top Wisdom of Sirach ch 5

Chapter 5

1 Μὴ ἔπεχε ἐπὶ τοῖς χρήμασίν σου καὶ μὴ εἴπῃς αὐτάρκη μοί ἐστιν. 1 Set thy heart upon thy goods; and say not, I have enough for my life.
2 μὴ ἐξακολούθει τῇ ψυχῇ σου καὶ τῇ ἰσχύϊ σου πορεύεσθαι ἐν ἐπιθυμίαις καρδίας σου· 2 Follow not thine own mind and thy strength, to walk in the ways of thy heart:
3 καὶ μὴ εἴπῃς τίς με δυναστεύσει; ὁ γὰρ κύριος ἐκδικῶν ἐκδικήσει. 3 And say not, Who shall control me for my works? for the Lord will surely revenge thy pride.
4 μὴ εἴπῃς ἥμαρτον, καὶ τί μοι ἐγένετο; ὁ γὰρ κύριός ἐστιν μακρόθυμος. 4 Say not, I have sinned, and what harm hath happened unto me? for the Lord is longsuffering, he will in no wise let thee go.
5 περὶ ἐξιλασμοῦ μὴ ἄφοβος γίνου προσθεῖναι ἁμαρτίαν ἐφ᾿ ἁμαρτίαις· 5 Concerning propitiation, be not without fear to add sin unto sin:
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. 6 And say not His mercy is great; he will be pacified for the multitude of my sins: for mercy and wrath come from him, and his indignation resteth upon sinners.
7 μὴ ἀνάμενε ἐπιστρέψαι πρὸς κύριον καὶ μὴ ὑπερβάλλου ἡμέραν ἐξ ἡμέρας· ἐξάπινα γὰρ ἐξελεύσεται ὀργὴ κυρίου, καὶ ἐν καιρῷ ἐκδικήσεως ἐξολῇ. 7 Make no tarrying to turn to the Lord, and put not off from day to day: for suddenly shall the wrath of the Lord come forth, and in thy security thou shalt be destroyed, and perish in the day of vengeance.
8 μὴ ἔπεχε ἐπὶ χρήμασιν ἀδίκοις· οὐδὲν γὰρ ὠφελήσει σὲ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ ἐπαγωγῆς. 8 Set not thine heart upon goods unjustly gotten, for they shall not profit thee in the day of calamity.
9 μὴ λίκμα ἐν παντὶ ἀνέμῳ καὶ μὴ πορεύου ἐν πάσῃ ἀτραπῷ· οὕτως ὁ ἁμαρτωλὸς ὁ δίγλωσσος. 9 Winnow not with every wind, and go not into every way: for so doth the sinner that hath a double tongue.
10 ἴσθι ἐστηριγμένος ἐν συνέσει σου, καὶ εἷς ἔστω σου ὁ λόγος. 10 Be stedfast in thy understanding; and let thy word be the same.
11 γίνου ταχὺς ἐν ἀκροάσει σου καὶ ἐν μακροθυμίᾳ φθέγγου ἀπόκρισιν. 11 Be swift to hear; and let thy life be sincere; and with patience give answer.
12 εἰ ἔστιν σοὶ σύνεσις ἀποκρίθητι τῷ πλησίον· εἰ δὲ μή, ἡ χείρ σου ἔστω ἐπὶ τῷ στόματί σου. 12 If thou hast understanding, answer thy neighbour; if not, lay thy hand upon thy mouth.
13 δόξα καὶ ἀτιμία ἐν λαλιᾷ, καὶ γλῶσσα ἀνθρώπου πτῶσις αὐτῷ. 13 Honour and shame is in talk: and the tongue of man is his fall.
14 μὴ κληθῇς ψίθυρος καὶ τῇ γλώσσῃ σου μὴ ἐνέδρευε ἐπὶ γὰρ τῷ κλέπτῃ ἐστὶν αἰσχύνη καὶ κατάγνωσις πονηρὰ ἐπὶ διγλώσσου. 14 Be not called a whisperer, and lie not in wait with thy tongue: for a foul shame is upon the thief, and an evil condemnation upon the double tongue.
15 ἐν μεγάλῳ καὶ ἐν μικρῷ μὴ ἀγνόει. 15 Be not ignorant of any thing in a great matter or a small.