Sirach 23

1O Lord, father, and sovereign ruler of my life, leave me not to their counsel: nor suffer me to fall by them.

2Who will set scourges over my thoughts, and the discipline of wisdom over my heart, that they spare me not in their ignorances, and that their sins may not appear:

3Lest my ignorances increase, and my offences be multiplied, and my sins abound, and I fall before my adversaries, and my enemy rejoice over me?

4O Lord, father, and God of my life, leave me not to their devices.

5Give me not haughtiness of my eyes, and turn away from me all coveting.

6Take from me the greediness of the belly, and let not the lusts of the flesh take hold of me, and give me not over to a shameless and foolish mind.

7Hear, O ye children, the discipline of the mouth, and he that will keep it shall not perish by his lips, nor be brought to fall into most wicked works.

8A sinner is caught in his own vanity, and the proud and the evil speakers shall fall thereby.

9Let not thy mouth be accustomed to swearing: for in it there are many falls.

10And let not the naming of God be usual in thy mouth, and meddle not with the names of saints, for thou shalt not escape free from them.

11For as a slave daily put to the question, is never without a blue mark: so every one that sweareth, and nameth, shall not be wholly pure from sin.

12A man that sweareth much, shall be filled with iniquity, and a scourge shall not depart from his house.

13And if he make it void, his sin shall be upon him, and if he dissemble it, he offendeth double:

14And if he swear in vain, he shall not be justified: for his house shall be filled with his punishment.

15There is also another speech opposite to death, let it not be found in the inheritance of Jacob.

16For from the merciful all these things shall be taken away, and they shall not wallow in sins.

17Let not thy mouth be accustomed to indiscreet speech: for therein is the word of sin.

18Remember thy father and thy mother, for thou sittest in the midst of great men:

19Lest God forget thee in their sight, and thou, by thy daily custom be infatuated and suffer reproach: and wish that thou hadst not been born, and curse the day of thy nativity.

20The man that is accustomed to opprobrious words, will never be corrected all the days of his life.

21Two sorts of men multiply sins, and the third bringeth wrath and destruction.

22A hot soul is a burning fire, it will never be quenched, till it devour some thing.

23And a man that is wicked in the mouth of his flesh, will not leave off till he hath kindled a fire.

24To a man that is a fornicator all bread is sweet, he will not be weary of sinning unto the end.

25Every man that passeth beyond his own bed, despising his own soul, and saying: Who seeth me?

26Darkness compasseth me about, and the walls cover me, and no man seeth me: whom do I fear? the most High will not remember my sins.

27And he understandeth not that his eye seeth all things, for such a man’s fear driveth him from the fear of God, and the eyes of men fearing him:

28And he knoweth not that the eyes of the Lord are far brighter than the sun, beholding round about all the ways of men, and the bottom of the deep, and looking into the hearts of men, into the most hidden parts.

29For all things were known to the Lord God, before they were created: so also after they were perfected he beholdeth all things.

30This man shall be punished in the streets of the city, and he shall be chased as a colt: and where he suspected not, he shall be taken.

31And he shall be in disgrace with all men, because he understood not the fear of the Lord.

32So every woman also that leaveth her husband, and bringeth in an heir by another:

33For first she hath been unfaithful to the law of the most High: and secondly, she hath offended against her husband: thirdly, she hath fornicated in adultery, and hath gotten her children of another man.

34This woman shall be brought into the assembly, and inquisition shall be made of her children.

35Her children shall not take root, and her branches shall bring forth no fruit.

36She shall leave her memory to be cursed, and her infamy shall not be blotted out.

37And they that remain shall know, that there is nothing better than the fear of God: and that there is nothing sweeter than to have regard to the commandments of the Lord.

38It is great glory to follow the Lord: for length of days shall be received from him.

1Domine, pater et dominator vitæ meæ, ne derelinquas me in consilio eorum, nec sinas me cadere in illis.

2Quis superponet in cogitatu meo flagella, et in corde meo doctrinam sapientiæ, ut ignorationibus eorum non parcant mihi, et non appareant delicta eorum,

3et ne adincrescant ignorantiæ meæ, et multiplicentur delicta mea, et peccata mea abundent, et incidam in conspectu adversariorum meorum, et gaudeat super me inimicus meus?

4Domine, pater et Deus vitæ meæ, ne derelinquas me in cogitatu illorum.

5Extollentiam oculorum meorum ne dederis mihi, et omne desiderium averte a me.

6Aufer a me ventris concupiscentias, et concubitus concupiscentiæ ne apprehendant me, et animæ irreverenti et infrunitæ ne tradas me.

7Doctrinam oris audite, filii : et qui custodierit illam non periet labiis, nec scandalizabitur in operibus nequissimis.

8In vanitate sua apprehenditur peccator : et superbus et maledicus scandalizabitur in illis.

9Jurationi non assuescat os tuum : multi enim casus in illa.

10Nominatio vero Dei non sit assidua in ore tuo, et nominibus sanctorum non admiscearis, quoniam non erit immunis ab eis.

11Sicut enim servus interrogatus assidue a livore non minuitur, sic omnis jurans et nominans in toto a peccato non purgabitur.

12Vir multum jurans implebitur iniquitate, et non discedet a domo illius plaga.

13Et si frustraverit, delictum illius super ipsum erit : et si dissimulaverit, delinquit dupliciter :

14et si in vacuum juraverit, non justificabitur : replebitur enim retributione domus illius.

15Est et alia loquela contraria morti : non inveniatur in hæreditate Jacob.

16Etenim a misericordibus omnia hæc auferentur, et in delictis non volutabuntur.

17Indisciplinatæ loquelæ non assuescat os tuum : est enim in illa verbum peccati.

18Memento patris et matris tuæ : in medio enim magnatorum consistis :

19ne forte obliviscatur te Deus in conspectu illorum, et assiduitate tua infatuatus, improperium patiaris, et maluisses non nasci, et diem nativitatis tuæ maledicas.

20Homo assuetus in verbis improperii in omnibus diebus suis non erudietur.

21Duo genera abundant in peccatis, et tertium adducit iram et perditionem.

22Anima calida quasi ignis ardens, non extinguetur donec aliquid glutiat :

23et homo nequam in ore carnis suæ non desinet donec incendat ignem.

24Homini fornicario omnis panis dulcis : non fatigabitur transgrediens usque ad finem.

25Omnis homo qui transgreditur lectum suum, contemnens in animam suam, et dicens : Quis me videt?

26Tenebræ circumdant me, et parietes cooperiunt me, et nemo circumspicit me : quem vereor? delictorum meorum non memorabitur Altissimus.

27Et non intelligit quoniam omnia videt oculus illius, quoniam expellit a se timorem Dei hujusmodi hominis timor, et oculi hominum timentes illum :

28et non cognovit quoniam oculi Domini multo plus lucidiores sunt super solem, circumspicientes omnes vias hominum, et profundum abyssi, et hominum corda, intuentes in absconditas partes.

29Domino enim Deo antequam crearentur omnia sunt agnita : sic et post perfectum respicit omnia.

30Hic in plateis civitatis vindicabitur, et quasi pullus equinus fugabitur, et ubi non speravit apprehendetur.

31Et erit dedecus omnibus, eo quod non intellexerit timorem Domini.

32Sic et mulier omnis relinquens virum suum, et statuens hæreditatem ex alieno matrimonio :

33primo enim in lege Altissimi incredibilis fuit : secundo in virum suum deliquit : tertio in adulterio fornicata est, et ex alio viro filios statuit sibi.

34Hæc in ecclesiam adducetur, et in filios ejus respicietur :

35non tradent filii ejus radices, et rami ejus non dabunt fructum :

36derelinquet in maledictum memoriam ejus, et dedecus illius non delebitur.

37Et agnoscent qui derelicti sunt, quoniam nihil melius est quam timor Dei, et nihil dulcius quam respicere in mandatis Domini.

38Gloria magna est sequi Dominum : longitudo enim dierum assumetur ab eo.

1κύριε πάτερ καὶ δέσποτα ζωῆς μου μὴ ἐγκαταλίπῃς με ἐν βουλῇ αὐτῶν μὴ ἀφῇς με πεσεῖν ἐν αὐτοῖς

2τίς ἐπιστήσει ἐπὶ τοῦ διανοήματός μου μάστιγας καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς καρδίας μου παιδείαν σοφίας ἵνα ἐπὶ τοῖς ἀγνοήμασίν μου μὴ φείσωνται καὶ οὐ μὴ παρῇ τὰ ἁμαρτήματα αὐτῶν

3ὅπως μὴ πληθυνθῶσιν αἱ ἄγνοιαί μου καὶ αἱ ἁμαρτίαι μου πλεονάσωσιν καὶ πεσοῦμαι ἔναντι τῶν ὑπεναντίων καὶ ἐπιχαρεῖταί μοι ὁ ἐχθρός μου

4κύριε πάτερ καὶ θεὲ ζωῆς μου

5μετεωρισμὸν ὀφθαλμῶν μὴ δῷς μοι καὶ ἐπιθυμίαν ἀπόστρεψον ἀπ' ἐμοῦ

6κοιλίας ὄρεξις καὶ συνουσιασμὸς μὴ καταλαβέτωσάν με καὶ ψυχῇ ἀναιδεῖ μὴ παραδῷς με

7παιδείαν στόματος ἀκούσατε τέκνα καὶ ὁ φυλάσσων οὐ μὴ ἁλῷ ἐν τοῖς χείλεσιν αὐτοῦ

8καταληφθήσεται ἁμαρτωλός καὶ λοίδορος καὶ ὑπερήφανος σκανδαλισθήσονται ἐν αὐτοῖς

9ὅρκῳ μὴ ἐθίσῃς τὸ στόμα σου

10καὶ ὀνομασίᾳ τοῦ ἁγίου μὴ συνεθισθῇς

11ὥσπερ γὰρ οἰκέτης ἐξεταζόμενος ἐνδελεχῶς ἀπὸ μώλωπος οὐκ ἐλαττωθήσεται οὕτως καὶ ὁ ὀμνύων καὶ ὀνομάζων διὰ παντὸς ἀπὸ ἁμαρτίας οὐ μὴ καθαρισθῇ

12ἀνὴρ πολύορκος πλησθήσεται ἀνομίας καὶ οὐκ ἀποστήσεται ἀπὸ τοῦ οἴκου αὐτοῦ μάστιξ

13ἐὰν πλημμελήσῃ ἁμαρτία αὐτοῦ ἐπ' αὐτῷ κἂν ὑπερίδῃ ἥμαρτεν δισσῶς

14καὶ εἰ διὰ κενῆς ὤμοσεν οὐ δικαιωθήσεται πλησθήσεται γὰρ ἐπαγωγῶν ὁ οἶκος αὐτοῦ

15ἔστιν λέξις ἀντιπαραβεβλημένη θανάτῳ μὴ εὑρεθήτω ἐν κληρονομίᾳ Ιακωβ

16ἀπὸ γὰρ εὐσεβῶν ταῦτα πάντα ἀποστήσεται καὶ ἐν ἁμαρτίαις οὐκ ἐγκυλισθήσονται

17ἀπαιδευσίαν ἀσυρῆ μὴ συνεθίσῃς τὸ στόμα σου ἔστιν γὰρ ἐν αὐτῇ λόγος ἁμαρτίας

18μνήσθητι πατρὸς καὶ μητρός σου ἀνὰ μέσον γὰρ μεγιστάνων συνεδρεύεις

19μήποτε ἐπιλάθῃ ἐνώπιον αὐτῶν καὶ τῷ ἐθισμῷ σου μωρανθῇς καὶ θελήσεις εἰ μὴ ἐγεννήθης καὶ τὴν ἡμέραν τοῦ τοκετοῦ σου καταράσῃ

20ἄνθρωπος συνεθιζόμενος λόγοις ὀνειδισμοῦ ἐν πάσαις ταῖς ἡμέραις αὐτοῦ οὐ μὴ παιδευθῇ

21δύο εἴδη πληθύνουσιν ἁμαρτίας καὶ τὸ τρίτον ἐπάξει ὀργήν

22ψυχὴ θερμὴ ὡς πῦρ καιόμενον οὐ μὴ σβεσθῇ ἕως ἂν καταποθῇ

23ἄνθρωπος πόρνος ἐν σώματι σαρκὸς αὐτοῦ οὐ μὴ παύσηται ἕως ἂν ἐκκαύσῃ πῦρ

24ἀνθρώπῳ πόρνῳ πᾶς ἄρτος ἡδύς οὐ μὴ κοπάσῃ ἕως ἂν τελευτήσῃ

25ἄνθρωπος παραβαίνων ἀπὸ τῆς κλίνης αὐτοῦ λέγων ἐν τῇ ψυχῇ αὐτοῦ τίς με ὁρᾷ

26σκότος κύκλῳ μου καὶ οἱ τοῖχοί με καλύπτουσιν καὶ οὐθείς με ὁρᾷ τί εὐλαβοῦμαι τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν μου οὐ μὴ μνησθήσεται ὁ ὕψιστος

27καὶ ὀφθαλμοὶ ἀνθρώπων ὁ φόβος αὐτοῦ

28καὶ οὐκ ἔγνω ὅτι ὀφθαλμοὶ κυρίου μυριοπλασίως ἡλίου φωτεινότεροι ἐπιβλέποντες πάσας ὁδοὺς ἀνθρώπων καὶ κατανοοῦντες εἰς ἀπόκρυφα μέρη

29πρὶν ἢ κτισθῆναι τὰ πάντα ἔγνωσται αὐτῷ οὕτως καὶ μετὰ τὸ συντελεσθῆναι

30οὗτος ἐν πλατείαις πόλεως ἐκδικηθήσεται καὶ οὗ οὐχ ὑπενόησεν πιασθήσεται

32οὕτως καὶ γυνὴ καταλιποῦσα τὸν ἄνδρα καὶ παριστῶσα κληρονόμον ἐξ ἀλλοτρίου

33πρῶτον μὲν γὰρ ἐν νόμῳ ὑψίστου ἠπείθησεν καὶ δεύτερον εἰς ἄνδρα αὐτῆς ἐπλημμέλησεν καὶ τὸ τρίτον ἐν πορνείᾳ ἐμοιχεύθη καὶ ἐξ ἀλλοτρίου ἀνδρὸς τέκνα παρέστησεν

34αὕτη εἰς ἐκκλησίαν ἐξαχθήσεται καὶ ἐπὶ τὰ τέκνα αὐτῆς ἐπισκοπὴ ἔσται

35οὐ διαδώσουσιν τὰ τέκνα αὐτῆς εἰς ῥίζαν καὶ οἱ κλάδοι αὐτῆς οὐκ οἴσουσιν καρπόν

36καταλείψει εἰς κατάραν τὸ μνημόσυνον αὐτῆς καὶ τὸ ὄνειδος αὐτῆς οὐκ ἐξαλειφθήσεται

37καὶ ἐπιγνώσονται οἱ καταλειφθέντες ὅτι οὐθὲν κρεῖττον φόβου κυρίου καὶ οὐθὲν γλυκύτερον τοῦ προσέχειν ἐντολαῖς κυρίου