Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 38
Commentary from 2 fathers
Honour a physician with the honour due unto him for the uses which ye may have of him: for the Lord hath created him.
ΤΙΜΑ ἰατρὸν πρὸς τὰς χρείας αὐτοῦ τιμαῖς αὐτοῦ, καὶ γὰρ αὐτὸν ἔκτισε Κύριος·
Почита́й врача̀ проти́вꙋ потре́бъ че́стїю є҆гѡ̀, и҆́бо гдⷭ҇ь созда̀ є҆го̀:
For of the most High cometh healing, and he shall receive honour of the king.
παρὰ γὰρ ῾Υψίστου ἐστὶν ἴασις, καὶ παρὰ βασιλέως λήψεται δόμα.
ѿ вы́шнѧгѡ бо є҆́сть и҆сцѣле́нїе, и҆ ѿ царѧ̀ прїи́метъ да́ръ.
The skill of the physician shall lift up his head: and in the sight of great men he shall be in admiration.
ἐπιστήμη ἰατροῦ ἀνυψώσει κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἔναντι μεγιστάνων θαυμασθήσεται.
Хꙋдо́жество врача̀ вознесе́тъ главꙋ̀ є҆гѡ̀, и҆ пред̾ вельмо́жами ᲂу҆диви́мь бꙋ́детъ.
The Lord hath created medicines out of the earth; and he that is wise will not abhor them.
Κύριος ἔκτισεν ἐκ γῆς φάρμακα, καὶ ἀνὴρ φρόνιμος οὐ προσοχθιεῖ αὐτοῖς.
Гдⷭ҇ь созда̀ ѿ землѝ врачєва́нїѧ, и҆ мꙋ́жъ мꙋ́дрый не возгнꙋша́етсѧ и҆́ми.
And he hath given men skill, that he might be honoured in his marvellous works.
καὶ αὐτὸς ἔδωκεν ἀνθρώποις ἐπιστήμην ἐνδοξάζεσθαι ἐν τοῖς θαυμασίοις αὐτοῦ·
И҆ то́й да́лъ є҆́сть хꙋдо́жество человѣ́кѡмъ, да сла́витсѧ въ чꙋдесѣ́хъ свои́хъ:
With such doth he heal men, and taketh away their pains.
ἐν αὐτοῖς ἐθεράπευσε καὶ ἦρε τὸν πόνον αὐτοῦ,
тѣ́ми ᲂу҆врачева̀ и҆ ѿѧ́тъ бѡлѣ́зни и҆́хъ.
Of such doth the apothecary make a confection; and of his works there is no end; and from him is peace over all the earth,
μυρεψὸς ἐν τούτοις ποιήσει μεῖγμα, καὶ οὐ μὴ συντελέσῃ ἔργα αὐτοῦ, καὶ εἰρήνη παρ᾿ αὐτοῦ ἐστιν ἐπὶ προσώπου τῆς γῆς. -
Мѷрова́рецъ си́ми состро́итъ смѣше́нїе, и҆ не сконча́ютсѧ дѣла̀ є҆гѡ̀, и҆ ми́ръ ѿ негѡ̀ є҆́сть на лицы̀ землѝ.
My son, in thy sickness be not negligent: but pray unto the Lord, and he will make thee whole.
Τέκνον, ἐν ἀρρωστήματί σου μὴ παράβλεπε, ἀλλ᾿ εὖξαι Κυρίῳ, καὶ αὐτὸς ἰάσεταί σε.
Ча́до, въ болѣ́зни твое́й не презира́й, но моли́сѧ гдⷭ҇еви, и҆ то́й тѧ̀ и҆сцѣли́тъ:
Leave off from sin, and order thine hands aright, and cleanse thy heart from all wickedness.
ἀπόστησον πλημμέλειαν καὶ εὔθυνον χεῖρας, καὶ ἀπὸ πάσης ἁμαρτίας καθάρισον καρδίαν.
ѿстꙋпѝ ѿ прегрѣше́нїѧ и҆ напра́ви рꙋ́цѣ, и҆ ѿ всѧ́кагѡ грѣха̀ ѡ҆чи́сти се́рдце (твоѐ):
Give a sweet savour, and a memorial of fine flour; and make a fat offering, as not being.
δὸς εὐωδίαν καὶ μνημόσυνον σεμιδάλεως καὶ λίπανον προσφορὰν ὡς μὴ ὑπάρχων.
да́ждь благоꙋха́нїе и҆ па́мѧть семїда́ла и҆ ᲂу҆ма́сти приноше́нїе, а҆́кибы не пе́рвѣе приносѧ́й:
Then give place to the physician, for the Lord hath created him: let him not go from thee, for thou hast need of him.
καὶ ἰατρῷ δὸς τόπον, καὶ γὰρ αὐτὸν ἔκτισε Κύριος, καὶ μὴ ἀποστήτω σου, καὶ γὰρ αὐτοῦ χρεία.
и҆ да́ждь мѣ́сто врачꙋ̀, гдⷭ҇ь бо є҆го̀ созда̀: и҆ да не ᲂу҆дали́тсѧ ѿ тебє̀, потре́бенъ бо тѝ є҆́сть.
There is a time when in their hands there is good success.
ἔστι καιρὸς ὅτε καὶ ἐν χερσὶν αὐτῶν εὐοδία·
Є҆́сть вре́мѧ, є҆гда̀ въ рꙋкꙋ̀ є҆гѡ̀ благоꙋха́нїе:
For they shall also pray unto the Lord, that he would prosper that, which they give for ease and remedy to prolong life.
καὶ γὰρ αὐτοὶ Κυρίου δεηθήσονται, ἵνα εὐοδώσῃ αὐτοῖς ἀνάπαυσιν καὶ ἴασιν χάριν ἐμβιώσεως.
и҆́бо и҆ ті́и гдⷭ҇еви мо́лѧтсѧ, да ᲂу҆пра́витъ и҆̀мъ поко́й и҆ и҆сцѣле́нїе ра́ди ѡ҆здравле́нїѧ.
He that sinneth before his Maker, let him fall into the hand of the physician.
ὁ ἁμαρτάνων ἔναντι τοῦ ποιήσαντος αὐτὸν ἐμπέσοι εἰς χεῖρας ἰατροῦ.
Согрѣша́ѧй пред̾ сотво́ршимъ є҆го̀ впаде́тъ въ рꙋ́цѣ врачꙋ̀.
My son, let tears fall down over the dead, and begin to lament, as if thou hadst suffered great harm thyself; and then cover his body according to the custom, and neglect not his burial.
Τέκνον, ἐπὶ νεκρῷ κατάγαγε δάκρυα καὶ ὡς δεινὰ πάσχων ἔναρξαι θρήνου, κατὰ δὲ τὴν κρίσιν αὐτοῦ περίστειλον τὸ σῶμα αὐτοῦ καὶ μὴ ὑπερίδῃς τὴν ταφὴν αὐτοῦ.
Ча́до, над̾ мертвеце́мъ и҆сточѝ сле́зы и҆ ꙗ҆́коже ѕлѣ̀ стра́ждꙋщь начнѝ пла́чь: и҆ ꙗ҆́коже досто́итъ є҆мꙋ̀, соскꙋ́тай тѣ́ло є҆гѡ̀ и҆ не пре́зри погребе́нїѧ є҆гѡ̀.
Before all else, I will praise in you the fruitful work of your Christian piety. In fact, the sacred Scripture shows that your behavior is also pleasing to God when it says, “Shed tears over the dead. As one who suffers grievously, begin the lament, and do not neglect his tomb.” Our patriarchs are also examples of the performance of this ritual. Abraham, the father of our faith, wept over Sarah, the mother of our vocation, not because he doubted ever seeing her again but out of sorrow for having lost her. How could the father of our faith have had doubts about the resurrection, he who was the first to hear the divine promise? Mindful of her human condition, however, he did not despise care for the body in view of eternal salvation, but after acquiring a field suited for the burial, he interred his dead wife in an honorable grave. In this way he wanted to show what people should do for the dying, since he, immediately after leaving the land of his ancestors at the call of God, and though acquiring no land among the fertile plots of the various countries, nevertheless wanted to buy—he, the pilgrim of every nation—a small fistful of dirt for the burial, that is, a perennial and permanent possession, a field not for profit but for eternal rest. Jacob also honored his beloved and awaited Rachel, not only with a famous mausoleum but also with an epitaph that was a religious comfort in his suffering and at the same time a testimony to posterity. Although he marked that grave with a mournful epitaph about his dead wife, with a prophetic spirit he foresaw that whereas the law was passing away, the gospel was coming into force. In the folds of this mystery, in many places the wife of the patriarch represented the image of the church. Nevertheless, as I believe, she dies as a symbol of the synagogue and in her delivery generates the son of pain, whereas the Virgin, also by childbirth, generates the end of the law: the end of the law is Christ. Tobias also suggests to us a holy and sanctified hope through his care for burial, and in a special way he was justified by the Lord for taking the initiative in this task, and indeed he was praised by the word of the archangel because he preferred the burial of a poor person to his own nourishment. Ignoring his stomach because he was famished in soul, he preferred to die of bodily hunger than of spiritual, so that he would be an example to us to prefer physical fasting at any cost, so as to secure for ourselves the salvation of our souls. See the goodness of care for the dead, see the goodness of the tears of love with which father Abraham desired to bury the mother of the ancient promises. Good also were the pious tears that Joseph the righteous shed for his dead father and the prayerful tears with which David bathed his bed almost every night. But why recall the grief of the holy patriarchs? Jesus mourned his friend, condescending to assume even this passion of our human condition, to the point of shedding tears for the dead and acting like a weak human person toward him whom he was going to raise by divine power. In that single man, however, the merciful and compassionate Lord also grieved over the condition of the human race, and in those tears with which he grieved our sins, he also cleansed them.
Letter 13, to Pammachius
Weep bitterly, and make great moan, and use lamentation, as he is worthy, and that a day or two, lest thou be evil spoken of: and then comfort thyself for thy heaviness.
πίκρανον κλαυθμὸν καὶ θέρμανον κοπετὸν καὶ ποίησον τὸ πένθος κατὰ τὴν ἀξίαν αὐτοῦ ἡμέραν μίαν καὶ δύο χάριν διαβολῆς καὶ παρακλήθητι λύπης ἕνεκα·
Го́рекъ сотворѝ пла́чь и҆ рыда́нїе тепло̀, и҆ сотворѝ сѣ́тованїе, ꙗ҆́коже є҆мꙋ̀ досто́итъ, де́нь є҆ди́нъ и҆ два̀ хꙋле́нїѧ ра́ди, и҆ ᲂу҆тѣ́шисѧ печа́ли ра́ди:
For of heaviness cometh death, and the heaviness of the heart breaketh strength.
ἀπὸ λύπης γὰρ ἐκβαίνει θάνατος, καὶ λύπη καρδίας κάμψει ἰσχύν.
ѿ печа́ли бо сме́рть быва́етъ, и҆ печа́ль серде́чнаѧ слѧ́четъ крѣ́пость.
In affliction also sorrow remaineth: and the life of the poor is the curse of the heart.
ἐν ἐπαγωγῇ παραβαίνει καὶ λύπη, καὶ βίος πτωχοῦ κατὰ καρδίας.
Не да́ждь въ печа́ль се́рдца твоегѡ̀, ѡ҆ста́ви ю҆̀ помѧнꙋ́въ послѣ̑днѧѧ.
Take no heaviness to heart: drive it away, and member the last end.
μὴ δῷς εἰς λύπην τὴν καρδίαν σου, ἀπόστησον αὐτὴν μνησθεὶς τὰ ἔσχατα·
Не забꙋ́ди, нѣ́сть бо возвраще́нїѧ: и҆ є҆мꙋ̀ по́льзы не сотвори́ши, и҆ себѐ ѡ҆ѕло́биши.
Forget it not, for there is no turning again: thou shalt not do him good, but hurt thyself.
μὴ ἐπιλάθῃ, οὐ γάρ ἐστιν ἐπάνοδος, καὶ τοῦτον οὐκ ὠφελήσεις καὶ σεαυτὸν κακώσεις.
Помѧнѝ сꙋ́дъ є҆гѡ̀, ꙗ҆́кѡ си́це и҆ тво́й: мнѣ̀ вчера̀, а҆ тебѣ̀ дне́сь.
Remember my judgment: for thine also shall be so; yesterday for me, and to day for thee.
μνήσθητι τὸ κρίμα αὐτοῦ, ὅτι οὕτω καὶ τὸ σόν· ἐμοὶ ἐχθὲς καὶ σοὶ σήμερον.
Въ поко́и мертвеца̀ ᲂу҆поко́й па́мѧть є҆гѡ̀, и҆ ᲂу҆тѣ́шисѧ ѡ҆ не́мъ во и҆схо́дѣ дꙋ́ха є҆гѡ̀.
When the dead is at rest, let his remembrance rest; and be comforted for him, when his Spirit is departed from him.
ἐν ἀναπαύσει νεκροῦ κατάπαυσον τὸ μνημόσυνον αὐτοῦ καὶ παρακλήθητι ἐν αὐτῷ ἐν ἐξόδῳ πνεύματος αὐτοῦ.
Премꙋ́дрость кни́жника во благовре́менїи пра́зднества, и҆ ᲂу҆малѧ́ѧйсѧ дѣѧ́нїемъ свои́мъ ᲂу҆премꙋ́дритсѧ.
The wisdom of a learned man cometh by opportunity of leisure: and he that hath little business shall become wise.
Σοφία γραμματέως ἐν εὐκαιρίᾳ σχολῆς, καὶ ὁ ἐλασσούμενος πράξει αὐτοῦ σοφισθήσεται.
Чи́мъ ᲂу҆мꙋдри́тсѧ держа́й ѡ҆ра́ло и҆ хвалѧ́йсѧ ѻ҆стно́мъ, гонѧ́й волы̀ и҆ ѡ҆браща́ѧйсѧ въ дѣ́лѣхъ и҆́хъ, и҆ по́вѣсть є҆гѡ̀ въ сынѣ́хъ ю҆́нчихъ;
How can he get wisdom that holdeth the plough, and that glorieth in the goad, that driveth oxen, and is occupied in their labours, and whose talk is of bullocks?
τί σοφισθήσεται ὁ κρατῶν ἀρότρου καὶ καυχώμενος ἐν δόρατι κέντρου, βόας ἐλαύνων καὶ ἀναστρεφόμενος ἐν ἔργοις αὐτῶν, καὶ ἡ διήγησις αὐτοῦ ἐν υἱοῖς ταύρων;
Се́рдце своѐ да́стъ возры́ти бразды̑, и҆ бдѣ́нїе є҆гѡ̀ на насыще́нїихъ ю҆́ницъ.
He giveth his mind to make furrows; and is diligent to give the kine fodder.
καρδίαν αὐτοῦ δώσει ἐκδοῦναι αὔλακας, καὶ ἡ ἀγρυπνία αὐτοῦ εἰς χορτάσματα δαμάλεων.
Та́кѡ всѧ́къ древодѣ́лѧ и҆ а҆рхїте́ктѡнъ, и҆́же нѡ́щи ꙗ҆́кѡ дни̑ провожда́етъ, дѣ́лаѧ и҆зваѧ̑нїѧ печа́тей, и҆ прилѣжа́нїе є҆гѡ̀ и҆змѣни́ти разли́чїе:
So every carpenter and workmaster, that laboureth night and day: and they that cut and grave seals, and are diligent to make great variety, and give themselves to counterfeit imagery, and watch to finish a work:
οὕτως πᾶς τέκτων καὶ ἀρχιτέκτων, ὅστις νύκτωρ ὡς ἡμέρας διάγει· οἱ γλύφοντες γλύμματα σφραγίδων, καὶ ἡ ὑπομονὴ αὐτοῦ ἀλλοιῶσαι ποικιλίαν· καρδίαν αὐτοῦ δώσει εἰς τὸ ὁμοιῶσαι ζωγραφίαν, καὶ ἡ ἀγρυπνία αὐτοῦ τελέσαι ἔργον.
се́рдце своѐ да́стъ ᲂу҆подо́бити живописа́нїе, и҆ бдѣ́нїе є҆гѡ̀ є҆́же соверши́ти дѣ́ло.
The smith also sitting by the anvil, and considering the iron work, the vapour of the fire wasteth his flesh, and he fighteth with the heat of the furnace: the noise of the hammer and the anvil is ever in his ears, and his eyes look still upon the pattern of the thing that he maketh; he setteth his mind to finish his work, and watcheth to polish it perfectly:
οὕτως χαλκεὺς καθήμενος ἐγγὺς ἄκμονος καὶ καταμανθάνων ἔργα σιδήρου· ἀτμὶς πυρὸς πήξει σάρκας αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐν θέρμῃ καμίνου διαμαχήσεται· φωνὴ σφύρης καινιεῖ τὸ οὖς αὐτοῦ, καὶ κατέναντι ὁμοιώματος σκεύους οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ αὐτοῦ· καρδίαν αὐτοῦ δώσει εἰς συντέλειαν ἔργων, καὶ ἡ ἀγρυπνία αὐτοῦ κοσμῆσαι ἐπὶ συντελείας.
Та́кожде и҆ кова́чь сѣдѧ̀ бли́з̾ на́ковальни и҆ соглѧ́даѧй дѣ́ло желѣ́за: кꙋре́нїе ѻ҆гнѧ̀ ᲂу҆дрꙋчи́тъ тѣ́ло є҆гѡ̀, и҆ теплото́ю пе́щи ᲂу҆трꙋди́тсѧ:
So doth the potter sitting at his work, and turning the wheel about with his feet, who is alway carefully set at his work, and maketh all his work by number;
οὕτως κεραμεὺς καθήμενος ἐν ἔργῳ αὐτοῦ καὶ συστρέφων ἐν ποσὶν αὐτοῦ τροχόν, ὃς ἐν μερίμνῃ κεῖται διὰ παντὸς ἐπὶ τὸ ἔργον αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐναρίθμιος πᾶσα ἡ ἐργασία αὐτοῦ.
Та́кожде и҆ скꙋде́льникъ сѣдѧ̀ на дѣ́лѣ свое́мъ и҆ вертѧ̀ нога́ма свои́ма ко́ло,
And what is meant by this potter if not the holy preachers that we have spoken of already? Through various activities they worthily exercise the degrees of their ministry, adapting their doctrine according to the condition of their hearers. The wise, in fact, must be admonished in a way different from the ignorant, the strong different from the weak, the young different from the old and men different from women. With the plow of the gospel they cultivate the field of the Lord. They pasture the sheep and animals of the Lord with the fodder of the Word. They engrave the seals of the new person in human hearts, producing the weapons of the virtues by the ministry of their tongue. They give an example, consoling by their words and behavior those who are fragile and sickly, until they are transformed into honorable vessels, fully fit for God’s ministry. This is why this potter works, turning the wheel with his feet, transforming the changeable situations of this life into an example for his disciples through the signs of good works. He watches what he does so that he might persevere in good actions, and by his own actions he invigorates the activity of the sick, giving them an example of humility and meekness and setting his whole heart on the smoothing of all that is bitter in the habits of those under him by the sweetness of his example. In addition, he spends all of his solicitude cooking every action of the disciples in the fire of the furnace of the heart, so as to render them firmer by the flame of love. He does this because all of his work could be damaged by a fall if it is not held together by the bond of charity.
On Ecclesiasticus 8:16
He fashioneth the clay with his arm, and boweth down his strength before his feet; he applieth himself to lead it over; and he is diligent to make clean the furnace:
ἐν βραχίονι αὐτοῦ τυπώσει πηλὸν καὶ πρὸ ποδῶν κάμψει ἰσχὺν αὐτοῦ· καρδίαν ἐπιδώσει συντελέσαι τὸ χρῖσμα, καὶ ἡ ἀγρυπνία αὐτοῦ καθαρίσαι κάμινον. -
и҆́же въ печа́ли лежи́тъ вы́нꙋ на дѣ́лѣ свое́мъ, и҆счислѧ́емо всѐ дѣ́ланїе є҆гѡ̀:
All these trust to their hands: and every one is wise in his work.
Πάντες οὗτοι εἰς χεῖρας αὐτῶν ἐνεπίστευσαν, καὶ ἕκαστος ἐν τῷ ἔργῳ αὐτοῦ σοφίζεται.
се́рдце своѐ вда́стъ сконча́ти сосꙋ́дъ, и҆ бдѣ́нїе є҆гѡ̀ ѡ҆чи́стити пе́щь.
Without these cannot a city be inhabited: and they shall not dwell where they will, nor go up and down:
ἄνευ αὐτῶν οὐκ οἰκισθήσεται πόλις, καὶ οὐ παροικήσουσιν οὐδὲ περιπατήσουσιν,
Всѝ сі́и на рꙋ́ки своѧ̑ надѣ́ютсѧ, и҆ кі́йждо въ дѣ́лѣ свое́мъ ᲂу҆мꙋдрѧ́етсѧ.
They shall not be sought for in publick counsel, nor sit high in the congregation: they shall not sit on the judges’ seat, nor understand the sentence of judgment: they cannot declare justice and judgment; and they shall not be found where parables are spoken.
ἀλλ᾿ εἰς βουλὴν λαοῦ οὐ ζητηθήσονται καὶ ἐν ἐκκλησίᾳ οὐχ ὑπεραλοῦνται· ἐπὶ δίφρον δικαστοῦ οὐ καθιοῦνται καὶ διαθήκην κρίματος οὐ διανοηθήσονται, οὐδὲ μὴ ἐκφάνωσι δικαιοσύνην καὶ κρίμα, καὶ ἐν παραβολαῖς οὐχ εὑρεθήσονται,
на престо́лѣ же сꙋді́й не сѧ́дꙋтъ и҆ завѣ́та сꙋдꙋ̀ не размы́слѧтъ, нижѐ и҆́мꙋтъ и҆звѣща́ти наказа́нїѧ и҆ сꙋда̀, и҆ въ при́тчахъ не ѡ҆брѧ́щꙋтсѧ:
But they will maintain the state of the world, and all their desire is in the work of their craft.
ἀλλὰ κτίσμα αἰῶνος στηρίσουσι, καὶ ἡ δέησις αὐτῶν ἐν ἐργασίᾳ τέχνης.
но то́кмѡ зда́нїємъ житє́йскимъ прилѣжа́тъ, и҆ моле́нїе и҆́хъ въ дѣ́ланїи хꙋдо́жества.
Was not the water made sweet with wood, that the virtue thereof might be known?
οὐκ ἀπὸ ξύλου ἐγλυκάνθη ὕδωρ εἰς τὸ γνωσθῆναι τὴν ἰσχὺν αὐτοῦ;
Не ѿ дре́ва ли ѡ҆слади́сѧ вода̀, да позна́на бꙋ́детъ си́ла є҆гѡ̀;