Sirach 18

He that liveth for ever created all things together. God only shall be justified, and he remaineth an invincible king for ever.

Qui vivet in æternum creavit omnia simul. Deus solus justificabitur, et manet invictus rex in æternum.

ὁ ζῶν εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα ἔκτισεν τὰ πάντα κοινῇ κύριος μόνος δικαιωθήσεται

Who is able to declare his works?

Quis sufficit enarrare opera illius?

οὐθενὶ ἐξεποίησεν ἐξαγγεῖλαι τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ

For who shall search out his glorious acts?

quis enim investigabit magnalia ejus?

καὶ τίς ἐξιχνεύσει τὰ μεγαλεῖα αὐτοῦ

And who shall show forth the power of his majesty? or who shall be able to declare his mercy?

virtutem autem magnitudinis ejus quis enuntiabit? aut quis adjiciet enarrare misericordiam ejus?

κράτος μεγαλωσύνης αὐτοῦ τίς ἐξαριθμήσεται καὶ τίς προσθήσει ἐκδιηγήσασθαι τὰ ἐλέη αὐτοῦ

Nothing may be taken away, nor added, neither is it possible to find out the glorious works of God.

Non est minuere neque adjicere, nec est invenire magnalia Dei.

οὐκ ἔστιν ἐλαττῶσαι οὐδὲ προσθεῖναι καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ἐξιχνιάσαι τὰ θαυμάσια τοῦ κυρίου

When a man hath done, then shall he begin: and when he leaveth off, he shall be at a loss.

Cum consummaverit homo, tunc incipiet : et cum quieverit, aporiabitur.

ὅταν συντελέσῃ ἄνθρωπος τότε ἄρχεται καὶ ὅταν παύσηται τότε ἀπορηθήσεται

What is man, and what is his grace? and what is his good, or what is his evil?

Quid est homo? et quæ est gratia illius? et quid bonum aut quid nequam illius?

τί ἄνθρωπος καὶ τί ἡ χρῆσις αὐτοῦ τί τὸ ἀγαθὸν αὐτοῦ καὶ τί τὸ κακὸν αὐτοῦ

The number of the days of men at the most are a hundred years, as a drop of water of the sea are they esteemed: and as a pebble of the sand, so are a few years compared to eternity.

Numerus dierum hominum, ut multum centum anni, quasi gutta aquæ maris deputati sunt : et sicut calculus arenæ, sic exigui anni in die ævi.

ἀριθμὸς ἡμερῶν ἀνθρώπου πολλὰ ἔτη ἑκατόν ὡς σταγὼν ὕδατος ἀπὸ θαλάσσης καὶ ψῆφος ἄμμου οὕτως ὀλίγα ἔτη ἐν ἡμέρᾳ αἰῶνος

Therefore God is patient in them, and poureth forth his mercy upon them.

Propter hoc patiens est Deus in illis, et effundit super eos misericordiam suam.

διὰ τοῦτο ἐμακροθύμησεν κύριος ἐπ' αὐτοῖς καὶ ἐξέχεεν ἐπ' αὐτοὺς τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ

He hath seen the presumption of their heart that it is wicked, and hath known their end that it is evil.

Vidit præsumptionem cordis eorum, quoniam mala est : et cognovit subversionem illorum, quoniam nequam est.

εἶδεν καὶ ἐπέγνω τὴν καταστροφὴν αὐτῶν ὅτι πονηρά

Therefore hath he filled up his mercy in their favour, and hath shown them the way of justice.

Ideo adimplevit propitiationem suam in illis, et ostendit eis viam æquitatis.

διὰ τοῦτο ἐπλήθυνεν τὸν ἐξιλασμὸν αὐτοῦ

The compassion of man is toward his neighbour: but the mercy of God is upon all flesh.

Miseratio hominis circa proximum suum : misericordia autem Dei super omnem carnem.

ἔλεος ἀνθρώπου ἐπὶ τὸν πλησίον αὐτοῦ ἔλεος δὲ κυρίου ἐπὶ πᾶσαν σάρκα

He hath mercy, and teacheth, and correcteth, as a shepherd doth his flock.

Qui misericordiam habet, docet et erudit quasi pastor gregem suum.

ἐλέγχων καὶ παιδεύων καὶ διδάσκων καὶ ἐπιστρέφων ὡς ποιμὴν τὸ ποίμνιον αὐτοῦ

He hath mercy on him that receiveth the discipline of mercy, and that maketh haste in his judgments.

Miseretur excipientis doctrinam miserationis, et qui festinat in judiciis ejus.

τοὺς ἐκδεχομένους παιδείαν ἐλεᾷ καὶ τοὺς κατασπεύδοντας ἐπὶ τὰ κρίματα αὐτοῦ

My son, in thy good deeds, make no complaint, and when thou givest any thing, add not grief by an evil word.

Fili, in bonis non des querelam, et in omni dato non des tristitiam verbi mali.

τέκνον ἐν ἀγαθοῖς μὴ δῷς μῶμον καὶ ἐν πάσῃ δόσει λύπην λόγων

Shall not the dew assuage the heat? so also the good word is better than the gift.

Nonne ardorem refrigerabit ros? sic et verbum melius quam datum.

οὐχὶ καύσωνα ἀναπαύσει δρόσος οὕτως κρείσσων λόγος ἢ δόσις

Lo, is not a word better than a gift? but both are with a justified man.

Nonne ecce verbum super datum bonum? sed utraque cum homine justificato.

οὐκ ἰδοὺ λόγος ὑπὲρ δόμα ἀγαθόν καὶ ἀμφότερα παρὰ ἀνδρὶ κεχαριτωμένῳ

A fool will upbraid bitterly: and a gift of one ill taught consumeth the eyes.

Stultus acriter improperabit : et datus indisciplinati tabescere facit oculos.

μωρὸς ἀχαρίστως ὀνειδιεῖ καὶ δόσις βασκάνου ἐκτήκει ὀφθαλμούς

Before judgment prepare thee justice, and learn before thou speak.

Ante judicium para justitiam tibi, et antequam loquaris, disce.

πρὶν ἢ λαλῆσαι μάνθανε

Before sickness take a medicine, and before judgment examine thyself, and thou shalt find mercy in the sight of God.

Ante languorem adhibe medicinam : et ante judicium interroga teipsum, et in conspectu Dei invenies propitiationem.

καὶ πρὸ ἀρρωστίας θεραπεύου πρὸ κρίσεως ἐξέταζε σεαυτόν καὶ ἐν ὥρᾳ ἐπισκοπῆς εὑρήσεις ἐξιλασμόν

Humble thyself before thou art sick, and in the time of sickness show thy conversation.

Ante languorem humilia te, et in tempore infirmitatis ostende conversationem tuam.

πρὶν ἀρρωστῆσαί σε ταπεινώθητι καὶ ἐν καιρῷ ἁμαρτημάτων δεῖξον ἐπιστροφήν

Let nothing hinder thee from praying always, and be not afraid to be justified even to death: for the reward of God continueth for ever.

Non impediaris orare semper, et ne verearis usque ad mortem justificari, quoniam merces Dei manet in æternum.

μὴ ἐμποδισθῇς τοῦ ἀποδοῦναι εὐχὴν εὐκαίρως καὶ μὴ μείνῃς ἕως θανάτου δικαιωθῆναι

Before prayer prepare thy soul: and be not as a man that tempteth God.

Ante orationem præpara animam tuam, et noli esse quasi homo qui tentat Deum.

πρὶν εὔξασθαι ἑτοίμασον σεαυτὸν καὶ μὴ γίνου ὡς ἄνθρωπος πειράζων τὸν κύριον

Remember the wrath that shall be at the last day, and the time of repaying when he shall turn away his face.

Memento iræ in die consummationis, et tempus retributionis in conversatione faciei.

μνήσθητι θυμοῦ ἐν ἡμέραις τελευτῆς καὶ καιρὸν ἐκδικήσεως ἐν ἀποστροφῇ προσώπου

Remember poverty in the time of abundance, and the necessities of poverty in the day of riches.

Memento paupertatis in tempore abundantiæ, et necessitatum paupertatis in die divitiarum.

μνήσθητι καιρὸν λιμοῦ ἐν καιρῷ πλησμονῆς πτωχείαν καὶ ἔνδειαν ἐν ἡμέραις πλούτου

From the morning until the evening the time shall be changed, and all these are swift in the eyes of God.

A mane usque ad vesperam immutabitur tempus, et hæc omnia citata in oculis Dei.

ἀπὸ πρωίθεν ἕως ἑσπέρας μεταβάλλει καιρός καὶ πάντα ἐστὶν ταχινὰ ἔναντι κυρίου

A wise man will fear in every thing, and in the days of sins will beware of sloth.

Homo sapiens in omnibus metuet, et in diebus delictorum attendet ab inertia.

ἄνθρωπος σοφὸς ἐν παντὶ εὐλαβηθήσεται καὶ ἐν ἡμέραις ἁμαρτιῶν προσέξει ἀπὸ πλημμελείας

Every man of understanding knoweth wisdom, and will give praise to him that findeth her.

Omnis astutus agnoscit sapientiam, et invenienti eam dabit confessionem.

πᾶς συνετὸς ἔγνω σοφίαν καὶ τῷ εὑρόντι αὐτὴν δώσει ἐξομολόγησιν

They that were of good understanding in words, have also done wisely themselves: and have understood truth and justice, and have poured forth proverbs and judgments.

Sensati in verbis et ipsi sapienter egerunt, et intellexerunt veritatem et justitiam, et impleverunt proverbia et judicia.

συνετοὶ ἐν λόγοις καὶ αὐτοὶ ἐσοφίσαντο καὶ ἀνώμβρησαν παροιμίας ἀκριβεῖς

Go not after thy lusts, but turn away from thy own will.

Post concupiscentias tuas non eas, et a voluntate tua avertere.

ὀπίσω τῶν ἐπιθυμιῶν σου μὴ πορεύου καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν ὀρέξεών σου κωλύου

If thou give to thy soul her desires, she will make thee a joy to thy enemies.

Si præstes animæ tuæ concupiscentias ejus, faciat te in gaudium inimicis tuis.

ἐὰν χορηγήσῃς τῇ ψυχῇ σου εὐδοκίαν ἐπιθυμίας ποιήσει σε ἐπίχαρμα τῶν ἐχθρῶν σου

Take no pleasure in riotous assemblies, be they ever so small: for their concertation is continual.

Ne oblecteris in turbis nec in modicis : assidua enim est commissio illorum.

μὴ εὐφραίνου ἐπὶ πολλῇ τρυφῇ μὴ προσδεθῇς συμβολῇ αὐτῆς

Make not thyself poor by borrowing to contribute to feasts when thou hast nothing in thy purse: for thou shalt be an enemy to thy own life.

Ne fueris mediocris in contentione ex fœnore, et est tibi nihil in sacculo : eris enim invidus vitæ tuæ.

μὴ γίνου πτωχὸς συμβολοκοπῶν ἐκ δανεισμοῦ καὶ οὐδέν σοί ἐστιν ἐν μαρσιππίῳ