The Holy Scripture
Chapter XX
There is a reproof that is not comely: again, some man holdeth his tongue, and he is wise.
ἔστιν ἔλεγχος ὃς οὐκ ἔστιν ὡραῖος καὶ ἔστιν σιωπῶν καὶ αὐτὸς φρόνιμος
It is much better to reprove, than to be angry secretly:
ὡς καλὸν ἐλέγξαι ἢ θυμοῦσθαι
and he that confesseth his fault shall be preserved from hurt.
καὶ ὁ ἀνθομολογούμενος ἀπὸ ἐλαττώσεως κωλυθήσεται
As is the lust of an eunuch to deflower a virgin; so is he that executeth judgment with violence.
ἐπιθυμία εὐνούχου ἀποπαρθενῶσαι νεάνιδα οὕτως ὁ ποιῶν ἐν βίᾳ κρίματα
There is one that keepeth silence, and is found wise: and another by much babbling becometh hateful.
ἔστιν σιωπῶν εὑρισκόμενος σοφός καὶ ἔστιν μισητὸς ἀπὸ πολλῆς λαλιᾶς
Some man holdeth his tongue, because he hath not to answer: and some keepeth silence, knowing his time.
ἔστιν σιωπῶν οὐ γὰρ ἔχει ἀπόκρισιν καὶ ἔστιν σιωπῶν εἰδὼς καιρόν
A wise man will hold his tongue till he see opportunity: but a babbler and a fool will regard no time.
ἄνθρωπος σοφὸς σιγήσει ἕως καιροῦ ὁ δὲ λαπιστὴς καὶ ἄφρων ὑπερβήσεται καιρόν
He that useth many words shall be abhorred; and he that taketh to himself authority therein shall be hated.
ὁ πλεονάζων λόγῳ βδελυχθήσεται καὶ ὁ ἐνεξουσιαζόμενος μισηθήσεται
There is a sinner that hath good success in evil things; and there is a gain that turneth to loss.
ἔστιν εὐοδία ἐν κακοῖς ἀνδρί καὶ ἔστιν εὕρεμα εἰς ἐλάττωσιν
There is a gift that shall not profit thee; and there is a gift whose recompence is double.
ἔστιν δόσις ἣ οὐ λυσιτελήσει σοι καὶ ἔστιν δόσις ἧς τὸ ἀνταπόδομα διπλοῦν
There is an abasement because of glory; and there is that lifteth up his head from a low estate.
ἔστιν ἐλάττωσις ἕνεκεν δόξης καὶ ἔστιν ὃς ἀπὸ ταπεινώσεως ἦρεν κεφαλήν
There is that buyeth much for a little, and repayeth it sevenfold.
ἔστιν ἀγοράζων πολλὰ ὀλίγου καὶ ἀποτιννύων αὐτὰ ἑπταπλάσιον
A wise man by his words maketh himself beloved: but the graces of fools shall be poured out.
ὁ σοφὸς ἐν λόγοις ἑαυτὸν προσφιλῆ ποιήσει χάριτες δὲ μωρῶν ἐκχυθήσονται
The gift of a fool shall do thee no good when thou hast it; neither yet of the envious for his necessity: for he looketh to receive many things for one.
δόσις ἄφρονος οὐ λυσιτελήσει σοι οἱ γὰρ ὀφθαλμοὶ αὐτοῦ ἀνθ᾿ ἑνὸς πολλοί
He giveth little, and upbraideth much; he openeth his mouth like a crier; to-day he lendeth, and to-morrow will he ask it again: such an one is to be hated of God and man.
ὀλίγα δώσει καὶ πολλὰ ὀνειδίσει καὶ ἀνοίξει τὸ στόμα αὐτοῦ ὡς κῆρυξ σήμερον δανιεῖ καὶ αὔριον ἀπαιτήσει μισητὸς ἄνθρωπος ὁ τοιοῦτος
The fool saith, I have no friends, I have no thank for all my good deeds, and they that eat my bread speak evil of me.
μωρὸς ἐρεῖ οὐχ ὑπάρχει μοι φίλος καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν χάρις τοῖς ἀγαθοῖς μου
How oft, and of how many shall he be laughed to scorn!
οἱ ἔσθοντες τὸν ἄρτον αὐτοῦ φαῦλοι γλώσσῃ ποσάκις καὶ ὅσοι καταγελάσονται αὐτοῦ
To slip upon a pavement is better than to slip with the tongue: so the fall of the wicked shall come speedily.
ὀλίσθημα ἀπὸ ἐδάφους μᾶλλον ἢ ἀπὸ γλώσσης οὕτως πτῶσις κακῶν κατὰ σπουδὴν ἥξει
An unseasonable tale will always be in the mouth of the unwise.
ἄνθρωπος ἄχαρις μῦθος ἄκαιρος ἐν στόματι ἀπαιδεύτων ἐνδελεχισθήσεται
A wise sentence shall be rejected when it cometh out of a fool's mouth; for he will not speak it in due season.
ἀπὸ στόματος μωροῦ ἀποδοκιμασθήσεται παραβολή οὐ γὰρ μὴ εἴπῃ αὐτὴν ἐν καιρῷ αὐτῆς
There is that is hindered from sinning through want: and when he taketh rest, he shall not be troubled.
ἔστιν κωλυόμενος ἁμαρτάνειν ἀπὸ ἐνδείας καὶ ἐν τῇ ἀναπαύσει αὐτοῦ οὐ κατανυγήσεται
There is that destroyeth his own soul through bashfulness, and by accepting of persons overthroweth himself.
ἔστιν ἀπολλύων τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ δι᾿ αἰσχύνην καὶ ἀπὸ ἄφρονος προσώπου ἀπολεῖ αὐτήν
There is that for bashfulness promiseth to his friend, and maketh him his enemy for nothing.
ἔστιν χάριν αἰσχύνης ἐπαγγελλόμενος φίλῳ καὶ ἐκτήσατο αὐτὸν ἐχθρὸν δωρεάν
A lie is a foul blot in a man, yet it is continually in the mouth of the untaught.
μῶμος πονηρὸς ἐν ἀνθρώπῳ ψεῦδος ἐν στόματι ἀπαιδεύτων ἐνδελεχισθήσεται
A thief is better than a man that is accustomed to lie: but they both shall have destruction to heritage.
αἱρετὸν κλέπτης ἢ ὁ ἐνδελεχίζων ψεύδει ἀμφότεροι δὲ ἀπώλειαν κληρονομήσουσιν
The disposition of a liar is dishonourable, and his shame is ever with him.
ἦθος ἀνθρώπου ψευδοῦς ἀτιμία καὶ ἡ αἰσχύνη αὐτοῦ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ ἐνδελεχῶς
A wise man shall promote himself [to honour] with his words: and he that hath understanding will please great men.
ὁ σοφὸς ἐν λόγοις προάξει ἑαυτόν καὶ ἄνθρωπος φρόνιμος ἀρέσει μεγιστᾶσιν
He that tilleth his land shall increase his heap: and he that pleaseth great men shall get pardon for iniquity.
ὁ ἐργαζόμενος γῆν ἀνυψώσει θιμωνιὰν αὐτοῦ καὶ ὁ ἀρέσκων μεγιστᾶσιν ἐξιλάσεται ἀδικίαν
Presents and gifts blind the eyes of the wise, and stop up his mouth that he cannot reprove.
ξένια καὶ δῶρα ἀποτυφλοῖ ὀφθαλμοὺς σοφῶν καὶ ὡς φιμὸς ἐν στόματι ἀποτρέπει ἐλεγμούς
Wisdom that is hid, and treasure that is hoarded up, what profit is in them both?
σοφία κεκρυμμένη καὶ θησαυρὸς ἀφανής τίς ὠφέλεια ἐν ἀμφοτέροις
Better is he that hideth his folly than a man that hideth his wisdom.
κρείσσων ἄνθρωπος ἀποκρύπτων τὴν μωρίαν αὐτοῦ ἢ ἄνθρωπος ἀποκρύπτων τὴν σοφίαν αὐτοῦ