Sirach 8

1Do not contend sharply with a powerful man, Lest you fall into his hands.

μὴ διαμάχου μετὰ ἀνθρώπου δυνάστου μήποτε ἐμπέσῃς εἰς τὰς χεῖρας αὐτοῦ

2Do not quarrel with a rich man, Lest he resist your force, For gold has destroyed many And perverted the hearts of kings.

μὴ ἔριζε μετὰ ἀνθρώπου πλουσίου μήποτε ἀντιστήσῃ σου τὴν ὁλκήν πολλοὺς γὰρ ἀπώλεσεν τὸ χρυσίον καὶ καρδίας βασιλέων ἐξέκλινεν

3Do not contend sharply with a talkative man, And do not heap wood on his fire.

μὴ διαμάχου μετὰ ἀνθρώπου γλωσσώδους καὶ μὴ ἐπιστοιβάσῃς ἐπὶ τὸ πῦρ αὐτοῦ ξύλα

4Do not jest with an uncultivated man, Lest your forefathers be insulted.

μὴ πρόσπαιζε ἀπαιδεύτῳ ἵνα μὴ ἀτιμάζωνται οἱ πρόγονοί σου

5Do not insult a man who turns away from sin; Remember that we are all valuable.

μὴ ὀνείδιζε ἄνθρωπον ἀποστρέφοντα ἀπὸ ἁμαρτίας μνήσθητι ὅτι πάντες ἐσμὲν ἐν ἐπιτίμοις

6Do not dishonor a man in his old age, For some of us are growing old as well.

μὴ ἀτιμάσῃς ἄνθρωπον ἐν γήρᾳ αὐτοῦ καὶ γὰρ ἐξ ἡμῶν γηράσκουσιν

7Do not rejoice over any dead person; Remember that we all must die.

μὴ ἐπίχαιρε ἐπὶ νεκρῷ μνήσθητι ὅτι πάντες τελευτῶμεν

8Do not disregard a saying of the wise, But be conversant with their proverbs; Because from them you will gain instruction And how to serve noble people.

μὴ παρίδῃς διήγημα σοφῶν καὶ ἐν ταῖς παροιμίαις αὐτῶν ἀναστρέφου ὅτι παρ᾿ αὐτῶν μαθήσῃ παιδείαν καὶ λειτουργῆσαι μεγιστᾶσιν

9Do not miss a saying of the old, For they themselves learned from their fathers; Because from them you will gain understanding And be able to give an answer in time of need.

μὴ ἀστόχει διηγήματος γερόντων καὶ γὰρ αὐτοὶ ἔμαθον παρὰ τῶν πατέρων αὐτῶν ὅτι παρ᾿ αὐτῶν μαθήσῃ σύνεσιν καὶ ἐν καιρῷ χρείας δοῦναι ἀπόκρισιν

10Do not kindle the coals of a sinner, For you may be burned by his flame.

μὴ ἔκκαιε ἄνθρακας ἁμαρτωλοῦ μὴ ἐμπυρισθῇς ἐν πυρὶ φλογὸς αὐτοῦ

11Do not let the presence of an insolent man Arouse you from your seat, Lest he lie in wait as an ambush against your words.

μὴ ἐξαναστῇς ἀπὸ προσώπου ὑβριστοῦ ἵνα μὴ ἐγκαθίσῃ ὡς ἔνεδρον τῷ στόματί σου

12Do not lend to a man stronger than you; But if you do, consider it lost.

μὴ δανείσῃς ἀνθρώπῳ ἰσχυροτέρῳ σου καὶ ἐὰν δανείσῃς ὡς ἀπολωλεκὼς γίνου

13Do not give surety beyond your ability to pay; But if you do give surety, be as careful as one who has to pay.

μὴ ἐγγυήσῃ ὑπὲρ δύναμίν σου καὶ ἐὰν ἐγγυήσῃ ὡς ἀποτείσων φρόντιζε

14Do not go to law against a judge, For they will decide for him because of his reputation.

μὴ δικάζου μετὰ κριτοῦ κατὰ γὰρ τὴν δόξαν αὐτοῦ κρινοῦσιν αὐτῷ

15Do not travel on a journey with a reckless man, Lest he weigh you down; For he will do his will, And you will perish with him in his folly.

μετὰ τολμηροῦ μὴ πορεύου ἐν ὁδῷ ἵνα μὴ βαρύνηται κατὰ σοῦ αὐτὸς γὰρ κατὰ τὸ θέλημα αὐτοῦ ποιήσει καὶ τῇ ἀφροσύνῃ αὐτοῦ συναπολῇ

16Do not cause a fight with an angry man, And do not go into a lonely place with him, Because murder is as nothing in his eyes, And where there is no help, he will strike you down.

μετὰ θυμώδους μὴ ποιήσῃς μάχην καὶ μὴ διαπορεύου μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ τὴν ἔρημον ὅτι ὡς οὐδὲν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς αὐτοῦ αἷμα καὶ ὅπου οὐκ ἔστιν βοήθεια καταβαλεῖ σε

17Do not consult with a fool, For he will not keep a matter confidential.

μετὰ μωροῦ μὴ συμβουλεύου οὐ γὰρ δυνήσεται λόγον στέξαι

18Do nothing confidential in the presence of a stranger, For you do not know what he will give birth to.

ἐνώπιον ἀλλοτρίου μὴ ποιήσῃς κρυπτόν οὐ γὰρ γινώσκεις τί τέξεται

19Do not open your heart to every one, Lest unkindness be shown to you.

παντὶ ἀνθρώπῳ μὴ ἔκφαινε σὴν καρδίαν καὶ μὴ ἀναφερέτω σοι χάριν