The Judgment of the Ungodly
Sirach 16
This chapter warns against desiring many children if they are ungodly, since one righteous man is worth more than a multitude of the wicked, and it recalls how the Lord judged the ancient giants, the neighbors of Lot, and the disobedient generation in the wilderness. It closes by describing the Lord's works in creation as ordered, unceasing, and filled with blessing on all living things.
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
BrentonDesire not a multitude of unprofitable children, neither delight in ungodly sons.
GreekΜὴ ἐπιθύμει τέκνων πλῆθος ἀχρήστων, μὴ εὐφραίνου ἐπὶ υἱοῖς ἀσεβέσιν.
2
BrentonThough they multiply, rejoice not in them, except the fear of the Lord be with them.
GreekἘὰν πληθύνωσι, μὴ εὐφραίνου ἐπʼ αὐτοῖς, εἰ μή ἐστι φόβος Κυρίου μετʼ αὐτῶν.
3
BrentonTrust not thou in their life, neither respect their multitude: for one that is just is better than a thousand; and better it is to die without children, than to have them that are ungodly.
GreekΜὴ ἐμπιστεύσῃς τῇ ζωῇ αὐτῶν, καὶ μὴ ἔπεχε ἐπὶ τὸν τόπον αὐτῶν· κρείσσων γὰρ εἷς ἢ χίλιοι, καὶ ἀποθανεῖν ἄτεκνον ἢ ἔχειν τέκνα ἀσεβῆ·
4
BrentonFor by one that hath understanding shall the city be replenished: but the kindred of the wicked shall speedily become desolate.
Greekἀπὸ γὰρ ἑνὸς συνετοῦ συνοικισθήσεται πόλις, φυλὴ δὲ ἀνόμων ἐρημωθήσεται.
5
BrentonMany such things have I seen with mine eyes, and mine ear hath heard greater things than these.
GreekΠολλὰ τοιαῦτα ἑώρακα ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς μου, καὶ ἰσχυρότερα τούτων ἀκήκοε τὸ οὖς μου.
6
BrentonIn the congregation of the ungodly shall a fire be kindled; and in a rebellious nation wrath is set on fire.
GreekἘν συναγωγῇ ἁμαρτωλῶν ἐκκαυθήσεται πῦρ, καὶ ἐν ἔθνει ἀπειθεῖ ἐξεκαύθη ὀργή.
7
BrentonHe was not pacified toward the old giants, who fell away in the strength of their foolishness.
GreekΟὐκ ἐξιλάσατο περὶ τῶν ἀρχαίων γιγάντων, οἳ ἀπέστησαν τῇ ἰσχύϊ αὐτῶν.
8
BrentonNeither spared he the place where Lot sojourned, but abhorred them for their pride.
GreekΟὐκ ἐφείσατο περὶ τῆς παροικίας Λὼτ, οὓς ἐβδελύξατο διὰ τὴν ὑπερηφανίαν αὐτῶν.
9
BrentonHe pitied not the people of perdition, who were taken away in their sins:
GreekΟὐκ ἠλέησεν ἔθνος ἀπωλείας, τοὺς ἐξῃρμένους ἐν ἁμαρτίαις αὐτῶν·
10
Brentonnor the six hundred thousand footmen, who were gathered together in the hardness of their hearts.
Greekκαὶ οὕτως ἑξακοσίας χιλιάδας πεζῶν τοὺς ἐπισυναχθέντας ἐν σκληροκαρδίᾳ αὐτῶν.
11
BrentonAnd if there be one stiffnecked among the people, it is marvel if he escape unpunished: for mercy and wrath are with him; he is mighty to forgive and to pour out displeasure.
GreekΚᾂν ᾖ εἷς σκληροτράχηλος, θαυμαστὸν, τοῦτο εἰ ἀθωωθήσεται, ἔλεος γὰρ καὶ ὀργὴ παρʼ αὐτοῦ· δυνάστης ἐξιλασμῶν· καὶ ἐκχέων ὀργήν.
12
BrentonAs his mercy is great, so is his correction also: he judgeth a man according to his works.
GreekΚατὰ τὸ πολὺ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ, οὕτως καὶ πολὺς ὁ ἔλεγχος αὐτοῦ· ἄνδρα κατὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ κρίνει.
13
BrentonThe sinner shall not escape with his spoils: and the patience of the godly shall not be frustrate.
GreekΟὐκ ἐκφεύξεται ἐν ἁρπάγμασιν ἁμαρτωλὸς, καὶ οὐ μὴ καθυστερήσει ὑπομονὴν εὐσεβοῦς.
14
BrentonMake way for every work of mercy: for every man shall find according to his works.
GreekΠάσῃ ἐλεημοσύνῃ ποιήσει τόπον, ἕκαστος κατὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ εὑρήσει.
17
BrentonSay not thou, I will hide myself from the Lord: shall any remember me from above? I shall not be remembered among so many people: for what is my soul among such an infinite number of creatures?
GreekΜὴ εἴπῃς, ὅτι ἀπὸ Κυρίου κρυβήσομαι, μὴ ἐξ ὕψους τίς μου μνησθήσεται; ἐν λαῷ πλείονι οὐ μὴ μνησθῶ, τίς γὰρ ἡ ψυχή μου ἐν ἀμετρήτῳ κτίσει;
18
BrentonBehold, the heaven, and the heaven of heavens, the deep, and the earth, and all that therein is, shall be moved when he shall visit.
GreekἸδοὺ ὁ οὐρανὸς καὶ ὁ οὐρανὸς τοῦ οὐρανοῦ τοῦ Θεοῦ, ἄβυσσος καὶ γῆ σαλευθήσονται ἐν τῇ ἐπισκοπῇ αὐτοῦ·
19
BrentonThe mountains also and foundations of the earth shall be shaken with trembling, when he looketh upon them.
Greekἅμα τὰ ὄρη καὶ τὰ θεμέλια τῆς γῆς, ἐν τῷ ἐπιβλέψαι εἰς αὐτὰ, τρόμῳ συσσείονται,
20
BrentonNo heart can think upon these things worthily: and who is able to conceive his ways?
Greekκαὶ ἐπʼ αὐτοῖς οὐ διανοηθήσεται καρδία· καὶ τὰς ὁδοὺς αὐτοῦ τίς ἐνθυμηθήσεται;
21
BrentonIt is a tempest which no man can see: for the most part of his works are hid.
GreekΚαὶ καταιγὶς, ἣν οὐκ ὄψεται ἄνθρωπος, τὰ δὲ πλείονα τῶν ἔργων αὐτοῦ ἐν ἀποκρύφοις.
22
BrentonWho can declare the works of his justice? or who can endure them? for his covenant is afar off.
GreekἜργα δικαιοσύνης τίς ἀναγγελεῖ, ἢ τίς ὑπομενεῖ; μακρὰν γὰρ ἡ διαθήκη.
23
BrentonHe that wanteth understanding will think upon vain things: and a foolish man erring imagineth follies.
GreekἘλαττούμενος καρδίᾳ διανοεῖται ταῦτα, καὶ ἀνὴρ ἄφρων καὶ πλανώμενος διανοεῖται μωρά.
24
BrentonMy son, hearken unto me, and learn knowledge, and mark my words with thy heart.
GreekἌκουσόν μου, τέκνον, καὶ μάθε ἐπιστήμην, καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν λόγων μου πρόσεχε τῇ καρδίᾳ σου.
25
BrentonI will shew forth doctrine in weight, and declare his knowledge exactly.
GreekἘκφαίνω ἐν σταθμῷ παιδείαν, καὶ ἐν ἀκριβείᾳ ἀπαγγέλλω ἐπιστήμην.
26
BrentonThe works of the Lord are done in judgment from the beginning: and from the time he made them he disposed the parts thereof.
GreekἘν κρίσει Κυρίου τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ ἀπʼ ἀρχῆς, καὶ ἀπὸ ποιήσεως αὐτῶν διέστειλε μερίδας αὐτῶν.
27
BrentonHe garnished his works for ever, and the chief of them unto all generations: they neither labour, nor are weary, nor cease from their works.
GreekἘκόσμησεν εἰς αἰῶνα τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ, καὶ τὰς ἀρχὰς αὐτῶν εἰς γενεὰς αὐτῶν· οὔτε ἐπείνασαν, οὔτε ἐκοπίασαν, καὶ οὐκ ἐξέλιπον ἀπὸ τῶν ἔργων αὐτων.
28
BrentonNone of them hindereth another, and they shall never disobey his word.
GreekἝκαστος τὸν πλησίον αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἔθλιψε, καὶ ἕως αἰῶνος οὐκ ἀπειθήσουσι τοῦ ῥήματος αὐτοῦ·
29
BrentonAfter this the Lord looked upon the earth, and filled it with his blessings.
Greekκαὶ μετὰ ταῦτα Κύριος εἰς τὴν γῆν ἐπέβλεψε, καὶ ἐνέπλησεν αὐτὴν τῶν ἀγαθῶν αὐτοῦ.
30
BrentonWith all manner of living things hath he covered the face thereof; and they shall return into it again.
GreekΨυχὴν παντὸς ζώου ἐκάλυψε τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτῆς, καὶ εἰς αὐτὴν ἡ ἀποστροφὴ αὐτῶν.