Miserliness and the Search for Wisdom
Sirach 14
This chapter pronounces the miser's wealth useless to himself, since he denies himself its enjoyment out of envy, and urges giving generously to oneself and to friends before death takes the opportunity away. It closes by describing the man who seeks wisdom as one lying in wait near her house until he is welcomed to dwell under her shelter.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
1
BrentonBlessed is the man that hath not slipped with his mouth, and is not pricked with the multitude of sins.
GreekΜακάριος ἀνὴρ ὃς οὐκ ὠλίσθησεν ἐν στόματι αὐτοῦ, καὶ οὐ κατενύγη ἐν λύπῃ ἁμαρτίας.
2
BrentonBlessed is he whose conscience hath not condemned him, and who is not fallen from his hope in the Lord.
GreekΜακάριος οὗ οὐ κατέγνω ἡ ψυχὴ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ὃς οὐκ ἔπεσεν ἀπὸ τῆς ἐλπίδος αὐτοῦ.
3
BrentonRiches are not comely for a niggard: and what should an envious man do with money?
GreekἈνδρὶ μικρολόγῳ οὐ καλὸς ὁ πλοῦτος, καὶ ἀνθρώπῳ βασκάνῳ ἱνατί χρήματα;
4
BrentonHe that gathereth by defrauding his own soul gathereth for others that shall spend his goods riotously.
GreekὉ συνάγων ἀπὸ τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ, συνάγει ἄλλοις, καὶ ἐν τοῖς ἀγαθοῖς αὐτοῦ τρυφήσουσιν ἕτεροι.
5
BrentonHe that is evil to himself, to whom will he be good? he shall not take pleasure in his goods.
GreekὉ πονηρὸς ἑαυτῷ, τίνι ἀγαθὸς ἔσται; καὶ οὐ μὴ εὐφρανθήσεται ἐν τοῖς χρήμασιν αὐτοῦ.
6
BrentonThere is none worse than he that envieth himself; and this is a recompence of his wickedness.
GreekΤοῦ βασκαίνοντος ἑαυτὸν οὐκ ἔστι πονηρότερος, καὶ τοῦτο ἀνταπόδομα τῆς κακίας αὐτοῦ·
7
BrentonAnd if he doeth good, he doeth it unwillingly; and at the last he will declare his wickedness.
Greekκᾂν εὐποιῇ, ἐν λήθῃ ποιεῖ, καὶ ἐπʼ ἐσχάτων ἐκφαίνει τὴν κακίαν αὐτοῦ.
8
BrentonThe envious man hath a wicked eye; he turneth away his face, and despiseth men.
GreekΠονηρὸς ὁ βασκαίνων ὀφθαλμῷ, ἀποστρέφων πρόσωπον καὶ ὁ ὑπερορῶν ψυχάς.
9
BrentonA covetous man's eye is not satisfied with his portion; and the iniquity of the wicked drieth up his soul.
GreekΠλεονέκτου ὀφθαλμὸς οὐκ ἐμπίπλαται μερίδι, καὶ ἀδικία πονηρὰ ἀναξηρανει ψυχήν.
10
BrentonA wicked eye envieth [his] bread, and he is a niggard at his table.
GreekὈφθαλμὸς πονηρὸς φθονερὸς ἐπʼ ἄρτῳ, καὶ ἐλλιπὴς ἐπὶ τῆς τραπέζης αὐτοῦ.
11
BrentonMy son, according to thy ability do good to thyself, and give the Lord his due offering.
GreekΤέκνον, καθὼς ἐὰν ἔχεις εὐποίει σεαυτόν, καὶ προσφορὰς Κυρίῳ ἀξίως πρόσαγε.
12
BrentonRemember that death will not be long in coming, and that the covenant of the grave is not shewed unto thee.
GreekΜνήσθητι ὅτι θάνατος οὐ χρονιεῖ, καὶ διαθήκη ᾅδου οὐχ ὑπεδείχθη σοι.
13
BrentonDo good unto thy friend before thou die, and according to thy ability stretch out thy hand and give to him.
GreekΠρίν σε τελευτῆσαι εὐποίει φίλῳ, καὶ κατὰ τὴν ἰσχύν σου ἔκτεινον καὶ δὸς αὐτῷ.
14
BrentonDefraud not thyself of the good day, and let not the part of a good desire overpass thee.
GreekΜὴ ἀφυστερήσῃς ἀπὸ ἀγαθῆς ἡμέρας, καὶ μερὶς ἐπιθυμίας ἀγαθῆς μή σε παρελθάτω.
15
BrentonShalt thou not leave thy travails unto another? and thy labours to be divided by lot?
GreekΟὐχὶ ἑτέρῳ καταλείψεις τοὺς πόνους σου, καὶ τοὺς κόπους σου εἰς διαίρεσιν κλήρου;
16
BrentonGive, and take, and sanctify thy soul; for there is no seeking of dainties in the grave.
GreekΔὸς καὶ λάβε, καὶ ἀπάτησον τὴν ψυχήν σου, ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν ἐν ᾅδου ζητῆσαι τρυφήν.
17
BrentonAll flesh waxeth old as a garment: for the covenant from the beginning is, Thou shalt die the death.
GreekΠᾶσα σὰρξ ὡς ἱμάτιον παλαιοῦται, ἡ γὰρ διαθήκη ἀπʼ αἰῶνος θανάτῳ ἀποθανῇ.
18
BrentonAs of the green leaves on a thick tree, some fall, and some grow: so is the generation of flesh and blood, one cometh to an end, and another is born.
GreekὩς φύλλον θάλλον ἐπὶ δένδρου δασέος, τὰ μὲν καταβάλλει, ἀλλα δὲ φύει· οὕτως γενεὰ σαρκὸς καὶ αἵματος, ἡ μὲν τελευτᾷ, ἑτέρα δὲ γεννᾶται.
19
BrentonEvery work rotteth and consumeth away, and the worker thereof shall go withal.
GreekΠᾶν ἔργον σηπόμενον ἐκλείπει, καὶ ὁ ἐργαζόμενος αὐτὸ μετʼ αὐτοῦ ἀπελεύσεται.
20
BrentonBlessed is the man that doth meditate good things in wisdom, and that reasoneth of holy things by his understanding.
GreekΜακάριος ἀνὴρ ὃς ἐν σοφίᾳ τελευτήσει, καὶ ὃς ἐν συνέσει αὐτοῦ διαλεχθήσεται·
21
BrentonHe that considereth her ways in his heart shall also have understanding in her secrets.
Greekὡ διανοούμενος τὰς ὁδοὺς αὐτῆς ἐν καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐν τοῖς ἀποκρύφοις αὐτῆς νοηθήσεται.
22
BrentonGo after her as one that traceth, and lie in wait in her ways.
GreekἜξελθε ὀπίσω αὐτῆς ὡς ἰχνευτὴς, καὶ ἐν ταῖς εἰσόδοις αὐτῆς ἐνέδρευε.
23
BrentonHe that prieth in at her windows shall also hearken at her doors.
GreekὉ παρακύπτων διὰ τῶν θυρίδων αὐτῆς, καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν θυρωμάτων αὐτῆς ἀκροάσεται·
24
BrentonHe that doth lodge near her house shall also fasten a pin in her walls.
Greekὁ καταλύων σύνεγγυς τοῦ οἴκου αὐτῆς, καὶ πήξει πάσσαλον ἐν τοῖς τοίχοις αὐτῆς.
25
BrentonHe shall pitch his tent nigh unto her, and shall lodge in a lodging where good things are.
GreekΣτήσει τὴν σκηνὴν αὐτοῦ κατὰ χεῖρας αὐτῆς, καὶ καταλύσει ἐν καταλύματι ἀγαθῶν.
26
BrentonHe shall set his children under her shelter, and shall lodge under her branches.
GreekΘήσει τὰ τέκνα αὐτοῦ ἐν τῇ σκέπῃ αὐτῆς, καὶ ὑπὸ τοὺς κλάδους αὐτῆς αὐλισθήσεται.
27
BrentonBy her he shall be covered from heat, and in her glory shall he dwell.
GreekΣκεπασθήσεται ὑπʼ αὐτῆς ἀπὸ καύματος, καὶ ἐν τῇ δόξῃ αὐτῆς καταλύσει.