Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 33
Commentary from 3 fathers
There shall no evil happen unto him that feareth the Lord; but in temptation even again he will deliver him.
Τῼ φοβουμένῳ Κύριον οὐκ ἀπαντήσει κακόν, ἀλλ᾿ ἐν πειρασμῷ καὶ πάλιν ἐξελεῖται.
Боѧ́щагосѧ гдⷭ҇а не срѧ́щетъ ѕло̀: а҆́ще и҆ въ напа́сть впаде́тъ, па́ки и҆́зметъ є҆го̀.
A wise man hateth not the law; but he that is an hypocrite therein is as a ship in a storm.
ἀνὴρ σοφὸς οὐ μισήσει νόμον, ὁ δὲ ὑποκρινόμενος ἐν αὐτῷ, ὡς ἐν καταιγίδι πλοῖον.
Мꙋ́жъ премꙋ́дръ не возненави́дитъ зако́на, сꙋмнѧ́йжесѧ въ не́мъ ꙗ҆́коже въ бꙋ́ри кора́бль.
A man of understanding trusteth in the law; and the law is faithful unto him, as an oracle.
ἄνθρωπος συνετὸς ἐμπιστεύσει νόμῳ, καὶ ὁ νόμος αὐτῷ πιστὸς ὡς ἐρώτημα δήλων.
Человѣ́къ разꙋми́въ вѣ́рꙋ и҆́метъ зако́нꙋ, и҆ зако́нъ є҆мꙋ̀ вѣ́ренъ,
Prepare what to say, and so thou shalt be heard: and bind up instruction, and then make answer.
ἑτοίμασον λόγον καὶ οὕτως ἀκουσθήσῃ, σύνδησον παιδείαν καὶ ἀποκρίθητι.
ꙗ҆́кѡ вопроше́нїе пра́ведныхъ. Пригото́ви сло́во, и҆ та́кѡ ᲂу҆слы́шанъ бꙋ́деши: сочета́й наказа́нїе и҆ тогда̀ ѿвѣща́й.
The heart of the foolish is like a cartwheel; and his thoughts are like a rolling axletree.
τροχὸς ἁμάξης σπλάγχνα μωροῦ, καὶ ὡς ἄξων στρεφόμενος ὁ διαλογισμὸς αὐτοῦ.
Ко́ло колесни́чное ᲂу҆тро́ба бꙋ́ѧгѡ, и҆ ꙗ҆́коже ѻ҆́сь вертѧ́щаѧсѧ помышле́нїе є҆гѡ̀.
A stallion horse is as a mocking friend, he neigheth under every one that sitteth upon him.
ἵππος εἰς ὀχείαν ὡς φίλος μωκός, ὑποκάτω παντὸς ἐπικαθημένου χρεμετίζει.
Ко́нь на ꙗ҆жде́нїи ꙗ҆́кѡ дрꙋ́гъ лицемѣ́ренъ, под̾ всѧ́кимъ ꙗ҆здѧ́щимъ рже́тъ.
Why doth one day excel another, when as all the light of every day in the year is of the sun?
Διατί ἡμέρα ἡμέρας ὑπερέχει, καὶ πᾶν φῶς ἡμέρας ἐνιαυτοῦ ἀφ᾿ ἡλίου;
Почто̀ де́нь днѐ преспѣва́етъ, и҆ всѧ́къ свѣ́тъ днѐ лѣ́та ѿ со́лнца;
By the knowledge of the Lord they were distinguished: and he altered seasons and feasts.
ἐν γνώσει Κυρίου διεχωρίσθησαν, καὶ ἠλλοίωσε καιροὺς καὶ ἑορτάς·
Ра́зꙋмомъ гдⷭ҇нимъ разлꙋчи́стасѧ, и҆ и҆змѣнѝ вре́мѧ и҆ пра́здники:
Some of them hath he made high days, and hallowed them, and some of them hath he made ordinary days.
ἀπ᾿ αὐτῶν ἀνύψωσε καὶ ἡγίασε καὶ ἐξ αὐτῶν ἔθηκεν εἰς ἀριθμὸν ἡμερῶν.
ѿ ни́хъ вознесѐ и҆ ѡ҆ст҃ѝ, и҆ ѿ ни́хъ положѝ въ число̀ дні́й.
In much knowledge the Lord hath divided them, and made their ways diverse.
ἐν πλήθει ἐπιστήμης Κύριος διεχώρισεν αὐτοὺς καὶ ἠλλοίωσε τὰς ὁδοὺς αὐτῶν.
Мно́жествомъ вѣ́дѣнїѧ гдⷭ҇ь раздѣлѝ ѧ҆̀ и҆ и҆змѣнѝ пꙋти̑ и҆́хъ.
Some of them hath he blessed and exalted and some of them he sanctified, and set near himself: but some of them hath he cursed and brought low, and turned out of their places.
ἐξ αὐτῶν εὐλόγησε καὶ ἀνύψωσε καὶ ἐξ αὐτῶν ἡγίασε, καὶ πρὸς αὐτὸν ἤγγισεν· ἀπ᾿ αὐτῶν κατηράσατο καὶ ἐταπείνωσε καὶ ἀνέστρεψεν αὐτοὺς ἀπὸ στάσεως αὐτῶν.
Ѿ ни́хъ блгⷭ҇вѝ и҆ вознесѐ, и҆ ѿ ни́хъ ѡ҆ст҃ѝ и҆ къ себѣ̀ прибли́жи, ѿ ни́хъ проклѧ̀ и҆ смирѝ и҆ совратѝ и҆̀хъ ѿ стоѧ́нїѧ и҆́хъ.
As the clay is in the potter’s hand, to fashion it at his pleasure: so man is in the hand of him that made him, to render to them as liketh him best.
ὡς πηλὸς κεραμέως ἐν χειρὶ αὐτοῦ -πᾶσαι αἱ ὁδοὶ αὐτοῦ κατὰ τὴν εὐδοκίαν αὐτοῦ-, οὕτως ἄνθρωποι ἐν χειρὶ τοῦ ποιήσαντος αὐτοὺς ἀποδοῦναι αὐτοῖς κατὰ τὴν κρίσιν αὐτοῦ.
Ꙗ҆́кѡ бре́нїе скꙋде́льника въ рꙋцѣ̀ є҆гѡ̀, всѝ пꙋтїѐ є҆гѡ̀ по и҆зволе́нїю є҆гѡ̀: та́кѡ человѣ́цы въ рꙋцѣ̀ сотво́ршагѡ и҆̀хъ, и҆́мже возда́стъ по сꙋдꙋ̀ своемꙋ̀.
Good is set against evil, and life against death: so is the godly against the sinner, and the sinner against the godly.
ἀπέναντι τοῦ κακοῦ τὸ ἀγαθὸν καὶ ἀπέναντι τοῦ θανάτου ἡ ζωή· οὕτως ἀπέναντι εὐσεβοῦς ἁμαρτωλός.
(Ꙗ҆́кѡ) проти́вꙋ ѕло́мꙋ благо́е и҆ проти́вꙋ сме́рти живо́тъ, та́кѡ проти́вꙋ благочести́вагѡ грѣ́шникъ. И҆ си́це воззрѝ во всѧ̑ дѣла̀ вы́шнѧгѡ: дво́е дво́е, є҆ди́но проти́вꙋ є҆ди́номꙋ.
So look upon all the works of the most High; and there are two and two, one against another.
καὶ οὕτως ἔμβλεψον εἰς πάντα τὰ ἔργα τοῦ ῾Υψίστου, δύο δύο, ἓν κατέναντι τοῦ ἑνός.
А҆́зъ же послѣ́днїй бдѣ́хъ и҆ наслѣ́дихъ ꙗ҆́коже ѿ нача́тка, ꙗ҆́коже собира́ѧй в̾слѣ́дъ ѡ҆б̾има́телей вїногра́дныхъ.
I awaked up last of all, as one that gathereth after the grapegatherers:
Κἀγὼ ἔσχατος ἠγρύπνησα ὡς καλαμώμενος ὀπίσω τρυγητῶν·
Во блгⷭ҇ве́нїе гдⷭ҇не достиго́хъ и҆ ꙗ҆́кѡ ѡ҆б̾има́тель напо́лнихъ точи́ло.
by the blessing of the Lord I profited, and filled my winepress like a gatherer of grapes.
ἐν εὐλογίᾳ Κυρίου ἔφθασα καὶ ὡς τρυγῶν ἐπλήρωσα ληνόν.
Разсмотри́те, ꙗ҆́кѡ не себѣ̀ є҆ди́номꙋ трꙋди́хсѧ, но всѣ̑мъ и҆́щꙋщымъ наказа́нїѧ.
Consider that I laboured not for myself only, but for all them that seek learning.
κατανοήσατε ὅτι οὐκ ἐμοὶ μόνῳ ἐκοπίασα, ἀλλὰ πᾶσι τοῖς ζητοῦσι παιδείαν.
Послꙋ́шайте менѐ, вельмѡ́жи люді́й, и҆ вла́стелїе собо́ра, внꙋши́те.
Hear me, O ye great men of the people, and hearken with your ears, ye rulers of the congregation.
ἀκούσατέ μου, μεγιστάνες λαοῦ, καὶ οἱ ἡγούμενοι ἐκκλησίας, ἐνωτίσασθε·
Сы́нꙋ и҆ женѣ̀, бра́тꙋ и҆ дрꙋ́гꙋ не да́ждь вла́сти на себѣ̀ въ животѣ̀ свое́мъ,
Reason teaches the immediate sense of these things to parents, concerning the right way to rule over their children and to raise them strictly until they have reached maturity, so that they will be worthy heirs of their parents after they are gone. Moreover, according to the spiritual sense it instructs the leaders of the church, so that they might preserve the dignity of their order until death, with a deliberate authority and right guidance. In this way they will leave disciples who have been raised well and who will be useful heirs of their works.
On Ecclesiasticus 7:11
Give not thy son and wife, thy brother and friend, power over thee while thou livest, and give not thy goods to another: lest it repent thee, and thou intreat for the same again.
υἱῷ καὶ γυναικί, ἀδελφῷ καὶ φίλῳ μὴ δῷς ἐξουσίαν ἐπὶ σὲ ἐν ζωῇ σου· καὶ μὴ δῷς ἑτέρῳ τὰ χρήματά σου, ἵνα μὴ μεταμεληθεὶς δέῃ περὶ αὐτῶν.
и҆ не да́ждь и҆но́мꙋ и҆мѣ́нїѧ своегѡ̀, да не раска́ешисѧ тре́бꙋѧй и҆̀хъ:
As long as thou livest and hast breath in thee, give not thyself over to any.
ἕως ἔτι ζῇς καὶ πνοὴ ἐν σοί, μὴ ἀλλάξῃς σεαυτὸν πάσῃ σαρκί.
до́ндеже жи́въ є҆сѝ и҆ дыха́нїе въ тебѣ̀, не и҆змѣнѝ себѐ всѧ́цѣй пло́ти:
For better it is that thy children should seek to thee, than that thou shouldest stand to their courtesy.
κρείσσων γάρ ἐστι τὰ τέκνα δεηθῆναί σου ἢ σὲ ἐμβλέπειν εἰς χεῖρας υἱῶν σου.
лꙋ́чше бо є҆́сть, да тебѣ̀ мо́лѧтсѧ ча̑да твоѧ̑, не́жели тебѣ̀ зрѣ́ти въ рꙋ́цѣ ча̑дъ твои́хъ.
In all thy works keep to thyself the preeminence; leave not a stain in thine honour.
ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς ἔργοις σου γίνου ὑπεράγων, μὴ δῷς μῶμον ἐν τῇ δόξῃ σου.
Во всѣ́хъ дѣ́лѣхъ твои́хъ бꙋ́ди преспѣва́ѧ и҆ не да́ждь поро́ка на сла́вꙋ твою̀.
At the time when thou shalt end thy days, and finish thy life, distribute thine inheritance.
ἐν ἡμέρᾳ συντελείας ἡμερῶν ζωῆς σου καὶ ἐν καιρῷ τελευτῆς διάδος κληρονομίαν. ΠΕΡΙ ΔΟΥΛΩΝ. -
Въ де́нь сконча́нїѧ дні́й живота̀ твоегѡ̀ и҆ во вре́мѧ сме́рти твоеѧ̀ раздѣлѝ наслѣ́дїе твоѐ.
Fodder, a wand, and burdens, are for the ass; and bread, correction, and work, for a servant.
Χορτάσματα καὶ ῥάβδος καὶ φορτία ὄνῳ, ἄρτος καὶ παιδεία καὶ ἔργον οἰκέτῃ.
Пи́ща и҆ же́злїе и҆ бре́мѧ ѻ҆слꙋ̀: хлѣ́бъ и҆ наказа́нїе и҆ дѣ́ло рабꙋ̀.
If thou set thy servant to labour, thou shalt find rest: but if thou let him go idle, he shall seek liberty.
ἔργασαι ἐν παιδί, καὶ εὑρήσεις ἀνάπαυσιν· ἄνες χεῖρας αὐτῷ, καὶ ζητήσει ἐλευθερίαν.
Накажѝ раба̀, и҆ ѡ҆брѧ́щеши поко́й: ѡ҆сла́би рꙋ́кꙋ є҆мꙋ̀, и҆ и҆ска́ти на́чнетъ свобо́ды.
A yoke and a collar do bow the neck: so are tortures and torments for an evil servant.
ζυγὸς καὶ ἱμὰς κάμψουσι τράχηλον, καὶ οἰκέτῃ κακούργῳ στρέβλαι καὶ βάσανοι.
И҆́го и҆ реме́нь вы́ю прекланѧ́ютъ, и҆ рабꙋ̀ лꙋка́вꙋ ᲂу҆́зы и҆ ра̑ны.
If, following the devil’s promise that after the transgression he would be seen as equal to God, the man actually enjoyed such an honor, then he would have fallen into three extreme evils. First of all, he would have thought that God was jealous, a deceiver and a liar. Second, that the real deceiver and the father of lies and envy was in fact a benefactor and a friend. And third, he would have continued to sin for all eternity. But God kept all this far from the man by casting him out of paradise. In the same way a doctor who ignores a wound produces a worse inflammation. But if he resorts to an incision, he prevents the infection from spreading. Nor did God stop there, but he also added sweat and toil, because it is the nature of human beings to not be made for relaxation. And if, though being inflicted with these punishments, we persist in sin, what would we have not dared to do if God had moved us toward softness and idleness? “Idleness teaches many evils,” it is said. Both what happens every day and the things that happened to those who came before us testify to this. It is written, in fact, that “the people sat down to eat, then rose up to revel.” And, “you became fat, gross and bloated, and the one who was beloved has rejected God.”
To Stagirius Who Was Tormented by a Devil 1:3
Send him to labour, that he be not idle; for idleness teacheth much evil.
ἔμβαλε αὐτὸν εἰς ἐργασίαν. ἵνα μὴ ἀργῇ, πολλὴν γὰρ κακίαν ἐδίδαξεν ἡ ἀργία.
Вложѝ є҆го̀ въ дѣ́ло, да не пра́зденъ бꙋ́детъ, мно́зѣй бо ѕло́бѣ наꙋчи́ла пра́здность:
Set him to work, as is fit for him: if he be not obedient, put on more heavy fetters.
εἰς ἔργα κατάστησον, καθὼς πρέπει αὐτῷ, κἂν μὴ πειθαρχῇ, βάρυνον τὰς πέδας αὐτοῦ.
ᲂу҆стро́й є҆го̀ въ дѣ́лѣхъ, ꙗ҆́коже подоба́етъ є҆мꙋ̀, и҆ а҆́ще не послꙋ́шаетъ, всадѝ є҆го̀ во ѡ҆кѡ́вы.
But be not excessive toward any; and without discretion do nothing.
καὶ μὴ περισσεύσῃς ἐν πάσῃ σαρκί, καὶ ἄνευ κρίσεως μὴ ποιήσῃς μηδέν.
И҆ не бꙋ́ди и҆зли́шенъ над̾ всѧ́кою пло́тїю, и҆ без̾ сꙋда̀ не сотворѝ ничесѡ́же.
If thou have a servant, let him be unto thee as thyself, because thou hast bought him with a price.
εἰ ἔστι σοι οἰκέτης, ἔστω ὡς σύ, ὅτι ἐν αἵματι ἐκτήσω αὐτόν.
А҆́ще тѝ є҆́сть ра́бъ, да бꙋ́детъ ꙗ҆́коже ты̀, поне́же кро́вїю стѧжа́лъ є҆сѝ є҆го̀:
If thou have a servant, entreat him as a brother: for thou hast need of him, as of thine own soul.
εἰ ἔστι σοι οἰκέτης, ἄγε αὐτὸν ὡς ἀδελφόν, ὅτι ὡς ἡ ψυχή σου ἐπιδεήσεις αὐτοῦ.
а҆́ще тѝ є҆́сть ра́бъ, и҆мѣ́й є҆го̀ ꙗ҆́коже бра́та, поне́же ꙗ҆́кѡ дꙋшѝ твоеѧ̀ востре́бꙋеши є҆гѡ̀:
if thou entreat him evil, and he run from thee, which way wilt thou go to seek him?
ἐὰν κακώσῃς αὐτὸν καὶ ἀπάρας ἀποδρᾷ, ἐν ποίᾳ ὁδῷ ζητήσεις αὐτόν;
а҆́ще ѡ҆ѕло́биши є҆го̀ непра́веднѡ, и҆ воста́въ ѿбѣжи́тъ, кі́имъ пꙋте́мъ пои́щеши є҆гѡ̀; (не вѣ́си.)
And all men are from the ground, and Adam was created of earth:
καὶ ἄνθρωποι πάντες ἀπὸ ἐδάφους, καὶ ἐκ γῆς ἐκτίσθη ᾿Αδάμ.
И҆ человѣ́цы всѝ ѿ пе́рсти, и҆ ѿ землѝ со́зданъ бы́сть а҆да́мъ.