Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 39
Commentary from 3 fathers
But he that giveth his mind to the law of the most High, and is occupied in the meditation thereof, will seek out the wisdom of all the ancient, and be occupied in prophecies.
ΠΛΗΝ τοῦ ἐπιδόντος τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ καὶ διανοουμένου ἐν νόμῳ ῾Υψίστου, σοφίαν πάντων ἀρχαίων ἐκζητήσει καὶ ἐν προφητείαις ἀσχοληθήσεται.
То́чїю вдаѧ́й дꙋ́шꙋ свою̀ и҆ размышлѧ́ѧй въ зако́нѣ вы́шнѧгѡ премꙋ́дрости всѣ́хъ дре́внихъ взы́щетъ и҆ во прⷪ҇ро́чествїихъ поꙋча́тисѧ бꙋ́детъ:
He will keep the sayings of the renowned men: and where subtil parables are, he will be there also.
διηγήσεις ἀνδρῶν ὀνομαστῶν συντηρήσει καὶ ἐν στροφαῖς παραβολῶν συνεισελεύσεται.
пѡ́вѣсти мꙋже́й и҆мени́тыхъ соблюде́тъ и҆ во и҆зви̑тїѧ при́тчей совни́детъ,
He will seek out the secrets of grave sentences, and be conversant in dark parables.
ἀπόκρυφα παροιμιῶν ἐκζητήσει καὶ ἐν αἰνίγμασι παραβολῶν ἀναστραφήσεται.
сокровє́ннаѧ при́тчей и҆зы́щетъ и҆ въ гада́нїи при́тчей поживе́тъ,
He shall serve among great men, and appear before princes: he will travel through strange countries; for he hath tried the good and the evil among men.
ἀνὰ μέσον μεγιστάνων ὑπηρετήσει καὶ ἔναντι ἡγουμένου ὀφθήσεται· ἐν γῇ ἀλλοτρίων ἐθνῶν διελεύσεται, ἀγαθὰ γὰρ καὶ κακὰ ἐν ἀνθρώποις ἐπείρασε.
посредѣ̀ вельмо́жъ послꙋ́житъ и҆ пред̾ старѣ́йшинꙋ ꙗ҆ви́тсѧ,
He will give his heart to resort early to the Lord that made him, and will pray before the most High, and will open his mouth in prayer, and make supplication for his sins.
τὴν καρδίαν αὐτοῦ ἐπιδώσει ὀρθρίσαι πρὸς Κύριον τὸν ποιήσαντα αὐτὸν καὶ ἔναντι ῾Υψίστου δεηθήσεται· καὶ ἀνοίξει τὸ στόμα αὐτοῦ ἐν προσευχῇ καὶ περὶ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν αὐτοῦ δεηθήσεται.
въ землѝ чꙋжди́хъ ꙗ҆зы̑къ про́йдетъ, добро́ бо и҆ ѕло̀ въ человѣ́цѣхъ и҆скꙋсѝ.
When the great Lord will, he shall be filled with the spirit of understanding: he shall pour out wise sentences, and give thanks unto the Lord in his prayer.
ἐὰν Κύριος ὁ μέγας θελήσῃ, πνεύματι συνέσεως ἐμπλησθήσεται· αὐτὸς ἀνομβρήσει ῥήματα σοφίας αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐν προσευχῇ ἐξομολογήσεται Κυρίῳ.
А҆́ще гдⷭ҇ь ве́лїй восхо́щетъ, дꙋ́хомъ ра́зꙋма и҆спо́лнитсѧ:
He shall shew forth that which he hath learned, and shall glory in the law of the covenant of the Lord.
αὐτὸς ἐκφανεῖ παιδείαν διδασκαλίας αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐν νόμῳ διαθήκης Κυρίου καυχήσεται.
то́й и҆звѣсти́тъ наказа́нїе ᲂу҆че́нїѧ є҆гѡ̀ и҆ въ зако́нѣ завѣ́та гдⷭ҇нѧ похва́литсѧ.
Many shall commend his understanding; and so long as the world endureth, it shall not be blotted out; his memorial shall not depart away, and his name shall live from generation to generation.
αἰνέσουσι τὴν σύνεσιν αὐτοῦ πολλοί, ἕως τοῦ αἰῶνος οὐκ ἐξαλειφθήσεται· οὐκ ἀποστήσεται τὸ μνημόσυνον αὐτοῦ, καὶ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ ζήσεται εἰς γενεὰς γενεῶν.
Восхва́лѧтъ ра́зꙋмъ є҆гѡ̀ мно́зи, и҆ до вѣ́ка не поги́бнетъ:
Nations shall shew forth his wisdom, and the congregation shall declare his praise.
τὴν σοφίαν αὐτοῦ διηγήσονται ἔθνη, καὶ τὸν ἔπαινον αὐτοῦ ἐξαγγελεῖ ἐκκλησία.
премꙋ́дрость є҆гѡ̀ повѣ́дѧтъ ꙗ҆зы́цы, и҆ хвалꙋ̀ є҆гѡ̀ и҆сповѣ́сть цр҃ковь.
If he die, he shall leave a greater name than a thousand: and if he live, he shall increase it.
ἐὰν ἐμμείνῃ, ὄνομα καταλείψει ἢ χίλιοι, καὶ ἐὰν ἀναπαύσηται, ἐμποιήσει αὐτῷ.
А҆́ще пребꙋ́детъ, приꙋсво́итъ себѣ̀, и҆ а҆́ще почі́етъ, и҆́мѧ ѡ҆ста́витъ па́че ты́сѧщъ.
Yet have I more to say, which I have thought upon; for I am filled as the moon at the full.
῎Ετι διανοηθεὶς ἐκδιηγήσομαι καὶ ὡς διχομηνία ἐπληρώθην.
Є҆щѐ размы́сливъ повѣ́мъ, и҆ ꙗ҆́коже лꙋны̀ полнота̀ напо́лнихсѧ.
Hearken unto me, ye holy children, and bud forth as a rose growing by the brook of the field:
εἰσακούσατέ μου, υἱοὶ ὅσιοι, καὶ βλαστήσατε ὡς ρόδον φυόμενον ἐπὶ ρεύματος ὑγροῦ
Послꙋ́шайте менѐ, преподо́бнїи сы́нове, и҆ прозѧ́бните ꙗ҆́кѡ ши́пки произраста́ющыѧ при пото́цѣ се́льнѣмъ,
And give ye a sweet savour as frankincense, and flourish as a lily, send forth a smell, and sing a song of praise, bless the Lord in all his works.
καὶ ὡς λίβανος εὐωδιάσατε ὀσμὴν καὶ ἀνθήσατε ἄνθος ὡς κρίνον, διάδοτε ὀσμὴν καὶ αἰνέσατε ᾆσμα. εὐλογήσατε Κύριον ἐπὶ πᾶσι τοῖς ἔργοις,
и҆ ꙗ҆́коже лїва́нъ дади́те благово́нїе,
Magnify his name, and shew forth his praise with the songs of your lips, and with harps, and in praising him ye shall say after this manner:
δότε τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ μεγαλωσύνην καὶ ἐξομολογήσασθε ἐν αἰνέσει αὐτοῦ, ἐν ᾠδαῖς χειλέων καὶ ἐν κινύραις καὶ οὕτως ἐρεῖτε ἐν ἐξομολογήσει·
Благослови́те гдⷭ҇а во всѣ́хъ дѣ́лѣхъ є҆гѡ̀, дади́те и҆́мени є҆гѡ̀ вели́чїе и҆ и҆сповѣ́дайтесѧ во хвале́нїи є҆гѡ̀,
The confession of sins is that ordinary confession that is known to you. It is therefore unnecessary to speak of the reasons for its use. We must rather look into confession in praise of God and the proofs that demonstrate it. People are so habituated to calling “confession” the confession of sins that every time they hear the reader say the words, “Confess yourselves,” they beat their breasts, and a kind of noisy buzz arises in their consciences as they are reminded of their duty. This almost always happens, and yet one is not always speaking of the confession of sins. At times, in fact, one speaks of the confession of praise, as in that passage of Scripture where it says, “Confess to the Lord, and in your confession you will say, ‘All the works of the Lord are very good.’ ” When you hear, “In your confession you will say, ‘All the works of the Lord are very good,’ ” it is clear that this is a confession of praise to God and not of your guilt. In this case, you confess that all the works of the Lord are good, not that your actions are bad. And here is another passage about which, as with the previous one, there can be no doubt. The Lord Jesus certainly committed no sin, yet in the Gospel it says, “I confess to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth.” And he continues with praise: “Because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to the little ones. Yes, Father, because that is what it pleased you to do.” This is the confession of one who praises God, not of one who accuses himself. Since, therefore, one who confesses either accuses himself or praises God, you should reflect a bit about the advantages of each type of confession.
Sermons 8:2
All the works of the Lord are exceeding good, and whatsoever he commandeth shall be accomplished in due season.
Τὰ ἔργα Κυρίου πάντα ὅτι καλὰ σφόδρα, καὶ πᾶν πρόσταγμα ἐν καιρῷ αὐτοῦ ἔσται· οὐκ ἔστιν εἰπεῖν· τί τοῦτο; εἰς τί τοῦτο;
дѣла̀ гдⷭ҇нѧ всѧ̑ ꙗ҆́кѡ дѡбра̀ ѕѣлѡ̀, и҆ всѧ́ко повелѣ́нїе во вре́мѧ своѐ бꙋ́детъ.
All the merits of holiness, though good and useful not only for the present life but also in view of gaining eternity, when compared with the merits of divine contemplation must nevertheless be considered vile and, so to speak, of little worth. And so that this comparison would be confirmed by the authority of the Scriptures, is it not true that the Scripture states comprehensively concerning all the things created by God, “And all the things that God created were very good,” and, “All the things created by God are good in their time”? So then, the things of the present world are not simply called good but superlatively good. For us who live in this world, they serve for the needs of life, of bodily health, or some other useful reason unknown to us. Or, they are even “very good” in that they enable us “to see the invisible things of God from the creatures of the world, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead,” through such a great and ordered disposition of the created universe and of all the things existing in it. Yet all of these things will not be deemed worth being called good once they are compared with the future age, in which there will be no alteration of good things and where no interruption of the true blessedness is to be feared.
Conferences 3:23.3
And none may say, What is this? wherefore is that? for at time convenient they shall all be sought out: at his commandment the waters stood as an heap, and at the words of his mouth the receptacles of waters.
πάντα γὰρ ἐν καιρῷ αὐτοῦ ζητηθήσεται. ἐν λόγῳ αὐτοῦ ἔστη ὡς θημωνία ὕδωρ, καὶ ἐν ρήματι στόματος αὐτοῦ ἀποδοχεῖα ὑδάτων.
И҆ нѣ́сть рещѝ: что̀ сїѐ; на что̀ сїѐ; всѧ̑ бо сїѧ̑ во вре́мѧ своѐ взы̑скана бꙋ́дꙋтъ.
At his commandment is done whatsoever pleaseth him; and none can hinder, when he will save.
ἐν προστάγματι αὐτοῦ πᾶσα ἡ εὐδοκία, καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ὃς ἐλαττώσει τὸ σωτήριον αὐτοῦ.
Повелѣ́нїемъ є҆гѡ̀ всѧ́кое благоволе́нїе, и҆ нѣ́сть, и҆́же ᲂу҆ма́литъ спⷭ҇нїе є҆гѡ̀.
The works of all flesh are before him, and nothing can be hid from his eyes.
ἔργα πάσης σαρκὸς ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ, καὶ οὐκ ἔστι κρυβῆναι ἀπὸ τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν αὐτοῦ.
Дѣла̀ всѧ́кїѧ пло́ти пред̾ ни́мъ, и҆ нѣ́сть ᲂу҆кры́тисѧ ѿ ѻ҆че́съ є҆гѡ̀:
He seeth from everlasting to everlasting; and there is nothing wonderful before him.
ἀπὸ τοῦ αἰῶνος εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα ἐπέβλεψε, καὶ οὐθέν ἐστι θαυμάσιον ἐναντίον αὐτοῦ.
ѿ вѣ́ка на вѣ́къ призрѣ̀, и҆ ничто́же є҆́сть ди́вно пред̾ ни́мъ.
A man need not to say, What is this? wherefore is that? for he hath made all things for their uses.
οὐκ ἔστιν εἰπεῖν· τί τοῦτο; εἰς τί τοῦτο; πάντα γὰρ εἰς χρείας αὐτῶν ἔκτισται.
Нѣ́сть рещѝ: что̀ сїѐ; на что̀ сїѐ; всѧ̑ бо на потре́бꙋ и҆́хъ создана̑ бы́ша.
His blessing covered the dry land as a river, and watered it as a flood.
ἡ εὐλογία αὐτοῦ ὡς ποταμὸς ἐπεκάλυψε, καὶ ὡς κατακλυσμὸς ξηρὰν ἐμέθυσεν.
Блгⷭ҇ве́нїе є҆гѡ̀ ꙗ҆́кѡ рѣка̀ покры̀ и҆ ꙗ҆́кѡ пото́къ сꙋ́шꙋ напоѝ:
As he hath turned the waters into saltness: so shall the heathen inherit his wrath.
οὕτως ὀργὴν αὐτοῦ ἔθνη κληρονομήσει, ὡς μετέστρεψεν ὕδατα εἰς ἅλμην.
си́це гнѣ́въ є҆гѡ̀ ꙗ҆зы́цы наслѣ́дѧтъ, ꙗ҆́кѡ превратѝ во́дꙋ въ сла́ность.
As his ways are plain unto the holy; so are they stumblingblocks unto the wicked.
αἱ ὁδοὶ αὐτοῦ τοῖς ὁσίοις εὐθεῖαι, οὕτως τοῖς ἀνόμοις προσκόμματα.
Пꙋтїѐ є҆гѡ̀ преподѡ́бнымъ пра́ви, та́кѡ беззако́нникѡмъ претыка̑нїѧ.
For the good are good things created from the beginning: so evil things for sinners.
ἀγαθὰ τοῖς ἀγαθοῖς ἔκτισται ἀπ᾿ ἀρχῆς, οὕτως τοῖς ἁμαρτωλοῖς κακά.
Блага̑ѧ благи̑мъ создана̑ бы́ша и҆з̾ нача́ла, та́кожде грѣ̑шнымъ ѕла̑ѧ.
The principal things for the whole use of man’s life are water, fire, iron, and salt, flour of wheat, honey, milk, and the blood of the grape, and oil, and clothing.
ἀρχὴ πάσης χρείας εἰς ζωὴν ἀνθρώπου, ὕδωρ, πῦρ, καὶ σίδηρος καὶ ἅλας καὶ σεμίδαλις πυροῦ καὶ μέλι καὶ γάλα, αἷμα σταφυλῆς καὶ ἔλαιον καὶ ἱμάτιον.
Нача́ло всѧ́кїѧ потре́бы въ житїѐ человѣ́кꙋ, вода̀ и҆ ѻ҆́гнь, и҆ желѣ́зо и҆ со́ль, и҆ семїда́лъ пшени́цы и҆ млеко̀ и҆ ме́дъ, кро́вь гро́здова и҆ ма́сло и҆ ри́за:
All these things are for good to the godly: so to the sinners they are turned into evil.
ταῦτα πάντα τοῖς εὐσεβέσιν εἰς ἀγαθά, οὕτως τοῖς ἁμαρτωλοῖς τραπήσεται εἰς κακά.
всѧ̑ сїѧ̑ благочести̑вымъ во блага̑ѧ, си́це и҆ грѣ́шникѡмъ превратѧ́тсѧ во ѕла̑ѧ.
There be spirits that are created for vengeance, which in their fury lay on sore strokes; in the time of destruction they pour out their force, and appease the wrath of him that made them.
ἔστι πνεύματα, ἃ εἰς ἐκδίκησιν ἔκτισται καὶ ἐν θυμῷ αὐτοῦ ἐστερέωσαν μάστιγας αὐτῶν· ἐν καιρῷ συντελείας ἰσχὺν ἐκχεοῦσι καὶ τὸν θυμὸν τοῦ ποιήσαντος αὐτοὺς κοπάσουσι.
Сꙋ́ть дꙋ́си, и҆̀же со́здани бы́ша на ме́сть и҆ ꙗ҆́ростїю свое́ю ᲂу҆тверди́ша ра̑ны и҆̀мъ:
Fire, and hail, and famine, and death, all these were created for vengeance;
πῦρ καὶ χάλαζα καὶ λιμὸς καὶ θάνατος, πάντα ταῦτα εἰς ἐκδίκησιν ἔκτισται·
Ѻ҆́гнь и҆ гра́дъ, и҆ гла́дъ и҆ сме́рть, всѧ̑ сїѧ̑ создана̑ бы́ша на ме́сть:
Teeth of wild beasts, and scorpions, serpents, and the sword punishing the wicked to destruction.
θηρίων ὀδόντες καὶ σκορπίοι καὶ ἔχεις καὶ ρομφαία ἐκδικοῦσα εἰς ὄλεθρον ἀσεβεῖς·
зꙋ́бы ѕвѣре́й и҆ скорпі̑и, и҆ є҆хі̑дны и҆ ме́чь ѿмща́ѧй въ поги́бель нечести́выхъ,
They shall rejoice in his commandment, and they shall be ready upon earth, when need is; and when their time is come, they shall not transgress his word.
ἐν τῇ ἐντολῇ αὐτοῦ εὐφρανθήσονται καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς εἰς χρείας ἑτοιμασθήσονται καὶ ἐν τοῖς καιροῖς αὐτῶν οὐ παραβήσονται λόγον.
въ за́повѣдехъ є҆гѡ̀ возвеселѧ́тсѧ, и҆ на землѝ на потре́бꙋ ᲂу҆гото́вѧтсѧ, и҆ во бремена́хъ свои́хъ не и҆́мꙋтъ прейтѝ сло́ва.
Therefore from the beginning I was resolved, and thought upon these things, and have left them in writing.
διὰ τοῦτο ἐξ ἀρχῆς ἐστηρίχθην καὶ διενοήθην καὶ ἐν γραφῇ ἀφῆκα·
Сегѡ̀ ра́ди и҆спе́рва ᲂу҆тверди́хсѧ и҆ размы́слихъ и҆ въ писа́нїи ѡ҆ста́вихъ:
All the works of the Lord are good: and he will give every needful thing in due season.
τὰ ἔργα Κυρίου πάντα ἀγαθὰ καὶ πᾶσαν χρείαν ἐν ὥρᾳ αὐτῆς χορηγήσει.
всѧ̑ дѣла̀ гдⷭ҇нѧ бла̑га, и҆ всю̀ потре́бꙋ во вре́мѧ своѐ пода́стъ:
Your creature had existence from the fullness of your goodness, so that a good that was entirely useless to you and, though it was from you and not equal to you, because it could be created by you, would not fail to exist. What value did the heavens and the earth, which you created in the beginning, have for you? And spiritual and bodily natures, created by you in your Wisdom—let them too declare what they deserve from you, because even the inchoate and the formless beings depend on your Word. In their element, whether spiritual or corporeal, they tend away from you toward disorder and degeneration—although a formless spiritual being is superior to a formed bodily being and a formless corporeal being in turn superior to what is absolutely nothing. Thus they would have remained suspended in your word, formless, if this same word had not called them to your unity, endowed them with form and made all of them very good thanks to you, the One and highest Good.
Confessions 13.2.2
So that a man cannot say, This is worse than that: for in time they shall all be well approved.
καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν εἰπεῖν· τοῦτο τούτου πονηρότερον, πάντα γὰρ ἐν καιρῷ εὐδοκιμηθήσεται.
и҆ нѣ́сть рещѝ: сїѐ сегѡ̀ ѕлѣ́е: всѧ̑ бо во вре́мѧ на ᲂу҆гожде́нїе бꙋ́дꙋтъ.
And therefore praise ye the Lord with the whole heart and mouth, and bless the name of the Lord.
καὶ νῦν ἐν πάσῃ καρδίᾳ καὶ στόματι ὑμνήσατε καὶ εὐλογήσατε τὸ ὄνομα Κυρίου.
И҆ нн҃ѣ всѣ́мъ се́рдцемъ и҆ ᲂу҆сты̑ воспо́йте и҆ благослови́те и҆́мѧ гдⷭ҇не.
He shall direct his counsel and knowledge, and in his secrets shall he meditate.
αὐτὸς κατευθυνεῖ βουλὴν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐπιστήμην καὶ ἐν τοῖς ἀποκρύφοις αὐτοῦ διανοηθήσεται·
то́й ᲂу҆пра́витъ совѣ́тъ є҆гѡ̀ и҆ хꙋдо́жество и҆ въ сокрове́нныхъ є҆гѡ̀ размышлѧ́ти бꙋ́детъ,