Sirach 31

1Losing sleep over wealth wastes away the body, And anxiety about wealth removes sleep.

ἀγρυπνία πλούτου ἐκτήκει σάρκας καὶ ἡ μέριμνα αὐτοῦ ἀφιστᾷ ὕπνον

2Sleepless anxiety will drive away slumber, And severe illness makes an end to sleep.

μέριμνα ἀγρυπνίας ἀποστήσει νυσταγμόν καὶ ἀρρώστημα βαρὺ ἐκνήψει ὕπνον

3A rich man labors to gather money, And when he rests he fills himself with his luxuries.

ἐκοπίασεν πλούσιος ἐν συναγωγῇ χρημάτων καὶ ἐν τῇ ἀναπαύσει ἐμπίμπλαται τῶν τρυφημάτων αὐτοῦ

4A poor man labors to make a meager living, And when he rests he becomes needy.

ἐκοπίασεν πτωχὸς ἐν ἐλαττώσει βίου καὶ ἐν τῇ ἀναπαύσει ἐπιδεὴς γίνεται

5He who loves gold will not be called righteous, And he who pursues profit will be led astray by it.

ὁ ἀγαπῶν χρυσίον οὐ δικαιωθήσεται καὶ ὁ διώκων διάφορα ἐν αὐτοῖς πλανηθήσεται

6Many are driven to calamity for the sake of gold, And their destruction has met them face to face.

πολλοὶ ἐδόθησαν εἰς πτῶμα χάριν χρυσίου καὶ ἐγενήθη ἡ ἀπώλεια αὐτῶν κατὰ πρόσωπον αὐτῶν

7It is a stumbling block for those possessed by it, And every senseless man will be trapped by it.

ξύλον προσκόμματός ἐστιν τοῖς ἐνθουσιάζουσιν αὐτῷ καὶ πᾶς ἄφρων ἁλώσεται ἐν αὐτῷ

8Blessed is a rich man who is found blameless And does not chase after gold.

μακάριος πλούσιος ὃς εὑρέθη ἄμωμος καὶ ὃς ὀπίσω χρυσίου οὐκ ἐπορεύθη

9Who is he? And we shall call him blessed, For he has worked wonders among his people.

τίς ἐστιν καὶ μακαριοῦμεν αὐτόν ἐποίησεν γὰρ θαυμάσια ἐν λαῷ αὐτοῦ

10Who has been tested by it and found perfect? He has ground for boasting. Who was able to transgress but did not transgress? Who was able to commit evil but did not do it?

τίς ἐδοκιμάσθη ἐν αὐτῷ καὶ ἐτελειώθη καὶ ἔσται αὐτῷ εἰς καύχησιν τίς ἐδύνατο παραβῆναι καὶ οὐ παρέβη καὶ ποιῆσαι κακὰ καὶ οὐκ ἐποίησεν

11His good things will be strengthened, And the assembly will talk of his almsgiving.

στερεωθήσεται τὰ ἀγαθὰ αὐτοῦ καὶ τὰς ἐλεημοσύνας αὐτοῦ ἐκδιηγήσεται ἐκκλησία

12Are you seated at table with a great man? Do not gluttonize, and do not say, 'How much food there is upon your table!'

ἐπὶ τραπέζης μεγάλης ἐκάθισας μὴ ἀνοίξῃς ἐπ᾿ αὐτῆς φάρυγγά σου καὶ μὴ εἴπῃς πολλά γε τὰ ἐπ᾿ αὐτῆς

13Remember that a greedy eye is a vice. What has been created worse than the eye? Therefore it sheds tears on every face.

μνήσθητι ὅτι κακὸν ὀφθαλμὸς πονηρός πονηρότερον ὀφθαλμοῦ τί ἔκτισται διὰ τοῦτο ἀπὸ παντὸς προσώπου δακρύει

14Do not stretch out your hand for everything you see, And do not crowd another at the dish.

οὗ ἐὰν ἐπιβλέψῃ μὴ ἐκτείνῃς χεῖρα καὶ μὴ συνθλίβου αὐτῷ ἐν τρυβλίῳ

15Understand the things of your neighbor by your own, And in every matter be considerate.

νόει τὰ τοῦ πλησίον ἐκ σεαυτοῦ καὶ ἐπὶ παντὶ πράγματι διανοοῦ

16Eat what is set before you like a human being, And do not devour your food, lest you be despised.

φάγε ὡς ἄνθρωπος τὰ παρακείμενά σοι καὶ μὴ διαμασῶ μὴ μισηθῇς

17Be the first to stop eating for the sake of discipline, And do not be greedy, so as not to cause offense.

παῦσαι πρῶτος χάριν παιδείας καὶ μὴ ἀπληστεύου μήποτε προσκόψῃς

18And if you are seated in a large group of people, Do not reach out your hand before they do.

καὶ εἰ ἀνὰ μέσον πλειόνων ἐκάθισας πρότερος αὐτῶν μὴ ἐκτείνῃς τὴν χεῖρά σου

19How small an amount is sufficient for a man with discipline! And he does not gasp for breath on his bed.

ὡς ἱκανὸν ἀνθρώπῳ πεπαιδευμένῳ τὸ ὀλίγον καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς κοίτης αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἀσθμαίνει

20Healthy sleep depends on moderate eating, And he rises early and in good spirits; But the distress of sleeplessness, nausea, and indigestion Are with the glutton.

ὕπνος ὑγιείας ἐπὶ ἐντέρῳ μετρίῳ ἀνέστη πρωί καὶ ἡ ψυχὴ αὐτοῦ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ πόνος ἀγρυπνίας καὶ χολέρας καὶ στρόφος μετὰ ἀνδρὸς ἀπλήστου

21If you are stuffed with food, Get up in the middle of the meal and stop eating.

καὶ εἰ ἐβιάσθης ἐν ἐδέσμασιν ἀνάστα ἔμεσον πόρρω καὶ ἀναπαύσῃ

22Listen to me, my child, and do not disregard me, And you will find my words to be important. In all your works be prepared, And no sickness will overtake you.

ἄκουσόν μου τέκνον καὶ μὴ ἐξουδενήσῃς με καὶ ἐπ᾿ ἐσχάτων εὑρήσεις τοὺς λόγους μου ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς ἔργοις σου γίνου ἐντρεχής καὶ πᾶν ἀρρώστημα οὐ μή σοι ἀπαντήσῃ

23Lips will bless a man generous with his food, And their witness to his goodness is trustworthy.

λαμπρὸν ἐπ᾿ ἄρτοις εὐλογήσει χείλη καὶ ἡ μαρτυρία τῆς καλλονῆς αὐτοῦ πιστή

24A city will grumble against the man stingy with his food, And their witness to his stinginess is accurate.

πονηρῷ ἐπ᾿ ἄρτῳ διαγογγύσει πόλις καὶ ἡ μαρτυρία τῆς πονηρίας αὐτοῦ ἀκριβής

25Do not get your courage from wine, For wine has destroyed many men.

ἐν οἴνῳ μὴ ἀνδρίζου πολλοὺς γὰρ ἀπώλεσεν ὁ οἶνος

26As a furnace tests steel in the tempering process, So wine tests hearts in the quarrels of the arrogant.

κάμινος δοκιμάζει στόμωμα ἐν βαφῇ οὕτως οἶνος καρδίας ἐν μάχῃ ὑπερηφάνων

27Wine is like life to men, If you drink it in moderation. What is life without wine? For it was created to give gladness to men.

ἔφισον ζωῆς οἶνος ἀνθρώποις ἐὰν πίνῃς αὐτὸν ἐν μέτρῳ αὐτοῦ τίς ζωὴ ἐλασσουμένῳ οἴνῳ καὶ αὐτὸς ἔκτισται εἰς εὐφροσύνην ἀνθρώποις

28Wine drunk at the proper time and with temperance Is joyfulness of heart and gladness of soul.

ἀγαλλίαμα καρδίας καὶ εὐφροσύνη ψυχῆς οἶνος πινόμενος ἐν καιρῷ αὐτάρκης

29Drinking too much wine is bitterness of soul, With irritation and occasion for stumbling and falling.

πικρία ψυχῆς οἶνος πινόμενος πολὺς ἐν ἐρεθισμῷ καὶ ἀντιπτώματι

30Drunkenness increases the anger of a senseless man to his own hurt, Reducing his strength and adding to his wounds.

πληθύνει μέθη θυμὸν ἄφρονος εἰς πρόσκομμα ἐλαττῶν ἰσχὺν καὶ προσποιῶν τραύματα

31Do not rebuke your neighbor at a wine party, And do not despise him when he is enjoying himself. Do not speak a word of insult against him, And do not afflict him by making demands of him.

ἐν συμποσίῳ οἴνου μὴ ἐλέγξῃς τὸν πλησίον καὶ μὴ ἐξουθενήσῃς αὐτὸν ἐν εὐφροσύνῃ αὐτοῦ λόγον ὀνειδισμοῦ μὴ εἴπῃς αὐτῷ καὶ μὴ αὐτὸν θλίψῃς ἐν ἀπαιτήσει