Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 12
Commentary from 4 fathers
When thou wilt do good know to whom thou doest it; so shalt thou be thanked for thy benefits.
ΕΑΝ εὖ ποιῇς, γνῶθι τίνι ποιεῖς, καὶ ἔσται χάρις τοῖς ἀγαθοῖς σου.
А҆́ще добро̀ твори́ши, разꙋмѣ́й, комꙋ̀ твори́ши, и҆ бꙋ́детъ благода́ть благи̑мъ твои̑мъ.
Do good to the godly man, and thou shalt find a recompence; and if not from him, yet from the most High.
εὖ ποίησον εὐσεβεῖ, καὶ εὑρήσεις ἀνταπόδομα καὶ εἰ μὴ παρ᾿ αὐτοῦ, ἀλλὰ παρὰ ῾Υψίστου.
Добро̀ сотворѝ благочести́вомꙋ, и҆ ѡ҆брѧ́щеши воздаѧ́нїе, и҆ а҆́ще не ѿ негѡ̀, то̀ ѿ вы́шнѧгѡ.
There can no good come to him that is always occupied in evil, nor to him that giveth no alms.
οὐκ ἔστιν ἀγαθὰ τῷ ἐνδελεχίζοντι εἰς κακὰ καὶ τῷ ἐλεημοσύνην μὴ χαριζομένῳ.
Не бꙋ́детъ добро̀ прилѣжа́щемꙋ во ѕлы́хъ и҆ не подаю́щемꙋ ми́лостыни.
Do well unto him that is lowly, but give not to the ungodly: hold back thy bread, and give it not unto him, lest he overmaster thee thereby: for else thou shalt receive twice as much evil for all the good thou shalt have done unto him.
εὖ ποίησον τῷ ταπεινῷ καὶ μὴ δῷς ἀσεβεῖ· ἐμπόδισον τοὺς ἄρτους αὐτοῦ καὶ μὴ δῷς αὐτῷ, ἵνα μὴ ἐν αὐτοῖς σε δυναστεύσῃ· διπλάσια γὰρ κακὰ εὑρήσεις ἐν πᾶσιν ἀγαθοῖς, οἷς ἂν ποιήσῃς αὐτῷ.
Добро̀ сотворѝ смире́нномꙋ и҆ не да́ждь нечести́вомꙋ: возбранѝ хлѣ́бы твоѧ̑ и҆ не да́ждь є҆мꙋ̀, да не тѣ́ми тѧ̀ премо́жетъ:
For the mind should first be prepared for patience, and then either much or all be bestowed in bounty, lest, the inroad of want being borne with but little equanimity, both the reward of previous bounty be lost, and subsequent murmuring bring worse ruin on the soul. Lest they should give nothing at all to those on whom they ought to bestow something, let them hear what is written, "Give to every man that asketh of thee." Lest they should give something, however little to those on whom they ought to bestow nothing at all, let them hear what is written. "Give to the good man, and receive not a sinner: do well to him that is lowly, and give not to the ungodly." And again, "Set out thy bread and wine on the burial of the just, but eat and drink not thereof with sinners."
For he gives his bread and wine to sinners who gives assistance to the wicked for that they are wicked. For which cause also some of the rich of this world nourish players with profuse bounties, while the poor of Christ are tormented with hunger. He, however, who gives his bread to one that is indigent, though he be a sinner, not because he is a sinner, but because he is a man, does not in truth nourish a sinner, but a poor righteous man, because what he loves in him is not his sin, but his nature. Those who already distribute compassionately what they possess are to be admonished also that they study to keep careful guard, lest, when they redeem by alms the sins they have committed, they commit others which will still require redemption; lest they suppose the righteousness of God to be saleable, thinking that if they take care to give money for their sins, they can sin with impunity.
The Book of Pastoral Rule, Part 3
For the most High hateth sinners, and will repay vengeance unto the ungodly, and keepeth them against the mighty day of their punishment.
ὅτι καὶ ὁ ῞Υψιστος ἐμίσησεν ἁμαρτωλοὺς καὶ τοῖς ἀσεβέσιν ἀποδώσει ἐκδίκησιν.
сꙋгꙋ̑ба бо ѕла̑ ѡ҆брѧ́щеши во всѣ́хъ благи́хъ, ꙗ҆̀же а҆́ще сотвори́ши є҆мꙋ̀: ꙗ҆́кѡ и҆ вы́шнїй возненави́дѣ грѣ́шники и҆ нечести̑вымъ возда́стъ ме́сть.
The impious and sinners who have no intention of repenting of their impiety or iniquity will be condemned at the end to eternal torments, while to those who have repented God will lavish his mercy. This is what is written in the book of Ecclesiasticus: “The Most High has mercy on the penitent and will inflict punishment on the impious and sinners.” Further, in the same book it is said, “Remember that wrath will not be late in coming. Humble yourself to the utmost, because fire and worms fill up the punishment of the ungodly.” Again, Isaiah says that “their fire shall not be quenched, and their worm shall not die.” It is also written in Ecclesiasticus, “A synagogue of sinners is like a bundle of oak, and their end will be the flame of fire. The way of sinners is full of offenses, and, at the end, there will be the fiery pit, darkness and pains.”
On the Forgiveness of Sins 1:27.2
Give unto the good, and help not the sinner.
δὸς τῷ ἀγαθῷ καὶ μὴ ἀντιλάβου τοῦ ἁμαρτωλοῦ.
Да́ждь благо́мꙋ и҆ не застꙋпа́й грѣ́шника.
A friend cannot be known in prosperity: and an enemy cannot be hidden in adversity.
Οὐκ ἐκδικηθήσεται ἐν ἀγαθοῖς ὁ φίλος καὶ οὐ κρυβήσεται ἐν κακοῖς ὁ ἐχθρός.
Не позна́нъ бꙋ́детъ во благи́хъ дрꙋ́гъ и҆ не скры́етсѧ во ѕлы́хъ вра́гъ.
In the prosperity of a man enemies will be grieved: but in his adversity even a friend will depart.
ἐν ἀγαθοῖς ἀνδρὸς οἱ ἐχθροὶ αὐτοῦ ἐν λύπῃ, καὶ ἐν τοῖς κακοῖς αὐτοῦ καὶ ὁ φίλος διαχωρισθήσεται.
Є҆гда̀ во благи́хъ бꙋ́детъ мꙋ́жъ, вразѝ є҆гѡ̀ во печа́ли сꙋ́ть, во ѕлы́хъ же є҆гѡ̀ и҆ дрꙋ́гъ разлꙋчи́тсѧ.
Never trust thine enemy: for like as iron rusteth, so is his wickedness.
μὴ πιστεύσῃς τῷ ἐχθρῷ σου εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα· ὡς γὰρ ὁ χαλκὸς ἰοῦται, οὕτως ἡ πονηρία αὐτοῦ.
Не и҆мѝ вѣ́ры врагꙋ̀ твоемꙋ̀ во вѣ́ки: ꙗ҆́коже бо мѣ́дь ржа́вѣетъ, та́кѡ и҆ ѕло́ба є҆гѡ̀:
Though he humble himself, and go crouching, yet take good heed and beware of him, and thou shalt be unto him as if thou hadst wiped a lookingglass, and thou shalt know that his rust hath not been altogether wiped away.
καὶ ἐὰν ταπεινωθῇ καὶ πορεύηται συγκεκυφώς, ἐπίστησον τὴν ψυχήν σου καὶ φύλαξαι ἀπ᾿ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔσῃ αὐτῷ ὡς ἐκμεμαχὼς ἔσοπτρον, καὶ γνώσῃ ὅτι οὐκ εἰς τέλος κατίωσε.
и҆ а҆́ще смири́тсѧ и҆ по́йдетъ пони́кнꙋвъ, наста́ви дꙋ́шꙋ твою̀ и҆ храни́сѧ ѿ негѡ̀, и҆ бꙋ́деши є҆мꙋ̀ ꙗ҆́кѡ ѡ҆чище́но зерца́ло, и҆ ᲂу҆разꙋмѣ́еши, ꙗ҆́кѡ не до конца̀ ѡ҆торжа́вѣ:
Set him not by thee, lest, when he hath overthrown thee, he stand up in thy place; neither let him sit at thy right hand, lest he seek to take thy seat, and thou at the last remember my words, and be pricked therewith.
μὴ στήσῃς αὐτὸν παρὰ σεαυτῷ, μὴ ἀνατρέψας σε στῇ ἐπὶ τὸν τόπον σου· μὴ καθίσῃς αὐτὸν ἐκ δεξιῶν σου, μήποτε ζητήσῃ τὴν καθέδραν σου καὶ ἐπ᾿ ἐσχάτων ἐπιγνώσῃ τοὺς λόγους μου καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν ῥημάτων μου κατανυγήσῃ.
не поста́ви є҆го̀ при себѣ̀, да не когда̀ и҆зри́нꙋвъ тѧ̀ ста́нетъ на мѣ́стѣ твое́мъ: не посадѝ є҆го̀ ѡ҆деснꙋ́ю себє̀, да не пои́щетъ когда̀ сѣда́лища твоегѡ̀, и҆ на послѣ́докъ ᲂу҆разꙋмѣ́еши словеса̀ моѧ̑ и҆ ѡ҆ глаго́лѣхъ мои́хъ ᲂу҆мили́шисѧ.
Who will pity a charmer that is bitten with a serpent, or any such as come nigh wild beasts?
τίς ἐλεήσει ἐπαοιδὸν ὀφιόδηκτον καὶ πάντας τοὺς προσάγοντας θηρίοις;
Кто̀ поми́лꙋетъ ѡ҆баѧ́нника ѕмі́емъ ᲂу҆сѣ́кнена и҆ всѣ́хъ пристꙋпа́ющихъ ко ѕвѣрє́мъ; та́кожде ходѧ́щаго съ мꙋ́жемъ грѣ́шникомъ и҆ примѣша́ющагосѧ грѣхѡ́мъ є҆гѡ̀:
Like a wild beast fallen onto a noble and delicate body incapable of defending itself, thus vanity has sunk its heavy teeth into you and injected its poison and diffused a great stench. It has thrown away some parts, after having mutilated them; other parts it has torn to pieces, again others devoured. And, if it were possible for someone to see vanity and the church in the same arena, the pitiful spectacle might have looked like this—although much more distressing than what happens in the arena—the body thrown away with the beast towering over it and watching over every part of it. The beast drives back anyone who assaults it and does not distance itself or abandon that body. Who then will chase this wild animal away? It is the duty of him who wages this battle to send his angels, invoked by us, and, after they have closed this beast’s daring and impudent mouth as if with braces, they will chase it away. But when he waged the battle it was under the condition that once it was chased away, we would not go after it. And so, after he sends it away, ordering that terrible beast to stay away from us, if we—even after we have been saved from its clutches and it has been chased into its cave—covered with a thousand wounds still go looking for it again and get it roused up and excited again, then he will not have further pity on us, and he will not save us: “Who, in fact, will have pity on a snake charmer bitten by a serpent and on those who get close to the wild beasts?”
On Vainglory and the Right Way for Parents to Bring up Their Children 1
So one that goeth to a sinner, and is defiled with him in his sins, who will pity?
οὕτως τὸν προσπορευόμενον ἀνδρὶ ἁμαρτωλῷ καὶ συμφυρόμενον ἐν ταῖς ἁμαρτίαις αὐτοῦ.
ча́съ съ тобо́ю пребꙋ́детъ, и҆ а҆́ще ᲂу҆клони́шисѧ, не стерпи́тъ.
For a while he will abide with thee, but if thou begin to fall, he will not tarry.
ὥραν μετὰ σοῦ διαμενεῖ, καὶ ἐὰν ἐκκλίνῃς, οὐ μὴ καρτερήσῃ.
Оу҆стна́ма свои́ма ᲂу҆слади́тъ вра́гъ, и҆ мно́гѡ поше́пчетъ и҆ рече́тъ добро̀ глаго́лѧ: ѻ҆чи́ма свои́ма прослези́тсѧ, а҆ се́рдцемъ свои́мъ ᲂу҆совѣ́тꙋетъ ври́нꙋти тѧ̀ въ ро́въ, и҆ є҆гда̀ ѡ҆брѧ́щетъ вре́мѧ, не насы́титсѧ кро́ве.
An enemy speaketh sweetly with his lips, but in his heart he imagineth how to throw thee into a pit: he will weep with his eyes, but if he find opportunity, he will not be satisfied with blood.
καὶ ἐν τοῖς χείλεσιν αὐτοῦ γλυκανεῖ ὁ ἐχθρὸς καὶ ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ βουλεύσεται ἀνατρέψαι σε εἰς βόθρον· ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς αὐτοῦ δακρύσει ὁ ἐχθρός, καὶ ἐὰν εὕρῃ καιρόν, οὐκ ἐμπλησθήσεται ἀφ᾿ αἵματος.
А҆́ще срѧ́щꙋтъ тѧ̀ ѕла̑ѧ, тꙋ̀ ѡ҆брѧ́щеши є҆го̀ пе́рвѣе себє̀,
If adversity come upon thee, thou shalt find him there first; and though he pretend to help thee, yet shall he undermine thee.
κακὰ ἂν ὑπαντήσῃ σοι, εὑρήσεις αὐτὸν ἐκεῖ πρότερόν σου, καὶ ὡς βοηθῶν ὑποσχάσει πτέρναν σου·
и҆ ꙗ҆́кѡ помага́ѧй подсѣче́тъ пѧ́тꙋ твою̀:
He will shake his head, and clap his hands, and whisper much, and change his countenance.
κινήσει τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐπικροτήσει ταῖς χερσὶν αὐτοῦ καὶ πολλὰ διαψιθυρίσει καὶ ἀλλοιώσει τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ.
покива́етъ главо́ю свое́ю и҆ воспле́щетъ рꙋка́ма свои́ма, и҆ мно́гѡ поше́пчетъ и҆ и҆змѣни́тъ лицѐ своѐ.
Give to the godly man, and help not a sinner.
δὸς τῷ εὐσεβεῖ καὶ μὴ ἀντιλάβῃ τοῦ ἁμαρτωλοῦ.
Да́ждь благочести́вомꙋ и҆ не застꙋпа́й грѣ́шника.