1
[כָּל חָכְמָה מֵיהֹוָה, וִעמּוֹ הִיא לְעוֹלָמִים.]
All wisdom is from the Lord, and is with him forever.
ΠΟΛΛΩΝ καὶ μεγάλων ἡμῖν διὰ τοῦ νόμου καὶ τῶν προφητῶν καὶ τῶν ἄλλων τῶν κατʼ αὐτοὺς ἠκολουθηκότων δεδομένων. ὑπὲρ ὧν δέον ἐστὶν ἐπαινεῖν τὸν Ἰσραὴλ παιδείας καὶ σοφίας, καὶ ὡς οὐ μόνον αὐτοὺς τοὺς ἀναγινώσκοντας δέον ἐστὶν ἐπιστήμονας γίνεσθαι, 1aἀλλὰ καὶ τοῖς ἐκτὸς δύνασθαι τοὺς φιλομαθοῦντας χρησίμους εἶναι καὶ λέγοντας καὶ γράφοντας· ὁ πάππος μου Ἰησοῦς ἐπὶ πλεῖον ἑαυτὸν δοὺς εἴς τε τὴν τοῦ νόμου καὶ τῶν προφητῶν 1bκαὶ τῶν ἄλλων πατρίων βιβλίων ἀνάγνωσιν, καὶ ἐν τούτοις ἱκανὴν ἕξιν περιποιησάμενος, προήχθη καὶ αὐτὸς συγγράψαι τι τῶν εἰς παιδείαν καὶ σοφίαν ἀνηκόντων, ὅπως οἱ φιλομαθεῖς, καὶ τούτων ἔνοχοι γενόμενοι, πολλῷ μᾶλλον ἐπιπροσθῶσι διὰ τῆς ἐννόμου βιώσεως. 1cΠαρακέκλησθε οὖν μετʼ εὐνοίας καὶ προσοχῆς τὴν ἀνάγνωσιν ποιεῖσθαι, καὶ συγγνώμην ἔχειν ἐφʼ οἷς ἂν δοκῶμεν 1dτῶν κατὰ τὴν ἑρμηνείαν πεφιλοπονημένων τισὶ τῶν λέξεων ἀδυναμεῖν· οὐ γὰρ ἰσοδυναμεῖ αὐτὰ ἐν ἑαυτοῖς Ἑβραϊστὶ λεγόμενα, καὶ ὅταν μεταχθῇ εἰς ἑτέραν γλῶσσαν. Οὐ μόνον δὲ ταῦτα, ἀλλὰ καὶ αὐτὸς ὁ νόμος, καὶ αἱ προφητεῖαι, 1eκαὶ τὰ λοιπὰ τῶν βιβλίων οὐ μικρὰν ἔχει τὴν διαφορὰν ἐν ἑαυτοῖς λεγόμενα. Ἐν γὰρ τῷ ὀγδόῳ καὶ τριακοστῷ ἔτει ἐπὶ τοῦ Εὐεργέτου βασιλέως παραγενηθεὶς εἰς Αἴγυπτον καὶ συγχρονίσας, εὗρον οὐ μικρᾶς παιδείας ἀφόμοιον· 1fἀναγκαιότατον ἐθέμην αὐτὸς προσενέγκασθαί τινα σπουδὴν καὶ φιλοπονίαν τοῦ μεθερμηνεῦσαι τήνδε τὴν βίβλον· πολλὴν γὰρ ἀγρυπνίαν καὶ ἐπιστήμην προσενεγκάμενος ἐν τῷ διαστήματι τοῦ χρόνου, πρὸς τὸ ἐπὶ πέρας ἄγοντα τὸ βιβλίον ἐκδόσθαι, καὶ τοῖς ἐν τῇ παροικίᾳ βουλομένοις φιλομαθεῖν, 1gπροκατασκευαζομένοις τὰ ἤθη ἐν νόμῳ βιοτεύειν. ΣΟΦΙΑ ΣΕΙΡΑΧ. 1hΠΑΣΑ σοφία παρὰ Κυρίου, καὶ μετʼ αὐτοῦ ἐστιν εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα.
[The Prologue to the Wisdom of] Jesus [the son of] Sirach Whereas many and great things have been delivered unto us by the law and the prophets, and by others that have followed their steps, for the which things Israel ought to be commended for learning and wisdom: and whereof not only the readers must needs become skillful themselves,
2
[חוֹל יַמִּים וְנִטְפֵי מָטָר, וִימוֹת עוֹלָם מִי יִמְנֶה.]
The sands of the seas, the drops of rain, and the days of eternity, who can count them?
Ἄμμον θαλασσῶν καὶ σταγόνας ὑετοῦ καὶ ἡμέρας αἰῶνος τίς ἐξαριθμήσει;
Who can number the sand of the sea, and the drops of rain, And the days of eternity?
3
[רוּם שָׁמַיִם וְרֹחַב אָרֶץ, וְעֹמֶק תְּהוֹם מִי יַחֲקֹר.]
The height of the sky, the breadth of the earth, and the depth of the abyss, who can estimate?
Ὕψος οὐρανοῦ καὶ πλάτος γῆς καὶ ἄβυσσον καὶ σοφίαν τίς ἐξιχνιάσει;
Who can find out the height of heaven, and the breadth of the earth, And the deep, and wisdom?
4
[מִכָּל אֵלֶּה רַבָּה הַחָכְמָה, וְגָבְרָה הָאֱמֶת מֵעוֹלָם.]
But exceeding the scope of these is wisdom, and truth is broader still.
Προτέρα πάντων ἔκτισται σοφία, καὶ σύνεσις φρονήσεως ἐξ αἰῶνος.
Wisdom hath been created before all things, And the understanding of prudence from everlasting.
6
[שֹׁרֶשׁ הַחָכְמָה לְמִי נִגְלָה, וּמַעֲרֻמֶּיהָ מִי יָדַע.]
To whom shall the root of wisdom be revealed (uncovered), and who knows her wiles (nakednesses).
Ῥίζα σοφίας τίνι ἀπεκαλύφθη; καὶ τὰ πανουργεύματα αὐτῆς τίς ἔγνω;
To whom hath the root of wisdom been revealed? Or who hath known her wise counsels?
8
[אֶחָד הוּא נוֹרָא בִּלְבַדּוֹ, אֱלֹהִים מוֹשֵׁל עַל כָּל אוֹצָרֶיהָ.]
He is uniquely awesome, God is executor of all of her treasuries.
Εἷς ἐστι σοφὸς φοβερὸς σφόδρα καθήμενος ἐπὶ τοῦ θρόνου αὐτοῦ·
There is one wise and greatly to be feared, The Lord sitting upon his throne.
9
[הוּא בְחָנָהּ וְרָאָהּ וְסְפָרָהּ, וּנְתָנָהּ לְאֹהֲבָיו.]
He scrutinized her and examined her and counted her, and he gave her to his lovers.
Κύριος αὐτὸς ἔκτισεν αὐτὴν, καὶ εἶδε καὶ ἐξηρίθμησεν αὐτὴν, καὶ ἐξέχεεν αὐτὴν ἐπὶ πάντα τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ.
He created her, and saw her, and numbered her, And poured her out upon all his works.
10
[אֶל כָּל בָּשָׂר כִּרְצוֹנוֹ נְתָנָהּ, וַיִּתְּנָהּ לְאֹהֲבָיו.]
Unto all flesh he gave her according to his desire, and he will give her to his lovers.
Μετὰ πάσης σαρκὸς κατὰ τὴν δόσιν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐχορήγησεν αὐτὴν τοῖς ἀγαπῶσιν αὐτόν·
She [is] with all flesh according to his gift, And he hath given her to them that love him.
11
[יִרְאַת יְהֹוָה כָּבוֹד וִיקָר, וּגְדֻלָּה וְעֲטֶרֶת תִּפְאָרֶת.]
The fear of the Lord is glory and honor, and greatness and a crown of splendor.
Φόβος Κυρίου δόξα καὶ καύχημα καὶ εὐφροσύνη καὶ στέφανος ἀγαλλιάματος.
The fear of the Lord is honor, and glory, And gladness, and a crown of rejoicing.
12
[יִרְאַת יְהֹוָה מְשַׂמַּחַת לֵב, וְנוֹתֶנֶת שִׂמְחָה וְחֵן וְאֹרֶךְ יָמִים.]
The fear of the Lord gladdens the heart, and grants joy, and grace, and length of days.
Φόβος Κυρίου τέρψει καρδίαν, καὶ δώσει εὐφροσύνην καὶ χαρὰν καὶ μακροημέρευσιν.
The fear of the Lord maketh a merry heart, And giveth joy, and gladness, and long life.
13
[יְרֵא יְהֹוָה תִּיטַב אַחֲרִיתוֹ, וּבְאַחֲרִית יָמָיו יִתְבָּרָךְ.]
Fear the Lord and do good by Him, and at the end of your days he will bless you.
Τῷ φοβουμένῳ τὸν Κύριον εὖ ἔσται ἐπʼ ἐσχάτων, καὶ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ τελευτῆς αὐτοῦ εὑρήσει χάριν.
Whoso feareth the Lord, it shall go well with him at the last, And he shall find favor in the day of his death.
14
[רֵאשִׁית חָכְמָה יִרְאַת יְהֹוָה, וְעִם נֶאֱמָנִים נוֹצְרָה בַבָּטֶן.]
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and for the faithful it gestates in the belly.
Αρχὴ σοφίας φοβεῖσθαι τὸν Θεὸν, καὶ μετὰ πιστῶν ἐν μήτρᾳ συνεκτίσθη αὐτοῖς.
To fear the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: And it was created with the faithful in the womb.
15
[עִם אַנְשֵׁי אֱמֶת מֵעוֹלָם הוּכָנָה, וְעִם זַרְעָם נֶאֱמָן חַסְדּוֹ.]
From eternity it has been prepared for those who have integrity, and His grace is faithful to their offspring.
Καὶ μετὰ ἀνθρώπων θεμέλιον αἰῶνος ἐνόσσευσε, καὶ μετὰ τοῦ σπέρματος αὐτῶν ἐμπιστευθήσεται.
She hath built an everlasting foundation with men, And she shall continue with their seed.
16
[רֵאשִׁית חָכְמָה יִרְאַת יְהֹוָה, וּמַרְבָּה שָׁלוֹם וְחַיִּים וּמַרְפֵּא.]
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and it increases peace, life, and wellbeing.
Πλησμονὴ σοφίας φοβεῖσθαι τὸν Κύριον, καὶ μεθύσκει αὐτοὺς ἀπὸ τῶν καρπῶν αὐτῆς.
To fear the Lord is fullness of wisdom, And filleth men with her fruits.
17
[כָּל אוֹצָרֶיהָ תְּמַלֵּא חֶמְדָּה, וַאֲסָמֶיהָ בִּתְבוּאָתָהּ.]
All her treasuries will be filled to satisfaction, and her granaries with her satiation.
Πάντα τὸν οἶκον αὐτῆς ἐμπλήσει ἐπιθυμημάτων, καὶ τὰ ἀποδοχεῖα ἀπὸ τῶν γεννημάτων αὐτῆς.
She filleth all their house with things desirable, And the garners with her increase.
18
[רֵאשִׁית חָכְמָה יִרְאַת יְהֹוָה, וּתְרַוֵּה בְּרֹב תְּבוּאָתָהּ.]
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, she will intoxicate with her ample satiation.
Στέφανος σοφίας φόβος Κυρίου, ἀναθάλλων εἰρήνην καὶ ὑγίειαν ἰάσεως·
The fear of the Lord is a crown of wisdom, Making peace and perfect health to flourish.
19
[מַטּהֵ עֹז הִיא וּמַשְׁעֵנָה, תְּהִלָּה וּכְבוֹד עוֹלָם לְכָל הַהוֹלֵךְ אַחֲרֶיהָ.]
She is a strong and reliable rod, praise and eternal glory unto those that follow her.
ἐπιστήμην καὶ γνῶσιν συνέσεως ἐξώμβρησε, καὶ δόξαν κρατούντων αὐτῆς ἀνύψωσε.
Wisdom raineth down skill and knowledge of understanding, And exalteth them to honor that hold her fast.
20
[שָׁרְשֶׁיהָ לְעוֹלָם, וַעֲנָפֶיהָ אֹרֶך יָמִים.] [אַשְׁרֵי אֱנוֹשׁ יֶהְגֶּה בָּהּ, וְטוֹבָה הִיא לוֹ מִכָּל אוֹצָר.]
Her roots are eternal, and her branches are ever-reaching. Happy is the person who meditates on her, and she benefits them more than any other treasury.
Ῥίζα σοφίας φοβεῖσθαι τὸν Κύριον, καὶ οἱ κλάδοι αὐτῆς μακροημέρευσις.
The root of wisdom is to fear the Lord, And the branches thereof are long life.
22
[אַשְׁרֵי אֱנוֹשׁ יִקְרַב אֵלֶיהָ, וּפְקוּדֶיהָ יִשְׁתַּעֲשַׁע.]
Happy is the person who draws close to her, and those in her presence enjoy themselves.
Οὐ δυνήσεται θυμὸς ἄδικος δικαιωθῆναι· ἡ γὰρ ῥοπὴ τοῦ θυμοῦ αὐτοῦ πτῶσις αὐτῷ.
A furious man cannot be justified; For the sway of his fury shall be his destruction.
23
[עֲטֶרֶת עוֹלָם תָּשִׁית עָלָיו, וּזְכוּת עוֹלָמִים בֵּין קְדוֹשִׁים.]
She will crown them with an eternal diadem, and eternal merit among holy ones.
Ἕως καιροῦ ἀνθέξεται μακρόθυμος, καὶ ὕστερον αὐτῷ ἀναδώσει εὐφροσύνη.
A patient man will bear for a time, And afterward joy shall spring up unto him.
24
[יִשְׂמַח בָּהּ וְתִשְׂמַח בּוֹ, וּבַל תַּעַזְבֵהוּ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד.]
They will rejoice in her and she in them, and she will never ever abandon them.
Ἕως καιροῦ κρύψει τοὺς λόγους αὐτοῦ, καὶ χείλη πιστῶν ἐκδιηγήσεται σύνεσιν αὐτοῦ.
He will hide his words for a time, And the lips of many shall declare his wisdom.
25
[מַלְאֲכֵי אֱלֹהִים יִשְׂמְחוּ בָּהּ, וִיסַפְּרוּ כָּל תְּהִלַּת יְהֹוָה.]
Angels of God will rejoice in her, and recount all the praises of the Lord.
Ἐν θησαυροῖς σοφίας παραβολὴ ἐπιστήμης, βδέλυγμα δὲ ἁμαρτωλῷ θεοσέβεια.
The parables of knowledge are in the treasures of wisdom: But godliness is an abomination to a sinner.
26
[הַסֵּפֶר הַזֶּה כֻּלּוֹ מָלֵא מִמֶּנָּה, אַשְׁרֵי אֱנוֹשׁ יִשְׁמַע וְיַעֲשֶׂה.]
And this recounting is entirely replete with her, happy is the one who attends and acts.
Ἐπεθύμησας σοφίαν, διατήρησον ἐντολὰς, καὶ Κύριος χορηγήσει σοι αὐτήν.
If thou desire wisdom, keep the commandments, And the Lord shall give her unto thee.
27
[שְמָעוּנִי יִרְאֵי אֱלֹהִים, וְהַאֲזִינוּ וְהִתְבּוֹנְנוּ לִדְבָרַי.] [מִי הֶחָפֵץ לָרֶשֶׁת אוֹתָהּ, נַחֲלַת עוֹלָם וְשִׂמְחָה רַבָּה.]
Hearken unto me fearers of God, listen and understand my words. The one who is steadfast in receiving her, has an eternal inheritance and great joy.
Σοφία γὰρ καὶ παιδεία φόβος Κυρίου, καὶ ἡ εὐδοκία αὐτοῦ πίστις καὶ πρᾳότης.
For the fear of the Lord is wisdom and instruction: And faith and meekness are his delight.
28
[כָּל דְבָרַי שְׁמַע וַעֲשֵׂה, וְתִכָּתֵב בְּסֵפֶר הַחַיִּים.] [אֱהַב יִרְאַת יְהֹוָה, וְאַשֵּׁר בָּהּ לִבְּךָ וְאַל תִּירָא.] [קְרַב וְאַל תְּאַחֵר, וְתִמְצָא חַיִּים לְנַפְשְׁךָ.] [וְכַאֲשֶר תִּהְיֶה קָרוּב, כְּגִבּוֹר וּכְאִישׁ חַיִל.] [בְּנִי אַל תְּכַזֵּב בְּיִרְאַת יְהֹוָה, וְאַל תִּקְרַב אֵלָיו בְּלֵב וָלֵב.]
Attend to and act upon all my words, that you may be written in the book of life. Love the fear of the Lord, that your heart may be happy and do not fear. Draw near and do not distance yourself, that your soul may live. And in your drawing near, be like a hero and a warrior. My child, do not fail in fearing the Lord, and do not approach God with attention divided (lit. a heart and a heart).
Μὴ ἀπειθήσῃς φόβῳ Κυρίου, καὶ μὴ προσέλθῃς αὐτῷ ἐν καρδίᾳ δισσῇ.
Distrust not the fear of the Lord when thou art poor; And come not unto him with a double heart.
29
[אַל תִּתְכַּבֵּד בָּהּ לְעֵין אָדָם, וּבִשְׂפָתֶיךָ הִזָּהֵר מְאֹד.] [אַל תְּשַׁנֶּה מַאֲמרוֹ וְאַל תִּירָא, וְאַל תָּבִיא קְלָלָה עַל נַפְשְׁךָ.]
Give no weight to human regard, and be most careful with your speech. Do not alter God's word and have no fear, lest you bring a curse on your soul.
Μὴ ὑποκριθῇς ἐν στόμασιν ἀνθρώπων, καὶ ἐν τοῖς χείλεσί σου πρόσεχε.
Be not a hypocrite in the sight of men, And take good heed what thou speakest.
30
[פֶּן יְגַלֶּה יְהֹוָה מִסְתָרֶיךָ, וּבְתוֹךְ קָהָל יַפִּילֶךָ.] [כִּי הִתְגָאֵיתָ בְּיִרְאַת אֱלֹהִים, וְתוֹךְ לִבְּךָ מָלֵא נִקְלָה.]
For the Lord reveal your secrets, and bring your downfall in the midst of the community. For you exalted yourself with feigned piety, but within your heart is full of shame.
Μὴ ἐξύψου σεαυτὸν, ἵνα μὴ πέσῃς, καὶ ἐπαγάγῃς τῇ ψυχῇ σου ἀτιμίαν· καὶ ἀποκαλύψει Κύριος τὰ κρυπτά σου, καὶ ἐν μέσῳ συναγωγῆς καταβελεῖ σε· ὅτι οὐ προσῆλθες φόβῳ Κυρίου, καὶ ἡ καρδία σου πλήρης δόλου.
Exalt not thyself, lest thou fall, And bring dishonor upon thy soul, And so the Lord discover thy secrets, And cast thee down in the midst of the congregation, Because thou camest not in truth to the fear of the Lord, But thy heart is full of deceit.