Sirach 8

Strive not with a powerful man, lest thou fall into his hands.

Non litiges cum homine potente, ne forte incidas in manus illius.

μὴ διαμάχου μετὰ ἀνθρώπου δυνάστου μήποτε ἐμπέσῃς εἰς τὰς χεῖρας αὐτοῦ

Contend not with a rich man, lest he bring an action against thee.

Non contendas cum viro locuplete, ne forte contra te constituat litem tibi :

μὴ ἔριζε μετὰ ἀνθρώπου πλουσίου μήποτε ἀντιστήσῃ σου τὴν ὁλκήν

For gold and silver hath destroyed many, and hath reached even to the heart of kings, and perverted them.

multos enim perdidit aurum et argentum, et usque ad cor regum extendit et convertit.

πολλοὺς γὰρ ἀπώλεσεν τὸ χρυσίον καὶ καρδίας βασιλέων ἐξέκλινεν

Strive not with a man that is full of tongue, and heap not wood upon his fire.

Non litiges cum homine linguato, et non strues in ignem illius ligna.

μὴ διαμάχου μετὰ ἀνθρώπου γλωσσώδους καὶ μὴ ἐπιστοιβάσῃς ἐπὶ τὸ πῦρ αὐτοῦ ξύλα

Communicate not with an ignorant man, lest he speak ill of thy family.

Non communices homini indocto, ne male de progenie tua loquatur.

μὴ πρόσπαιζε ἀπαιδεύτῳ ἵνα μὴ ἀτιμάζωνται οἱ πρόγονοί σου

Despise not a man that turneth away from sin, nor reproach him therewith: remember that we are all worthy of reproof.

Ne despicias hominem avertentem se a peccato, neque improperes ei : memento quoniam omnes in correptione sumus.

μὴ ὀνείδιζε ἄνθρωπον ἀποστρέφοντα ἀπὸ ἁμαρτίας μνήσθητι ὅτι πάντες ἐσμὲν ἐν ἐπιτίμοις

Despise not a man in his old age; for we also shall become old.

Ne spernas hominem in sua senectute, etenim ex nobis senescunt.

μὴ ἀτιμάσῃς ἄνθρωπον ἐν γήρᾳ αὐτοῦ καὶ γὰρ ἐξ ἡμῶν γηράσκουσιν

Rejoice not at the death of thy enemy; knowing that we all die, and are not willing that others should rejoice at our death.

Noli de mortuo inimico tuo gaudere : sciens quoniam omnes morimur, et in gaudium nolumus venire.

μὴ ἐπίχαιρε ἐπὶ νεκρῷ μνήσθητι ὅτι πάντες τελευτῶμεν

Despise not the discourse of them that are ancient and wise, but acquaint thyself with their proverbs.

Ne despicias narrationem presbyterorum sapientium, et in proverbiis eorum conversare :

μὴ παρίδῃς διήγημα σοφῶν καὶ ἐν ταῖς παροιμίαις αὐτῶν ἀναστρέφου

For of them thou shalt learn wisdom, and instruction of understanding, and to serve great men without blame.

ab ipsis enim disces sapientiam et doctrinam intellectus, et servire magnatis sine querela.

ὅτι παρ' αὐτῶν μαθήσῃ παιδείαν καὶ λειτουργῆσαι μεγιστᾶσιν

Let not the discourse of the ancients escape thee, for they have learned of their fathers:

Non te prætereat narratio seniorum, ipsi enim didicerunt a patribus suis :

μὴ ἀστόχει διηγήματος γερόντων καὶ γὰρ αὐτοὶ ἔμαθον παρὰ τῶν πατέρων αὐτῶν

For of them thou shalt learn understanding, and to give an answer in time of need.

quoniam ab ipsis disces intellectum, et in tempore necessitatis dare responsum.

ὅτι παρ' αὐτῶν μαθήσῃ σύνεσιν καὶ ἐν καιρῷ χρείας δοῦναι ἀπόκρισιν

Kindle not the coals of sinners by rebuking them, lest thou be burnt with the flame of the fire of their sins.

Non incendas carbones peccatorum arguens eos, et ne incendaris flamma ignis peccatorum illorum.

μὴ ἔκκαιε ἄνθρακας ἁμαρτωλοῦ μὴ ἐμπυρισθῇς ἐν πυρὶ φλογὸς αὐτοῦ

Stand not against the face of an injurious person, lest he sit as a spy to entrap thee in thy words.

Ne contra faciem stes contumeliosi, ne sedeat quasi insidiator ori tuo.

μὴ ἐξαναστῇς ἀπὸ προσώπου ὑβριστοῦ ἵνα μὴ ἐγκαθίσῃ ὡς ἔνεδρον τῷ στόματί σου

Lend not to a man that is mightier than thyself: and if thou lendest, count it as lost.

Noli fœnerari homini fortiori te : quod si fœneraveris, quasi perditum habe.

μὴ δανείσῃς ἀνθρώπῳ ἰσχυροτέρῳ σου καὶ ἐὰν δανείσῃς ὡς ἀπολωλεκὼς γίνου

Be not surety above thy power: and if thou be surety, think as if thou wert to pay it.

Non spondeas super virtutem tuam : quod si spoponderis, quasi restituens cogita.

μὴ ἐγγυήσῃ ὑπὲρ δύναμίν σου καὶ ἐὰν ἐγγυήσῃ ὡς ἀποτείσων φρόντιζε

Judge not against a judge: for he judgeth according to that which is just.

Non judices contra judicem, quoniam secundum quod justum est judicat.

μὴ δικάζου μετὰ κριτοῦ κατὰ γὰρ τὴν δόξαν αὐτοῦ κρινοῦσιν αὐτῷ

Go not on the way with a bold man, lest he burden thee with his evils: for he goeth according to his own will, and thou shalt perish together with his folly.

Cum audace non eas in via, ne forte gravet mala sua in te : ipse enim secundum voluntatem suam vadit, et simul cum stultitia illius peries.

μετὰ τολμηροῦ μὴ πορεύου ἐν ὁδῷ ἵνα μὴ βαρύνηται κατὰ σοῦ αὐτὸς γὰρ κατὰ τὸ θέλημα αὐτοῦ ποιήσει καὶ τῇ ἀφροσύνῃ αὐτοῦ συναπολῇ

Quarrel not with a passionate man, and go not into the desert with a bold man: for blood is as nothing in his sight, and where there is no help he will overthrow thee.

Cum iracundo non facias rixam, et cum audace non eas in desertum : quoniam quasi nihil est ante illum sanguis, et ubi non est adjutorium, elidet te.

μετὰ θυμώδους μὴ ποιήσῃς μάχην καὶ μὴ διαπορεύου μετ' αὐτοῦ τὴν ἔρημον ὅτι ὡς οὐδὲν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς αὐτοῦ αἷμα καὶ ὅπου οὐκ ἔστιν βοήθεια καταβαλεῖ σε

Advise not with fools, for they cannot love but such things as please them.

Cum fatuis consilium non habeas : non enim poterunt diligere nisi quæ eis placent.

μετὰ μωροῦ μὴ συμβουλεύου οὐ γὰρ δυνήσεται λόγον στέξαι

Before a stranger do no matter of counsel: for thou knowest not what he will bring forth.

Coram extraneo ne facias consilium : nescis enim quid pariet.

ἐνώπιον ἀλλοτρίου μὴ ποιήσῃς κρυπτόν οὐ γὰρ γινώσκεις τί τέξεται

Open not thy heart to every man: lest he repay thee with an evil turn, and speak reproachfully to thee.

Non omni homini cor tuum manifestes, ne forte inferat tibi gratiam falsam, et convicietur tibi.

παντὶ ἀνθρώπῳ μὴ ἔκφαινε σὴν καρδίαν καὶ μὴ ἀναφερέτω σοι χάριν