Guarding Secrets and the Tongue
Sirach 19
The chapter warns that drunkenness, lust, and rash trust lead a man to ruin, and it repeatedly cautions against repeating gossip or another's secret, since a careless tongue destroys friendship. It also teaches how to admonish a friend gently before accusing him, and describes how a wicked man's true character can be read in his look, laughter, and manner.
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
BrentonA labouring man that is given to drunkenness shall not be rich: and he that contemneth small things shall fall by little and little.
GreekἘργάτης μέθυσος οὐ πλουτισθήσεται, ὁ ἐξουθενῶν τὰ ὀλίγα κατὰ μικρὸν πεσεῖται.
2
BrentonWine and women will make men of understanding to fall away: and he that cleaveth to harlots will become impudent.
GreekΟἶνος καὶ γυναῖκες ἀποστήσουσι συνετοὺς, καὶ ὁ κολλώμενος πόρναις τολμηρότερος ἔσται.
3
BrentonMoths and worms shall have him to heritage, and a bold man shall be taken away.
GreekΣήτες καὶ σκώληκες κληρονομήσουσιν αὐτόν, καὶ ψυχὴ τολμηρὰ ἐξαρθήσεται.
4
BrentonHe that is hasty to give credit is light-minded; and he that sinneth shall offend against his own soul.
GreekὉ ταχὺ ἐμπιστεύων, κοῦφος καρδίᾳ, καὶ ὁ ἁμαρτάνων εἰς ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ πλημμελήσει.
5
BrentonWhoso taketh pleasure in wickedness shall be condemned:
GreekὉ εὐφραινόμενος καρδίᾳ καταγνωσθήσεται,
6
Brentonbut he that hateth babbling hath less of evil.
Greekκαὶ ὁ μισῶν λαλιὰν ἐλαττονοῦται κακίᾳ.
7
BrentonRehearse not unto another that which is told unto thee, and thou shalt fare never the worse.
GreekΜηδέποτε δευτερώσῃς λόγον, καὶ οὐθέν σοι οὐ μὴ ἐλαττονωθῇ.
8
BrentonWhether it be to friend or foe, talk not of other men's lives; and if thou canst not without offence, reveal them not.
GreekἘν φίλῳ καὶ ἐν ἐχθρῷ μὴ διηγοῦ, καὶ εἰ μή ἐστί σοι ἁμαρτία, μὴ ἀποκάλυπτε.
9
BrentonFor he heard and observed thee, and when time cometh he will hate thee.
GreekἈκήκοε γάρ σου καὶ ἐφυλάξατό σε, καὶ ἐν καιρῷ μισήσει σε.
10
BrentonIf thou hast heard a word, let it die with thee; and be bold, it will not burst thee.
GreekἈκήκοας λόγον; συναποθανέτω σοι, θάρσει, οὐ μή σε ῥήξει.
11
BrentonA fool travaileth with a word, as a woman in labour of a child.
GreekἈπὸ προσώπου λόγου ὠδινήσει μωρὸς, ὡς ἀπὸ προσώπου βρέφους ἡ τίκτουσα.
12
BrentonAs an arrow that sticketh in a man's thigh, so is a word within a fool's belly.
GreekΒέλος πεπηγὸς ἐν μηρῷ σαρκὸς, οὕτως λόγος ἐν κοιλίᾳ μωροῦ.
13
BrentonAdmonish a friend, it may be he hath not done it: and if he have done it, that he do it no more.
GreekἜλεγξον φίλον, μήποτε οὐκ ἐποίησε, καὶ εἴ τι ἐποίησε, μήποτε προσθῇ.
14
BrentonAdmonish thy friend, it may be he hath not said it: and if he have, that he speak it not again.
GreekἜλεγξον τὸν φίλον, μήποτε οὐκ εἶπε, καὶ εἰ εἴρηκεν, ἵνα μὴ δευτερώσῃ.
15
BrentonAdmonish a friend: for many times it is a slander, and believe not every tale.
GreekἜλεγξον φίλον, πολλάκις γὰρ γίνεται διαβολὴ, καὶ μὴ παντὶ λόγῳ πίστευε.
16
BrentonThere is one that slippeth in his speech, but not from his heart; and who is he that hath not offended with his tongue?
GreekἜστιν ὀλισθαίνων καὶ οὐκ ἀπὸ ψυχῆς· καὶ τίς οὐχ ἡμάρτησεν ἐν τῇ γλώσσῃ αὐτοῦ;
17
BrentonAdmonish thy neighbour before thou threaten him; and give place to the law of the most High.
GreekἜλεγξον τὸν πλησίον σου πρινη ἀπειλῆσαι, καὶ δὸς τόπον νόμῳ ὑψίστου.
20
BrentonThe fear of the Lord is all wisdom; and in all wisdom is the performance of the law.
GreekΠᾶσα σοφία φόβος Κυρίου, καὶ ἐν πάσῃ σοφίᾳ ποίησις νόμου.
22
BrentonThe knowledge of wickedness is not wisdom, neither at any time the counsel of sinners prudence.
GreekΚαὶ οὐκ ἔστι σοφία πονηρίας ἐπιστήμη, καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν, ὅπου βουλὴ ἁμαρτωλῶν, φρόνησις.
23
BrentonThere is a wickedness, and the same an abomination; and there is a fool wanting in wisdom.
GreekἜστι πονηρία καὶ αὕτη βδέλυγμα, καὶ ἔστιν ἄφρων ἐλαττούμενος σοφίᾳ.
24
BrentonHe that hath small understanding, and feareth God, is better than one that hath much wisdom, and transgresseth the law of the most High.
GreekΚρείττων ἡττώμενος ἐν συνέσει ἔμφοβος, ἢ περισσεύων ἐν φρονήσει καὶ παραβαίνων νόμον.
25
BrentonThere is an exquisite subtilty, and the same is unjust; and there is one that turneth aside to make judgment appear.
GreekἜστι πανουργία ἀκριβὴς καὶ αὕτη ἄδικος, καὶ ἔστι διαστρέφων χάριν τοῦ ἐκφᾶναι κρίμα.
26
BrentonThere is a wicked man that hangeth down his head sadly; but inwardly he is full of deceit,
GreekἜστι πονηρευόμενος συγκεκυφὼς μελανίᾳ, καὶ τὰ ἐντὸς αὐτοῦ πλήρης δόλου.
27
Brentoncasting down his countenance, and making as if he heard not: where he is not known, he will do thee a mischief before thou be aware.
GreekΣυγκύφων πρόσωπον καὶ ἑτεροκωφῶν, ὅπου οὐκ ἐπεγνώσθη, προφθάσει σε.
28
BrentonAnd if for want of power he be hindered from sinning, yet when he findeth opportunity he will do evil.
GreekΚαὶ ἐὰν ὑπὸ ἐλαττώματος ἰσχύος κωλυθῇ ἁμαρτεῖν, ἐὰν εὕρῃ καιρὸν, κακοποιήσει.
29
BrentonA man may be known by his look, and one that hath understanding by his countenance, when thou meetest him.
GreekἈπὸ ὁράσεως ἐπιγνωσθήσεται ἀνὴρ, καὶ ἀπὸ ἀπαντήσεως προσώπου ἐπιγνωσθήσεται νοήμων.
30
BrentonA man's attire, and excessive laughter, and gait, shew what he is.
GreekΣτολισμὸς ἀνδρὸς καὶ γέλως ὀδόντων καὶ βήματα ἀνθρώπου ἀναγγέλλει τὰ περὶ αὐτοῦ.