Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 44
Commentary from 1 father
Let us now praise famous men, and our fathers that begat us.
ΠΑΤΕΡΩΝ ΥΜΝΟΣ. - Αἰνέσωμεν δὴ ἄνδρας ἐνδόξους καὶ τοὺς πατέρας ἡμῶν τῇ γενέσει.
Восхва́лимъ ᲂу҆́бѡ мꙋ́жы сла̑вны и҆ ѻ҆тцы̀ на́шѧ въ бытїѝ.
The Lord hath wrought great glory by them through his great power from the beginning.
πολλὴν δόξαν ἔκτισεν ὁ Κύριος, τὴν μεγαλωσύνην αὐτοῦ ἀπ᾿ αἰῶνος.
Мно́гꙋ сла́вꙋ созда̀ гдⷭ҇ь въ ни́хъ вели́чїемъ свои́мъ ѿ вѣ́ка.
Such as did bear rule in their kingdoms, men renowned for their power, giving counsel by their understanding, and declaring prophecies:
κυριεύοντες ἐν ταῖς βασιλείαις αὐτῶν καὶ ἄνδρες ὀνομαστοὶ ἐν δυνάμει· βουλεύοντες ἐν συνέσει αὐτῶν, ἀπηγγελκότες ἐν προφητείαις·
Госпо́дствꙋюще во ца́рствїихъ свои́хъ и҆ мꙋ́жїе и҆мени́ти си́лою, совѣ́тꙋюще ра́зꙋмомъ свои́мъ, провѣща́вшїи во прⷪ҇ро́чествахъ,
Leaders of the people by their counsels, and by their knowledge of learning meet for the people, wise and eloquent are their instructions:
ἡγούμενοι λαοῦ ἐν διαβουλίοις καὶ συνέσει γραμματείας λαοῦ, σοφοὶ λόγοι ἐν παιδείᾳ αὐτῶν·
старѣ̑йшины люді́й въ совѣ́тѣхъ и҆ въ ра́зꙋмѣ писа̑нїѧ люді́й:
Such as found out musical tunes, and recited verses in writing:
ἐκζητοῦντες μέλη μουσικῶν καὶ διηγούμενοι ἔπη ἐν γραφῇ·
премꙋ̑драѧ словеса̀ въ наказа́нїи и҆́хъ, и҆́щꙋще гла́са мꙋсїкі́йска и҆ повѣ́дающе пѡ́вѣсти во писа́нїихъ:
Rich men furnished with ability, living peaceably in their habitations:
ἄνδρες πλούσιοι κεχορηγημένοι ἰσχύϊ, εἰρηνεύοντες ἐν παροικίαις αὐτῶν·
мꙋ́жїе бога́тїи, ѡ҆бдарова́ни крѣ́постїю, ми́рнѡ живꙋ́ще въ жили́щихъ свои́хъ.
All these were honoured in their generations, and were the glory of their times.
πάντες οὗτοι ἐν γενεαῖς ἐδοξάσθησαν, καὶ ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις αὐτῶν καύχημα.
Всѝ сі́и въ ро́дѣхъ просла́влени бы́ша, и҆ во дне́хъ и҆́хъ похвала̀.
There be of them, that have left a name behind them, that their praises might be reported.
εἰσὶν αὐτῶν οἳ κατέλιπον ὄνομα τοῦ ἐκδιηγήσασθαι ἐπαίνους·
Сꙋ́ть ѿ ни́хъ, и҆́же ѡ҆ста́виша и҆́мѧ, є҆́же повѣ́дати хвалы̑: и҆ сꙋ́ть, и҆́хже нѣ́сть па́мѧти, и҆ погибо́ша ꙗ҆́кѡ не сꙋ́щїи, и҆ бы́ша ꙗ҆́кѡ не бы́вше, и҆ ча̑да и҆́хъ по ни́хъ.
But these were merciful men, whose righteousness hath not been forgotten.
ἀλλ᾿ ἢ οὗτοι ἄνδρες ἐλέους, ὧν αἱ δικαιοσύναι οὐκ ἐπελήσθησαν·
съ сѣ́менемъ и҆́хъ пребꙋ́детъ до́брое наслѣ́дїе, и҆сча̑дїѧ и҆́хъ въ завѣ́тѣхъ:
With their seed shall continually remain a good inheritance, and their children are within the covenant.
μετὰ τοῦ σπέρματος αὐτῶν διαμενεῖ ἀγαθὴ κληρονομία, ἔκγονα αὐτῶν·
ѡ҆ста́сѧ сѣ́мѧ и҆́хъ, и҆ ча̑да и҆́хъ по ни́хъ:
Their seed standeth fast, and their children for their sakes.
ἐν ταῖς διαθήκαις ἔστη σπέρμα αὐτῶν καὶ τὰ τέκνα αὐτῶν δι᾿ αὐτούς·
до вѣ́ка пребꙋ́детъ сѣ́мѧ и҆́хъ, и҆ сла́ва и҆́хъ не потреби́тсѧ:
Their seed shall remain for ever, and their glory shall not be blotted out.
ἕως αἰῶνος μενεῖ σπέρμα αὐτῶν, καὶ ἡ δόξα αὐτῶν οὐκ ἐξαλειφθήσεται·
тѣлеса̀ и҆́хъ въ ми́рѣ погребє́на бы́ша, а҆ и҆мена̀ и҆́хъ живꙋ́тъ въ ро́ды.
Their bodies are buried in peace; but their name liveth for evermore.
τὰ σώματα αὐτῶν ἐν εἰρήνῃ ἐτάφη, καὶ τὸ ὄνομα αὐτῶν ζῇ εἰς γενεάς·
Премꙋ́дрость и҆́хъ повѣ́дѧтъ лю́дїе, и҆ похвалꙋ̀ и҆́хъ и҆сповѣ́сть цр҃ковь.
The people will tell of their wisdom, and the congregation will shew forth their praise.
σοφίαν αὐτῶν διηγήσονται λαοί, καὶ τὸν ἔπαινον ἐξαγγέλλει ἐκκλησία.
Є҆нѡ́хъ ᲂу҆годѝ гдⷭ҇еви и҆ преложи́сѧ, ѡ҆́бразъ покаѧ́нїѧ родѡ́мъ.
Enoch pleased the Lord, and was translated, being an example of repentance to all generations.
᾿Ενὼχ εὐηρέστησε Κυρίῳ καὶ μετετέθη, ὑπόδειγμα μετανοίας ταῖς γενεαῖς.
Нѡ́е ѡ҆брѣ́тесѧ соверше́нъ, пра́веденъ, во вре́мѧ гнѣ́ва бы́сть примире́нїе:
It is right that he began to enumerate the holy fathers, not from Adam, who transgressed the divine commandment and was expelled from paradise, but from Enoch, who walked with God and was taken up into paradise. And in this way the splendor of the saints shines, because from the pains of this world they are taken up to the peace of the heavenly kingdom. It is believed that he will return together with Elijah at the end of the world, to counsel men and women so that they would turn from their sins to repentance. In this way, together with his companion, he will pay the debt of death in the persecution of the antichrist.
On Ecclesiasticus 10:3
Noah was found perfect and righteous; in the time of wrath he was taken in exchange for the world; therefore was he left as a remnant unto the earth, when the flood came.
Νῶε εὑρέθη τέλειος δίκαιος, ἐν καιρῷ ὀργῆς ἐγένετο ἀντάλλαγμα· διὰ τοῦτον ἐγενήθη κατάλειμμα τῇ γῇ, ὅτε ἐγένετο κατακλυσμός·
сегѡ̀ ра́ди бы́сть ѡ҆ста́нокъ землѝ, є҆гда̀ бѧ́ше пото́пъ.
An everlasting covenant was made with him, that all flesh should perish no more by the flood.
διαθῆκαι αἰῶνος ἐτέθησαν πρὸς αὐτόν, ἵνα μὴ ἐξαλειφθῇ κατακλυσμῷ πᾶσα σάρξ. -
Завѣ́ты вѣ́чнїи положе́ни бы́ша съ ни́мъ, да не потреби́тсѧ пото́помъ всѧ́ка пло́ть.
Abraham was a great father of many people: in glory was there none like unto him;
῾Αβραὰμ μέγας πατὴρ πλήθους ἐθνῶν, καὶ οὐχ εὑρέθη ὅμοιος ἐν τῇ δόξῃ·
А҆враа́мъ вели́кїй ѻ҆те́цъ мно́жествꙋ ꙗ҆зы́кѡвъ, и҆ не ѡ҆брѣ́тесѧ подо́бный во сла́вѣ є҆гѡ̀:
Who kept the law of the most High, and was in covenant with him: he established the covenant in his flesh; and when he was proved, he was found faithful.
ὃς συνετήρησε νόμον ῾Υψίστου καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν διαθήκῃ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ· ἐν σαρκὶ αὐτοῦ ἔστησε διαθήκην καὶ ἐν πειρασμῷ εὑρέθη πιστός.
и҆́же соблюдѐ зако́нъ вы́шнѧгѡ и҆ бы́сть въ завѣ́тѣ съ ни́мъ:
Therefore he assured him by an oath, that he would bless the nations in his seed, and that he would multiply him as the dust of the earth, and exalt his seed as the stars, and cause them to inherit from sea to sea, and from the river unto the utmost part of the land.
διὰ τοῦτο ἐν ὅρκῳ ἔστησεν αὐτῷ ἐνευλογηθῆναι ἔθνη ἐν τῷ σπέρματι αὐτοῦ, πληθῦναι αὐτὸν ὡς χοῦν τῆς γῆς καὶ ὡς ἄστρα ἀνυψῶσαι τὸ σπέρμα αὐτοῦ καὶ κατακληρονομῆσαι αὐτοὺς ἀπὸ θαλάσσης ἕως θαλάσσης καὶ ἀπὸ ποταμοῦ ἕως ἄκρου γῆς.
и҆ на пло́ти є҆гѡ̀ ᲂу҆ста́ви завѣ́тъ и҆ во и҆скꙋше́нїи ѡ҆брѣ́тесѧ вѣ́ренъ:
The inheritance that he was promised symbolizes two things. The comparison with the sand of the sea indicates the Jews, who are sterile. And the comparison with the stars of heaven designates all the people who believe in Christ, who by the light of the resurrection will shine like the stars of heaven. “Every star in fact differs from another in splendor. So also in the resurrection.” His descendents will inherit “from one sea to the other, from the river to the ends of the earth,” since Christ, born of the descendents of Abraham, rules from one sea to the other and from the river to the ends of the earth, and his church, his very body, fills all the limits of the world. One also notes that Abraham represents in himself three things. In the first place, the Savior, who, leaving his family, came into this world. Second, the Father, when he sacrificed his only Son. Third, by the fact that he had welcomed three men and adored one of them, he symbolized the saints, who joyfully received the coming of Christ in the flesh. This mystery of the incarnation is the work of the entire holy Trinity but was realized only in the Son. “And the Word was made flesh and came to dwell among us.”
On Ecclesiasticus 10:5
With Isaac did he establish likewise for Abraham his father’s sake the blessing of all men, and the covenant,
καὶ ἐν τῷ ᾿Ισαὰκ ἔστησεν οὕτως διὰ ῾Αβραὰμ τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ εὐλογίαν πάντων ἀνθρώπων καὶ διαθήκην
сегѡ̀ ра́ди клѧ́твою поста́ви съ ни́мъ благослови́тисѧ ꙗ҆зы́кѡмъ ѡ҆ сѣ́мени є҆гѡ̀,
And made it rest upon the head of Jacob. He acknowledged him in his blessing, and gave him an heritage, and divided his portions; among the twelve tribes did he part them.
καὶ κατέπαυσεν ἐπὶ κεφαλὴν ᾿Ιακώβ. ἐπέγνω αὐτὸν ἐν εὐλογίαις αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ ἐν κληρονομίᾳ· καὶ διέστειλε μερίδας αὐτοῦ, ἐν φυλαῖς ἐμέρισε δεκαδύο.
ᲂу҆мно́жити є҆го̀ ꙗ҆́кѡ пе́рсть землѝ, и҆ ꙗ҆́кѡ ѕвѣ́зды возвы́сити сѣ́мѧ є҆гѡ̀, и҆ наслѣ́дити и҆̀мъ ѿ мо́рѧ до мо́рѧ и҆ ѿ рѣкѝ до кра́ѧ землѝ.
And some there be, which have no memorial; who are perished, as though they had never been; and are become as though they had never been born; and their children after them.
καὶ εἰσὶν ὧν οὐκ ἔστι μνημόσυνον καὶ ἀπώλοντο ὡς οὐχ ὑπάρξαντες καὶ ἐγένοντο ὡς οὐ γεγονότες καὶ τὰ τέκνα αὐτῶν μετ᾿ αὐτούς.
Но сі́и мꙋ́жїе ми́лостивїи, и҆́хже пра̑вды не забвє́ны бы́ша: