The Holy Scripture
Chapter XVIII
He that liveth for ever created all things in general.
ὁ ζῶν εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα ἔκτισεν τὰ πάντα κοινῇ
The Lord only is righteous.
κύριος μόνος δικαιωθήσεται
To none hath he given power to declare his works; and who shall find out his noble acts?
οὐθενὶ ἐξεποίησεν ἐξαγγεῖλαι τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ καὶ τίς ἐξιχνεύσει τὰ μεγαλεῖα αὐτοῦ
Who shall number the strength of his majesty? and who shall also tell out his mercies?
κράτος μεγαλωσύνης αὐτοῦ τίς ἐξαριθμήσεται καὶ τίς προσθήσει ἐκδιηγήσασθαι τὰ ἐλέη αὐτοῦ
As 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.
οὐκ ἔστιν ἐλαττῶσαι οὐδὲ προσθεῖναι καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ἐξιχνιάσαι τὰ θαυμάσια τοῦ κυρίου
When a man hath done, then he beginneth; and when he leaveth off, then he shall be doubtful.
ὅταν συντελέσῃ ἄνθρωπος τότε ἄρχεται καὶ ὅταν παύσηται τότε ἀπορηθήσεται
What is man, and whereto serveth he; what is his good, and what is his evil?
τί ἄνθρωπος καὶ τί ἡ χρῆσις αὐτοῦ τί τὸ ἀγαθὸν αὐτοῦ καὶ τί τὸ κακὸν αὐτοῦ
The number of a man's days at the most is an hundred years.
ἀριθμὸς ἡμερῶν ἀνθρώπου πολλὰ ἔτη ἑκατόν
As 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.
ὡς σταγὼν ὕδατος ἀπὸ θαλάσσης καὶ ψῆφος ἄμμου οὕτως ὀλίγα ἔτη ἐν ἡμέρᾳ αἰῶνος
Therefore is God patient with them, and poureth forth his mercy upon them.
διὰ τοῦτο ἐμακροθύμησεν κύριος ἐπ᾿ αὐτοῖς καὶ ἐξέχεεν ἐπ᾿ αὐτοὺς τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ
He saw and perceived their end to be evil; therefore he multiplied his compassion.
εἶδεν καὶ ἐπέγνω τὴν καταστροφὴν αὐτῶν ὅτι πονηρά διὰ τοῦτο ἐπλήθυνεν τὸν ἐξιλασμὸν αὐτοῦ
The 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.
ἔλεος ἀνθρώπου ἐπὶ τὸν πλησίον αὐτοῦ ἔλεος δὲ κυρίου ἐπὶ πᾶσαν σάρκα ἐλέγχων καὶ παιδεύων καὶ διδάσκων καὶ ἐπιστρέφων ὡς ποιμὴν τὸ ποίμνιον αὐτοῦ
He hath mercy on them that receive discipline, and that diligently seek after his judgments.
τοὺς ἐκδεχομένους παιδείαν ἐλεᾷ καὶ τοὺς κατασπεύδοντας ἐπὶ τὰ κρίματα αὐτοῦ
My son, blemish not thy good deeds, neither use uncomfortable words when thou givest any thing.
τέκνον ἐν ἀγαθοῖς μὴ δῷς μῶμον καὶ ἐν πάσῃ δόσει λύπην λόγων
Shall not the dew assuage the heat? so is a word better than a gift.
οὐχὶ καύσωνα ἀναπαύσει δρόσος οὕτως κρείσσων λόγος ἢ δόσις
Lo, is not a word better than a gift? but both are with a gracious man.
οὐκ ἰδοὺ λόγος ὑπὲρ δόμα ἀγαθόν καὶ ἀμφότερα παρὰ ἀνδρὶ κεχαριτωμένῳ
A fool will upbraid churlishly, and a gift of the envious consumeth the eyes.
μωρὸς ἀχαρίστως ὀνειδιεῖ καὶ δόσις βασκάνου ἐκτήκει ὀφθαλμούς
Learn before thou speak, and use physic or ever thou be sick.
πρὶν ἢ λαλῆσαι μάνθανε καὶ πρὸ ἀρρωστίας θεραπεύου
Before judgment examine thyself, and in the day of visitation thou shalt find mercy.
πρὸ κρίσεως ἐξέταζε σεαυτόν καὶ ἐν ὥρᾳ ἐπισκοπῆς εὑρήσεις ἐξιλασμόν
Humble thyself before thou be sick, and in the time of sins shew repentance.
πρὶν ἀρρωστῆσαί σε ταπεινώθητι καὶ ἐν καιρῷ ἁμαρτημάτων δεῖξον ἐπιστροφήν
Let nothing hinder thee to pay thy vow in due time, and defer not until death to be justified.
μὴ ἐμποδισθῇς τοῦ ἀποδοῦναι εὐχὴν εὐκαίρως καὶ μὴ μείνῃς ἕως θανάτου δικαιωθῆναι
Before thou prayest, prepare thyself; and be not as one that tempteth the Lord.
πρὶν εὔξασθαι ἑτοίμασον σεαυτὸν καὶ μὴ γίνου ὡς ἄνθρωπος πειράζων τὸν κύριον
Think upon the wrath that shall be at the end, and the time of vengeance, when he shall turn away his face.
μνήσθητι θυμοῦ ἐν ἡμέραις τελευτῆς καὶ καιρὸν ἐκδικήσεως ἐν ἀποστροφῇ προσώπου
When thou hast enough, remember the time of hunger: and when thou art rich, think upon poverty and need.
μνήσθητι καιρὸν λιμοῦ ἐν καιρῷ πλησμονῆς πτωχείαν καὶ ἔνδειαν ἐν ἡμέραις πλούτου
From the morning until the evening the time is changed, and all things are soon done before the Lord.
ἀπὸ πρωίθεν ἕως ἑσπέρας μεταβάλλει καιρός καὶ πάντα ἐστὶν ταχινὰ ἔναντι κυρίου
A 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.
ἄνθρωπος σοφὸς ἐν παντὶ εὐλαβηθήσεται καὶ ἐν ἡμέραις ἁμαρτιῶν προσέξει ἀπὸ πλημμελείας
Every man of understanding knoweth wisdom, and will give praise unto him that found her.
πᾶς συνετὸς ἔγνω σοφίαν καὶ τῷ εὑρόντι αὐτὴν δώσει ἐξομολόγησιν
They that had understanding in sayings became also wise themselves, and poured forth exquisite parables.
συνετοὶ ἐν λόγοις καὶ αὐτοὶ ἐσοφίσαντο καὶ ἀνώμβρησαν παροιμίας ἀκριβεῖς
Go not after thy lusts, but refrain thyself from thine appetites.
ὀπίσω τῶν ἐπιθυμιῶν σου μὴ πορεύου καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν ὀρέξεών σου κωλύου
If thou givest thy soul the desires that please her, she will make thee a laughingstock to thine enemies that malign thee.
ἐὰν χορηγήσῃς τῇ ψυχῇ σου εὐδοκίαν ἐπιθυμίας ποιήσει σε ἐπίχαρμα τῶν ἐχθρῶν σου
Take not pleasure in much good cheer, neither be tied to the expence thereof.
μὴ εὐφραίνου ἐπὶ πολλῇ τρυφῇ μὴ προσδεθῇς συμβολῇ αὐτῆς
Be not made a beggar by banqueting upon borrowing, when thou hast nothing in thy purse.
μὴ γίνου πτωχὸς συμβολοκοπῶν ἐκ δανεισμοῦ καὶ οὐδέν σοί ἐστιν ἐν μαρσιππίῳ