Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 14
Commentary from 3 fathers
Blessed is he whose conscience hath not condemned him, and who is not fallen from his hope in the Lord.
μακάριος οὗ οὐ κατέγνω ἡ ψυχὴ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ὃς οὐκ ἔπεσεν ἀπὸ τῆς ἐλπίδος αὐτοῦ.
Блаже́нъ, є҆мꙋ́же не зазрѣ̀ дꙋша̀ є҆гѡ̀, и҆ и҆́же не спадѐ ѿ наде́жды своеѧ̀.
Riches are not comely for a niggard: and what should an envious man do with money?
᾿Ανδρὶ μικρολόγῳ οὐ καλὸς ὁ πλοῦτος, καὶ ἀνθρώπῳ βασκάνῳ ἱνατί χρήματα;
Мꙋ́жеви скꙋпо́мꙋ не лѣ́по є҆́сть бога́тство, и҆ человѣ́кꙋ зави́дливꙋ на что̀ и҆мѣ́нїе;
He that gathereth by defrauding his own soul gathereth for others, that shall spend his goods riotously.
ὁ συνάγων ἀπὸ τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ συνάγει ἄλλοις, καὶ ἐν τοῖς ἀγαθοῖς αὐτοῦ τρυφήσουσιν ἕτεροι.
Собира́ѧй ѿ дꙋшѝ своеѧ̀ и҆нѣ̑мъ собира́етъ, и҆ во благи́хъ є҆гѡ̀ и҆ні́и насладѧ́тсѧ.
He that is evil to himself, to whom will he be good? he shall not take pleasure in his goods.
ὁ πονηρὸς ἑαυτῷ τίνι ἀγαθὸς ἔσται; καὶ οὐ μὴ εὐφρανθήσεται ἐν τοῖς χρήμασιν αὐτοῦ.
И҆́же себѣ̀ ѕо́лъ, комꙋ̀ до́бръ бꙋ́детъ; и҆ не возвесели́тсѧ во и҆мѣ́нїи свое́мъ.
There is none worse than he that envieth himself; and this is a recompence of his wickedness.
τοῦ βασκαίνοντος ἑαυτὸν οὐκ ἔστι πονηρότερος, καὶ τοῦτο ἀνταπόδομα τῆς κακίας αὐτοῦ·
Зави́дѧщагѡ себѣ̀ самомꙋ̀ нѣ́сть ѕлѣ́йша: и҆ сїѐ воздаѧ́нїе ѕло́бы є҆гѡ̀.
And if he doeth good, he doeth it unwillingly; and at the last he will declare his wickedness.
κἂν εὖ ποιῇ, ἐν λήθῃ ποιεῖ, καὶ ἐπ᾿ ἐσχάτων ἐκφαίνει τὴν κακίαν αὐτοῦ.
А҆́ще и҆ добро̀ твори́тъ, въ забы́тїи твори́тъ и҆ на послѣ́докъ и҆з̾ѧви́тъ ѕло́бꙋ свою̀.
The envious man hath a wicked eye; he turneth away his face, and despiseth men.
πονηρὸς ὁ βασκαίνων ὀφθαλμῷ, ἀποστρέφων πρόσωπον καὶ ὑπερορῶν ψυχάς.
Лꙋка́въ (є҆́сть) зави́дѧй ѻ҆́комъ, ѿвраща́ѧй лицѐ и҆ презира́ѧй дꙋ́шы.
A covetous man’s eye is not satisfied with his portion; and the iniquity of the wicked drieth up his soul.
πλεονέκτου ὀφθαλμὸς οὐκ ἐμπίπλαται μερίδι, καὶ ἀδικία πονηρὰ ἀναξηραίνει ψυχήν.
Ѻ҆́ко лихои́мца не насыща́етсѧ ча́сти, и҆ ѡ҆би́да лꙋка́вагѡ и҆зсꙋша́етъ дꙋ́шꙋ.
Someone once said, “Nothing is more wicked than a money-lover.” This is the kind of person who puts a price even on himself and goes around as a common enemy of the world, complaining that the earth does not bear gold instead of corn, or fountains instead of streams or mountains instead of stones. He complains about the fruitfulness of the seasons, troubled if everyone receives some common benefits from something. He shuns every means that does not yield a monetary reward, he puts up with anything from which he can scrape together even two farthings. He hates everyone, rich and poor alike. He hates the poor, lest they should come and beg from him. He hates the rich because he does not have what they have. He considers everyone else to have what really should belong to him and thinks that everyone has wronged him, and so he is displeased with everyone. He does not know what it means to have plenty, nor does he have any experience with being satisfied. He is more wretched than anyone, even as the one who is freed from these things and practices self-restraint is the most enviable. For the virtuous individual, even though he might be a servant or a prisoner, is the most happy of all.
Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew 80:4
A wicked eye envieth his bread, and he is a niggard at his table.
ὀφθαλμὸς πονηρὸς φθονερὸς ἐπ᾿ ἄρτῳ καὶ ἐλλιπὴς ἐπὶ τῆς τραπέζης αὐτοῦ.
Ѻ҆́ко лꙋка́во зави́дливо и҆ ѡ҆ хлѣ́бѣ, и҆ на трапе́зѣ свое́й скꙋ́дно.
My son, according to thy ability do good to thyself, and give the Lord his due offering.
Τέκνον, καθὼς ἐὰν ἔχῃς, εὖ ποίει σεαυτὸν καὶ προσφορὰς Κυρίῳ ἀξίως πρόσαγε.
Ча́до, ꙗ҆́коже и҆́маши, добро̀ творѝ себѣ̀, и҆ приношє́нїѧ гдⷭ҇еви досто́йнѡ приносѝ:
Remember that death will not be long in coming, and that the covenant of the grave is not shewed unto thee.
μνήσθητι ὅτι θάνατος οὐ χρονιεῖ καὶ διαθήκη ᾅδου οὐχ ὑπεδείχθη σοι·
помѧнѝ, ꙗ҆́кѡ сме́рть не заме́длитъ, и҆ завѣ́тъ а҆́довъ не пока́занъ тѝ бы́сть.
Do good unto thy friend before thou die, and according to thy ability stretch out thy hand and give to him.
πρίν σε τελευτῆσαι, εὖ ποίει φίλῳ καὶ κατὰ τὴν ἰσχύν σου ἔκτεινον καὶ δῷς αὐτῷ.
Пре́жде не́же ᲂу҆́мреши ты̀, добро̀ творѝ дрꙋ́гꙋ и҆ по си́лѣ твое́й прострѝ и҆ да́ждь є҆мꙋ̀.
Defraud not thyself of the good day, and let not the part of a good desire overpass thee.
μὴ ἀφυστερήσῃς ἀπὸ ἀγαθῆς ἡμέρας, καὶ μερὶς ἐπιθυμίας ἀγαθῆς μή σε παρελθάτω.
Не лиши́сѧ ѿ днѐ добра̀, и҆ ча́сть жела́нїѧ бла́га да не пре́йдетъ тебѐ.
Shalt thou not leave thy travails unto another? and thy labours to be divided by lot?
οὐχὶ ἑτέρῳ καταλείψεις τοὺς πόνους σου καὶ τοὺς κόπους σου εἰς διαίρεσιν κλήρου;
Не и҆нѣ̑мъ ли ѡ҆ста́виши притѧжа̑нїѧ твоѧ̑ и҆ трꙋды̀ твоѧ̑, въ раздѣле́нїе жре́бїѧ;
Give, and take, and sanctify thy soul; for there is no seeking of dainties in the grave.
δὸς καὶ λάβε καὶ ἀπάτησον τὴν ψυχήν σου, ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν ἐν ᾅδου ζητῆσαι τρυφήν.
Да́ждь и҆ возмѝ, и҆ ѡ҆свѧтѝ дꙋ́шꙋ твою̀:
All flesh waxeth old as a garment: for the covenant from the beginning is, Thou shalt die the death.
πᾶσα σὰρξ ὡς ἱμάτιον παλαιοῦται, ἡ γὰρ διαθήκη ἀπ᾿ αἰῶνος· θανάτῳ ἀποθανῇ.
ꙗ҆́кѡ нѣ́сть во а҆́дѣ взыска́ти сла́дости.
As of the green leaves on a thick tree, some fall, and some grow; so is the generation of flesh and blood, one cometh to an end, and another is born.
ὡς φύλλον θάλλον ἐπὶ δένδρου δασέος, τὰ μὲν καταβάλλει, ἄλλα δὲ φύει, οὕτως γενεὰ σαρκὸς καὶ αἵματος, ἡ μὲν τελευτᾷ, ἑτέρα δὲ γεννᾶται.
Всѧ́ка пло́ть ꙗ҆́кѡ ри́за ѡ҆бетша́етъ, завѣ́тъ бо ѿ вѣ́ка: сме́ртїю ᲂу҆́мреши.
Every work rotteth and consumeth away, and the worker thereof shall go withal.
πᾶν ἔργον σηπόμενον ἐκλείπει, καὶ ὁ ἐργαζόμενος αὐτὸ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ ἀπελεύσεται.
Ꙗ҆́кѡ ли́стъ расплоща́ѧсѧ на дре́вѣ ча́стѣ, ѻ҆́въ ᲂу҆́бѡ спа́даетъ, дрꙋгі́й же прозѧба́етъ: та́кожде и҆ ро́дъ пло́ти и҆ кро́ви, ѻ҆́въ ᲂу҆́бѡ ᲂу҆мира́етъ, ѻ҆́въ же роди́тсѧ.
Blessed is the man that doth meditate good things in wisdom, and that reasoneth of holy things by his understanding.
Μακάριος ἀνήρ, ὃς ἐν σοφίᾳ τελευτήσει καὶ ὃς ἐν συνέσει αὐτοῦ διαλεχθήσεται,
Всѧ́кое дѣ́ло гнїю́щее и҆счеза́етъ, и҆ дѣ́лаѧй є҆̀ съ ни́мъ ѿи́детъ.
He that considereth her ways in his heart shall also have understanding in her secrets.
ὁ διανοούμενος τὰς ὁδοὺς αὐτῆς ἐν καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐν τοῖς ἀποκρύφοις αὐτῆς νοηθήσεται.
Блаже́нъ мꙋ́жъ, и҆́же во премꙋ́дрости ᲂу҆́мретъ и҆ и҆́же въ ра́зꙋмѣ свое́мъ поꙋча́етсѧ ст҃ы́ни:
Go after her as one that traceth, and lie in wait in her ways.
ἔξελθε ὀπίσω αὐτῆς ὡς ἰχνευτής, καὶ ἐν ταῖς εἰσόδοις αὐτῆς ἐνέδρευε.
размышлѧ́ѧй пꙋти̑ є҆ѧ̀ въ се́рдцы свое́мъ, и҆ въ сокрове́нныхъ є҆ѧ̀ ᲂу҆разꙋми́тсѧ.
The last story that is related in the book of Numbers is the one in which the Lord commands Moses “to give orders to the children of Israel,” that when “they have entered the holy land” they may know how to take possession of its inheritance and that they should observe the boundaries of their limits in these things. And after this, with the Lord now describing this, it is said, “toward Africa,” that is, toward the west, the boundary of that place should be observed, and of that place toward the east, and thus the Lord indicates through the four regions of the sky certain names that the people of God ought to keep in that earthly Judea.Thus one of the more simple hearers will say that here there are things that are necessary and useful even according to the letter, in that no one should go beyond the borders that have been appointed through the Lord’s command and one tribe should not dare to violate the boundaries of another. And what will we do when no possibility remains for the Jews, not merely to invade the borders of another nation in these lands but even of possessing them at all? For they have been banished from that land, they are exiles and refugees, and those who now possess and guard the boundaries are not those whom the divine law appointed but those whom they have entrusted the rights of victors. What, I ask, will we do, who read these things in the church? If we read them according to the sense of the Jews, they will seem superfluous to us and pointless. But I am one who reads what is written about Wisdom: “I went out after her as a tracker.” I want to go out after her, and since I do not find her in the physical realities, I desire to pursue her tracks and investigate where she is going and to see into which rooms she leads my understanding. For I think that if I am able to follow her with care and to investigate her ways, she will give me some opportunities from the Scriptures to understand how it is, even in these passages we need to explain, if we believe what Paul says in a mystery, that those who serve through the law are serving “the shadow and image of heavenly things.” And if, no less in accordance with the judgment of that man, the law, of which this reading that we have in hand is a portion, “contains a shadow of the good things to come,” it seems logical and necessary that everything that is described in the law, as it were concerning earthly things, is a shadow of the good things of heaven; and the whole inheritance of that land, which is called the “holy land” and the “good land,” is an image of the good things of heaven. These things, as we have said, that are mentioned as good things on earth contain a shadow and an image of these.
Homilies on Numbers 28:1.1-2
He that prieth in at her windows shall also hearken at her doors.
ὁ παρακύπτων διὰ τῶν θυρίδων αὐτῆς καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν θυρωμάτων αὐτῆς ἀκροάσεται.
И҆зы́ди в̾слѣ́дъ є҆ѧ̀ ꙗ҆́кѡ и҆зслѣ́дникъ и҆ на пꙋте́хъ є҆ѧ̀ присѣдѝ.
He that doth lodge near her house shall also fasten a pin in her walls.
ὁ καταλύων σύνεγγυς τοῦ οἴκου αὐτῆς καὶ πήξει πάσσαλον ἐν τοῖς τοίχοις αὐτῆς,
Приница́ѧй сквозѣ̀ ѻ҆кѡ́нца є҆ѧ̀ и҆ при две́рехъ є҆ѧ̀ послꙋ́шаетъ.
He shall pitch his tent nigh unto her, and shall lodge in a lodging where good things are.
στήσει τὴν σκηνὴν αὐτοῦ κατὰ χεῖρας αὐτῆς καὶ καταλύσει ἐν καταλύματι ἀγαθῶν·
Ѡ҆бита́ѧй бли́з̾ до́мꙋ є҆ѧ̀ и҆ вбїе́тъ ко́лъ въ стѣ́ны є҆ѧ̀, поста́витъ ски́нїю свою̀ вскра́й є҆ѧ̀ и҆ ѡ҆бита́ти бꙋ́детъ во ѡ҆би́тели благи́хъ,
He shall set his children under her shelter, and shall lodge under her branches.
θήσει τὰ τέκνα αὐτοῦ ἐν τῇ σκέπῃ αὐτῆς καὶ ὑπὸ τοὺς κλάδους αὐτῆς αὐλισθήσεται·
положи́тъ ча̑да своѧ̑ въ покро́вѣ є҆ѧ̀ и҆ под̾ вѣ́твьми є҆ѧ̀ водвори́тсѧ,
By her he shall be covered from heat, and in her glory shall he dwell.
σκεπασθήσεται ὑπ᾿ αὐτῆς ἀπὸ καύματος καὶ ἐν τῇ δόξῃ αὐτῆς καταλύσει.
покры́етсѧ є҆́ю ѿ зно́ѧ и҆ во сла́вѣ є҆ѧ̀ ѡ҆бита́ти бꙋ́детъ.
Blessed is the man that hath not slipped with his mouth, and is not pricked with the multitude of sins.
ΜΑΚΑΡΙΟΣ ἀνήρ, ὣς οὐκ ὠλίσθησεν ἐν στόματι αὐτοῦ καὶ οὐ κατενύγη ἐν λύπῃ ἁμαρτίας.
Блаже́нъ мꙋ́жъ, и҆́же не поползнꙋ́сѧ ᲂу҆стна́ма свои́ма и҆ не ᲂу҆ѧзви́сѧ печа́лїю грѣха̀.