Sirach 40

Great labour is created for all men, and a heavy yoke is upon the children of Adam from the day of their coming out of their mother’s womb, until the day of their burial into the mother of all.

Occupatio magna creata est omnibus hominibus, et jugum grave super filios Adam, a die exitus de ventre matris eorum usque in diem sepulturæ in matrem omnium.

ἀσχολία μεγάλη ἔκτισται παντὶ ἀνθρώπῳ καὶ ζυγὸς βαρὺς ἐπὶ υἱοὺς Αδαμ ἀφ' ἡμέρας ἐξόδου ἐκ γαστρὸς μητρὸς αὐτῶν ἕως ἡμέρας ἐπιστροφῆς εἰς μητέρα πάντων

Their thoughts, and fears of the heart, their imagination of things to come, and the day of their end:

Cogitationes eorum, et timores cordis, adinventio exspectationis, et dies finitionis,

τοὺς διαλογισμοὺς αὐτῶν καὶ φόβον καρδίας ἐπίνοια προσδοκίας ἡμέρα τελευτῆς

From him that sitteth on a glorious throne, unto him that is humbled in earth and ashes:

a residente super sedem gloriosam, usque ad humiliatum in terra et cinere :

ἀπὸ καθημένου ἐπὶ θρόνου ἐνδόξου καὶ ἕως τεταπεινωμένου ἐν γῇ καὶ σποδῷ

From him that weareth purple, and beareth the crown, even to him that is covered with rough linen: wrath, envy, trouble, unquietness, and the fear of death, continual anger, and strife,

ab eo qui utitur hyacintho et portat coronam, usque ad eum qui operitur lino crudo : furor, zelus, tumultus, fluctuatio, et timor mortis, iracundia perseverans, et contentio :

ἀπὸ φοροῦντος ὑακίνθινον καὶ στέφανον καὶ ἕως περιβαλλομένου ὠμόλινον θυμὸς καὶ ζῆλος καὶ ταραχὴ καὶ σάλος καὶ φόβος θανάτου καὶ μηνίαμα καὶ ἔρις

And in the time of rest upon his bed, the sleep of the night changeth his knowledge.

et in tempore refectionis in cubili, somnus noctis immutat scientiam ejus.

καὶ ἐν καιρῷ ἀναπαύσεως ἐπὶ κοίτης ὕπνος νυκτὸς ἀλλοιοῖ γνῶσιν αὐτοῦ

A little and as nothing is his rest, and afterward in sleep, as in the day of keeping watch.

Modicum tamquam nihil in requie, et ab eo in somnis, quasi in die respectus.

ὀλίγον ὡς οὐδὲν ἐν ἀναπαύσει καὶ ἀπ' ἐκείνου ἐν ὕπνοις ὡς ἐν ἡμέρᾳ σκοπιᾶς

He is troubled in the vision of his heart, as if he had escaped in the day of battle. In the time of his safety he rose up, and wondereth that there is no fear.

Conturbatus est in visu cordis sui, tamquam qui evaserit in die belli : in tempore salutis suæ exsurrexit, et admirans ad nullum timorem :

τεθορυβημένος ἐν ὁράσει καρδίας αὐτοῦ ὡς ἐκπεφευγὼς ἀπὸ προσώπου πολέμου ἐν καιρῷ χρείας αὐτοῦ ἐξηγέρθη καὶ ἀποθαυμάζων εἰς οὐδένα φόβον

Such things happen to all flesh, from man even to beast, and upon sinners are sevenfold more.

cum omni carne, ab homine usque ad pecus, et super peccatores septuplum.

μετὰ πάσης σαρκὸς ἀπὸ ἀνθρώπου ἕως κτήνους καὶ ἐπὶ ἁμαρτωλῶν ἑπταπλάσια

Moreover, death, and bloodshed, strife, and sword, oppressions, famine, and affliction, and scourges:

Ad hæc mors, sanguis, contentio, et rhomphæa, oppressiones, fames, et contritio, et flagella :

πρὸς ταῦτα θάνατος καὶ αἷμα καὶ ἔρις καὶ ῥομφαία ἐπαγωγαί λιμὸς καὶ σύντριμμα καὶ μάστιξ

All these things are created for the wicked, and for their sakes came the flood.

super iniquos creata sunt hæc omnia : et propter illos factus est cataclysmus.

ἐπὶ τοὺς ἀνόμους ἐκτίσθη ταῦτα πάντα καὶ δι' αὐτοὺς ἐγένετο ὁ κατακλυσμός

All things that are of the earth, shall return to the earth again, and all waters shall return to the sea.

Omnia quæ de terra sunt in terram convertentur, et omnes aquæ in mare revertentur.

πάντα ὅσα ἀπὸ γῆς εἰς γῆν ἀναστρέφει καὶ ἀπὸ ὑδάτων εἰς θάλασσαν ἀνακάμπτει

All bribery, and injustice shall be blotted out, and fidelity shall stand for ever.

Omne munus et iniquitas delebitur, et fides in sæculum stabit.

πᾶν δῶρον καὶ ἀδικία ἐξαλειφθήσεται καὶ πίστις εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα στήσεται

The riches of the unjust shall be dried up like a river, and shall pass away with a noise like a great thunder in rain.

Substantiæ injustorum sicut fluvius siccabuntur, et sicut tonitruum magnum in pluvia personabunt.

χρήματα ἀδίκων ὡς ποταμὸς ξηρανθήσεται καὶ ὡς βροντὴ μεγάλη ἐν ὑετῷ ἐξηχήσει

While he openeth his hands he shall rejoice: but transgressors shall pine away in the end.

In aperiendo manus suas lætabitur : sic prævaricatores in consummatione tabescent.

ἐν τῷ ἀνοῖξαι αὐτὸν χεῖρας εὐφρανθήσεται οὕτως οἱ παραβαίνοντες εἰς συντέλειαν ἐκλείψουσιν

The offspring of the ungodly shall not bring forth many branches, and make a noise as unclean roots upon the top of a rock.

Nepotes impiorum non multiplicabunt ramos : et radices immundæ super cacumen petræ sonant.

ἔκγονα ἀσεβῶν οὐ πληθυνεῖ κλάδους καὶ ῥίζαι ἀκάθαρτοι ἐπ' ἀκροτόμου πέτρας

The weed growing over every water, and at the bank of the river, shall be pulled up before all grass.

Super omnem aquam viriditas, et ad oram fluminis ante omne fœnum evelletur.

ἄχι ἐπὶ παντὸς ὕδατος καὶ χείλους ποταμοῦ πρὸ παντὸς χόρτου ἐκτιλήσεται

Grace is like a paradise in blessings, and mercy remaineth for ever.

Gratia sicut paradisus in benedictionibus, et misericordia in sæculum permanet.

χάρις ὡς παράδεισος ἐν εὐλογίαις καὶ ἐλεημοσύνη εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα διαμενεῖ

The life of a laborer that is content with what he hath, shall be sweet, and in it thou shalt find a treasure.

Vita sibi sufficientis operarii condulcabitur, et in ea invenies thesaurum.

ζωὴ αὐτάρκους καὶ ἐργάτου γλυκανθήσεται καὶ ὑπὲρ ἀμφότερα ὁ εὑρίσκων θησαυρόν

Children, and the building of a city shall establish a name, but a blameless wife shall be counted above them both.

Filii et ædificatio civitatis confirmabit nomen : et super hæc mulier immaculata computabitur.

τέκνα καὶ οἰκοδομὴ πόλεως στηρίζουσιν ὄνομα καὶ ὑπὲρ ἀμφότερα γυνὴ ἄμωμος λογίζεται

Wine and music rejoice the heart, but the love of wisdom is above them both.

Vinum et musica lætificant cor : et super utraque dilectio sapientiæ.

οἶνος καὶ μουσικὰ εὐφραίνουσιν καρδίαν καὶ ὑπὲρ ἀμφότερα ἀγάπησις σοφίας

The flute and the psaltery make a sweet melody, but a pleasant tongue is above them both.

Tibiæ et psalterium suavem faciunt melodiam : et super utraque lingua suavis.

αὐλὸς καὶ ψαλτήριον ἡδύνουσιν μέλη καὶ ὑπὲρ ἀμφότερα γλῶσσα ἡδεῖα

Thy eye desireth favour and beauty, but more than these green sown fields.

Gratiam et speciem desiderabit oculus tuus : et super hæc virides sationes.

χάριν καὶ κάλλος ἐπιθυμήσει ὀφθαλμὸς καὶ ὑπὲρ ἀμφότερα χλόην σπόρου

A friend and companion meeting together in season, but above them both is a wife with her husband.

Amicus et sodalis in tempore convenientes, et super utrosque mulier cum viro.

φίλος καὶ ἑταῖρος εἰς καιρὸν ἀπαντῶντες καὶ ὑπὲρ ἀμφότερα γυνὴ μετὰ ἀνδρός

Brethren are a help in the time of trouble, but mercy shall deliver more than they.

Fratres in adjutorium in tempore tribulationis : et super eos misericordia liberabit.

ἀδελφοὶ καὶ βοήθεια εἰς καιρὸν θλίψεως καὶ ὑπὲρ ἀμφότερα ἐλεημοσύνη ῥύσεται

Gold and silver make the feet stand sure: but wise counsel is above them both.

Aurum et argentum est constitutio pedum : et super utrumque consilium beneplacitum.

χρυσίον καὶ ἀργύριον ἐπιστήσουσιν πόδα καὶ ὑπὲρ ἀμφότερα βουλὴ εὐδοκιμεῖται

Riches and strength lift up the heart: but above these is the fear of the Lord.

Facultates et virtutes exaltant cor, et super hæc timor Domini.

χρήματα καὶ ἰσχὺς ἀνυψώσουσιν καρδίαν καὶ ὑπὲρ ἀμφότερα φόβος κυρίου

There is no want in the fear of the Lord, and it needeth not to seek for help.

Non est in timore Domini minoratio : et non est in eo inquirere adjutorium.

οὐκ ἔστιν ἐν φόβῳ κυρίου ἐλάττωσις καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ἐπιζητῆσαι ἐν αὐτῷ βοήθειαν

The fear of the Lord is like a paradise of blessing, and they have covered it above all glory.

Timor Domini sicut paradisus benedictionis, et super omnem gloriam operuerunt illum.

φόβος κυρίου ὡς παράδεισος εὐλογίας καὶ ὑπὲρ πᾶσαν δόξαν ἐκάλυψεν αὐτόν

My son, in thy lifetime be not indigent: for it is better to die than to want.

Fili, in tempore vitæ tuæ ne indigeas : melius est enim mori quam indigere.

τέκνον ζωὴν ἐπαιτήσεως μὴ βιώσῃς κρεῖσσον ἀποθανεῖν ἢ ἐπαιτεῖν

The life of him that looketh toward another man’s table is not to be counted a life: for he feedeth his soul with another man’s meat.

Vir respiciens in mensam alienam, non est vita ejus in cogitatione victus : alit enim animam suam cibis alienis :

ἀνὴρ βλέπων εἰς τράπεζαν ἀλλοτρίαν οὐκ ἔστιν αὐτοῦ ὁ βίος ἐν λογισμῷ ζωῆς ἀλισγήσει ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ ἐν ἐδέσμασιν ἀλλοτρίοις

But a man, well instructed and taught, will look to himself.

vir autem disciplinatus et eruditus custodiet se.

ἀνὴρ δὲ ἐπιστήμων καὶ πεπαιδευμένος φυλάξεται

Begging will be sweet in the mouth of the unwise, but in his belly there shall burn a fire.

In ore imprudentis condulcabitur inopia, et in ventre ejus ignis ardebit.

ἐν στόματι ἀναιδοῦς γλυκανθήσεται ἐπαίτησις καὶ ἐν κοιλίᾳ αὐτοῦ πῦρ καήσεται