Ecclesiasticus, 6

1. Instead of a friend become not an enemy to thy neighbour: for an evil man shall inherit reproach and shame, so shall every sinner that is envious and double tongued.

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2. Extol not thyself in the thoughts of thy soul like a bull: lest thy strength be quashed by folly,

2. μὴ ἐπάρῃς σεαυτὸν ἐν βουλῇ ψυχῆς σου ἵνα μὴ διαρπαγῇ ὡς ταῦρος ἡ ψυχή σου

3. And it eat up thy leaves, and destroy thy fruit: and thou be left as a dry tree in the wilderness.

3. τὰ φύλλα σου καταφάγεσαι καὶ τοὺς καρπούς σου ἀπολέσεις καὶ ἀφήσεις σεαυτὸν ὡς ξύλον ξηρόν

4. For a wicked soul shall destroy him that hath it, and maketh him to be a joy to his enemies, and shall lead him into the lot of the wicked.

4. ψυχὴ πονηρὰ ἀπολεῖ τὸν κτησάμενον αὐτὴν καὶ ἐπίχαρμα ἐχθρῶν ποιήσει αὐτόν

5. A sweet word multiplieth friends, and appeaseth enemies, and a gracious tongue in a good man aboundeth.

5. λάρυγξ γλυκὺς πληθυνεῖ φίλους αὐτοῦ καὶ γλῶσσα εὔλαλος πληθυνεῖ εὐπροσήγορα

6. Be in peace with many, but let one of a thousand be thy counsellor.

6. οἱ εἰρηνεύοντές σοι ἔστωσαν πολλοί οἱ δὲ σύμβουλοί σου εἷς ἀπὸ χιλίων

7. If thou wouldst get a friend, try him before thou takest him, and do not credit him easily.

7. εἰ κτᾶσαι φίλον ἐν πειρασμῷ κτῆσαι αὐτὸν καὶ μὴ ταχὺ ἐμπιστεύσῃς αὐτῷ

8. For there is a friend for his own occasion, and he will not abide in the day of thy trouble.

8. ἔστιν γὰρ φίλος ἐν καιρῷ αὐτοῦ καὶ οὐ μὴ παραμείνῃ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ θλίψεώς σου

9. And there is a friend that turneth to enmity; and there is a friend that will disclose hatred and strife and reproaches.

9. καὶ ἔστιν φίλος μετατιθέμενος εἰς ἔχθραν καὶ μάχην ὀνειδισμοῦ σου ἀποκαλύψει

10. And there is a friend a companion at the table, and he will not abide in the day of distress.

10. καὶ ἔστιν φίλος κοινωνὸς τραπεζῶν καὶ οὐ μὴ παραμείνῃ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ θλίψεώς σου

11. A friend ii he continue steadfast, shall be to thee as thyself, and shall act with confidence among them of thy household.

11. καὶ ἐν τοῖς ἀγαθοῖς σου ἔσται ὡς σὺ καὶ ἐπὶ τοὺς οἰκέτας σου παρρησιάσεται

12. If he humble himself before thee, and hide himself from thy face, thou shalt have unanimous friendship for good.

12. ἐὰν ταπεινωθῇς ἔσται κατὰ σοῦ καὶ ἀπὸ τοῦ προσώπου σου κρυβήσεται

13. Separate thyself from thy enemies, and take heed of thy friends.

13. ἀπὸ τῶν ἐχθρῶν σου διαχωρίσθητι καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν φίλων σου πρόσεχε

14. A faithful friend is a strong defence: and he that hath found him, hath found a treasure.

14. φίλος πιστὸς σκέπη κραταιά ὁ δὲ εὑρὼν αὐτὸν εὗρεν θησαυρόν

15. Nothing can be compared to a faithful friend, and no weight of gold and silver is able to countervail the goodness of his fidelity.

15. φίλου πιστοῦ οὐκ ἔστιν ἀντάλλαγμα καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν σταθμὸς τῆς καλλονῆς αὐτοῦ

16. A faithful friend is the medicine of life and immortality: and they that fear the Lord, shall find him.

16. φίλος πιστὸς φάρμακον ζωῆς καὶ οἱ φοβούμενοι κύριον εὑρήσουσιν αὐτόν

17. He that feareth God, shall likewise have good friendship: because according to him shall his friend be.

17. ὁ φοβούμενος κύριον εὐθυνεῖ φιλίαν αὐτοῦ ὅτι κατ’ αὐτὸν οὕτως καὶ ὁ πλησίον αὐτοῦ

18. My son, from thy youth up receive instruction, and even to thy grey hairs thou shalt find wisdom.

18. τέκνον ἐκ νεότητός σου ἐπίλεξαι παιδείαν καὶ ἕως πολιῶν εὑρήσεις σοφίαν

19. Come to her as one that plougheth, and soweth, and wait for her good fruits:

19. ὡς ὁ ἀροτριῶν καὶ ὁ σπείρων πρόσελθε αὐτῇ καὶ ἀνάμενε τοὺς ἀγαθοὺς καρποὺς αὐτῆς ἐν γὰρ τῇ ἐργασίᾳ αὐτῆς ὀλίγον κοπιάσεις καὶ ταχὺ φάγεσαι τῶν γενημάτων αὐτῆς

20. For in working about her thou shalt labour a little, and shalt quickly eat of her fruits.

20. ὡς τραχεῖά ἐστιν σφόδρα τοῖς ἀπαιδεύτοις καὶ οὐκ ἐμμενεῖ ἐν αὐτῇ ἀκάρδιος

21. How very unpleasant is wisdom to the unlearned, and the unwise will not continue with her.

21. ὡς λίθος δοκιμασίας ἰσχυρὸς ἔσται ἐπ’ αὐτῷ καὶ οὐ χρονιεῖ ἀπορρῖψαι αὐτήν

22. She shall be to them as a mighty stone of trial, and they will cast her from them before it be long.

22. σοφία γὰρ κατὰ τὸ ὄνομα αὐτῆς ἐστιν καὶ οὐ πολλοῖς ἐστιν φανερά

23. For the wisdom of doctrine is according to her name, and she is not manifest unto many, but with them to whom she is known, she continueth even to the sight of God.

23. ἄκουσον τέκνον καὶ ἔκδεξαι γνώμην μου καὶ μὴ ἀπαναίνου τὴν συμβουλίαν μου

24. Give ear, my son, and take wise counsel, and cast not away my advice.

24. καὶ εἰσένεγκον τοὺς πόδας σου εἰς τὰς πέδας αὐτῆς καὶ εἰς τὸν κλοιὸν αὐτῆς τὸν τράχηλόν σου

25. Put thy feet into her fetters, and thy neck into her chains:

25. ὑπόθες τὸν ὦμόν σου καὶ βάσταξον αὐτὴν καὶ μὴ προσοχθίσῃς τοῖς δεσμοῖς αὐτῆς

26. Bow down thy shoulder, and bear her, and be not grieved with her bands.

26. ἐν πάσῃ ψυχῇ σου πρόσελθε αὐτῇ καὶ ἐν ὅλῃ δυνάμει σου συντήρησον τὰς ὁδοὺς αὐτῆς

27. Come to her with all thy mind, and keep her ways with all thy power.

27. ἐξίχνευσον καὶ ζήτησον καὶ γνωσθήσεταί σοι καὶ ἐγκρατὴς γενόμενος μὴ ἀφῇς αὐτήν

28. Search for her, and she shall be made known to thee, and when thou hast gotten her, let her not go:

28. ἐπ’ ἐσχάτων γὰρ εὑρήσεις τὴν ἀνάπαυσιν αὐτῆς καὶ στραφήσεταί σοι εἰς εὐφροσύνην

29. For in the latter end thou shalt find rest in her, and she shall be turned to thy joy.

29. καὶ ἔσονταί σοι αἱ πέδαι εἰς σκέπην ἰσχύος καὶ οἱ κλοιοὶ αὐτῆς εἰς στολὴν δόξης

30. Then shall her fetters be a strong defence for thee, and a firm foundation, and her chain a robe of glory:

30. κόσμος γὰρ χρύσεός ἐστιν ἐπ’ αὐτῆς καὶ οἱ δεσμοὶ αὐτῆς κλῶσμα ὑακίνθινον

31. For in her is the beauty of life, and her bands are a healthful binding.

31. στολὴν δόξης ἐνδύσῃ αὐτὴν καὶ στέφανον ἀγαλλιάματος περιθήσεις σεαυτῷ

32. Thou shalt put her on as a robe of glory, and thee shalt set her upon thee as a crown of joy.

32. ἐὰν θέλῃς τέκνον παιδευθήσῃ καὶ ἐὰν ἐπιδῷς τὴν ψυχήν σου πανοῦργος ἔσῃ

33. My son, if thou wilt attend to me, thou shalt learn: and if thou wilt apply thy mind, thou shalt be wise.

33. ἐὰν ἀγαπήσῃς ἀκούειν ἐκδέξῃ καὶ ἐὰν κλίνῃς τὸ οὖς σου σοφὸς ἔσῃ

34. If thou wilt incline thy ear, thou shalt receive instruction: and if thou love to hear, thou shalt be wise.

34. ἐν πλήθει πρεσβυτέρων στῆθι καὶ τίς σοφός αὐτῷ προσκολλήθητι

35. Stand in the multitude of ancients that are wise, and join thyself from thy heart to their wisdom, that thou mayst hear every discourse of God, and the sayings of praise may not escape thee.

35. πᾶσαν διήγησιν θείαν θέλε ἀκροᾶσθαι καὶ παροιμίαι συνέσεως μὴ ἐκφευγέτωσάν σε

36. And if thou see a man of understanding, go to him early in the morning, and let thy foot wear the steps of his doors.

36. ἐὰν ἴδῃς συνετόν ὄρθριζε πρὸς αὐτόν καὶ βαθμοὺς θυρῶν αὐτοῦ ἐκτριβέτω ὁ πούς σου

37. Let thy thoughts be upon the precepts of God, and meditate continually on his commandments: and he will give thee a heart, and the desire of wisdom shall be given thee.

37. διανοοῦ ἐν τοῖς προστάγμασιν κυρίου καὶ ἐν ταῖς ἐντολαῖς αὐτοῦ μελέτα διὰ παντός αὐτὸς στηριεῖ τὴν καρδίαν σου καὶ ἡ ἐπιθυμία τῆς σοφίας δοθήσεταί σοι