Ecclesiasticus, 37

1. Every friend will say: I also am his friend: but there is a friend, that is only a friend in name. Is not this a grief even to death?

1. πᾶς φίλος ἐρεῖ ἐφιλίασα κἀγώ ἀλλ’ ἔστιν φίλος ὀνόματι μόνον φίλος

2. But a companion and a friend shall be turned to an enemy.

2. οὐχὶ λύπη ἔνι ἕως θανάτου ἑταῖρος καὶ φίλος τρεπόμενος εἰς ἔχθραν

3. O wicked presumption, whence camest thou to cover the earth with thy malice, and deceitfulness?

3. ὦ πονηρὸν ἐνθύμημα πόθεν ἐνεκυλίσθης καλύψαι τὴν ξηρὰν ἐν δολιότητι

4. There is a companion who rejoiceth with his friend in his joys, but in the time of trouble, he will be against him.

4. ἑταῖρος φίλου ἐν εὐφροσύνῃ ἥδεται καὶ ἐν καιρῷ θλίψεως ἔσται ἀπέναντι

5. There is a companion who condoleth with his friend for his belly's sake, and he will take up a shield against enemy.

5. ἑταῖρος φίλῳ συμπονεῖ χάριν γαστρός ἔναντι πολέμου λήμψεται ἀσπίδα

6. Forget not thy friend in thy mind, and be not unmindful of him in thy riches.

6. μὴ ἐπιλάθῃ φίλου ἐν τῇ ψυχῇ σου καὶ μὴ ἀμνημονήσῃς αὐτοῦ ἐν χρήμασίν σου

7. Consult not with him that layeth a snare for thee, and hide thy counsel from them that envy thee.

7. πᾶς σύμβουλος ἐξαίρει βουλήν ἀλλ’ ἔστιν συμβουλεύων εἰς ἑαυτόν

8. Every counsellor giveth out counsel, but there is one that is a counsellor for himself.

8. ἀπὸ συμβούλου φύλαξον τὴν ψυχήν σου καὶ γνῶθι πρότερον τίς αὐτοῦ χρεία καὶ γὰρ αὐτὸς ἑαυτῷ βουλεύσεται μήποτε βάλῃ ἐπὶ σοὶ κλῆρον

9. Beware of a counsellor. And know before what need he hath: for he will devise to his own mind:

9. καὶ εἴπῃ σοι καλὴ ἡ ὁδός σου καὶ στήσεται ἐξ ἀναντίας ἰδεῖν τὸ συμβησόμενόν σοι

10. Lest he thrust a stake into the ground, and say to thee:

10. μὴ βουλεύου μετὰ τοῦ ὑποβλεπομένου σε καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν ζηλούντων σε κρύψον βουλήν

11. Thy way is good; and then stand on the other side to see what shall befall thee.

11. μετὰ γυναικὸς περὶ τῆς ἀντιζήλου αὐτῆς καὶ μετὰ δειλοῦ περὶ πολέμου μετὰ ἐμπόρου περὶ μεταβολίας καὶ μετὰ ἀγοράζοντος περὶ πράσεως μετὰ βασκάνου περὶ εὐχαριστίας καὶ μετὰ ἀνελεήμονος περὶ χρηστοηθείας μετὰ ὀκνηροῦ περὶ παντὸς ἔργου καὶ μετὰ μισθίου ἐφετίου περὶ συντελείας οἰκέτῃ ἀργῷ περὶ πολλῆς ἐργασίας μὴ ἔπεχε ἐπὶ τούτοις περὶ πάσης συμβουλίας

12. Treat not with a man without religion concerning holiness, nor with an unjust man concerning justice, nor with a woman touching her of whom she is jealous, nor with a coward concerning war, nor with a merchant about traffic, nor with a buyer of selling, nor with an envious man of giving thanks,

12. ἀλλ’ ἢ μετὰ ἀνδρὸς εὐσεβοῦς ἐνδελέχιζε ὃν ἂν ἐπιγνῷς συντηροῦντα ἐντολάς ὃς ἐν τῇ ψυχῇ αὐτοῦ κατὰ τὴν ψυχήν σου καὶ ἐὰν πταίσῃς συναλγήσει σοι

13. Nor with the ungodly of piety, nor with the dishonest of honesty, nor with the held labourer of every work

13. καὶ βουλὴν καρδίας στῆσον οὐ γὰρ ἔστιν σοι πιστότερος αὐτῆς

14. Nor with him that worketh by the year of the finishing of the year, nor with an idle servant of much business: give no heed to these in any matter of counsel.

14. ψυχὴ γὰρ ἀνδρὸς ἀπαγγέλλειν ἐνίοτε εἴωθεν ἢ ἑπτὰ σκοποὶ ἐπὶ μετεώρου καθήμενοι ἐπὶ σκοπῆς

15. But be continually with a holy man, whomsoever thou shalt know to observe the fear of God,

15. καὶ ἐπὶ πᾶσι τούτοις δεήθητι ὑψίστου ἵνα εὐθύνῃ ἐν ἀληθείᾳ τὴν ὁδόν σου

16. Whose soul is according to thy own soul: and who, when thou shalt stumble in the dark, will be sorry for thee.

16. ἀρχὴ παντὸς ἔργου λόγος καὶ πρὸ πάσης πράξεως βουλή

17. And establish within thyself a heart of good counsel: for there is no other thing of more worth to thee than it.

17. ἴχνος ἀλλοιώσεως καρδίας τέσσαρα μέρη ἀνατέλλει

18. The soul of a holy man discovereth sometimes true things, more than seven watchmen that sit in a high piece to watch.

18. ἀγαθὸν καὶ κακόν ζωὴ καὶ θάνατος καὶ ἡ κυριεύουσα ἐνδελεχῶς αὐτῶν γλῶσσά ἐστιν

19. But above all these things pray to the most High, that he may direct thy way in truth.

19. ἔστιν ἀνὴρ πανοῦργος πολλῶν παιδευτής καὶ τῇ ἰδίᾳ ψυχῇ ἐστιν ἄχρηστος

20. In all thy works let the true word go before thee, and steady counsel before every action.

20. ἔστιν σοφιζόμενος ἐν λόγοις μισητός οὗτος πάσης τροφῆς καθυστερήσει

21. A wicked word shall change the beast: out of which four manner of things arise, good and evil, life and death: and the tongue is continually the ruler of them. There is a man that is subtle and a teacher of many, and yet is unprofitable to his own soul.

21. οὐ γὰρ ἐδόθη αὐτῷ παρὰ κυρίου χάρις ὅτι πάσης σοφίας ἐστερήθη

22. A skilful man hath taught many, and is sweet to his own soul.

22. ἔστιν σοφὸς τῇ ἰδίᾳ ψυχῇ καὶ οἱ καρποὶ τῆς συνέσεως αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ στόματος πιστοί

23. He that speaketh sophistically, is hateful: he shall be destitute of every thing.

23. ἀνὴρ σοφὸς τὸν ἑαυτοῦ λαὸν παιδεύσει καὶ οἱ καρποὶ τῆς συνέσεως αὐτοῦ πιστοί

24. Grace is not given him from the Lord: for he is deprived of all wisdom.

24. ἀνὴρ σοφὸς πλησθήσεται εὐλογίας καὶ μακαριοῦσιν αὐτὸν πάντες οἱ ὁρῶντες

25. There is a wise man that is wise to his own soul: and the fruit of his understanding is commendable.

25. ζωὴ ἀνδρὸς ἐν ἀριθμῷ ἡμερῶν καὶ αἱ ἡμέραι τοῦ Ισραηλ ἀναρίθμητοι

26. A wise man instructeth his own people, and the fruits of his understanding are faithful.

26. ὁ σοφὸς ἐν τῷ λαῷ αὐτοῦ κληρονομήσει πίστιν καὶ τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ ζήσεται εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα

27. A wise man shall be filled with blessings, and they that see shall praise him.

27. τέκνον ἐν ζωῇ σου πείρασον τὴν ψυχήν σου καὶ ἰδὲ τί πονηρὸν αὐτῇ καὶ μὴ δῷς αὐτῇ

28. The life of a man is in the number of his days: but the days of Israel are innumerable.

28. οὐ γὰρ πάντα πᾶσιν συμφέρει καὶ οὐ πᾶσα ψυχὴ ἐν παντὶ εὐδοκεῖ

29. A wise man shall inherit honour among his people, and his name shall live for ever.

29. μὴ ἀπληστεύου ἐν πάσῃ τρυφῇ καὶ μὴ ἐκχυθῇς ἐπὶ ἐδεσμάτων

30. My son, prove thy soul in thy life: and if it be wicked, give it no power:

30. ἐν πολλοῖς γὰρ βρώμασιν ἔσται νόσος καὶ ἡ ἀπληστία ἐγγιεῖ ἕως χολέρας

31. For all things are not expedient for all, and every kind pleaseth not every soul.

31. δι’ ἀπληστίαν πολλοὶ ἐτελεύτησαν ὁ δὲ προσέχων προσθήσει ζωήν

32. Be not greedy in any feasting, and pour not out thyself upon any meat:

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33. For in many meats there will be sickness, and greediness will turn to choler.

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34. By surfeiting many have perished: but he that is temperate, shall prolong life.

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