Sirach · Brenton's Greek Septuagint
Sirach 6 Brenton's Greek Septuagint
Notes on this text (1)
- Ezra and Nehemiah form one book (2 Esdras) in this edition; the reader shows them as Ezra 1–10 and Nehemiah 1–13.
2a Καὶ ἀντὶ φίλου μὴ γίνου ἐχθρός· ὄνομα γὰρ πονηρὸν αἰσχύνην καὶ ὄνειδος κληρονομήσει· οὕτως ὁ ἁμαρτωλὸς ὁ δίγλωσσος.
1 Don’t become an enemy instead of a friend; for an evil name will inherit shame and reproach. So it is with the sinner who has a double tongue. 2 Don’t exalt yourself in the counsel of your soul, that your soul not be torn in pieces like a bull.
2b Μὴ ἐπάρῃς σεαυτὸν ἐν βουλῇ ψυχῆς σου, ἵνα μὴ διαρπαγῇ ὡς ταῦρος ἡ ψυχή σου.
·
3 Τὰ φύλλα σου καταφάγεσαι, καὶ τοὺς καρπούς σου ἀπολέσεις, καὶ ἀφήσεις σεαυτὸν ὡς ξύλον ξηρόν.
3 You will eat up your leaves, destroy your fruit, and leave yourself like a dry tree.
4 Ψυχὴ πονηρὰ ἀπολεῖ τὸν κτησάμενον αὐτήν, καὶ ἐπίχαρμα ἐχθρῶν ποιήσει αὐτόν.
4 A wicked soul will destroy him who has it, and will make him a laughing stock to his enemies.
5 Λάρυγξ γλυκὺς πληθυνεῖ φίλους αὐτοῦ, καὶ γλῶσσα εὔλαλος πληθυνεῖ εὐπροσήγορα.
5 Sweet words will multiply a man’s friends. A gracious tongue will multiply courtesies.
6 Οἱ εἰρηνεύοντές σοι ἔστωσαν πολλοὶ, οἱ δὲ σύμβουλοί σου εἷς ἀπὸ χιλίων.
6 Let those that are at peace with you be many, but your advisers one of a thousand.
7 Εἰ κτᾶσαι φίλον, ἐν πειρασμῷ κτῆσαι αὐτόν, καὶ μὴ ταχὺ ἐμπιστεύσῃς αὐτῷ.
7 If you want to gain a friend, get him in a time of testing, and don’t be in a hurry to trust him.
8 Ἔστι γὰρ φίλος ἐν καιρῷ αὐτοῦ, καὶ οὐ μὴ παραμείνῃ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ θλίψεώς σου.
8 For there is a friend just for an occasion. He won’t continue in the day of your affliction.
9 Καὶ ἔστι φίλος μετατιθέμενος εἰς ἔχθραν, καὶ μάχην ὀνειδισμοῦ σου ἀποκαλύψει.
9 And there is a friend who turns into an enemy. He will discover strife to your reproach.
10 Καὶ ἔστι φίλος κοινωνὸς τραπεζῶν, καὶ οὐ μὴ παραμείνῃ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ θλίψεώς σου.
10 And there is a friend who is a companion at the table, but he won’t continue in the day of your affliction.
11 Καὶ ἐν τοῖς ἀγαθοῖς σου ἔσται ὡς σὺ, καὶ ἐπὶ τοὺς οἰκέτας σου παῤῥησιάσεται.
11 In your prosperity he will be as yourself, and will be bold over your servants.
12 Ἐὰν ταπεινωθῇς, ἔσται κατὰ σοῦ, καὶ ἀπὸ τοῦ προσώπου σου κρυβήσεται.
12 If you are brought low, he will be against you, and will hide himself from your face.
13 Ἀπὸ τῶν ἐχθρῶν σου διαχωρίσθητι, καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν φίλων σου πρόσεχε.
13 Separate yourself from your enemies, and beware of your friends.
14 Φίλος πιστὸς σκέπη κραταιὰ, ὁ δὲ εὑρὼν αὐτὸν εὗρε θησαυρόν.
14 A faithful friend is a strong defense. He who has found him has found a treasure.
15 Φίλου πιστοῦ οὐκ ἔστιν ἀντάλλαγμα, καὶ οὐκ ἔστι σταθμὸς τῆς καλλονῆς αὐτοῦ.
15 There is nothing that can be taken in exchange for a faithful friend. His excellency is beyond price.
16 Φίλος πιστὸς φάρμακον ζωῆς, καὶ οἱ φοβούμενοι Κύριον εὑρήσουσιν αὐτόν.
16 A faithful friend is a life-saving medicine. Those who fear the Lord will find him.
17 Ὁ φοβούμενος Κύριον εὐθύνει φιλίαν αὐτοῦ, ὅτι κατʼ αὐτὸν οὕτως καὶ ὁ πλησίον αὐτοῦ.
17 He who fears the Lord directs his friendship properly; for as he is, so is his neighbor also.
18 Τέκνον, ἐκ νεότητός σου ἐπίλεξαι παιδείαν, καὶ ἕως πολιῶν εὑρήσεις σοφίαν.
18 My son, gather instruction from your youth up. Even when you have gray hair you will find wisdom.
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 γεννημάτων αὐτῆς.
19 Come to her as one who plows and sows and wait for her good fruit; for your toil will be little in her cultivation, and you will soon eat of her fruit.
20 Ὡς τραχεῖά ἐστι σφόδρα τοῖς ἀπαιδεύτοις, καὶ οὐκ ἐμμενεῖ ἐν αὐτῇ ἀκάρδιος.
20 How exceedingly harsh she is to the unlearned! He who is without understanding will not remain in her.
21 Ὡς λίθος δοκιμασίας ἰσχυρὸς ἔσται ἐπʼ αὐτῷ, καὶ οὐ χρονιεῖ ἀποῤῥίψαι αὐτήν.
21 She will rest upon him as a mighty stone of trial. He won’t hesitate to cast her from him.
22 Σοφία γὰρ κατὰ τὸ ὄνομα αὐτῆς ἐστι, καὶ οὐ πολλοῖς ἐστι φανερά.
22 For wisdom is according to her name. She isn’t manifest to many.
23 Ἄκουσον, τέκνον, καὶ δέξαι γνώμην μου, καὶ μὴ ἀπαναίνου τὴν συμβουλίαν μου.
23 Give ear, my son, and accept my judgment. Don’t refuse my counsel.
24 Καὶ εἰσένεγκον τοὺς πόδας σου εἰς τὰς πέδας αὐτῆς, καὶ εἰς τὸν κλοίον αὐτῆς τὸν τράχηλόν σου.
24 Bring your feet into her fetters, and your neck into her chain.
25 Ὑπόθες τὸν ὦμόν σοῦ, καὶ βάσταξον αὐτὴν, καὶ μὴ προσοχθίσῃς τοῖς δεσμοῖς αὐτῆς.
25 Put your shoulder under her and bear her. Don’t be grieved with her bonds.
26 Ἐν πάσῃ ψυχῇ σου πρόσελθε αὐτῇ, καὶ ἐν ὅλῃ δυνάμει σου συντήρησον τὰς ὁδοὺς αὐτῆς.
26 Come to her with all your soul. Keep her ways with your whole power.
27 Ἐξίχνεύσον καὶ ζήτησον, καὶ γνωσθήσεταί σοι, καὶ ἐγκρατὴς γενόμενος μὴ ἀφῇς αὐτήν.
27 Search and seek, and she will be made known to you. When you get hold of her, don’t let her go.
28 Ἐπʼ ἐσχάτων γὰρ εὑρήσεις τὴν ἀνάπαυσιν αὐτῆς, καὶ στραφήσεταί σοι εἰς εὐφροσύνην.
28 For at the last you will find her rest; and she will be turned for you into gladness.
29 Καὶ ἔσονταί σοι αἱ πέδαι εἰς σκέπην ἰσχύος, καὶ οἱ κλοιοὶ αὐτῆς εἰς στολὴν δόξης.
29 Her fetters will be to you for a covering of strength, and her chains for a robe of glory.
30 Κόσμος γὰρ χρύσεός ἐστιν ἐπʼ αὐτῆς, καὶ οἱ δεσμοὶ αὐτῆς κλῶσμα ὑακίνθινον.
30 For there is a golden ornament upon her, and her bands are a purple cord.
31 Στολὴν δόξης ἐνδύσῃ αὐτὴν, καὶ στέφανον ἀγαλλιάματος περιθήσεις σεαυτῷ.
31 You shall put her on as a robe of glory, and shall put her on as a crown of rejoicing.
32 Ἐὰν θέλῃς, τέκνον, παιδευθήσῃ, καὶ ἐὰν δῷς τὴν ψυχήν σου, πανοῦργος ἔσῃ.
32 My son, if you are willing, you will be instructed. If you will yield your soul, you will be prudent.
33 Ἐὰν ἀγαπήσῃς ἀκούειν ἐκδέξῃ, καὶ ἐὰν κλίνῃς τὸ οὖς σου σοφὸς ἔσῃ.
33 If you love to hear, you will receive. If you incline your ear, you will be wise.
34 Ἐν πλήθει πρεσβυτέρων στῆθι, καὶ, τίς σοφός; αὐτῷ προσκολλήθητι.
34 Stand in the multitude of the elders. Attach yourself to whomever is wise.
35 Πᾶσαν διήγησιν θείαν θέλε ἀκούειν, καὶ παροιμίαι συνέσεως μὴ ἐκφευγέτωσάν σε.
35 Be willing to listen to every godly discourse. Don’t let the proverbs of understanding escape you.
36 Ἐὰν ἴδῃς συνετὸν, ὄρθριζε πρὸς αὐτὸν, καὶ βαθμοὺς θυρῶν αὐτοῦ ἐκτριβέτω ὁ πούς σου.
36 If you see a man of understanding, get to him early. Let your foot wear out the steps of his doors.
37 Διανοοῦ ἐν τοῖς προστάγμασιν Κυρίου, καὶ ἐν ταῖς ἐντολαῖς αὐτοῦ μελέτα διαπαντός· αὐτὸς στηριεῖ τὴν καρδίαν σου, καὶ ἡ ἐπιθυμία τῆς σοφίας σου δοθήσεταί σοι.
37 Let your mind dwell on the ordinances of the Lord and meditate continually on his commandments. He will establish your heart and your desire for wisdom will be given to you.
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
… followed Him, not as those who were not again to leave Him, but to see where He dwelt, and to fulfill the Scripture: "Let thy foot wear out the threshold of His doors; arise to come to Him continually, and be instructed in His precepts." He showed them where He dwelt: they came and remained with Him.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 7 (1888)
… may "come in in the sight of the Lord." They also may be understood to be fettered, who are enchained with the precepts of wisdom, the which being patiently supported are turned into ornaments: whence it hath been written, "Put thy feet into her fetters." "According to the greatness," he saith, "of Thy arm, receive Thou unto adoption the sons …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 8 (1888)
But since these also, as it is said, put their "feet in the fetters" of wisdom, are taught wisdom (he means the feet of the heart, not of the body), and bound by its golden chains depart not from the path of God, and become not runaways from him; whichever reading we adopt, the truth in the meaning is safe.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 8 (1888)