Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 35 · Scripture

1

He that keepeth the law bringeth offerings enough: he that taketh heed to the commandment offereth a peace offering.

Ο ΣΥΝΤΗΡΩΝ νόμον πλεονάζει προσφοράς, θυσιάζων σωτηρίου ὁ προσέχων ἐντολαῖς.

Соблюда́ѧй зако́нъ ᲂу҆множа́етъ приношє́нїѧ, прино́ситъ же́ртвꙋ спасе́нїѧ внима́ѧй за́повѣдемъ.

2

He that requiteth a good turn offereth fine flour; and he that giveth alms sacrificeth praise.

ἀνταποδιδοὺς χάριν προσφέρων σεμίδαλιν, καὶ ὁ ποιῶν ἐλεημοσύνην θυσιάζων αἰνέσεως.

Воздаѧ́й благода́ть а҆́ки приносѧ́й семїда́лъ, и҆ творѧ́й ми́лостыню а҆́ки жрѧ́й же́ртвꙋ хвале́нїѧ.

3

To depart from wickedness is a thing pleasing to the Lord; and to forsake unrighteousness is a propitiation.

εὐδοκία Κυρίου ἀποστῆναι ἀπὸ πονηρίας, καὶ ἐξιλασμὸς ἀποστῆναι ἀπὸ ἀδικίας.

Бл҃говоле́нїе гдⷭ҇не є҆́же ѿстꙋпи́ти ѿ лꙋка́вства, и҆ ѡ҆чище́нїе є҆́сть є҆́же ѿстꙋпи́ти ѿ непра́вды.

4

Thou shalt not appear empty before the Lord.

μὴ ὀφθῇς ἐν προσώπῳ Κυρίου κενός, πάντα γὰρ ταῦτα χάριν ἐντολῆς.

Не ꙗ҆ви́сѧ пред̾ гдⷭ҇емъ то́щь: всѧ̑ бо сїѧ̑ за́повѣди ра́ди.

5

For all these things are to be done because of the commandment.

προσφορὰ δικαίου λιπαίνει θυσιαστήριον, καὶ ἡ εὐωδία αὐτῆς ἔναντι ῾Υψίστου.

Приноше́нїе пра́веднагѡ ᲂу҆тꙋчнѧ́етъ ѻ҆лта́рь, и҆ благоꙋха́нїе є҆гѡ̀ пред̾ вы́шнимъ:

6

The offering of the righteous maketh the altar fat, and the sweet savour thereof is before the most High.

θυσία ἀνδρὸς δικαίου δεκτή, καὶ τὸ μνημόσυνον αὐτῆς οὐκ ἐπιλησθήσεται.

же́ртва мꙋ́жа пра́веднагѡ прїѧ́тна, и҆ па́мѧть є҆ѧ̀ не забве́на бꙋ́детъ.

7

The sacrifice of a just man is acceptable. and the memorial thereof shall never be forgotten.

ἐν ἀγαθῷ ὀφθαλμῷ δόξασον τὸν Κύριον, καὶ μὴ σμικρύνῃς ἀπαρχὴν χειρῶν σου.

Ѻ҆́комъ благи́мъ просла́ви гдⷭ҇а и҆ не ᲂу҆ма́ли ѿ нача́тка рꙋ́къ твои́хъ:

8

Give the Lord his honour with a good eye, and diminish not the firstfruits of thine hands.

ἐν πάσῃ δόσει ἱλάρωσον τὸ πρόσωπόν σου καὶ ἐν εὐφροσύνῃ ἁγίασον δεκάτην.

во всѧ́цѣмъ даѧ́нїи ве́село и҆мѣ́й лицѐ твоѐ и҆ со весе́лїемъ ѡ҆свѧтѝ десѧти́нꙋ.

9

In all thy gifts shew a cheerful countenance, and dedicate thy tithes with gladness.

δὸς ῾Υψίστῳ κατὰ τὴν δόσιν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐν ἀγαθῷ ὀφθαλμῷ καθ᾿ εὕρεμα χειρός·

Да́ждь вы́шнемꙋ по даѧ́нїю є҆гѡ̀, и҆ ѻ҆́комъ благи́мъ приѡбрѣ́тенїе рꙋкѝ:

10

Give unto the most High according as he hath enriched thee; and as thou hast gotten, give with a cheerful eye.

ὅτι Κύριος ἀνταποδιδούς ἐστι καὶ ἑπταπλάσια ἀνταποδώσει σοι.

ꙗ҆́кѡ гдⷭ҇ь воздаѧ́й є҆́сть и҆ седмери́цею возда́стъ тѝ.

11

For the Lord recompenseth, and will give thee seven times as much.

Μὴ δωροκόπει, οὐ γὰρ προσδέξεται·

Да́ра не ᲂу҆малѧ́й, и҆́бо не прїи́метъ, и҆ не внима́й же́ртвѣ непра́веднѣй:

12

Do not think to corrupt with gifts; for such he will not receive: and trust not to unrighteous sacrifices; for the Lord is judge, and with him is no respect of persons.

καὶ μὴ ἔπεχε θυσίᾳ ἀδίκῳ, ὅτι Κύριος κριτής ἐστι, καὶ οὐκ ἔστι παρ᾿ αὐτῷ δόξα προσώπου.

ꙗ҆́кѡ гдⷭ҇ь сꙋдїѧ̀ є҆́сть, и҆ нѣ́сть ᲂу҆ негѡ̀ сла́вы лица̀.

13

He will not accept any person against a poor man, but will hear the prayer of the oppressed.

οὐ λήψεται πρόσωπον ἐπὶ πτωχοῦ καὶ δέησιν ἠδικημένου εἰσακούσεται·

Не прїи́метъ лица̀ на ᲂу҆бо́га и҆ моли́твꙋ ѡ҆би́димагѡ ᲂу҆слы́шитъ:

14

He will not despise the supplication of the fatherless; nor the widow, when she poureth out her complaint.

οὐ μὴ ὑπερίδῃ ἱκετείαν ὀρφανοῦ καὶ χήραν, ἐὰν ἐκχέῃ λαλιάν·

не пре́зритъ моли́твы си́рагѡ, ни вдови́цы, є҆гда̀ и҆злїе́тъ проше́нїе.

15

Do not the tears run down the widow’s cheeks? and is not her cry against him that causeth them to fall?

οὐχὶ δάκρυα χήρας ἐπὶ σιαγόνα καταβαίνει καὶ ἡ καταβόησις ἐπὶ τῷ καταγαγόντι αὐτά;

Не сле́зы ли вдови̑чи по лани́тома текꙋ́тъ, и҆ во́пль є҆ѧ̀ на наве́дшаго ѧ҆̀;

16

He that serveth the Lord shall be accepted with favour, and his prayer shall reach unto the clouds.

θεραπεύων ἐν εὐδοκίᾳ δεχθήσεται, καὶ ἡ δέησις αὐτοῦ ἕως νεφελῶν συνάψει.

Слꙋжа́й (бг҃ꙋ) во благоволе́нїи прїѧ́тъ бꙋ́детъ, и҆ моли́тва є҆гѡ̀ до ѡ҆́блакъ до́йдетъ:

17

The prayer of the humble pierceth the clouds: and till it come nigh, he will not be comforted;

προσευχὴ ταπεινοῦ νεφέλας διῆλθε, καὶ ἕως συνεγγίσῃ, οὐ μὴ παρακληθῇ·

моли́тва смире́ннагѡ про́йде ѡ҆́блаки, и҆ до́ндеже прибли́житсѧ, не ᲂу҆тѣ́шитсѧ,

Origen of Alexandria †253

The soul should attend not only to the hearing of the words but to the understanding of the realities. Recall the past, understand the present, attend to the future. Compare events in their succession, and contemplate the magnificence of the divine powers. Earlier, six hundred thousand armed sons of Israel advanced against Midian, and they were all defeated because of the sin that was in them. Now, however, the victorious Midianites, who had routed six hundred thousand men, are beaten by twelve thousand, so that you would know that Israel does not win by the multitude or number of its soldiers but by the justice and piety that are in them. Thus also in their blessings it is said that if they observe the law of the Lord, one of them will pursue a thousand, and two will cause ten thousand to flee. See, then, that a single saint who prays is worth much more than innumerable sinners in battle. “The prayer of the Holy One pierces heaven.” How will it not also defeat earthly enemies? For this reason, in every way you must make an effort to “seek” first and to preserve “the righteousness of God.” If you attain it and keep it, it will subject all of your enemies to you: if, as the apostle says, you are “clothed with the breastplate of righteousness and the belt of truth, if you take up the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit” and, above all, the “shield of faith, with which you will be able to extinguish all the fiery darts of the evil one.” Equipped with these weapons, you will put to flight all of the camps of the devil and his whole army, and you will faithfully sing, “If they encamp against me, my heart will not fear. If they raise a battle against me, even then will I hope.”
Homilies on Numbers 25:2.1-2

Fulgentius of Ruspe †533

We defeat the adversary only if we fight with tears and with prayers, in continual humility of heart. It is written, in fact, that “the prayer of the humble penetrates the clouds and is not withdrawn from God until it is answered.” The weeping of the humble is therefore a great antidote against carnal concupiscence. Tears that spring from compunction of heart defeat the enemy and gain for us the gift of a victorious happiness. In fact, those who “go out weeping, scattering their seeds, will return rejoicing, carrying their sheaves.” How wisely the holy prophet teaches that the seeds of good works must be watered with rivers of tears! Indeed, no seed germinates without being watered. Nor does a seed bear fruit if it has been without the benefit of water. We also, therefore, if we wish to harvest the fruits of our seeds, should not cease watering them with tears, which should spring from the heart more than from the body. This is why we are told through the prophet to rend our hearts, not our garments.
Letters 4:9.5

18

and will not depart, till the most High shall behold to judge righteously, and execute judgment.

καὶ οὐ μὴ ἀποστῇ, ἕως ἐπισκέψηται ὁ ῞Υψιστος. καὶ κρινεῖ δικαίως καὶ ποιήσει κρίσιν.

и҆ не ѿстꙋ́питъ, до́ндеже посѣти́тъ вы́шнїй, сꙋ́дитъ въ пра́вдꙋ и҆ сотвори́тъ сꙋ́дъ:

19

For the Lord will not be slack, neither will the Mighty be patient toward them,

καὶ ὁ Κύριος οὐ μὴ βραδύνῃ, οὐδὲ μὴ μακροθυμήσῃ ἐπ᾿ αὐτοῖς,

и҆ гдⷭ҇ь не заме́длитъ, нижѐ и҆́мать долготерпѣ́ти ѡ҆ ни́хъ, до́ндеже сокрꙋши́тъ чрє́сла неми́лостивыхъ.

20

till he have smitten in sunder the loins of the unmerciful, and repayed vengeance to the heathen;

ἕως ἂν συντρίψῃ ὀσφὺν ἀνελεημόνων, καὶ τοῖς ἔθνεσιν ἀνταποδώσει ἐκδίκησιν,

И҆ ꙗ҆зы́кѡмъ возда́стъ ме́сть, до́ндеже потреби́тъ мно́жество досади́телей и҆ ски́птры непра́ведныхъ сокрꙋши́тъ:

21

till he have taken away the multitude of the proud, and broken the sceptre of the unrighteous;

ἕως ἐξάρῃ πλῆθος ὑβριστῶν καὶ σκῆπτρα ἀδίκων συντρίψῃ·

до́ндеже возда́стъ человѣ́кꙋ по дѣѧ́нїємъ є҆гѡ̀, по дѣлѡ́мъ человѣ́чєскимъ и҆ помышле́нїємъ и҆́хъ:

22

Till he have rendered to every man according to his deeds, and to the works of men according to their devices;

ἕως ἀνταποδῷ ἀνθρώπῳ κατὰ τὰς πράξεις αὐτοῦ καὶ τὰ ἔργα τῶν ἀνθρώπων κατὰ τὰ ἐνθυμήματα αὐτῶν·

до́ндеже разсꙋ́дитъ сꙋдо́мъ лю́ди своѧ̑ и҆ возвесели́тъ ѧ҆̀ млⷭ҇тїю свое́ю.

23

till he have judged the cause of his people, and made them to rejoice in his mercy.

ἕως κρίνῃ τὴν κρίσιν τοῦ λαοῦ αὐτοῦ, καὶ εὐφρανεῖ αὐτοὺς ἐν τῷ ἐλέει αὐτοῦ.

Ко́ль красна̀ ми́лость во вре́мѧ ско́рби є҆гѡ̀, ꙗ҆́коже ѡ҆́блацы дожде́внїи во вре́мѧ бездо́ждїѧ.

24

Mercy is seasonable in the time of affliction, as clouds of rain in the time of drought.

ὡραῖον ἔλεος ἐν καιρῷ θλίψεως αὐτοῦ, ὡς νεφέλαι ὑετοῦ ἐν καιρῷ ἀβροχίας.