Sirach 40

Apo

1 Great travail is created for every man, and an heavy yoke is upon the sons of Adam, from the day that they go out of their mother's womb, till the day that they return to the mother of all things.

2 Their imagination of things to come, and the day of death, [trouble] their thoughts, and [cause] fear of heart;

3 From him that sitteth on a throne of glory, unto him that is humbled in earth and ashes;

4 From him that weareth purple and a crown, unto him that is clothed with a linen frock.

5 Wrath, and envy, trouble, and unquietness, fear of death, and anger, and strife, and in the time of rest upon his bed his night sleep, do change his knowledge.

6 A little or nothing is his rest, and afterward he is in his sleep, as in a day of keeping watch, troubled in the vision of his heart, as if he were escaped out of a battle.

7 When all is safe, he awaketh, and marvelleth that the fear was nothing.

8 [Such things happen] unto all flesh, both man and beast, and that is sevenfold more upon sinners.

9 Death, and bloodshed, strife, and sword, calamities, famine, tribulation, and the scourge;

10 These things are created for the wicked, and for their sakes came the flood.

11 All things that are of the earth shall turn to the earth again: and that which is of the waters doth return into the sea.

12 All bribery and injustice shall be blotted out: but true dealing shall endure for ever.

13 The goods of the unjust shall be dried up like a river, and shall vanish with noise, like a great thunder in rain.

14 While he openeth his hand he shall rejoice: so shall transgressors come to nought.

15 The children of the ungodly shall not bring forth many branches: but are as unclean roots upon a hard rock.

16 The weed growing upon every water and bank of a river shall be pulled up before all grass.

17 Bountifulness is as a most fruitful garden, and mercifulness endureth for ever.

18 To labour, and to be content with that a man hath, is a sweet life: but he that findeth a treasure is above them both.

19 Children and the building of a city continue a man's name: but a blameless wife is counted above them both.

20 Wine and musick rejoice the heart: but the love of wisdom is above them both.

21 The pipe and the psaltery make sweet melody: but a pleasant tongue is above them both.

22 Thine eye desireth favour and beauty: but more than both corn while it is green.

23 A friend and companion never meet amiss: but above both is a wife with her husband.

24 Brethren and help are against time of trouble: but alms shall deliver more than them both.

25 Gold and silver make the foot stand sure: but counsel is esteemed above them both.

26 Riches and strength lift up the heart: but the fear of the Lord is above them both: there is no want in the fear of the Lord, and it needeth not to seek help.

27 The fear of the Lord is a fruitful garden, and covereth him above all glory.

28 My son, lead not a beggar's life; for better it is to die than to beg.

29 The life of him that dependeth on another man's table is not to be counted for a life; for he polluteth himself with other men's meat: but a wise man well nurtured will beware thereof.

30 Begging is sweet in the mouth of the shameless: but in his belly there shall burn a fire.

Sep

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

2 τοὺς διαλογισμοὺς αὐτῶν καὶ φόβον καρδίας ἐπίνοια προσδοκίας ἡμέρα τελευτῆς

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

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

5 καὶ ἐν καιρῷ ἀναπαύσεως ἐπὶ κοίτης ὕπνος νυκτὸς ἀλλοιοῖ γνῶσιν αὐτοῦ

6 ὀλίγον ὡς οὐδὲν ἐν ἀναπαύσει καὶ ἀπ᾽ ἐκείνου ἐν ὕπνοις ὡς ἐν ἡμέρᾳ σκοπιᾶς τεθορυβημένος ἐν ὁράσει καρδίας αὐτοῦ ὡς ἐκπεφευγὼς ἀπὸ προσώπου πολέμου

7 ἐν καιρῷ χρείας αὐτοῦ ἐξηγέρθη καὶ ἀποθαυμάζων εἰς οὐδένα φόβον

8 μετὰ πάσης σαρκὸς ἀπὸ ἀνθρώπου ἕως κτήνους καὶ ἐπὶ ἁμαρτωλῶν ἑπταπλάσια πρὸς ταῦτα

9 θάνατος καὶ αἷμα καὶ ἔρις καὶ ῥομφαία ἐπαγωγαί λιμὸς καὶ σύντριμμα καὶ μάστιξ

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

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

12 πᾶν δῶρον καὶ ἀδικία ἐξαλειφθήσεται καὶ πίστις εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα στήσεται

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

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

15 ἔκγονα ἀσεβῶν οὐ πληθυνεῖ κλάδους καὶ ῥίζαι ἀκάθαρτοι ἐπ᾽ ἀκροτόμου πέτρας

16 ἄχι ἐπὶ παντὸς ὕδατος καὶ χείλους ποταμοῦ πρὸ παντὸς χόρτου ἐκτιλήσεται

17 χάρις ὡς παράδεισος ἐν εὐλογίαις καὶ ἐλεημοσύνη εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα διαμενεῖ

18 ζωὴ αὐτάρκους καὶ ἐργάτου γλυκανθήσεται καὶ ὑπὲρ ἀμφότερα ὁ εὑρίσκων θησαυρόν

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

20 οἶνος καὶ μουσικὰ εὐφραίνουσιν καρδίαν καὶ ὑπὲρ ἀμφότερα ἀγάπησις σοφίας

21 αὐλὸς καὶ ψαλτήριον ἡδύνουσιν μέλη καὶ ὑπὲρ ἀμφότερα γλῶσσα ἡδεῖα

22 χάριν καὶ κάλλος ἐπιθυμήσει ὀφθαλμὸς καὶ ὑπὲρ ἀμφότερα χλόην σπόρου

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

24 ἀδελφοὶ καὶ βοήθεια εἰς καιρὸν θλίψεως καὶ ὑπὲρ ἀμφότερα ἐλεημοσύνη ῥύσεται

25 χρυσίον καὶ ἀργύριον ἐπιστήσουσιν πόδα καὶ ὑπὲρ ἀμφότερα βουλὴ εὐδοκιμεῖται

26 χρήματα καὶ ἰσχὺς ἀνυψώσουσιν καρδίαν καὶ ὑπὲρ ἀμφότερα φόβος κυρίου οὐκ ἔστιν ἐν φόβῳ κυρίου ἐλάττωσις καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ἐπιζητῆσαι ἐν αὐτῷ βοήθειαν

27 φόβος κυρίου ὡς παράδεισος εὐλογίας καὶ ὑπὲρ πᾶσαν δόξαν ἐκάλυψεν αὐτόν

28 τέκνον ζωὴν ἐπαιτήσεως μὴ βιώσῃς κρεῖσσον ἀποθανεῖν ἢ ἐπαιτεῖν

29 ἀνὴρ βλέπων εἰς τράπεζαν ἀλλοτρίαν οὐκ ἔστιν αὐτοῦ ὁ βίος ἐν λογισμῷ ζωῆς ἀλισγήσει ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ ἐν ἐδέσμασιν ἀλλοτρίοις ἀνὴρ δὲ ἐπιστήμων καὶ πεπαιδευμένος φυλάξεται

30 ἐν στόματι ἀναιδοῦς γλυκανθήσεται ἐπαίτησις καὶ ἐν κοιλίᾳ αὐτοῦ πῦρ καήσεται

Vul

1 [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.

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

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

4 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:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

31 vir autem disciplinatus et eruditus custodiet se.

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