Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 17
Commentary from 2 fathers
The Lord created man of the earth, and turned him into it again.
ΚΥΡΙΟΣ ἔκτισεν ἐκ γῆς ἄνθρωπον καὶ πάλιν ἀπέστρεψεν αὐτὸν εἰς αὐτήν.
Гдⷭ҇ь созда̀ ѿ землѝ человѣ́ка, и҆ па́ки возвратѝ є҆го̀ въ ню̀.
He gave them few days, and a short time, and power also over the things therein.
ἡμέρας ἀριθμοῦ καὶ καιρὸν ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς ἐξουσίαν τῶν ἐπ᾿ αὐτῆς.
Дни̑ числа̀ и҆ вре́мѧ дадѐ и҆̀мъ, и҆ дадѐ и҆̀мъ вла́сть над̾ сꙋ́щими на не́й.
He endued them with strength by themselves, and made them according to his image,
καθ᾿ ἑαυτοὺς ἐνέδυσεν αὐτοὺς ἰσχὺν καὶ κατ᾿ εἰκόνα αὐτοῦ ἐποίησεν αὐτοὺς
Ꙗ҆́коже ѻ҆нѝ са́ми, ѡ҆блечѐ и҆̀хъ крѣ́постїю, и҆ по ѡ҆́бразꙋ своемꙋ̀ сотворѝ ѧ҆̀:
And put the fear of man upon all flesh, and gave him dominion over beasts and fowls.
καὶ ἔθηκε τὸν φόβον αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ πάσης σαρκὸς καὶ κατακυριεύειν θηρίων καὶ πετεινῶν. [
и҆ положѝ стра́хъ є҆гѡ̀ на всѧ́цѣй пло́ти, є҆́же вла́стельствовати ѕвѣрьмѝ (и҆ скѡты̀) и҆ пти́цами.
They received the use of the five operations of the Lord, and in the sixth place he imparted them understanding, and in the seventh speech, an interpreter of the cogitations thereof.
ἔλαβον χρῆσιν τῶν πέντε τοῦ Κυρίου ἐνεργημάτων, ἕκτον δὲ νοῦν αὐτοῖς ἐδωρήσατο μερίζων καὶ τὸν ἕβδομον λόγον ἑρμηνέα τῶν ἐνεργημάτων αὐτοῦ].
Помышле́нїе и҆ ѧ҆зы́къ и҆ ѻ҆́чи, ᲂу҆́ши и҆ се́рдце дадѐ и҆̀мъ размышлѧ́ти:
Counsel, and a tongue, and eyes, ears, and a heart, gave he them to understand.
διαβούλιον καὶ γλῶσσαν καὶ ὀφθαλμούς, ὦτα καὶ καρδίαν ἔδωκε διανοεῖσθαι αὐτοῖς.
хꙋдо́жествомъ ра́зꙋма и҆спо́лни ѧ҆̀ и҆ дѡ́браѧ и҆ ѕла̑ѧ показа̀ и҆̀мъ.
Withal he filled them with the knowledge of understanding, and shewed them good and evil.
ἐπιστήμην συνέσεως ἐνέπλησεν αὐτοὺς καὶ ἀγαθὰ καὶ κακὰ ὑπέδειξεν αὐτοῖς.
Положи́лъ є҆́сть ѻ҆́ко своѐ на сердца́хъ и҆́хъ, показа́ти и҆̀мъ вели́чество дѣ́лъ свои́хъ,
He set his eye upon their hearts, that he might shew them the greatness of his works.
ἔθηκε τὸν ὀφθαλμὸν αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τὰς καρδίας αὐτῶν δεῖξαι αὐτοῖς τὸ μεγαλεῖον τῶν ἔργων αὐτοῦ,
да и҆́мѧ ст҃ы́ни є҆гѡ̀ восхва́лѧтъ и҆ да повѣ́даютъ вели́чєства дѣ́лъ є҆гѡ̀.
He gave them to glory in his marvellous acts for ever, that they might declare his works with understanding.
καὶ ὄνομα ἁγιασμοῦ αἰνέσουσιν,
Приложи́лъ и҆̀мъ хꙋдо́жество и҆ зако́нъ живота̀ дадѐ въ наслѣ́дїе и҆̀мъ.
And the elect shall praise his holy name.
ἵνα διηγῶνται τὰ μεγαλεῖα τῶν ἔργων αὐτοῦ.
Завѣ́тъ вѣ́чный поста́ви съ ни́ми и҆ сꙋдьбы̑ своѧ̑ показа̀ и҆̀мъ.
Beside this he gave them knowledge, and the law of life for an heritage.
προσέθηκεν αὐτοῖς ἐπιστήμην καὶ νόμον ζωῆς ἐκληροδότησεν αὐτοῖς.
Вели́чество сла́вы ви́дѣша ѻ҆чеса̀ и҆́хъ, и҆ сла́вꙋ гла́са и҆́хъ слы́ша ᲂу҆́хо и҆́хъ.
He made an everlasting covenant with them, and shewed them his judgments.
διαθήκην αἰῶνος ἔστησε μετ᾿ αὐτῶν καὶ τὰ κρίματα αὐτοῦ ὑπέδειξεν αὐτοῖς.
И҆ речѐ и҆̀мъ: внемли́те ѿ всѧ́кїѧ непра́вды. и҆ заповѣ́да и҆̀мъ комꙋ́ждо ѡ҆ и҆́скреннемъ.
Their eyes saw the majesty of his glory, and their ears heard his glorious voice.
μεγαλεῖον δόξης εἶδον οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ αὐτῶν, καὶ δόξαν φωνῆς αὐτῶν ἤκουσε τὸ οὖς αὐτῶν.
Пꙋтїѐ и҆́хъ пред̾ ни́мъ вы́нꙋ, не ᲂу҆кры́ютсѧ ѿ ѻ҆́чїю є҆гѡ̀.
And he said unto them, Beware of all unrighteousness; and he gave every man commandment concerning his neighbour.
καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· προσέχετε ἀπὸ παντὸς ἀδίκου· καὶ ἐνετείλατο αὐτοῖς ἑκάστῳ περὶ τοῦ πλησίον.
Комꙋ́ждо ꙗ҆зы́кꙋ ᲂу҆стро́илъ вожда̀,
Every man from his youth is given to evil; neither could they make to themselves fleshy hearts for stony.
Всѧ̑ дѣла̀ и҆́хъ ꙗ҆́кѡ со́лнце пред̾ ни́мъ, и҆ ѻ҆́чи є҆гѡ̀ вы́нꙋ на пꙋте́хъ и҆́хъ:
For in the division of the nations of the whole earth he set a ruler over every people; but Israel is the Lord’s portion:
ἑκάστῳ ἔθνει κατέστησεν ἡγούμενον, καὶ μερὶς Κυρίου ᾿Ισραήλ ἐστιν.
не ᲂу҆кры́шасѧ непра̑вды и҆́хъ ѿ негѡ̀, и҆ всѝ грѣсѝ и҆́хъ пред̾ гдⷭ҇емъ.
We may interpret that the rulers placed by God over every people are the angels to whom he entrusted the care of each people, according to that word of Deuteronomy, “He set the boundaries of the peoples according to the number of the angels of God.” And one reads in the book of Daniel that there is a head of the Greeks and a head of the Persians, besides Michael, who is the head of the people of God. It also deals with the holy doctors, whom divine election established as those who would preach his word throughout the earth. Thus John was commanded in the Apocalypse to write to the angel of Ephesus and to the angel of Smyrna, and also to the angel of Pergamum and to the angels of the other churches.
On Ecclesiasticus 4:5
Whom, being his firstborn, he nourisheth with discipline, and giving him the light of his love doth not forsake him.
Ми́лостынѧ мꙋ́жа ꙗ҆́кѡ печа́ть съ ни́мъ, и҆ благода́ть человѣ́чꙋ ꙗ҆́кѡ зѣ́ницꙋ соблюде́тъ.
Therefore all their works are as the sun before him, and his eyes are continually upon their ways.
ἅπαντα τὰ ἔργα αὐτῶν ὡς ὁ ἥλιος ἐναντίον αὐτοῦ, καὶ οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ αὐτοῦ ἐνδελεχεῖς ἐπὶ τὰς ὁδοὺς αὐτῶν.
По си́хъ воста́нетъ и҆ возда́стъ и҆̀мъ, и҆ воздаѧ́нїе и҆́хъ на главꙋ̀ и҆́хъ возда́стъ:
None of their unrighteous deeds are hid from him, but all their sins are before the Lord
οὐκ ἐκρύβησαν αἱ ἀδικίαι αὐτῶν ἀπ᾿ αὐτοῦ, καὶ πᾶσαι αἱ ἁμαρτίαι αὐτῶν ἔναντι Κυρίου.
ѻ҆ба́че ка́ющымсѧ да́лъ є҆́сть возвраще́нїе и҆ ᲂу҆тѣ́ши и҆знемога́ющихъ терпѣ́нїемъ.
But the Lord being gracious and knowing his workmanship, neither left nor forsook them, but spared them.
Ѡ҆брати́сѧ ᲂу҆̀бо ко гдⷭ҇ꙋ и҆ ѡ҆ста́ви грѣхѝ:
The alms of a man is as a signet with him, and he will keep the good deeds of man as the apple of the eye, and give repentance to his sons and daughters.
ἐλεημοσύνη ἀνδρὸς ὡς σφραγὶς μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ, καὶ χάριν ἀνθρώπου ὡς κόρην συντηρήσει.
помоли́сѧ пред̾ лице́мъ и҆ ᲂу҆ма́ли претыка̑нїѧ:
Afterwards he will rise up and reward them, and render their recompence upon their heads.
μετὰ ταῦτα ἐξαναστήσεται καὶ ἀνταποδώσει αὐτοῖς καὶ τὸ ἀνταπόδομα αὐτῶν εἰς κεφαλὴν αὐτῶν ἀποδώσει·
восходѝ къ вы́шнемꙋ и҆ ѿврати́сѧ ѿ непра́вды, и҆ ѕѣлѡ̀ возненави́ди ме́рзость.
“And do not let the abyss swallow me or the pit close its mouth around me.” What does this mean? What is he praying for? The abyss of human iniquity is a great pit, and anyone who falls into it will fall very far down. However, if the one who has fallen confesses his sins to God, then the pit will not close its mouth around him. As it is written in the Psalms, “Out of the depths have I cried to you, Lord. O Lord, listen to my voice.” But it is different if the disaster found in another Scripture has happened to the sinner: “One who is devoid of reverence sinks deep into sin and is defiant.” The pit has closed its mouth on him. In what sense does it mean that it closed its mouth? It has plugged the sinner’s mouth shut. When the sinner refuses to confess his own guilt, then he is truly dead, and it has been fulfilled in him what is said elsewhere, “A confession coming from a dead person is like one who does not exist.” Brothers and sisters, we must greatly fear such a disaster. If you see someone commit a sin, consider that person as though he or she were sunk in the pit. But if, at present, you point out the person’s sin and he says to you, “I have sinned. I truly confess,” the pit has not yet closed its mouth on him. If instead you hear that person saying, “Is what I have done that bad?” then he has become a defender of his sin and the pit has closed its mouth. There is no way for him to be pulled back outside. Clearly if there is no confession, there is no recourse to mercy. If you defend your sin, how can God free you from it? If therefore you want him as your liberator, you must be your own prosecutor.
Expositions of the Psalms 68:1.19
But unto them that repent, he granted them return, and comforted those that failed in patience.
πλὴν μετανοοῦσιν ἔδωκεν ἐπάνοδον καὶ παρεκάλεσεν ἐκλείποντας ὑπομονήν.
Вы́шнѧго кто̀ восхва́литъ во а҆́дѣ, вмѣ́стѡ живы́хъ и҆ даю́щихъ и҆сповѣ́данїе;
Return unto the Lord, and forsake thy sins, make thy prayer before his face, and offend less.
᾿Επίστρεφε ἐπὶ Κύριον καὶ ἀπόλειπε ἁμαρτίας, δεήθητι κατὰ πρόσωπον καὶ σμίκρυνον πρόσκομμα.
Ѿ мертвеца̀ ꙗ҆́кѡ ничто̀ сꙋ́щагѡ погиба́етъ и҆сповѣ́данїе:
Turn again to the most High, and turn away from iniquity: for he will lead thee out of darkness into the light of health, and hate thou abomination vehemently.
ἐπάναγε ἐπὶ ῞Υψιστον καὶ ἀπόστρεφε ἀπὸ ἀδικίας, καὶ σφόδρα μίσησον βδέλυγμα.
живы́й же и҆ здра́вый восхва́литъ гдⷭ҇а.
Who shall praise the most High in the grave, instead of them which live and give thanks?
῾Υψίστῳ τίς αἰνέσει ἐν ᾅδου ἀντὶ ζώντων καὶ ζώντων καὶ διδόντων ἀνθομολόγησιν;
Ко́ль вели́ка млⷭ҇ть гдⷭ҇нѧ и҆ ѡ҆чище́нїе ѡ҆браща́ющымсѧ къ немꙋ̀;
Thanksgiving perisheth from the dead, as from one that is not: the living and sound in heart shall praise the Lord.
ἀπὸ νεκροῦ ὡς μηδὲ ὄντος ἀπόλλυται ἐξομολόγησις· ζῶν καὶ ὑγιὴς αἰνέσει τὸν Κύριον.
Не мо́гꙋтъ бо всѧ̑ бы́ти въ человѣ́цѣхъ:
How great is the lovingkindness of the Lord our God, and his compassion unto such as turn unto him in holiness!
ὡς μεγάλη ἡ ἐλεημοσύνη τοῦ Κυρίου καὶ ἐξιλασμὸς τοῖς ἐπιστρέφουσιν ἐπ᾿ αὐτόν.
ꙗ҆́кѡ не безсме́ртенъ сы́нъ человѣ́ческїй.
For all things cannot be in men, because the son of man is not immortal.
οὐ γὰρ δύναται πάντα εἶναι ἐν ἀνθρώποις, ὅτι οὐκ ἀθάνατος υἱὸς ἀνθρώπου.
Что̀ свѣтлѣ́е со́лнца; и҆ то̀ и҆счеза́етъ: и҆ ѕло̀ помы́слитъ пло́ть и҆ кро́вь.
What is brighter than the sun? yet the light thereof faileth; and flesh and blood will imagine evil.
τί φωτεινότερον ἡλίου; καὶ τοῦτο ἐκλείπει· καὶ πονηρὸς ἐνθυμηθήσεται σάρκα καὶ αἷμα.
Си́лꙋ высоты̀ небе́сныѧ то́й са́мъ назира́етъ, человѣ́цы же всѝ землѧ̀ и҆ пе́пелъ.
He vieweth the power of the height of heaven; and all men are but earth and ashes.
δύναμιν ὕψους οὐρανοῦ αὐτὸς ἐπισκέπτεται, καὶ οἱ ἄνθρωποι πάντες γῆ καὶ σποδός.
Their ways are ever before him, and shall not be hid from his eyes.
αἱ ὁδοὶ αὐτῶν ἐναντίον αὐτοῦ διαπαντός, οὐ κρυβήσονται ἀπὸ τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν αὐτοῦ.
и҆ ча́сть гдⷭ҇нѧ і҆и҃ль є҆́сть.