Riches, Table Manners, and Wine
Sirach 34
The chapter warns that anxious pursuit of gold brings ruin and restless labor, and praises the rich man who remains blameless and untouched by greed. It then gives practical counsel on modest behavior at another man's table and on drinking wine in moderation, since excess in either brings sickness, shame, or strife.
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
BrentonWatching for riches consumeth the flesh, and the care thereof driveth away sleep.
GreekἈγρυπνία πλούτου ἐκτήκει σάρκας, καὶ ἡ μέριμνα αὐτοῦ ἀφιστᾷ ὕπνον.
2
BrentonWatching care will not let a man slumber, as a sore disease breaketh sleep.
GreekΜέριμνα ἀγρυπνίας ἀπαιτήσει νυσταγμὸν, καὶ ἀῤῥώστημα βαρὺ ἐκνήψει ὕπνος.
3
BrentonThe rich hath great labour in gathering riches together; and when he resteth, he is filled with his delicacies.
GreekἘκοπίασε πλούσιος ἐν συναγωγῇ χρημάτων, καὶ ἐν τῇ ἀναπαύσει ἐμπίπλαται τῶν τρυφημάτων αὐτοῦ·
4
BrentonThe poor laboureth in his poor estate; and when he leaveth off, he is still needy.
Greekἐκοπίασε πτωχὸς ἐν ἐλαττώσει βίου, καὶ ἐν τῇ ἀναπαύσει ἐπιδεὴς γίνεται.
5
BrentonHe that loveth gold shall not be justified, and he that followeth corruption shall have enough thereof.
GreekὉ ἀγαπῶν χρυσίον οὐ δικαιωθήσεται, καὶ ὁ διώκων διαφθορὰν, αὐτὸς πλησθήσεται.
6
BrentonGold hath been the ruin of many, and their destruction was present.
GreekΠολλοὶ ἐδόθησαν εἰς πτῶμα χάριν χρυσίου, καὶ ἐγενήθη ἀπώλεια αὐτῶν κατὰ πρόσωπον αὐτῶν.
7
BrentonIt is a stumblingblock unto them that sacrifice unto it, and every fool shall be taken therewith.
GreekΞύλον προσκόμματός ἐστι τοῖς ἐνθυσιάζουσιν αὐτῷ, καὶ πᾶς ἄφρων ἁλώσεται ἐν αὐτῷ.
8
BrentonBlessed is the rich that is found without blemish, and hath not gone after gold.
GreekΜακάριος πλούσιος ὃς εὑρέθη ἄμωμος, καὶ ὃς ὀπίσω χρυσίου οὐκ ἐπορεύθη.
9
BrentonWho is he? and we will call him blessed: for wonderful things hath he done among his people.
GreekΤίς ἐστι καὶ μακαριοῦμεν αὐτόν; ἐποίησε γὰρ θαυμάσια ἐν λαῷ αὐτοῦ.
10
BrentonWho hath been tried thereby, and found perfect? then let him glory. Who might offend, and hath not offended? or done evil, and hath not done it?
GreekΤίς ἐδοκιμάσθη ἐν αὐτῷ καὶ ἐτελειώθη, καὶ ἔστω εἰς καύχησιν; τίς ἐδύνατο παραβῆναι, καὶ οὐ παρέβη, καὶ ποιῆσαι κακὰ, καὶ οὐκ ἐποίησε;
11
BrentonHis goods shall be established, and the congregation shall declare his alms.
GreekΣτερεωθήσεται τὰ ἀγαθὰ αὐτοῦ, καὶ τὰς ἐλεημοσύνας αὐτοῦ ἐκδιηγήσεται ἐκκλησία.
12
BrentonIf thou sit at a bountiful table, be not greedy upon it, and say not, There is much meat on it.
GreekἘπὶ τραπέζης μεγάλης ἐκάθισας; μὴ ἀνοίξῃς ἐπʼ αὐτῆς φάρυγγά σου· καὶ μὴ εἴπῃς, πολλά γε τὰ ἐπʼ αὐτῆς.
13
BrentonRemember that a wicked eye is an evil thing: and what is created more wicked than an eye? therefore it weepeth upon every occasion.
GreekΜνήσθητι ὅτι κακὸν ὀφθαλμὸς πονηρὸς, πονηρότερον ὀφθαλμοῦ τί ἔκτισται; διὰ τοῦτο ἀπὸ παντὸς προσώπου δακρύει.
14
BrentonStretch not thine hand whithersoever it looketh, and thrust it not with him into the dish.
GreekΟὗ ἐὰν ἐπιβλέψῃ, μὴ ἐκτείνῃς χεῖρα, καὶ μὴ συνθλίβου αὐτῷ ἐν τρυβλίῳ.
15
BrentonJudge of thy neighbour by thyself: and be discreet in every point.
GreekΝόει τὰ τοῦ πλησίον ἐκ σεαυτοῦ, καὶ ἐπὶ παντὶ πράγματι διανοοῦ.
16
BrentonEat, as it becometh a man, those things which are set before thee; and devour not, lest thou be hated.
GreekΦάγε ὡς ἄνθρωπος τὰ παρακείμενά σοι, καὶ μὴ διαμασῷ, μὴ μισηθῇς.
17
BrentonLeave off first for manners' sake; and be not unsatiable, lest thou offend.
GreekΠαῦσαι πρῶτος χάριν παιδείας, καὶ μὴ ἀπληστεύου, μήποτε προσκόψῃς.
18
BrentonWhen thou sittest among many, reach not thine hand out first of all.
GreekΚαὶ εἰ ἀναμέσον πλειόνων ἐκάθισας, πρότερος αὐτῶν μὴ ἐκτείνῃς τὴν χεῖρά σου.
19
BrentonA very little is sufficient for a man well nurtured, and he fetcheth not his wind short upon his bed.
GreekὩς ἱκανὸν ἀνθρώπῳ πεπαιδευμένῳ τὸ ὀλίγον, καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς κοίτης αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἀσθμαίνει.
20
BrentonSound sleep cometh of moderate eating: he riseth early, and his wits are with him: but the pain of watching, and choler, and pangs of the belly, are with an unsatiable man.
GreekὝπνος ὑγείας ἐπὶ ἐντέρῳ μετρίῳ, ἀνέστη πρωῒ, καὶ ἡ ψυχὴ αὐτοῦ μετʼ αὐτοῦ· πόνος ἀγρυπνίας καὶ χολέρας καὶ στρόφος μετὰ ἀνδρὸς ἀπλήστου.
21
BrentonAnd if thou hast been forced to eat, arise, go forth, vomit, and thou shalt have rest.
GreekΚαὶ εἰ ἐβιάσθης ἐν ἐδέσμασιν, ἀνάστα μεσοπωρῶν καὶ ἀναπαύσῃ.
22
BrentonMy son, hear me, and despise me not, and at the last thou shalt find as I told thee: in all thy works be quick, so shall there no sickness come unto thee.
GreekἌκουσόν μου τέκνον καὶ μὴ ἐξουδενώσῃς με, καὶ ἐπʼ ἐσχάτῳ εὑρήσεις τοὺς λόγους μου· ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς ἔργοις σου γίνου ἐντρεχὴς, καὶ πᾶν αρρώστημα οὐ μή σοι ἀπαντήσῃ.
23
BrentonWhoso is liberal of his meat, men shall speak well of him; and the report of his good housekeeping will be believed.
GreekΛαμπρὸν ἐπʼ ἄρτοῖς εὐλογήσει χείλη, καὶ μαρτυρία τῆς καλλονῆς αὐτοῦ πιστή.
24
BrentonBut against him that is a niggard of his meat the whole city shall murmur; and the testimonies of his niggardness shall not be doubted of.
GreekΠονηρῷ ἐπʼ ἄρτῳ διαγογγύσει πόλις, καὶ ἡ μαρτυρία τῆς πονηρίας αὐτοῦ ἐκριβής.
25
BrentonShew not thy valiantness in wine; for wine hath destroyed many.
GreekἘν οἴνῳ μὴ ἀνδρίζου, πολλοὺς γὰρ ἀπώλεσεν ὁ οἶνος·
26
BrentonThe furnace proveth the edge by dipping: so doth wine the hearts of the proud by drunkenness.
GreekΚάμινος δοκιμάζει στόμωμα ἐν βαφῇ, οὕτως οἶνος καρδίας ἐν μάχῃ ὑπερηφάνων.
27
BrentonWine is as good as life to a man, if it be drunk moderately: what life is then to a man that is without wine? for it was made to make men glad.
GreekἘπίσον ζωῆς οἶνος ἀνθρώπῳ, ἐὰν πίνῃς αὐτὸν μέτρῳ αὐτοῦ· τίς ζωὴ ἐλασσουμένῳ οἴνῳ; καὶ αὐτὸς ἔκτισται εἰς εὐφροσύνην ἀνθρώποις.
28
BrentonWine measurably drunk and in season bringeth gladness of the heart, and cheerfulness of the mind:
GreekἈγαλλίαμα καρδίας καὶ εὐφροσύνη ψυχῆς οἶνος πινόμενος ἐν καιρῷ αὐτάρκης·
29
Brentonbut wine drunken with excess maketh bitterness of the mind, with brawling and quarrelling.
Greekπικρία ψυχῆς οἶνος πινόμενος πολὺς, ἐν ὀρεθισμῷ καὶ ἀντιπτώματι.
30
BrentonDrunkenness increaseth the rage of a fool till he offend: it diminisheth strength, and maketh wounds.
GreekΠληθύνει μέθη θυμὸν ἄφρονος εἰς πρόσκομμα, ἐλαττῶν ἰσχὺν καὶ προσποιῶν τραύματα.
31
BrentonRebuke not thy neighbour at the wine, and despise him not in his mirth: give him no despiteful words, and press not upon him with urging him [to drink].
GreekἘν συμποσίῳ οἴνου μὴ ἐλέγξῃς τὸν πλησίον, καὶ μὴ ἐξουδενώσῃς αὐτὸν ἐν εὐφροσύνῃ αὐτοῦ· λόγον ὀνειδισμοῦ μὴ εἴπῃς αὐτῷ, καὶ μὴ αὐτὸν θλίψῃς ἐν ἀπαιτήσει. ΠΕΡΙ ἩΓΟΥΜΕΝΩΝ.