσος

16. Be not called a whisperer, and be not taken in thy tongue, and confounded.

16.

17. For confusion and repentance is upon a thief, and an evil mark of disgrace upon the double tongued, but to the whisperer hatred, and enmity, and reproach.

17.

18. Justify alike the small and the great.

18.