Divine Mercy and Human Frailty
Sirach 18
This chapter praises the greatness and mercy of the Lord, whose works cannot be numbered or diminished, contrasting his eternity with the shortness of man's hundred years. It urges self-examination, humility, and repentance before sickness or death arrives, and counsels moderation in speech, appetite, and borrowed pleasure.
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
BrentonHe that liveth for ever created all things in general.
GreekὉ ζῶν εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα ἔκτισε τὰ πάντα κοινῇ.
2
BrentonThe Lord only is righteous.
GreekΚύριος μόνος δικαιωθήσεται.
4
BrentonTo none hath he given power to declare his works; and who shall find out his noble acts?
GreekΟὐθενὶ ἐξεποίησεν ἐξαγγεῖλαι τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ· καὶ τίς ἐξιχνιάσει τὰ μεγαλεῖα αὐτοῦ;
5
BrentonWho shall number the strength of his majesty? and who shall also tell out his mercies?
GreekΚράτος μεγαλωσύνης αὐτοῦ τίς ἐξαριθμήσεται; καὶ τίς προσθήσει ἐκδιηγήσασθαι τὰ ἐλέη αὐτοῦ;
6
BrentonAs for the wondrous works of the Lord, there may nothing be taken from them, neither may any thing be put unto them, neither can the ground of them be found out.
GreekΟὐκ ἔστιν ἐλαττῶσαι οὐδὲ προσθεῖναι, καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ἐξιχνιάσαι τὰ θαυμάσια τοῦ Κυρίου.
7
BrentonWhen a man hath done, then he beginneth; and when he leaveth off, then he shall be doubtful.
GreekὍταν συντελέσῃ ἄνθρωπος τότε ἄρχεται, καὶ ὅταν παύσηται τότε ἀπορηθήσεται.
8
BrentonWhat is man, and whereto serveth he; what is his good, and what is his evil?
GreekΤί ἄνθρωπος, καὶ τί ἡ χρῆσις αὐτοῦ; τί τὸ ἀγαθὸν αὐτοῦ, καὶ τί τὸ κακὸν αὐτοῦ;
9
BrentonThe number of a man's days at the most is an hundred years.
GreekἈριθμὸς ἡμερῶν ἀνθρώπου πολλὰ ἔτη ἑκατόν.
10
BrentonAs a drop of water unto the sea, and a gravel-stone in comparison of the sand; so are a thousand years to the days of eternity.
GreekὩς σταγὼν ὕδατος ἀπὸ θαλάσσης καὶ ψῆφος ἄμμου, οὕτως ὀλίγα ἔτη ἐν ἡμέρᾳ αἰῶνος.
11
BrentonTherefore is God patient with them, and poureth forth his mercy upon them.
GreekΔιὰ τοῦτο ἐμακροθύμησε Κύριος ἐπʼ αὐτοῖς, καὶ ἐξέχεεν ἐπʼ αὐτοὺς τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ.
12
BrentonHe saw and perceived their end to be evil; therefore he multiplied his compassion.
GreekΕἶδε καὶ ἐπέγνω τὴν καταστροφὴν αὐτῶν ὅτι πονηρὰ, διὰ τοῦτο ἐπλήθυνε τὸν ἐξιλασμὸν αὐτοῦ.
13
BrentonThe mercy of man is toward his neighbour; but the mercy of the Lord is upon all flesh: he reproveth, and nurtureth, and teacheth, and bringeth again, as a shepherd his flock.
GreekἜλεος ἄνθρώπου ἐπὶ τὸν πλησίον αὐτοῦ, ἔλεος δὲ Κυρίου ἐπὶ πᾶσαν σάρκα, ἐλέγχων καὶ παιδεύων καὶ διδάσκων καὶ ἐπιστρέφων ὡς ποιμὴν τὸ ποίμνιον αὐτοῦ.
14
BrentonHe hath mercy on them that receive discipline, and that diligently seek after his judgments.
GreekΤοὺς ἐκδεχομένους παιδείαν ἐλεεῖ, καὶ τοὺς κατασπεύδοντας ἐπὶ τὰ κρίματα αὐτοῦ.
15
BrentonMy son, blemish not thy good deeds, neither use uncomfortable words when thou givest any thing.
GreekΤέκνον, ἐν ἀγαθοῖς μὴ δῷς μῶμον, καὶ ἐν πάσῃ δόσει λύπην λόγων.
16
BrentonShall not the dew assuage the heat? so is a word better than a gift.
GreekΟὐχὶ καύσωνα ἀναπαύσει δρόσος; οὕτως κρείσσων λόγος ἢ δόσις.
17
BrentonLo, is not a word better than a gift? but both are with a gracious man.
GreekΟὐκ ἰδοὺ λόγος ὑπὲρ δόμα ἀγαθόν; καὶ ἀμφότερα παρὰ ἀνδρὶ κεχαριτωμένῳ.
18
BrentonA fool will upbraid churlishly, and a gift of the envious consumeth the eyes.
GreekΜωρὸς ἀχαρίστως ὀνειδιεῖ, καὶ δόσις βασκάνου ἐκτήκει ὀφθαλμούς.
19
BrentonLearn before thou speak, and use physic or ever thou be sick.
GreekΠρινὴ λαλῆσαι μάνθανε, καὶ πρὸ ἀῤῥωστίας θεραπεύου.
20
BrentonBefore judgment examine thyself, and in the day of visitation thou shalt find mercy.
GreekΠρὸ κρίσεως ἐξέταζε σεαυτόν, καὶ ἐν ὥρᾳ ἐπισκοπῆς εὑρήσεις ἐξιλασμόν.
21
BrentonHumble thyself before thou be sick, and in the time of sins shew repentance.
GreekΠρὶν ἀῤῥωστῆσαί σε ταπεινώθητι, καὶ ἐν καιρῷ ἁμαρτημάτων δεῖξον ἐπιστροφήν.
22
BrentonLet nothing hinder thee to pay thy vow in due time, and defer not until death to be justified.
GreekΜὴ ἐμποδισθῇς τοῦ ἀποδοῦναι εὐχὴν εὐκαίρως, καὶ μὴ μείνῃς ἕως θανάτου δικαιωθῆναι.
23
BrentonBefore thou prayest, prepare thyself; and be not as one that tempteth the Lord.
GreekΠρὶν εὔξασθαι ἑτοίμασον σεαυτὸν, και μὴ γίνου ὡς ἄνθρωπος πειράζων τὸν Κύριον.
24
BrentonThink upon the wrath that shall be at the end, and the time of vengeance, when he shall turn away his face.
GreekΜνήσθητι θυμοῦ ἐν ἡμέραις τελευτῆς, καὶ καιρὸν ἐκδικήσεως ἐν ἀποστροφῇ προσώπου.
25
BrentonWhen thou hast enough, remember the time of hunger: and when thou art rich, think upon poverty and need.
GreekΜνήσθητι καιρὸν λιμοῦ ἐν καιρῷ πλησμονῆς, πτωχείαν καὶ ἔνδειαν ἐν ἡμέραις πλούτου.
26
BrentonFrom the morning until the evening the time is changed, and all things are soon done before the Lord.
GreekἈπὸ πρωΐθεν ἕως ἑσπέρας μεταβάλλει καιρὸς, καὶ πάντα ἐστὶ ταχινὰ ἔναντι Κυρίου.
27
BrentonA wise man will fear in every thing, and in the day of sinning he will beware of offence: but a fool will not observe time.
GreekἌνθρωπος σοφὸς ἐν παντὶ εὐλαβηθήσεται, καὶ ἐν ἡμέραις ἁμαρτιῶν προσέξει ἀπὸ πλημμελείας·
28
BrentonEvery man of understanding knoweth wisdom, and will give praise unto him that found her.
Greekπᾶς συνετὸς ἔγνω σοφίαν, καὶ τῷ εὑρόντι αὐτὴν δώσει ἐξομολόγησιν.
29
BrentonThey that had understanding in sayings became also wise themselves, and poured forth exquisite parables.
GreekΣυνετοὶ ἐν λόγοις καὶ αὐτοὶ ἐσοφίσαντο, καὶ ἀνώμβρησαν παροιμίας ἀκριβεῖς. ἘΓΚΡΑΤΕΙΑ ΨΥΧΗΣ.
30
BrentonGo not after thy lusts, but refrain thyself from thine appetites.
GreekὈπίσω τῶν ἐπιθυμιῶν σου μὴ πορεύου, καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν ὀρέξεών σου κωλύου.
31
BrentonIf thou givest thy soul the desires that please her, she will make thee a laughingstock to thine enemies that malign thee.
GreekἘὰν χορηγήσεῃς τῇ ψυχῇ σου εὐδοκίαν ἐπιθυμίας, ποιήσει σε ἐπίχαρμα τῶν ἐχθρῶν σου.
32
BrentonTake not pleasure in much good cheer, neither be tied to the expence thereof.
GreekΜὴ εὐφραίνου ἐπὶ πολλῇ τρυφῇ, μηδὲ προσδεθῇς συμβολῇ αὐτῆς.
33
BrentonBe not made a beggar by banqueting upon borrowing, when thou hast nothing in thy purse.
GreekΜὴ γίνου πτωχὸς συμβολοκοπῶν ἐκ δανεισμοῦ, καὶ οὐδέν σοι ἐστὶν ἐν μαρσυπείῳ.