Friendship and Betrayed Secrets
Sirach 27
The chapter warns that sin clings easily to buying and selling and that a man's speech under trial reveals his true character. It then dwells on the ruin of friendship caused by betraying a friend's secrets or by treachery, warning that such deceit and mockery of the righteous will return upon the one who commits it.
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
BrentonMany have sinned for a small matter; and he that seeketh for abundance will turn his eyes away.
GreekΧαρὶν ἀδιαφόρου πολλοὶ ἥμαρτον, καὶ ὁ ζητῶν πληθύναι ἀποστρέψει ὀφθαλμόν.
2
BrentonAs a nail sticketh fast between the joinings of the stones; so doth sin stick close between buying and selling.
GreekἈναμέσον ἁρμῶν λίθων παγήσεται πάσσαλος, καὶ ἀναμέσον πράσεως καὶ ἀγορασμοῦ συντριβήσεται ἁμαρτία.
3
BrentonUnless a man hold himself diligently in the fear of the Lord, his house shall soon be overthrown.
GreekἘὰν μὴ ἐν φόβῳ Κυρίου κρατήσῃ κατὰ σπουδὴν, ἐν τάχει καταστραφήσεται αὐτοῦ ὁ οἶκος.
4
BrentonAs when one sifteth with a sieve, the refuse remaineth; so the filth of man in his talk.
GreekἘν σείσματι κοσκίνου διαμένει κοπρία, οὕτως σκύβαλα ἀνθρώπου ἐν λογισμῷ αὐτοῦ.
5
BrentonThe furnace proveth the potter's vessels; so the trial of man is in his reasoning.
GreekΣκεύη κεραμέως δοκιμάζει κάμινος, καὶ πειρασμὸς ἀνθρώπου ἐν διαλογισμῷ αὐτοῦ.
6
BrentonThe fruit declareth if the tree have been dressed; so is the utterance of a conceit in the heart of man.
GreekΓεώργιον ξύλου ἐκφαίνει ὁ καρπὸς αὐτοῦ, οὕτως λόγος ἐνθυμήματος καρδίας ἀνθρώπου.
7
BrentonPraise no man before thou hearest him speak; for this is the trial of men.
GreekΠρὸ λογισμοῦ μὴ ἐπαινέσῃς ἄνδρα, οὗτος γὰρ πειρασμὸς ἀνθρώπων.
8
BrentonIf thou followest righteousness, thou shalt obtain her, and put her on, as a glorious long robe.
GreekἘὰν διώκῃς τὸ δίκαιον, καταλήψῃ, καὶ ἐνδύσῃ αὐτὸ ὡς ποδήρη δόξης.
9
BrentonThe birds will resort unto their like; so will truth return unto them that practise in her.
GreekΠετεινὰ πρὸς τὰ ὅμοια αὐτοῖς καταλύσει, καὶ ἀλήθεια πρὸς τοὺς ἐργαζομένους αὐτὴν ἐπανήξει.
10
BrentonAs the lion lieth in wait for the prey; so sin for them that work iniquity.
GreekΛέων θήραν ἐνεδρεύει, οὕτως ἁμαρτίαι ἐργαζομένους ἄδικα.
11
BrentonThe discourse of a godly man is always with wisdom; but a fool changeth as the moon.
GreekΔιήγησις εὐσεβοῦς διαπαντὸς σοφία, ὁ δὲ ἄφρων ὡς σελήνη ἀλλοιοῦται.
12
BrentonIf thou be among the indiscreet, observe the time; but be continually among men of understanding.
GreekΕἰς μέσον ἀσυνέτων συντήρησον καιρὸν, εἰς μέσον δὲ διανοουμένων ἐνδελέχιζε.
13
BrentonThe discourse of fools is irksome, and their sport is the wantonness of sin.
GreekΔιήγησις μωρῶν προσόχθισμα, καὶ ὁ γέλως αὐτῶν ἐν σπατάλῃ ἁμαρτίας.
14
BrentonThe talk of him that sweareth much maketh the hair stand upright; and their brawls make one stop his ears.
GreekΛαλιὰ πολυόρκου ὀρθώσει τρίχας, καὶ ἡ μάχη αὐτῶν ἐμφραγμὸς ὠτίων.
15
BrentonThe strife of the proud is bloodshedding, and their revilings are grievous to the ear.
GreekἜκχυσις αἵματος μάχη ὑπερηφάνων, καὶ ἡ διαλοιδόρησις αὐτῶν ἀκοὴ μοχθηρά.
16
BrentonWhoso discovereth secrets loseth his credit; and shall never find friend to his mind.
GreekὉ ἀποκαλύπτων μυστήρια ἀπώλεσε πίστιν, καὶ οὐ μὴ εὕρῃ φίλον πρὸς τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ.
17
BrentonLove thy friend, and be faithful unto him: but if thou betrayest his secrets, follow no more after him.
GreekΣτέρξον φίλον, καὶ πιστώθητι μετʼ αὐτοῦ· ἐὰν δὲ ἀποκαλύψῃς τὰ μυστήρια αὐτοῦ, οὐ μὴ καταδιώξῃς ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ.
18
BrentonFor as a man hath destroyed his enemy; so hast thou lost the love of thy neighbour.
GreekΚαθὼς γὰρ ἀπώλεσεν ἄνθρωπος τὸν ἐχθρὸν αὐτοῦ, οὕτως ἀπώλεσας τὴν φιλίαν τοῦ πλησίου·
19
BrentonAs one that letteth a bird go out of his hand, so hast thou let thy neighbour go, and shalt not get him again.
Greekκαὶ ὡς πετεινὸν ἐκ χειρός σου ἀπελύσας, οὕτως ἀφῆκας τὸν πλησίον, καὶ οὐ θηρεύσεις αὐτόν.
20
BrentonFollow after him no more, for he is too far off; he is as a roe escaped out of the snare.
GreekΜὴ αὐτὸν διώξῃς, ὅτι μακρὰν ἀπέστῃ, καὶ ἐξέφυγεν ὡς δορκὰς ἐκ παγίδος.
21
BrentonAs for a wound, it may be bound up; and after reviling there may be reconcilement: but he that betrayeth secrets is without hope.
GreekὍτι θραῦσμά ἐστι καταδῆσαι, καὶ λοιδορίας ἐστὶ διαλλαγή· ὁ δὲ ἀποκαλύψας μυστήρια ἀπήλπισε.
22
BrentonHe that winketh with the eyes worketh evil: and he that knoweth him will depart from him.
GreekΔιανεύων ὀφθαλμῷ τεκταίνει κακὰ, καὶ οὐδεὶς αὑτὸν ἀποστήσει ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ.
23
BrentonWhen thou art present, he will speak sweetly, and will admire thy words: but at the last he will writhe his mouth, and slander thy sayings.
GreekἈπέναντι τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν σου γλυκανεῖ στόμα σου, καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν λόγων σου ἐκθαυμάσει, ὕστερον δὲ διαστρέψει τὸ στόμα αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐν τοῖς λόγοις σου δώσει σκάνδαλον.
24
BrentonI have hated many things, but nothing like him; for the Lord will hate him.
GreekΠολλὰ ἐμίσησα καὶ οὐχ ὡμοίωσα αὐτῷ, καὶ ὁ Κύριος μισήσει αὐτόν.
25
BrentonWhoso casteth a stone on high casteth it on his own head; and a deceitful stroke shall make wounds.
GreekὉ βάλλων λίθον εἰς ὕψος ἐπὶ κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ βάλλει, καὶ πληγὴ δολία διελεῖ τραύματα.
26
BrentonWhoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that setteth a trap shall be taken therein.
GreekὉ ὀρύσσων βόθρον εἰς αὐτὸν ἐμπεσεῖται, καὶ ὁ ἱστῶν παγίδα ἐν αὐτῇ ἁλώσεται.
27
BrentonHe that worketh mischief, it shall fall upon him, and he shall not know whence it cometh.
GreekὉ ποιῶν πονηρὰ εἰς αὐτὸν κυλισθήσεται, καὶ οὐ μὴ ἐπιγνῷ πόθεν ἥκει αὐτῷ.
28
BrentonMockery and reproach are from the proud; but vengeance, as a lion, shall lie in wait for him.
GreekἘμπαιγμὸς καὶ ὀνειδισμὸς ὑπερηφάνων, καὶ ἡ ἐκδίκησις ὡς λέων ἐνεδρεύσει αὐτόν.
29
BrentonThey that rejoice at the fall of the righteous shall be taken in the snare; and anguish shall consume them before they die.
GreekΠαγίδι ἁλώσονται οἱ εὐφραινόμενοι πτώσει εὐσεβῶν, καὶ ὀδύνη καταναλώσει αὐτοὺς πρὸ τοῦ θανάτου αὐτῶν.
30
BrentonMalice and wrath, even these are abominations; and the sinful man shall have them both.
GreekΜῆνις καὶ ὀργὴ, καὶ ταῦτά ἐστι βδελύγματα, καὶ ἀνὴρ ἁμαρτωλὸς ἐγκρατὴς ἔσται αὐτῶν.