Sirach 18

Apo

1 He that liveth for ever Hath created all things in general.

2 The Lord only is righteous, and there is none other but he,

3 Who governeth the world with the palm of his hand, and all things obey his will: for he is the King of all, by his power dividing holy things among them from profane.

4 To whom hath he given power to declare his works? and who shall find out his noble acts?

5 Who shall number the strength of his majesty? and who shall also tell out his mercies?

6 As for the wondrous works of the Lord, there may nothing be taken from them, neither may any thing be put unto them, neither can the ground of them be found out.

7 When a man hath done, then he beginneth; and when he leaveth off, then he shall be doubtful.

8 What is man, and whereto serveth he? what is his good, and what is his evil?

9 The number of a man's days at the most are an hundred years.

10 As a drop of water unto the sea, and a gravelstone in comparison of the sand; so are a thousand years to the days of eternity.

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

12 He saw and perceived their end to be evil; therefore he multiplied his compassion.

13 The mercy of man is toward his neighbour; but the mercy of the Lord is upon all flesh: he reproveth, and nurtureth, and teacheth and bringeth again, as a shepherd his flock.

14 He hath mercy on them that receive discipline, and that diligently seek after his judgments.

15 My son, blemish not thy good deeds, neither use uncomfortable words when thou givest any thing.

16 Shall not the dew asswage the heat? so is a word better than a gift.

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

18 A fool will upbraid churlishly, and a gift of the envious consumeth the eyes.

19 Learn before thou speak, and use physick or ever thou be sick.

20 Before judgment examine thyself, and in the day of visitation thou shalt find mercy.

21 Humble thyself before thou be sick, and in the time of sins shew repentance.

22 Let nothing hinder thee to pay thy vow in due time, and defer not until death to be justified.

23 Before thou prayest, prepare thyself; and be not as one that tempteth the Lord.

24 Think upon the wrath that shall be at the end, and the time of vengeance, when he shall turn away his face.

25 When thou hast enough, remember the time of hunger: and when thou art rich, think upon poverty and need.

26 From the morning until the evening the time is changed, and all things are soon done before the Lord.

27 A wise man will fear in every thing, and in the day of sinning he will beware of offence: but a fool will not observe time.

28 Every man of understanding knoweth wisdom, and will give praise unto him that found her.

29 They that were of understanding in sayings became also wise themselves, and poured forth exquisite parables.

30 Go not after thy lusts, but refrain thyself from thine appetites.

31 If thou givest thy soul the desires that please her, she will make thee a laughingstock to thine enemies that malign thee.

32 Take not pleasure in much good cheer, neither be tied to the expence thereof.

33 Be not made a beggar by banqueting upon borrowing, when thou hast nothing in thy purse: for thou shalt lie in wait for thine own life, and be talked on.

Sep

1 ὁ ζῶν εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα ἔκτισεν τὰ πάντα κοινῇ

2 κύριος μόνος δικαιωθήσεται

4 οὐθενὶ ἐξεποίησεν ἐξαγγεῖλαι τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ καὶ τίς ἐξιχνεύσει τὰ μεγαλεῖα αὐτοῦ

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

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

7 ὅταν συντελέσῃ ἄνθρωπος τότε ἄρχεται καὶ ὅταν παύσηται τότε ἀπορηθήσεται

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

9 ἀριθμὸς ἡμερῶν ἀνθρώπου πολλὰ ἔτη ἑκατόν

10 ὡς σταγὼν ὕδατος ἀπὸ θαλάσσης καὶ ψῆφος ἄμμου οὕτως ὀλίγα ἔτη ἐν ἡμέρᾳ αἰῶνος

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

12 εἶδεν καὶ ἐπέγνω τὴν καταστροφὴν αὐτῶν ὅτι πονηρά διὰ τοῦτο ἐπλήθυνεν τὸν ἐξιλασμὸν αὐτοῦ

13 ἔλεος ἀνθρώπου ἐπὶ τὸν πλησίον αὐτοῦ ἔλεος δὲ κυρίου ἐπὶ πᾶσαν σάρκα ἐλέγχων καὶ παιδεύων καὶ διδάσκων καὶ ἐπιστρέφων ὡς ποιμὴν τὸ ποίμνιον αὐτοῦ

14 τοὺς ἐκδεχομένους παιδείαν ἐλεᾷ καὶ τοὺς κατασπεύδοντας ἐπὶ τὰ κρίματα αὐτοῦ

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

16 οὐχὶ καύσωνα ἀναπαύσει δρόσος οὕτως κρείσσων λόγος ἢ δόσις

17 οὐκ ἰδοὺ λόγος ὑπὲρ δόμα ἀγαθόν καὶ ἀμφότερα παρὰ ἀνδρὶ κεχαριτωμένῳ

18 μωρὸς ἀχαρίστως ὀνειδιεῖ καὶ δόσις βασκάνου ἐκτήκει ὀφθαλμούς

19 πρὶν ἢ λαλῆσαι μάνθανε καὶ πρὸ ἀρρωστίας θεραπεύου

20 πρὸ κρίσεως ἐξέταζε σεαυτόν καὶ ἐν ὥρᾳ ἐπισκοπῆς εὑρήσεις ἐξιλασμόν

21 πρὶν ἀρρωστῆσαί σε ταπεινώθητι καὶ ἐν καιρῷ ἁμαρτημάτων δεῖξον ἐπιστροφήν

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

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

24 μνήσθητι θυμοῦ ἐν ἡμέραις τελευτῆς καὶ καιρὸν ἐκδικήσεως ἐν ἀποστροφῇ προσώπου

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

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

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

28 πᾶς συνετὸς ἔγνω σοφίαν καὶ τῷ εὑρόντι αὐτὴν δώσει ἐξομολόγησιν

29 συνετοὶ ἐν λόγοις καὶ αὐτοὶ ἐσοφίσαντο καὶ ἀνώμβρησαν παροιμίας ἀκριβεῖς

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

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

32 μὴ εὐφραίνου ἐπὶ πολλῇ τρυφῇ μὴ προσδεθῇς συμβολῇ αὐτῆς

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

Vul

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

2 Quis sufficit enarrare opera illius?

3 quis enim investigabit magnalia ejus?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

18 Stultus acriter improperabit:
et datus indisciplinati tabescere facit oculos.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

28 Omnis astutus agnoscit sapientiam,
et invenienti eam dabit confessionem.

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

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

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

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

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