by Septuagint
[20] καὶ σὺ δὲ ἀπόγραψαι αὐτὰ σεαυτῷ τρισσῶς εἰς βουλὴν καὶ γνῶσιν ἐπὶ τὸ πλάτος τῆς καρδίας σου.
[20] And do thou too repeatedly record them for thyself on the table of thine heart, for counsel and knowledge.
[21] διδάσκω οὖν σε ἀληθῆ λόγον καὶ γνῶσιν ἀγαθὴν ὑπακούειν, τοῦ ἀποκρίνεσθαί σε λόγους ἀληθείας τοῖς προβαλλομένοις σοι.
[21] I therefore teach thee truth, and knowledge good to hear; that thou mayest answer words of truth to them that question thee.
[22] Μὴ ἀποβιάζου πένητα, πτωχὸς γάρ ἐστι, καὶ μὴ ἀτιμάσῃς ἀσθενῆ ἐν πύλαις·
[22] Do no violence to the poor, for he is needy: neither dishonour the helpless man in the gates.
[23] ὁ γὰρ Κύριος κρινεῖ αὐτοῦ τὴν κρίσιν, καὶ ρύσῃ σὴν ἄσυλον ψυχήν.
[23] For the Lord will plead his cause, and thou shalt deliver thy soul in safety.
[24] μὴ ἴσθι ἑταῖρος ἀνδρὶ θυμώδει, φίλῳ δὲ ὀργίλῳ μὴ συναυλίζου,
[24] Be not companion to a furious man; neither lodge with a passionate man:
[25] μήποτε μάθῃς τῶν ὁδῶν αὐτοῦ καὶ λάβῃς βρόχους τῇ σῇ ψυχῇ.
[25] lest thou learn of his ways, and get snares to thy soul.
[26] μὴ δίδου σεαυτὸν εἰς ἐγγύην αἰσχυνόμενος πρόσωπον·
[26] Become not surety from respect of a man’s person.
[27] ἐὰν γὰρ μὴ ἔχῃς πόθεν ἀποτίσῃς, λήψονται τὸ στρῶμα τὸ ὑπὸ τὰς πλευράς σου.
[27] For if those have not whence to give compensation, they will take the bed that is under thee.
[28] μὴ μέταιρε ὅρια αἰώνια, ἃ ἔθεντο οἱ πατέρες σου.
[28] Remove not the old landmarks, which thy fathers placed.
[29] ὁρατικὸν ἄνδρα καὶ ὀξὺν ἐν τοῖς ἔργοις αὐτοῦ βασιλεῦσι δεῖ παρεστάναι καὶ μὴ παρεστάναι ἀνδράσι νωθροῖς.
[29] It is fit that an observant man and one diligent in his business should attend on kings, and not attend on slothful men.
Chapter 23
ΕΑΝ καθίσῃς δειπνεῖν ἐπὶ τραπέζης δυναστῶν, νοητῶς νόει τὰ παρατιθέμενά σοι
If thou sit to sup at the table of a prince, consider attentively the things set before thee:
[2] καὶ ἐπίβαλλε τὴν χεῖρά σου, εἰδὼς ὅτι τοιαῦτά σε δεῖ παρασκευάσαι· εἰ δὲ ἀπληστότερος εἶ,
[2] and apply thine hand, knowing that it behoves thee to prepare such meats: but if thou art very insatiable,
[3] μὴ ἐπιθύμει τῶν ἐδεσμάτων αὐτοῦ, ταῦτα γὰρ ἔχεται ζωῆς ψευδοῦς.
[3] desire not his provisions; for these belong to a false life.
[4] μὴ παρεκτείνου πένης ὢν πλουσίῳ, τῇ δὲ σῇ ἐννοίᾳ ἀπόσχου.
[4] If thou art poor, measure not thyself with a rich man; but refrain thyself in thy wisdom.
[5] ἐὰν ἐπιστήσῃς τὸ σὸν ὄμμα πρὸς αὐτόν, οὐδαμοῦ φανεῖται· κατεσκεύασται γὰρ αὐτῷ πτέρυγες ὥσπερ ἀετοῦ, καὶ ὑποστρέφει εἰς τὸν οἶκον τοῦ προεστηκότος αὐτοῦ.
[5] If thou shouldest fix thine eye upon him, he will disappear; for wings like an eagle’s are prepared for him, and he returns to the house of his master.
[6] μὴ συνδείπνει ἀνδρὶ βασκάνῳ, μηδὲ ἐπιθύμει τῶν βρωμάτων αὐτοῦ·
[6] Sup not with an envious man, neither desire thou his meats:
[7] ὃν τρόπον γὰρ εἴ τις καταπίοι τρίχα, οὕτως ἐσθίει καὶ πίνει.
[7] so he eats and drinks as if any one should swallow a hair,
[8] μηδὲ πρός σε εἰσαγάγῃς αὐτὸν καὶ φάγῃς τὸν ψωμόν σου μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ· ἐξεμέσει γὰρ αὐτὸν καὶ λυμανεῖται τοὺς λόγους σου τοὺς καλούς.
[8] and do not bring him in to thyself, nor eat thy morsel with him:for he will vomit it up, and spoil thy fair words.
[9] εἰς ὦτα ἄφρονος μηδὲν λέγε, μήποτε μυκτηρίσῃ τοὺς συνετοὺς λόγους σου.
[9] Say nothing in the ears of a fool, lest at any time he sneer at thy wise words.
[10] μὴ μεταθῇς ὅρια αἰώνια, εἰς δὲ κτῆμα ὀρφανῶν μὴ εἰσέλθῃς·
[10] Remove not the ancient landmarks; and enter not upon the possession of the fatherless:
[11] ὁ γὰρ λυτρούμενος αὐτοὺς Κύριος κραταιός ἐστι καὶ κρινεῖ τὴν κρίσιν αὐτῶν μετὰ σοῦ.
[11] for the Lord is their redeemer; he is mighty, and will plead their cause with thee.
[12] δὸς εἰς παιδείαν τὴν καρδίαν σου, τὰ δὲ ὦτά σου ἑτοίμασον λόγοις αἰσθήσεως.
[12] Apply thine heart to instruction, and prepare thine ears for words of discretion.
[13] μὴ ἀπόσχῃ νήπιον παιδεύειν, ὅτι ἐὰν πατάξῃς αὐτὸν ράβδῳ, οὐ μὴ ἀποθάνῃ·
[13] Refrain not from chastening a child; for if thou beat him with the rod, he shall not die.
[14] σὺ μὲν γὰρ πατάξεις αὐτὸν ράβδῳ, τὴν δὲ ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ ἐκ θανάτου ρύσῃ.
[14] For thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from death.
[15] υἱέ, ἐὰν σοφὴ γένηταί σου ἡ καρδία, εὐφρανεῖς καὶ τὴν ἐμὴν καρδίαν,
[15] Son, if thy heart be wise, thou shalt also gladden my heart;
[16] καὶ ἐνδιατρίψει λόγοις τὰ σὰ χείλη πρὸς τὰ ἐμὰ χείλη, ἐὰν ὀρθὰ ὦσι.
[16] and thy lips shall converse with my lips, if they be right.
[17] μὴ ζηλούτω ἡ καρδία σου ἁμαρτωλούς, ἀλλὰ ἐν φόβῳ Κυρίου ἴσθι ὅλην τὴν ἡμέραν·
[17] Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day.
[18] ἐὰν γὰρ τηρήσῃς αὐτά, ἔσται σοι ἔκγονα, ἡ δὲ ἐλπίς σου οὐκ ἀποστήσεται.
[18] For if thou shouldest keep these things, thou shalt have posterity; and thine hope shall not be removed.
[19] ἄκουε, υἱέ, καὶ σοφὸς γίνου, καὶ κατεύθυνε ἐννοίας σῆς καρδίας·
[19] Hear, my son, and be wise, and rightly direct the thoughts of thine heart.
[20] μὴ ἴσθι οἰνοπότης, μηδὲ ἐκτείνου συμβουλαῖς κρεῶν τε ἀγορασμοῖς·
[20] Be not a wine-bibber, neither continue long at feasts, and purchases of flesh:
[21] πᾶς γὰρ μέθυσος καὶ πορνοκόπος πτωχεύσει, καὶ ἐνδύσεται διερρηγμένα καὶ ρακώδη πᾶς ὑπνώδης.
[21] for every drunkard and whoremonger shall be poor; and every sluggard shall clothe himself with tatters and ragged garments.
[22] ἄ
κουε, υἱέ, πατρὸς τοῦ γεννήσαντός σε καὶ μὴ καταφρόνει ὅτι γεγήρακέ σου ἡ μήτηρ.
[22] Hearken, my son, to thy father which begot thee, and despise not thy mother because she is grown old.
[23] ἀλήθειαν κτῆσαι καὶ μὴ ἀπώσῃ σοφίαν καὶ παιδείαν καὶ σύνεσιν.
[23] Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.
[24] καλῶς ἐκτρέφει πατὴρ δίκαιος, ἐπὶ δὲ υἱῷ σοφῷ εὐφραίνεται ἡ ψυχὴ αὐτοῦ.
[24] A righteous father brings up his children well; and his soul rejoices over a wise son.
[25] εὐφραινέσθω ὁ πατὴρ καὶ ἡ μήτηρ ἐπὶ σοί, καὶ χαιρέτω ἡ τεκοῦσά σε.
[25] Let thy father and thy mother rejoice over thee, and let her that bore thee be glad.
[26] δός μοι, υἱέ, σὴν καρδίαν, οἱ δὲ σοὶ ὀφθαλμοὶ ἐμὰς ὁδοὺς τηρείτωσαν·
[26] My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.
[27] πίθος γὰρ τετρημένος ἐστὶν ἀλλότριος οἶκος, καὶ φρέαρ στενὸν ἀλλότριον·
[27] For a strange house is a vessel full of holes; and a strange well is narrow.
[28] οὗτος γὰρ συντόμως ἀπολεῖται, καὶ πᾶς παράνομος ἀναλωθήσεται.
[28] For such a one shall perish suddenly; and every transgressor shall be cut off.
[29] τίνι οὐαί; τίνι θόρυβος; τίνι κρίσεις; τίνι δὲ ἀηδίαι καὶ λέσχαι; τίνι συντρίμματα διακενῆς; τίνος πελιδνοὶ οἱ ὀφθαλμοί;
[29] Who has woe? who trouble? who has quarrels? and who vexations and disputes? who has bruises without a cause? whose eyes are livid?
[30] οὐ τῶν ἐγχρονιζόντων ἐν οἴνοις; οὐ τῶν ἰχνευόντων ποῦ πότοι γίνονται;
[30] Are not those of them that stay long at wine? are not those of them that haunt the places where banquets are?
[31] μὴ μεθύσκεσθε ἐν οἴνοις, ἀλλὰ ὁμιλεῖτε ἀνθρώποις δικαίοις καὶ ὁμιλεῖτε ἐν περιπάτοις· ἐὰν γὰρ εἰς τὰς φιάλας καὶ τὰ ποτήρια δῷς τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς σου, ὕστερον περιπατήσεις γυμνότερος ὑπέρου.
[31] Be not drunk with wine; but converse with just men, and converse with them openly. For if thou shouldest set thine eyes on bowls and cups, thou shalt afterwards go more naked than a pestle.
[32] τὸ δὲ ἔσχατον ὥσπερ ὑπὸ ὄφεως πεπληγὼς ἐκτείνεται, καὶ ὥσπερ ὑπὸ κεράστου διαχεῖται αὐτῷ ὁ ἰός.
[32] But at last such a one stretches himself out as one smitten by a serpent, and venom is diffused through him as by a horned serpent.
[33] οἱ ὀφθαλμοί σου ὅταν ἴδωσιν ἀλλοτρίαν, τὸ στόμα σου τότε λαλήσει σκολιά,
[33] Whenever thine eyes shall behold a strange woman, then thy mouth shall speak perverse things.
[34] καὶ κατακείσῃ ὥσπερ ἐν καρδίᾳ θαλάσσης καὶ ὥσπερ κυβερνήτης ἐν πολλῷ κλύδωνι.
[34] And thou shalt lie as in the midst of the sea, and as a pilot in a great storm.
[35] ἐρεῖς δέ· τύπτουσί με καὶ οὐκ ἐπόνεσα, καὶ ἐνέπαιξάν μοι, ἐγὼ δὲ οὐκ ᾔδειν· πότε ὄρθρος ἔσται, ἵνα ἐλθὼν ζητήσω μεθ᾿ ὧν συνελεύσομαι;
[35] And thou shalt say, They smote me, and I was not pained; and they mocked me, and I knew it not: when will it be morning, that I may go and seek those with whom I may go in company?
Chapter 24
ΥΙΕ, μὴ ζηλώσῃς κακοὺς ἄνδρας μηδὲ ἐπιθυμήσῃς εἶναι μετ᾿ αὐτῶν·
My son, envy not bad men, nor desire to be with them.
[2] ψευδῆ γὰρ μελετᾷ ἡ καρδία αὐτῶν, καὶ πόνους τὰ χείλη αὐτῶν λαλεῖ.
[2] For their heart meditates falsehoods, and their lips speak mischiefs.
[3] μετὰ σοφίας οἰκοδομεῖται οἶκος καὶ μετὰ συνέσεως ἀνορθοῦται.
[3] A house is built by wisdom, and is set up by understanding.
[4] μετὰ αἰσθήσεως ἐμπίπλανται ταμιεῖα ἐκ παντὸς πλούτου τιμίου καὶ καλοῦ.
[4] By discretion the chambers are filled with all precious and excellent wealth.
[5] κρείσσων σοφὸς ἰσχυροῦ καὶ ἀνὴρ φρόνησιν ἔχων γεωργίου μεγάλου.
[5] A wise man is better than a strong man; and a man who has prudence than a large estate.
[6] μετὰ κυβερνήσεως γίνεται πόλεμος, βοήθεια δὲ μετὰ καρδίας βουλευτικῆς.
[6] War is carried on with generalship, and aid is supplied to the heart of a counsellor.
[7] σοφία καὶ ἔννοια ἀγαθὴ ἐν πύλαις σοφῶν· σοφοὶ οὐκ ἐκκλίνουσιν ἐκ στόματος Κυρίου,
[7] Wisdom and good understanding are in the gates of the wise: the wise turn not aside from the mouth of the Lord,
[8] ἀλλὰ λογίζονται ἐν συνεδρίοις. ἀπαιδεύτοις συναντᾷ θάνατος,
[8] but deliberate in council. Death befalls uninstructed men.
[9] ἀποθνήσκει δὲ ἄφρων ἐν ἁμαρτίαις. ἀκαθαρσία δὲ ἀνδρὶ λοιμῷ
[9] The fools also dies in sins; and uncleanness attaches to a pestilent man.
[10] ἐμμολυνθήσεται ἐν ἡμέρᾳ κακῇ καὶ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ θλίψεως, ἕως ἂν ἐκλίπῃ.
[10] He shall be defiled in the evil day, and in the day of affliction, until he be utterly consumed.
[11] ρῦσαι ἀγομένους εἰς θάνατον καὶ ἐκπρίου κτεινομένους, μὴ φείσῃ·
[11] Deliver them that are led away to death, and redeem them that are appointed to be slain; spare not thy help.
[12] ἐὰν δὲ εἴπῃς, οὐκ οἶδα τοῦτον, γίνωσκε ὅτι Κύριος καρδίας πάντων γινώσκει, καὶ ὁ πλάσας πνοὴν πᾶσιν, αὐτὸς οἶδε πάντα, ὃς ἀποδίδωσιν ἑκάστῳ κατὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ.
[12] But if thou shouldest say, I know not this man; know that the Lord knows the hearts of all; and he that formed breath for all, he knows all things, who renders to every man according to his works.
[13] φάγε μέλι, υἱέ, ἀγαθὸν γὰρ κηρίον, ἵνα γλυκανθῇ σου ὁ φάρυγξ·
[13] My son, eat honey, for the honeycomb is good, that thy throat may be sweetened.
[14] οὕτως αἰσθήσῃ σοφίαν τῇ σῇ ψυχῇ· ἐὰν γὰρ εὕρῃς, ἔσται καλὴ ἡ τελευτή σου, καὶ ἐλπίς σε οὐκ ἐγκαταλείψει.
[14] Thus shalt thou perceive wisdom in thy soul: for if thou find it, thine end shall be good, and hope shall not fail thee.
[15] μὴ προσαγάγῃς ἀσεβῆ νομῇ δικαίων μηδὲ ἀπατηθῇς χορτασίᾳ κοιλίας·
[15] Bring not an ungodly man into the dwelling of the righteous: neither be deceived by the feedin
g of the belly.
[16] ἑπτάκις γὰρ πεσεῖται δίκαιος καὶ ἀναστήσεται, οἱ δὲ ἀσεβεῖς ἀσθενήσουσιν ἐν κακοῖς.
[16] For a righteous man will fall seven times, and rise again: but the ungodly shall be without strength in troubles.
[17] ἐὰν πέσῃ ὁ ἐχθρός σου, μὴ ἐπιχαρῇς αὐτῷ, ἐν δὲ τῷ ὑποσκελίσματι αὐτοῦ μὴ ἐπαίρου·
[17] If thine enemy should fall, rejoice not over him, neither be elated at his overthrow.
[18] ὅτι ὄψεται Κύριος καὶ οὐκ ἀρέσει αὐτῷ, καὶ ἀποστρέψει τὸν θυμὸν αὐτοῦ ἀπ᾿ αὐτοῦ.
[18] For the Lord will see it, and it will not please him, and he will turn away his wrath from him.
[19] μὴ χαῖρε ἐπὶ κακοποιοῖς, μηδὲ ζήλου ἁμαρτωλούς·
[19] Rejoice not in evil-doers, neither be envious of sinners.
[20] οὐ γὰρ μὴ γένηται ἔκγονα πονηρῷ, λαμπτὴρ δὲ ἀσεβῶν σβεσθήσεται.
[20] For the evil man shall have no posterity: and the light of the wicked shall be put out.
[21] φοβοῦ τὸν Θεόν, υἱέ, καὶ βασιλέα καὶ μηθετέρῳ αὐτῶν ἀπειθήσῃς·
[21] My son, fear God and the king; and do not disobey either of them.
[22] ἐξαίφνης γὰρ τίσονται τοὺς ἀσεβεῖς, τὰς δὲ τιμωρίας ἀμφοτέρων τίς γνώσεται;
[22] For they will suddenly punish the ungodly, and who can know the vengeance inflicted by both?
[22]α λόγον φυλασσόμενος υἱὸς ἀπωλείας ἐκτὸς ἔσται, δεχόμενος δὲ ἐδέξατο αὐτόν.
[22a] A son that keeps the commandment shall escape destruction; for such an one has fully received it.
[22]β μηδὲν ψεῦδος ἀπὸ γλώσσης βασιλεῖ λεγέσθω, καὶ οὐδὲν ψεῦδος ἀπὸ γλώσσης αὐτοῦ οὐ μὴ ἐξέλθῃ.
[22b] Let no falsehood be spoken by the king from the tongue; yea, let no falsehood proceed from his tongue.
