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THE OLD TESTAMENT SEPTUAGINT GREEK / ENGLISH WISDOM OF THE SON OF SIRACH (ECCLESIASTICUS) CHAPTERS 41-51
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ΣΟΦΙΑ ΣΕΙΡΑΧ 41 Ω ΘΑΝΑΤΕ, ὡς πικρόν σου τὸ μνημόσυνόν ἐστιν ἀνθρώπῳ εἰρηνεύοντι ἐν τοῖς ὑπάρχουσιν αὐτοῦ ἀνδρὶ ἀπερισπάστῳ καὶ εὐοδουμένῳ ἐν πᾶσι καὶ ἔτι ἰσχύοντι ἐπιδέξασθαι τροφήν.
2 ὦ θάνατε, καλόν σου τὸ κρίμα ἐστὶν ἀνθρώπῳ ἐπιδεομένῳ καὶ ἐλασσουμένῳ ἰσχύϊ, ἐσχατογήρῳ καὶ περισπωμένῳ περὶ πάντων καὶ ἀπειθοῦντι καὶ ἀπολωλεκότι ὑπομονήν. 3 μὴ εὐλαβοῦ κρίμα θανάτου, μνήσθητι προτέρων σου καὶ ἐσχάτων· 4 τοῦτο τὸ κρίμα παρὰ Κυρίου πάσῃ σαρκί, καὶ τί ἀπαναίνῃ ἐν εὐδοκίᾳ ῾Υψίστου; εἴτε δέκα εἴτε ἑκατὸν εἴτε χίλια ἔτη, οὐκ ἔστιν ἐν ᾅδου ἐλεγμὸς ζωῆς. 5 Τέκνα βδελυκτὰ γίνεται τέκνα ἁμαρτωλῶν καὶ συναναστρεφόμενα παροικίαις ἀσεβῶν.
6 τέκνων ἁμαρτωλῶν ἀπολεῖται κληρονομία, καὶ μετὰ τοῦ σπέρματος αὐτῶν ἐνδελεχιεῖ ὄνειδος. 7 πατρὶ ἀσεβεῖ μέμψεται τέκνα, ὅτι δι᾿ αὐτὸν ὀνειδισθήσονται. 8 οὐαὶ ὑμῖν, ἄνδρες ἀσεβεῖς, οἵτινες ἐγκατελίπετε νόμον Θεοῦ ῾Υψίστου· 9 καὶ ἐὰν γεννηθῆτε, εἰς κατάραν γεννηθήσεσθε, καὶ ἐὰν ἀποθάνητε, εἰς κατάραν μερισθήσεσθε. 10 πάντα ὅσα ἐκ γῆς, εἰς γῆν ἀπελεύσεται, οὕτως ἀσεβεῖς ἀπὸ κατάρας εἰς ἀπώλειαν. 11 Πένθος ἀνθρώπων ἐν σώμασιν αὐτῶν, ὄνομα δὲ ἁμαρτωλῶν οὐκ ἀγαθὸν ἐξαλειφθήσεται. 12 φρόντισον περὶ ὀνόματος, αὐτὸ γάρ σοι διαμένει ἢ χίλιοι μεγάλοι θησαυροὶ χρυσίου. 13 ἀγαθῆς ζωῆς ἀριθμὸς ἡμερῶν, καὶ ἀγαθὸν ὄνομα εἰς αἰῶνα διαμενεῖ. 14 παιδείαν ἐν εἰρήνῃ συντηρήσατε, τέκνα· σοφία δὲ κεκρυμμένη καὶ θησαυρὸς ἀφανής, τίς ὠφέλεια ἐν ἀμφοτέροις; 15 κρείσσων ἄνθρωπος ἀποκρύπτων τὴν μωρίαν αὐτοῦ ἢ ἄνθρωπος ἀποκρύπτων τὴν σοφίαν αὐτοῦ. 16 τοιγαροῦν ἐντράπητε ἐπὶ τῷ ρήματί μου· οὐ γάρ ἐστι πᾶσαν αἰσχύνην διαφυλάξαι καλόν, καὶ οὐ πάντα πᾶσιν ἐν πίστει εὐδοκιμεῖται. 17 αἰσχύνεσθε ἀπὸ πατρὸς καὶ μητρὸς περὶ πορνείας καὶ ἀπὸ ἡγουμένου καὶ δυνάστου περὶ ψεύδους, 18 ἀπὸ κριτοῦ καὶ ἄρχοντος περὶ πλημμελείας, ἀπὸ συναγωγῆς καὶ λαοῦ περὶ ἀνομίας, 19 ἀπὸ κοινωνοῦ καὶ φίλου περὶ ἀδικίας καὶ ἀπὸ τόπου, οὗ παροικεῖς, περὶ κλοπῆς,
20 ἀπὸ ἀληθείας Θεοῦ καὶ διαθήκης καὶ ἀπὸ πήξεως ἀγκῶνος ἐπ᾿ ἄρτοις, 21 ἀπὸ σκορακισμοῦ λήψεως καὶ δόσεως καὶ ἀπὸ ἀσπαζομένων περὶ σιωπῆς, 22 ἀπὸ ὁράσεως γυναικὸς ἑταίρας καὶ ἀπὸ ἀποστροφῆς προσώπου συγγενοῦς, 23 ἀπὸ ἀφαιρέσεως μερίδος καὶ δόσεως καὶ ἀπὸ κατανοήσεως γυναικὸς ὑπάνδρου, 24 ἀπὸ περιεργείας παιδίσκης αὐτοῦ, καὶ μὴ ἐπιστῇς ἐπὶ τὴν κοίτην αὐτῆς· 25 ἀπὸ φίλων περὶ λόγων ὀνειδισμοῦ, καὶ μετὰ τὸ δοῦναι μὴ ὀνείδιζε, 26 ἀπὸ δευτερώσεως καὶ λόγου ἀκοῆς, καὶ ἀπὸ ἀποκαλύψεων λόγων κρυφίων· 27 καὶ ἔσῃ αἰσχυντηρὸς ἀληθινῶς καὶ εὑρίσκων χάριν ἔναντι παντὸς ἀνθρώπου.
ΜΗ περὶ τούτων αἰσχυνθῇς, καὶ μὴ λάβῃς πρόσωπον τοῦ ἁμαρτάνειν· 2 περὶ νόμου ῾Υψίστου καὶ διαθήκης καὶ περὶ κρίματος δικαιῶσαι τὸν ἀσεβῆ, 3 περὶ λόγου κοινωνοῦ καὶ ὁδοιπόρων καὶ περὶ δόσεως κληρονομίας ἑταίρων, 4 περὶ ἀκριβείας ζυγοῦ καὶ σταθμίων, περὶ κτήσεως πολλῶν καὶ ὀλίγων, 5 περὶ διαφόρου πράσεως ἐμπόρων καὶ περὶ παιδείας τέκνων πολλῆς καὶ οἰκέτῃ πονηρῷ πλευρὰν αἱμάξαι. 6 ἐπὶ γυναικὶ πονηρᾷ καλὸν σφραγίς, καὶ ὅπου χεῖρες πολλαί, κλεῖσον· 7 ὃ ἐὰν παραδίδως, ἐν ἀριθμῷ καὶ σταθμῷ, καὶ δόσις καὶ λῆψις, πάντα ἐν γραφῇ· 8 περὶ παιδείας ἀνοήτου καὶ μωροῦ καὶ ἐσχατογήρου κρινομένου πρὸς νέους· καὶ ἔσῃ πεπαιδευμένος ἀληθινῶς καὶ δεδοκιμασμένος ἔναντι παντὸς ζῶντος. 9 Θυγάτηρ πατρὶ ἀπόκρυφος ἀγρυπνία, καὶ ἡ μέριμνα αὐτῆς ἀφιστᾷ ὕπνον· ἐν νεότητι αὐτῆς μήποτε παρακμάσῃ, καὶ συνῳκηκυῖα μήποτε μισηθῇ· 10 ἐν παρθενίᾳ μήποτε βεβηλωθῇ καὶ ἐν τοῖς πατρικοῖς αὐτῆς ἔγκυος γένηται· μετὰ ἀνδρὸς οὖσα μήποτε παραβῇ, καὶ συνῳκηκυῖα, μήποτε στειρωθῇ. 11 ἐπὶ θυγατρὶ ἀδιατρέπτῳ στερέωσον φυλακήν, μήποτε ποιήσῃ σε ἐπίχαρμα ἐχθροῖς, λαλιὰν ἐν πόλει καὶ ἔκκλητον λαοῦ, καὶ καταισχύνῃ σε ἐν πλήθει πολλῶν. 12 παντὶ ἀνθρώπῳ μὴ ἔμβλεπε ἐν κάλλει καὶ ἐν μέσῳ γυναικῶν μὴ συνέδρευε· 13 ἀπὸ γὰρ ἱματίων ἐκπορεύεται σὴς καὶ ἀπὸ γυναικὸς πονηρία γυναικός. 14 κρείσσων πονηρία ἀνδρὸς ἢ ἀγαθοποιὸς γυνή, καὶ γυνὴ καταισχύνουσα εἰς ὀνειδισμόν.
15 Μνησθήσομαι δὴ τὰ ἔργα Κυρίου, καὶ ἃ ἑώρακα ἐκδιηγήσομαι· ἐν λόγοις Κυρίου τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ. 16 ἥλιος φωτίζων κατὰ πᾶν ἐπέβλεψε, καὶ τῆς δόξης αὐτοῦ πλῆρες τὸ ἔργον αὐτοῦ. 17 οὐκ ἐνεποίησε τοῖς ἁγίοις Κύριος ἐκδιηγήσασθαι πάντα τὰ θαυμάσια αὐτοῦ, ἃ ἐστερέωσε Κύριος ὁ παντοκράτωρ στηριχθῆναι ἐν δόξῃ αὐτοῦ τὸ πᾶν. 18 ἄβυσσον καὶ καρδίαν ἐξίχνευσε καὶ ἐν πανουργεύμασιν αὐτῶν διενοήθη· ἔγνω γὰρ ὁ Κύριος πᾶσαν εἴδησιν καὶ ἐνέβλεψεν εἰς σημεῖον αἰῶνος, 19 ἀπαγγέλλων τὰ παρεληλυθότα καὶ ἐπεσόμενα καὶ ἀποκαλύπτων ἴχνη ἀποκρύφων. 20 οὐ παρῆλθεν αὐτὸν πᾶν διανόημα, οὐκ ἐκρύβη ἀπ᾿ αὐτοῦ οὐδὲ εἷς λόγος. 21 τὰ μεγαλεῖα τῆς σοφίας αὐτοῦ ἐκόσμησε, καὶ ὡς ἔστι πρὸ τοῦ αἰῶνος καὶ εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα· οὔτε προσετέθη οὔτε ἠλαττώθη, καὶ οὐ προσεδεήθη οὐδενὸς συμβούλου. 22 ὡς πάντα τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ ἐπιθυμητὰ καὶ ὡς σπινθῆρός ἐστι θεωρῆσαι. 23 πάντα ταῦτα ζῇ καὶ μένει εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα ἐν πάσαις χρείαις, καὶ πάντα ὑπακούει. 24 πάντα δισσά, ἓν κατέναντι τοῦ ἑνός, καὶ οὐκ ἐποίησεν οὐδὲν ἐλλεῖπον· 25 ἓν τοῦ ἑνὸς ἐστερέωσε τὰ ἀγαθά, καὶ τίς πλησθήσεται ὁρῶν δόξαν αὐτοῦ;
ΓΑΥΡΙΑΜΑ ὕψους στερέωμα καθαριότητος, εἶδος οὐρανοῦ ἐν ὁράματι δόξης. 2 ἥλιος ἐν ὀπτασίᾳ διαγγέλων ἐν ἐξόδῳ, σκεῦος θαυμαστόν, ἔργον ῾Υψίστου. 3 ἐν μεσημβρίᾳ αὐτοῦ ἀναξηραίνει χώραν, καὶ ἐναντίον καύματος αὐτοῦ τίς ὑποστήσεται; 4 κάμινον φυσῶν ἐν ἔργοις καύματος, τριπλασίως ἥλιος ἐκκαίων ὄρη· ἀτμίδας πυρώδεις ἐκφυσῶν καὶ ἐκλάμπων ἀκτῖνας ἀμαυροῖ ὀφθαλμούς.
5 μέγας Κύριος ὁ ποιήσας αὐτόν, καὶ ἐν λόγοις αὐτοῦ κατέσπευσε πορείαν. 6 Καὶ ἡ σελήνη ἐν πᾶσιν εἰς καιρὸν αὐτῆς, ἀνάδειξιν χρόνων καὶ σημεῖον αἰῶνος. 7 ἀπὸ σελήνης σημεῖον ἑορτῆς, φωστὴρ μειούμενος ἐπὶ συντελείας. 8 μὴν κατὰ τὸ ὄνομα αὐτῆς ἐστιν, αὐξανομένη θαυμαστῶς ἐν ἀλλοιώσει, σκεῦος παρεμβολῶν ἐν ὕψει, ἐν στερεώματι οὐρανοῦ ἐκλάμπων. 9 κάλλος οὐρανοῦ, δόξα ἄστρων, κόσμος φωτίζων ἐν ὑψίστοις Κυρίου·
10 ἐν λόγοις ἁγίου στήσονται κατὰ κρίμα καὶ οὐ μὴ ἐκλυθῶσιν ἐν φυλακαῖς αὐτῶν. 11 ἰδὲ τόξον καὶ εὐλόγησον τὸν ποιήσαντα αὐτό, σφόδρα ὡραῖον ἐν τῷ αὐγάσματι αὐτοῦ· 12 ἐγύρωσεν οὐρανὸν ἐν κυκλώσει δόξης, χεῖρες ῾Υψίστου ἐτάνυσαν αὐτό. 13 Προστάγματι αὐτοῦ κατέσπευσε χιόνα καὶ ταχύνει ἀστραπὰς κρίματος αὐτοῦ.
14 διὰ τοῦτο ἠνεῴχθησαν θησαυροί, καὶ ἐξέπτησαν νεφέλαι ὡς πετεινά· 15 ἐν μεγαλείῳ αὐτοῦ ἴσχυσε νεφέλας, καὶ διεθρύβησαν λίθοι χαλάζης· 16 καὶ ἐν ὀπτασίαις αὐτοῦ σαλευθήσεται ὄρη, ἐν θελήματι πνεύσεται νότος. 17 φωνὴ βροντῆς αὐτοῦ ὠδίνησε γῆν καὶ καταιγὶς Βορέου καὶ συστροφὴ πνεύματος.
18 ὡς πετεινὰ καθιπτάμενα πάσσει χιόνα, καὶ ὡς ἀκρὶς καταλύουσα ἡ κατάβασς αὐτῆς· κάλλος λευκότητος αὐτῆς ἐκθαυμάσει ὀφθαλμός, καὶ ἐπὶ τοῦ ὑετοῦ αὐτῆς ἐκστήσεται καρδία. 19 καὶ πάχνην ὡς ἅλα ἐπὶ γῆς χέει, καὶ παγεῖσα γίνεται σκολόπων ἄκρα. 20 ψυχρὸς ἄνεμος Βορέης πνεύσει, καὶ παγήσεται κρύσταλλος ἐφ᾿ ὕδατος· ἐπὶ πᾶσαν συναγωγὴν ὕδατος καταλύσει, καὶ ὡς θώρακα ἐνδύσεται τὸ ὕδωρ. 21 καταφάγεται ὄρη καὶ ἔρημον ἐκκαύσει καὶ ἀποσβέσει χλόην ὡς πῦρ. 22 ἴασις πάντων κατὰ σπουδὴν ὁμίχλη, δρόσος ἀπαντῶσα ἀπὸ καύσωνος ἱλαρώσει. 23 Λογισμῷ αὐτοῦ ἐκόπασεν ἄβυσσον, καὶ ἐφύτευσεν ἐν αὐτῇ νήσους. 24 οἱ πλέοντες τὴν θάλασσαν διηγοῦνται τὸν κίνδυνον αὐτῆς, καὶ ἀκοαῖς ὠτίων ἡμῶν θαυμάζομεν. 25 καὶ ἐκεῖ τὰ παράδοξα καὶ θαυμάσια ἔργα, ποικιλία παντὸς ζῴου, κτίσις κητῶν. 26 δι᾿ αὐτὸν εὐοδοῖ ἄγγελος αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐν λόγῳ αὐτοῦ σύγκειται πάντα. 27 Πολλὰ ἐροῦμεν καὶ οὐ μὴ ἐφικώμεθα, καὶ συντέλεια λόγων· τὸ πᾶν ἐστιν αὐτός. 28 δοξάζοντες ποῦ ἰσχύσομεν; αὐτὸς γὰρ ὁ μέγας παρὰ πάντα τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ. 29 φοβερὸς Κύριος καὶ σφόδρα μέγας, καὶ θαυμαστὴ ἡ δυναστεία αὐτοῦ. 30 δοξάζοντες Κύριον ὑψώσατε, καθόσον ἂν δύνησθε, ὑπερέξει γὰρ καὶ ἔτι· καὶ ὑψοῦντες αὐτὸν πληθύνατε ἐν ἰσχύϊ· μὴ κοπιᾶτε, οὐ γὰρ μὴ ἐφίκησθε. 31 τίς ἑώρακεν αὐτὸν καὶ ἐκδιηγήσεται; καὶ τίς μεγαλυνεῖ αὐτὸν καθώς ἐστι; 32 πολλὰ ἀπόκρυφά ἐστι μείζονα τούτων, ὀλίγα γὰρ ἑωράκαμεν τῶν ἔργων αὐτοῦ· 33 πάντα γὰρ ἐποίησεν ὁ Κύριος, καὶ τοῖς εὐσεβέσιν ἔδωκε σοφίαν.
ΠΑΤΕΡΩΝ ΥΜΝΟΣ. Αἰνέσωμεν δὴ ἄνδρας ἐνδόξους καὶ τοὺς πατέρας ἡμῶν τῇ γενέσει. 2 πολλὴν δόξαν ἔκτισεν ὁ Κύριος, τὴν μεγαλωσύνην αὐτοῦ ἀπ᾿ αἰῶνος. 3 κυριεύοντες ἐν ταῖς βασιλείαις αὐτῶν καὶ ἄνδρες ὀνομαστοὶ ἐν δυνάμει· βουλεύοντες ἐν συνέσει αὐτῶν, ἀπηγγελκότες ἐν προφητείαις· 4 ἡγούμενοι λαοῦ ἐν διαβουλίοις καὶ συνέσει γραμματείας λαοῦ, σοφοὶ λόγοι ἐν παιδείᾳ αὐτῶν·
5 ἐκζητοῦντες μέλη μουσικῶν καὶ διηγούμενοι ἔπη ἐν γραφῇ· 6 ἄνδρες πλούσιοι κεχορηγημένοι ἰσχύϊ, εἰρηνεύοντες ἐν παροικίαις αὐτῶν· 7 πάντες οὗτοι ἐν γενεαῖς ἐδοξάσθησαν, καὶ ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις αὐτῶν καύχημα. 8 εἰσὶν αὐτῶν οἳ κατέλιπον ὄνομα τοῦ ἐκδιηγήσασθαι ἐπαίνους· 9 καὶ εἰσὶν ὧν οὐκ ἔστι μνημόσυνον καὶ ἀπώλοντο ὡς οὐχ ὑπάρξαντες καὶ ἐγένοντο ὡς οὐ γεγονότες καὶ τὰ τέκνα αὐτῶν μετ᾿ αὐτούς.
10 ἀλλ᾿ ἢ οὗτοι ἄνδρες ἐλέους, ὧν αἱ δικαιοσύναι οὐκ ἐπελήσθησαν· 11 μετὰ τοῦ σπέρματος αὐτῶν διαμενεῖ ἀγαθὴ κληρονομία, ἔκγονα αὐτῶν· 12 ἐν ταῖς διαθήκαις ἔστη σπέρμα αὐτῶν καὶ τὰ τέκνα αὐτῶν δι᾿ αὐτούς· 13 ἕως αἰῶνος μενεῖ σπέρμα αὐτῶν, καὶ ἡ δόξα αὐτῶν οὐκ ἐξαλειφθήσεται· 14 τὰ σώματα αὐτῶν ἐν εἰρήνῃ ἐτάφη, καὶ τὸ ὄνομα αὐτῶν ζῇ εἰς γενεάς· 15 σοφίαν αὐτῶν διηγήσονται λαοί, καὶ τὸν ἔπαινον ἐξαγγέλλει ἐκκλησία. 16 ᾿Ενὼχ εὐηρέστησε Κυρίῳ καὶ μετετέθη, ὑπόδειγμα μετανοίας ταῖς γενεαῖς. 17 Νῶε εὑρέθη τέλειος δίκαιος, ἐν καιρῷ ὀργῆς ἐγένετο ἀντάλλαγμα· διὰ τοῦτον ἐγενήθη κατάλειμμα τῇ γῇ, ὅτε ἐγένετο κατακλυσμός· 18 διαθῆκαι αἰῶνος ἐτέθησαν πρὸς αὐτόν, ἵνα μὴ ἐξαλειφθῇ κατακλυσμῷ πᾶσα σάρξ. 19 ῾Αβραὰμ μέγας πατὴρ πλήθους ἐθνῶν, καὶ οὐχ εὑρέθη ὅμοιος ἐν τῇ δόξῃ· 20 ὃς συνετήρησε νόμον ῾Υψίστου καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν διαθήκῃ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ· ἐν σαρκὶ αὐτοῦ ἔστησε διαθήκην καὶ ἐν πειρασμῷ εὑρέθη πιστός. 21 διὰ τοῦτο ἐν ὅρκῳ ἔστησεν αὐτῷ ἐνευλογηθῆναι ἔθνη ἐν τῷ σπέρματι αὐτοῦ, πληθῦναι αὐτὸν ὡς χοῦν τῆς γῆς καὶ ὡς ἄστρα ἀνυψῶσαι τὸ σπέρμα αὐτοῦ καὶ κατακληρονομῆσαι αὐτοὺς ἀπὸ θαλάσσης ἕως θαλάσσης καὶ ἀπὸ ποταμοῦ ἕως ἄκρου γῆς. 22 καὶ ἐν τῷ ᾿Ισαὰκ ἔστησεν οὕτως διὰ ῾Αβραὰμ τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ εὐλογίαν πάντων ἀνθρώπων καὶ διαθήκην 23 καὶ κατέπαυσεν ἐπὶ κεφαλὴν ᾿Ιακώβ. ἐπέγνω αὐτὸν ἐν εὐλογίαις αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ ἐν κληρονομίᾳ· καὶ διέστειλε μερίδας αὐτοῦ, ἐν φυλαῖς ἐμέρισε δεκαδύο.
ΚΑΙ ἐξήγαγεν ἐξ αὐτοῦ ἄνδρα ἐλέους εὑρίσκοντα χάριν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς πάσης σαρκός, ἠγαπημένον ὑπὸ Θεοῦ καὶ ἀνθρώπων, Μωυσῆν, οὗ τὸ μνημόσυνον ἐν εὐλογίαις· 2 ὡμοίωσεν αὐτὸν δόξῃ ἁγίων καὶ ἐμεγάλυνεν αὐτὸν ἐν φόβοις ἐχθρῶν·
3 ἐν λόγοις αὐτοῦ σημεῖα κατέπαυσεν, ἐδόξασεν αὐτὸν κατὰ πρόσωπον βασιλέων· ἐνετείλατο αὐτῷ πρὸς λαὸν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔδειξεν αὐτῷ τῆς δόξης αὐτοῦ· 4 ἐν πίστει καὶ πραΰτητι αὐτὸν ἡγίασεν, ἐξελέξατο αὐτὸν ἐκ πάσης σαρκός· 5 ἠκούτισεν αὐτὸν τῆς φωνῆς αὐτοῦ καὶ εἰσήγαγεν αὐτὸν εἰς τὸν γνόφον καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ κατὰ πρόσωπον ἐντολάς, νόμον ζωῆς καὶ ἐπιστήμης διδάξαι τὸν ᾿Ιακὼβ διαθήκην καὶ κρίματα αὐτοῦ τὸν ᾿Ισραήλ. 6 ᾿Ααρὼν ὕψωσεν ἅγιον ὅμοιον αὐτῷ ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ ἐκ φυλῆς Λευΐ· 7 ἔστησεν αὐτῷ διαθήκην αἰῶνος καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ ἱερατείαν λαοῦ· ἐμακάρισεν αὐτὸν ἐν εὐκοσμίᾳ καὶ περιέζωσεν αὐτὸν στολὴν δόξης·
8 ἐνέδυσεν αὐτὸν συντέλειαν καυχήματος καὶ ἐστερέωσεν αὐτὸν σκεύεσιν ἰσχύος, περισκελῆ καὶ ποδήρη καὶ ἐπωμίδα, 9 καὶ ἐκύκλωσεν αὐτὸν ροΐσκοις χρυσοῖς, κώδωσι πλείστοις κυκλόθεν, ἠχῆσαι φωνὴν ἐν βήμασιν αὐτοῦ, ἀκουστὸν ποιῆσαι ἦχον ἐν ναῷ εἰς μνημόσυνον υἱοῖς λαοῦ αὐτοῦ·
10 στολῇ ἁγίᾳ, χρυσῷ καὶ ὑακίνθῳ καὶ πορφύρᾳ, ἔργῳ ποικιλτοῦ, λογείῳ κρίσεως, δήλοις ἀληθείας, κεκλωσμένῃ κόκκῳ, ἔργῳ τεχνίτου,
11 λίθοις πολυτελέσι γλύμματος σφραγῖδος, ἐν δέσει χρυσίου, ἔργῳ λιθουργοῦ, εἰς μνημόσυνον ἐν γραφῇ κεκολαμμένῃ κατ᾿ ἀριθμὸν φυλῶν ᾿Ισραήλ· 12 στέφανον χρυσοῦν ἐπάνω κιδάρεως, ἐκτύπωμα σφραγῖδος ἁγιάσματος, καύχημα τιμῆς, ἔργον ἰσχύος, ἐπιθυμήματα ὀφθαλμῶν κοσμούμενα ὡραῖα· 13 πρὸ αὐτοῦ οὐ γέγονε τοιαῦτα ἕως αἰῶνος, οὐκ ἐνεδύσατο ἀλλογενὴς πλὴν τῶν υἱῶν αὐτοῦ μόνον καὶ τὰ ἔκγονα αὐτοῦ διαπαντός. 14 θυσίαι αὐτοῦ ὁλοκαρπωθήσονται καθημέραν ἐνδελεχῶς δίς. 15 ἐπλήρωσε Μωσῆς τὰς χεῖρας καὶ ἔχρισεν αὐτὸν ἐν ἐλαίῳ ἁγίῳ· ἐγενήθη αὐτῷ εἰς διαθήκην αἰώνιον καὶ ἐν τῷ σπέρματι αὐτοῦ ἐν ἡμέραις οὐρανοῦ λειτουργεῖν αὐτῷ ἅμα καὶ ἱερατεύειν καὶ εὐλογεῖν τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ.
16 ἐξελέξατο αὐτὸν ἀπὸ παντὸς ζῶντος προσαγαγεῖν κάρπωσιν Κυρίῳ, θυμίαμα καὶ εὐωδίαν εἰς μνημόσυνον, ἐξιλάσκεσθαι περὶ τοῦ λαοῦ σου. 17 ἔδωκεν αὐτὸν ἐν ἐντολαῖς αὐτοῦ ἐξουσίαν ἐν διαθήκαις κριμάτων διδάξαι τὸν ᾿Ιακὼβ τὰ μαρτύρια καὶ ἐν νόμῳ αὐτοῦ φωτίσαι ᾿Ισραήλ.
18 ἐπισυνέστησαν αὐτῷ ἀλλότριοι καὶ ἐζήλωσαν αὐτὸν ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ, ἄνδρες οἱ περὶ Δαθὰν καὶ ᾿Αβειρὼν καὶ ἡ συναγωγὴ Κορὲ ἐν θυμῷ καὶ ὀργῇ·
19 εἶδε Κύριος καὶ οὐκ εὐδόκησε, καὶ συνετελέσθησαν ἐν θυμῷ ὀργῆς· ἐποίησεν αὐτοῖς τέρατα καταναλῶσαι ἐν πυρὶ φλογὸς αὐτοῦ.
20 καὶ προσέθηκεν ᾿Ααρὼν δόξαν καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ κληρονομίαν· ἀπαρχὰς πρωτογεννημάτων ἐμέρισεν αὐτῷ, ἄρτον πρώτοις ἡτοίμασε πλησμονήν· 21 καὶ γὰρ θυσίας Κυρίου φάγονται, ἃς ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ τε καὶ τῷ σπέρματι αὐτοῦ. 22 πλὴν ἐν γῇ λαοῦ οὐ κληρονομήσει, καὶ μερὶς οὐκ ἔστιν αὐτῷ ἐν λαῷ, αὐτὸς γὰρ μερίς σου καὶ κληρονομία.
23 Καὶ Φινεὲς υἱὸς ᾿Ελεάζαρ τρίτος εἰς δόξαν ἐν τῷ ζηλῶσαι αὐτὸν ἐν φόβῳ Κυρίου καὶ στῆναι αὐτὸν ἐν τροπῇ λαοῦ, ἐν ἀγαθότητι προθυμίας ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ· καὶ ἐξιλάσατο περὶ τοῦ ᾿Ισραήλ. 24 διὰ τοῦτο ἐστάθη αὐτῷ διαθήκη εἰρήνης προστατεῖν ἁγίων καὶ λαοῦ αὐτοῦ, ἵνα αὐτῷ ᾖ καὶ τῷ σπέρματι αὐτοῦ ἱερωσύνης μεγαλεῖον εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας. 25 καὶ διαθήκην τῷ Δαυὶδ υἱῷ ᾿Ιεσσαὶ ἐκ φυλῆς ᾿Ιούδα, κληρονομία βασιλέως υἱοῦ ἐξ υἱοῦ μόνου· κληρονομία ᾿Ααρὼν καὶ τῷ σπέρματι αὐτοῦ.
26 δῴη ὑμῖν σοφίαν ἐν καρδίᾳ ὑμῶν κρίνειν τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ ἐν δικαιοσύνῃ, ἵνα μὴ ἀφανισθῇ τὰ ἀγαθὰ αὐτῶν καὶ τὴν δόξαν αὐτῶν εἰς γενεὰς αὐτῶν.
ΚΡΑΤΑΙΟΣ ἐν πολέμοις ᾿Ιησοῦς Ναυῆ καὶ διάδοχος Μωυσῆ ἐν προφητείαις, ὃς ἐγένετο κατὰ τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ μέγας ἐπὶ σωτηρίᾳ ἐκλεκτῶν αὐτοῦ ἐκδικῆσαι ἐπεγειρομένους ἐχθρούς, ὅπως κατακληρονομήσῃ τὸν ᾿Ισραήλ.
2 ὡς ἐδοξάσθη ἐν τῷ ἐπᾶραι χεῖρας αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐν τῷ ἐκτεῖναι ρομφαίαν ἐπὶ πόλεις. 3 τίς πρότερον αὐτοῦ οὕτως ἔστη; τοὺς γὰρ πολεμίους Κύριος αὐτὸς ἐπήγαγεν. 4 οὐχὶ ἐν χειρὶ αὐτοῦ ἀνεπόδισεν ὁ ἥλιος καὶ μία ἡμέρα ἐγενήθη πρὸς δύο; 5 ἐπεκαλέσατο τὸν ῞Υψιστον δυνάστην ἐν τῷ θλῖψαι αὐτὸν ἐχθροὺς κυκλόθεν, καὶ ἐπήκουσεν αὐτῶν μέγας Κύριος ἐν λίθοις χαλάζης δυνάμεως κραταιᾶς· 6 κατέρραξεν ἐπ᾿ ἔθνος πόλεμον καὶ ἐν καταβάσει ἀπώλεσεν ἀνθεστηκότας, ἵνα γνῶσιν ἔθνη πανοπλίαν αὐτοῦ ὅτι ἐναντίον Κυρίου ὁ πόλεμος αὐτοῦ· καὶ γὰρ ἐπηκολούθησεν ὀπίσω δυνάστου. 7 Καὶ ἐν ἡμέραις Μωυσέως ἐποίησεν ἔλεος, αὐτὸς καὶ Χάλεβ υἱὸς ᾿Ιεφοννῆ, ἀντιστῆναι ἔναντι ἐκκλησίας, κωλῦσαι λαὸν ἀπὸ ἁμαρτίας καὶ κοπάσαι γογγυσμὸν πονηρίας. 8 καὶ αὐτοὶ δύο ὄντες διεσώθησαν ἀπὸ ἑξακοσίων χιλιάδων πεζῶν, εἰσαγαγεῖν αὐτοὺς εἰς κληρονομίαν, εἰς γῆν ρέουσαν γάλα καὶ μέλι. 9 καὶ ἔδωκεν ὁ Κύριος τῷ Χάλεβ ἰσχύν, καὶ ἕως γήρους διέμεινεν αὐτῷ ἐπιβῆναι αὐτὸν ἐπὶ τὸ ὕψος τῆς γῆς, καὶ τὸ σπέρμα αὐτοῦ κατέσχε κληρονομίαν, 10 ὅπως ἴδωσι πάντες οἱ υἱοὶ ᾿Ισραὴλ ὅτι καλὸν τὸ πορεύεσθαι ὀπίσω Κυρίου. 11 Καὶ οἱ κριταί, ἕκαστος τῷ αὐτοῦ ὀνόματι, ὅσων οὐκ ἐξεπόρνευσεν ἡ καρδία καὶ ὅσοι οὐκ ἀπεστράφησαν ἀπὸ Κυρίου, εἴη τὸ μνημόσυνον αὐτῶν ἐν εὐλογίαις· 12 τὰ ὀστᾶ αὐτῶν ἀναθάλοι ἐκ τοῦ τόπου αὐτῶν καὶ τὸ ὄνομα αὐτῶν ἀντικαταλλασσόμενον ἐφ᾿ υἱοῖς δεδοξασμένων αὐτῶν. 13 ᾿Ηγαπημένος ὑπὸ Κυρίου αὐτοῦ Σαμουὴλ προφήτης Κυρίου κατέστησε βασιλείαν καὶ ἔχρισεν ἄρχοντας ἐπὶ τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ· 14 ἐν νόμῳ Κυρίου ἔκρινε συναγωγήν, καὶ ἐπεσκέψατο Κύριος τὸν ᾿Ιακώβ· 15 ἐν πίστει αὐτοῦ ἠκριβάσθη προφήτης καὶ ἐγνώσθη ἐν πίστει αὐτοῦ πιστὸς ὁράσεως.
16 καὶ ἐπεκαλέσατο τὸν Κύριον δυνάστην ἐν τῷ θλῖψαι ἐχθροὺς αὐτοῦ κυκλόθεν ἐν προσφορᾷ ἀρνὸς γαλαθηνοῦ· 17 καὶ ἐβρόντησεν ἀπ᾿ οὐρανοῦ Κύριος καὶ ἐν ἤχῳ μεγάλῳ ἀκουστὴν ἐποίησε τὴν φωνὴν αὐτοῦ 18 καὶ ἐξέτριψεν ἡγουμένους Τυρίων καὶ πάντας ἄρχοντας Φυλιστιείμ. 19 καὶ πρὸ καιροῦ κοιμήσεως αἰῶνος ἐπεμαρτύρατο ἔναντι Κυρίου καὶ χριστοῦ αὐτοῦ· χρήματα καὶ ἕως ὑποδημάτων ἀπὸ πάσης σαρκὸς οὐκ εἴληφα· καὶ οὐκ ἐνεκάλεσεν αὐτῷ ἄνθρωπος. 20 καὶ μετὰ τὸ ὑπνῶσαι αὐτὸν ἐπροφήτευσε καὶ ὑπέδειξε βασιλεῖ τὴν τελευτὴν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀνύψωσεν ἐκ γῆς τὴν φωνὴν αὐτοῦ ἐν προφητείᾳ ἐξαλεῖψαι ἀνομίαν λαοῦ.
ΚΑΙ μετὰ τοῦτο ἀνέστη Νάθαν προφητεύειν ἐν ἡμέραις Δαυίδ. 2 ὥσπερ στέαρ ἀφωρισμένον ἀπὸ σωτηρίου, οὕτως Δαυὶδ ἀπὸ τῶν υἱῶν ᾿Ισραήλ. 3 ἐν λέουσιν ἔπαιξεν ὡς ἐν ἐρίφοις καὶ ἐν ἄρκοις ὡς ἐν ἄρνασι προβάτων. 4 ἐν νεότητι αὐτοῦ οὐχὶ ἀπέκτεινε γίγαντα καὶ ἐξῇρεν ὀνειδισμὸν ἐκ λαοῦ ἐν τῷ ἐπᾶραι χεῖρα ἐν λίθῳ σφενδόνης καὶ καταβαλεῖν γαυρίαμα τοῦ Γολιάθ; 5 ἐπεκαλέσατο γὰρ Κύριον τὸν ῞Υψιστον καὶ ἔδωκεν ἐν τῇ δεξιᾷ αὐτοῦ κράτος ἐξᾶραι ἄνθρωπον δυνατὸν ἐν πολέμῳ, ἀνυψῶσαι κέρας λαοῦ αὐτοῦ. 6 οὕτως ἐν μυριάσιν ἐδόξασαν αὐτὸν καὶ ᾔνεσαν αὐτὸν ἐν εὐλογίαις Κυρίου ἐν τῷ φέρεσθαι αὐτῷ διάδημα δόξης· 7 ἐξέτριψε γὰρ ἐχθροὺς κυκλόθεν καὶ ἐξουδένωσε Φυλιστιεὶμ τοὺς ὑπεναντίους· ἕως σήμερον συνέτριψεν αὐτῶν κέρας. 8 ἐν παντὶ ἔργῳ αὐτοῦ ἔδωκεν ἐξομολόγησιν ἁγίῳ ῾Υψίστῳ ρήματι δόξης· ἐν πάσῃ καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ ὕμνησε καὶ ἠγάπησε τὸν ποιήσαντα αὐτόν. 9 καὶ ἔστησε ψαλτῳδοὺς κατέναντι τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου καὶ ἐξ ἠχοῦς αὐτῶν γλυκαίνειν μέλη· 10 ἔδωκεν ἐν ἑορταῖς εὐπρέπειαν καὶ ἐκόσμησε καιροὺς μέχρι συντελείας ἐν τῷ αἰνεῖν αὐτοὺς τὸ ἅγιον ὄνομα αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀπὸ πρωΐ ἠχεῖν τὸ ἁγίασμα. 11 Κύριος ἀφεῖλε τὰς ἁμαρτίας αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀνύψωσεν εἰς αἰῶνα τὸ κέρας αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ διαθήκην βασιλέων καὶ θρόνον δόξης ἐν τῷ ᾿Ισραήλ. 12 Μετὰ τοῦτον ἀνέστη υἱὸς ἐπιστήμων καὶ δι᾿ αὐτὸν κατέλυσεν ἐν πλατυσμῷ· 13 Σαλωμὼν ἐβασίλευσεν ἐν ἡμέραις εἰρήνης, ᾧ ὁ Θεὸς κατέπαυσε κυκλόθεν, ἵνα στήσῃ οἶκον ἐπ᾿ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ καὶ ἑτοιμάσῃ ἁγίασμα εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα. 14 ὡς ἐσοφίσθης ἐν νεότητί σου καὶ ἐνεπλήσθης ὡς ποταμὸς συνέσεως. 15 γῆν ἐπεκάλυψεν ἡ ψυχή σου, καὶ ἐνέπλησας ἐν παραβολαῖς αἰνιγμάτων· 16 εἰς νήσους πόρρω ἀφίκετο τὸ ὄνομά σου, καὶ ἠγαπήθης ἐν τῇ εἰρήνῃ σου· 17 ἐν ᾠδαῖς καὶ παροιμίαις καὶ παραβολαῖς καὶ ἐν ἑρμηνείαις ἀπεθαύμασάν σε χῶραι. 18 ἐν ὀνόματι Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ τοῦ ἐπικεκλημένου Θεοῦ ᾿Ισραήλ, συνήγαγες ὡς κασσίτερον τὸ χρυσίον καὶ ὡς μόλυβδον ἐπλήθυνας ἀργύριον. 19 παρανέκλινας τὰς λαγόνας σου γυναιξὶ καὶ ἐνεξουσιάσθης ἐν τῷ σώματί σου· 20 ἔδωκας μῶμον ἐν τῇ δόξῃ σου καὶ ἐβεβήλωσας τὸ σπέρμα σου ἐπαγαγεῖν ὀργὴν ἐπὶ τὰ τέκνα σου καὶ κατενύγην ἐπὶ τῇ ἀφροσύνῃ σου, 21 γενέσθαι δίχα τυραννίδα καὶ ἐξ ᾿Εφραὶμ ἄρξαι βασιλείαν ἀπειθῆ. 22 ὁ δὲ Κύριος οὐ μὴ καταλίπῃ τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ καὶ οὐ μὴ διαφθείρῃ ἀπὸ τῶν ἔργων αὐτοῦ, οὐδὲ μὴ ἐξαλείψῃ ἐκλεκτοῦ αὐτοῦ ἔκγονα καὶ σπέρμα τοῦ ἀγαπήσαντος αὐτὸν οὐ μὴ ἐξάρῃ· καὶ τῷ ᾿Ιακὼβ ἔδωκε κατάλειμμα καὶ τῷ Δαυὶδ ἐξ αὐτοῦ ρίζαν.
23 Καὶ ἀνεπαύσατο Σαλωμὼν μετὰ τῶν πατέρων αὐτοῦ καὶ κατέλιπε μετ᾿ αὐτὸν ἐκ τοῦ σπέρματος αὐτοῦ λαοῦ ἀφροσύνην καὶ ἐλασσούμενον συνέσει, Ροβοάμ, ὃς ἀπέστησε λαὸν ἐκ βουλῆς αὐτοῦ, καὶ ῾Ιεροβοὰμ υἱὸν Ναβάτ, ὃς ἐξήμαρτε τὸν ᾿Ισραὴλ καὶ ἔδωκε τῷ ᾿Εφραὶμ ὁδὸν ἁμαρτίας.
24 καὶ ἐπληθύνθησαν αἱ ἁμαρτίαι αὐτῶν σφόδρα ἀποστῆσαι αὐτοὺς ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς αὐτῶν· 25 καὶ πᾶσαν πονηρίαν ἐξεζήτησαν, ἕως ἐκδίκησις ἔλθῃ ἐπ᾿ αὐτούς.
ΚΑΙ ἀνέστη ᾿Ηλίας προφήτης ὡς πῦρ, καὶ ὁ λόγος αὐτοῦ ὡς λαμπὰς ἐκαίετο· 2 ὃς ἐπήγαγεν ἐπ᾿ αὐτοὺς λιμὸν καὶ τῷ ζήλῳ αὐτοῦ ὠλιγοποίησεν αὐτούς· 3 ἐν λόγῳ Κυρίου ἀνέσχεν οὐρανόν, κατήγαγεν οὕτως τρὶς πῦρ. 4 ὡς ἐδοξάσθης, ᾿Ηλία, ἐν τοῖς θαυμασίοις σου· καὶ τίς ὅμοιός σοι καυχᾶσθαι; 5 ὁ ἐγείρας νεκρὸν ἐκ θανάτου καὶ ἐξ ᾅδου ἐν λόγῳ ῾Υψίστου· 6 ὁ καταγαγὼν βασιλεῖς εἰς ἀπώλειαν καὶ δεδοξασμένους ἀπὸ κλίνης αὐτῶν· 7 ὁ ἀκούων ἐν Σινᾷ ἐλεγμὸν καὶ ἐν Χωρὴβ κρίματα ἐκδικήσεως· 8 ὁ χρίων βασιλεῖς εἰς ἀνταπόδομα καὶ προφήτας διαδόχους μετ᾿ αὐτόν· 9 ὁ ἀναληφθεὶς ἐν λαίλαπι πυρὸς ἐν ἅρματι ἵππων πυρίνων· 10 ὁ καταγραφεὶς ἐν ἐλεγμοῖς εἰς καιροὺς κοπάσαι ὀργὴν πρὸ θυμοῦ, ἐπιστρέψαι καρδίαν πατρὸς πρὸς υἱὸν καὶ καταστῆσαι φυλὰς ᾿Ιακώβ. 11 μακάριοι οἱ ἰδόντες σε καὶ οἱ ἐν ἀγαπήσει κεκοσμημένοι, καὶ γὰρ ἡμεῖς ζωῇ ζησόμεθα. 12 ᾿Ηλίας, ὃς ἐν λαίλαπι ἐσκεπάσθη, καὶ ᾿Ελισαιὲ ἐνεπλήσθη πνεύματος αὐτοῦ· καὶ ἐν ἡμέραις αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἐσαλεύθη ὑπὸ ἄρχοντος, καὶ οὐ κατεδυνάστευσεν αὐτὸν οὐδείς. 13 πᾶς λόγος οὐχ ὑπερῇρεν αὐτόν, καὶ ἐν κοιμήσει ἐπροφήτευσε τὸ σῶμα αὐτοῦ· 14 καὶ ἐν ζωῇ αὐτοῦ ἐποίησε τέρατα, καὶ ἐν τελευτῇ θαυμάσια τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ. 15 ᾿Εν πᾶσι τούτοις οὐ μετενόησεν ὁ λαὸς καὶ οὐκ ἀπέστησαν ἀπὸ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν αὐτῶν, ἕως ἐπρονομεύθησαν ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς αὐτῶν καὶ ἐσκορπίσθησαν ἐν πάσῃ τῇ γῇ. καὶ κατελείφθη ὁ λαὸς ὀλιγοστός, καὶ ἄρχων τῷ οἴκῳ Δαυίδ· 16 τινὲς μὲν αὐτῶν ἐποίησαν τὸ ἀρεστόν, τινὲς δὲ ἐπλήθυναν ἁμαρτίας. 17 ᾿Εζεκίας ὠχύρωσε τὴν πόλιν αὐτοῦ καὶ εἰσήγαγεν εἰς τὸ μέσον αὐτῆς ὕδωρ, ὤρυξε σιδήρῳ ἀκρότομον καὶ ᾠκοδόμησε κρήνας εἰς ὕδατα. 18 ἐν ἡμέραις αὐτοῦ ἀνέβη Σενναχηρὶμ καὶ ἀπέστειλε Ραψάκην, καὶ ἀπῇρε· καὶ ἐπῇρεν ἡ χεὶρ αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ Σιὼν καὶ ἐμεγαλαύχησεν ἐν ὑπερηφανίᾳ αὐτοῦ. 19 τότε ἐσαλεύθησαν καρδίαι καὶ χεῖρες αὐτῶν, καὶ ὠδίνησαν ὡς αἱ τίκτουσαι· 20 καὶ ἐπεκαλέσαντο τὸν Κύριον τὸν ἐλεήμονα ἐκπετάσαντες τὰς χεῖρας αὐτῶν πρὸς αὐτόν. καὶ ὁ ἅγιος ἐξ οὐρανοῦ ταχὺ ἐπήκουσεν αὐτῶν καὶ ἐλυτρώσατο αὐτοὺς ἐν χειρὶ ῾Ησαΐου. 21 ἐπάταξε τὴν παρεμβολὴν τῶν ᾿Ασσυρίων. καὶ ἐξέτριψεν αὐτοὺς ὁ ἄγγελος αὐτοῦ. 22 ἐποίησε γὰρ ᾿Εζεκίας τὸ ἀρεστὸν Κυρίῳ καὶ ἐνίσχυσεν ἐν ὁδοῖς Δαυὶδ τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ, ἃς ἐνετείλατο ῾Ησαΐας ὁ προφήτης, ὁ μέγας καὶ πιστὸς ἐν ὁράσει αὐτοῦ. 23 ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις αὐτοῦ ἀνεπόδισεν ὁ ἥλιος καὶ προσέθηκε ζωὴν βασιλεῖ. 24 πνεύματι μεγάλῳ εἶδε τὰ ἔσχατα καὶ παρεκάλεσε τοὺς πενθοῦντας ἐν Σιών·
25 ἕως τοῦ αἰῶνος ὑπέδειξε τὰ ἐσόμενα καὶ τὰ ἀπόκρυφα πρὶν ἢ παραγενέσθαι αὐτά.
ΜΝΗΜΟΣΥΝΟΝ ᾿Ιωσίου εἰς σύνθεσιν θυμιάματος ἐσκευασμένον ἔργῳ μυρεψοῦ· ἐν παντὶ στόματι ὡς μέλι γλυκανθήσεται καὶ ὡς μουσικὰ ἐν συμποσίῳ οἴνου. 2 αὐτὸς κατηυθύνθη ἐν ἐπιστροφῇ λαοῦ καὶ ἐξῇρε βδελύγματα ἀνομίας·
3 κατεύθυνε πρὸς Κύριον τὴν καρδίαν αὐτοῦ, ἐν ἡμέραις ἀνόμων κατίσχυσε τὴν εὐσέβειαν. 4 Πάρεξ Δαυὶδ καὶ ᾿Εζεκίου καὶ ᾿Ιωσίου, πάντες πλημμέλειαν ἐπλημμέλησαν· κατέλιπον γὰρ τὸν νόμον τοῦ ῾Υψίστου, οἱ βασιλεῖς ᾿Ιούδα ἐξέλιπον· 5 ἔδωκαν γὰρ τὸ κέρας αὐτῶν ἑτέροις καὶ τὴν δόξαν αὐτῶν ἔθνει ἀλλοτρίῳ. 6 ἐνεπύρισαν ἐκλεκτὴν πόλιν ἁγιάσματος καὶ ἠρήμωσαν τὰς ὁδοὺς αὐτῆς ἐν χειρὶ ῾Ιερεμίου· 7 ἐκάκωσαν γὰρ αὐτόν, καὶ αὐτὸς ἐν μήτρᾳ ἡγιάσθη προφήτης ἐκριζοῦν καὶ κακοῦν καὶ ἀπολλύειν, ὡσαύτως οἰκοδομεῖν καὶ καταφυτεύειν. 8 ᾿Ιεζεκιὴλ ὃς εἶδεν ὅρασιν δόξης, ἣν ὑπέδειξεν αὐτῷ ἐπὶ ἅρματος Χερουβίμ· 9 καὶ γὰρ ἐμνήσθη τῶν ἐχθρῶν ἐν ὄμβρῳ καὶ ἀγαθῶσαι τοὺς εὐθύνοντας ὁδούς. 10 καὶ τῶν δώδεκα προφητῶν τὰ ὀστᾶ ἀναθάλοι ἐκ τοῦ τόπου αὐτῶν· παρεκάλεσε δὲ τὸν ᾿Ιακὼβ καὶ ἐλυτρώσατο αὐτοὺς ἐν πίστει ἐλπίδος. 11 Πῶς μεγαλύνωμεν τὸν Ζοροβάβελ; καὶ αὐτὸς ὡς σφραγὶς ἐπὶ δεξιᾶς χειρός, 12 οὕτως ᾿Ιησοῦς υἱὸς ᾿Ιωσεδέκ, οἳ ἐν ἡμέραις αὐτῶν ᾠκοδόμησαν οἶκον καὶ ἀνύψωσαν λαὸν ἅγιον Κυρίῳ ἡτοιμασμένον εἰς δόξαν αἰῶνος. 13 καὶ Νεεμίου ἐπὶ πολὺ τὸ μνημόσυνον τοῦ ἐγείραντος ἡμῖν τείχη πεπτωκότα καὶ στήσαντος πύλας καὶ μοχλοὺς καὶ ἀνεγείραντος τὰ οἰκόπεδα ἡμῶν. 14 Οὐδὲ εἷς ἐκτίσθη οἷος ᾿Ενὼχ τοιοῦτος ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς· καὶ γὰρ αὐτὸς ἀνελήφθη ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς. 15 οὐδὲ ὡς ᾿Ιωσὴφ ἐγεννήθη ἀνὴρ ἡγούμενος ἀδελφῶν, στήριγμα λαοῦ, καὶ τὰ ὀστᾶ αὐτοῦ ἐπεσκέπησαν. 16 Σὴμ καὶ Σὴθ ἐν ἀνθρώποις ἐδοξάσθησαν καὶ ὑπὲρ πᾶν ζῷον ἐν τῇ κτίσει ᾿Αδάμ.
ΣΙΜΩΝ ᾿Ονίου υἱὸς ἱερεὺς ὁ μέγας, ὃς ἐν ζωῇ αὐτοῦ ὑπέρραψεν οἶκον καὶ ἐν ἡμέραις αὐτοῦ ἐστερέωσε τὸν ναόν· 2 καὶ ὑπ᾿ αὐτοῦ ἐθεμελιώθη ὕψος διπλῆς, ἀνάλημμα ὑψηλὸν περιβόλου ἱεροῦ·
3 ἐν ἡμέραις αὐτοῦ ἠλαττώθη ἀποδοχεῖον ὑδάτων, λάκκος ὡσεὶ θαλάσσης τὸ περίμετρον· 4 ὁ φροντίζων τοῦ λαοῦ αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ πτώσεως καὶ ἐνισχύσας πόλιν ἐν πολιορκήσει. 5 ὡς ἐδοξάσθη ἐν περιστροφῇ λαοῦ, ἐν ἐξόδῳ οἴκου καταπετάσματος· 6 ὡς ἀστὴρ ἑωθινὸς ἐν μέσῳ νεφελῶν, ὡς σελήνη πλήρης ἐν ἡμέραις, 7 ὡς ἥλιος ἐκλάμπων ἐπὶ ναὸν ῾Υψίστου καὶ ὡς τόξον φωτίζον ἐν νεφέλαις δόξης, 8 ὡς ἄνθος ρόδων ἐν ἡμέραις νέων, ὡς κρίνα ἐπ᾿ ἐξόδῳ ὕδατος, ὡς βλαστὸς λιβάνου ἐν ἡμέραις θέρους, 9 ὡς πῦρ καὶ λίβανος ἐπὶ πυρίου, ὡς σκεῦος χρυσίου ὁλοσφύρητον κεκοσμημένον παντὶ λίθῳ πολυτελεῖ, 10 ὡς ἐλαία ἀναθάλλουσα καρποὺς καὶ ὡς κυπάρισσος ὑψουμένη ἐν νεφέλαις. 11 ἐν τῷ ἀναλαμβάνειν αὐτὸν στολὴν δόξης καὶ ἐνδιδύσκεσθαι αὐτὸν συντέλειαν καυχήματος, ἐν ἀναβάσει θυσιαστηρίου ἁγίου ἐδόξασε περιβολὴν ἁγιάσματος· 12 ἐν δὲ τῷ δέχεσθαι μέλη ἐκ χειρῶν ἱερέων, καὶ αὐτὸς ἑστὼς παρ᾿ ἐσχάρᾳ βωμοῦ κυκλόθεν αὐτοῦ στέφανος ἀδελφῶν, ὡς βλάστημα κέδρου ἐν τῷ Λιβάνῳ· καὶ ἐκύκλωσαν αὐτὸν ὡς στελέχη φοινίκων· 13 καὶ πάντες οἱ υἱοὶ ᾿Ααρὼν ἐν δόξῃ αὐτῶν καὶ προσφορὰ Κυρίου ἐν χερσὶν αὐτῶν ἔναντι πάσης ἐκκλησίας ᾿Ισραήλ· 14 καὶ συντέλειαν λειτουργῶν ἐπὶ βωμῶν κοσμῆσαι προσφορὰν ῾Υψίστου παντοκράτορος· 15 ἐξέτεινεν ἐπὶ σπονδείου χεῖρα αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔσπεισεν ἐξ αἵματος σταφυλῆς, ἐξέχεεν εἰς θεμέλια θυσιαστηρίου ὀσμὴν εὐωδίας ῾Υψίστῳ παμβασιλεῖ. 16 τότε ἀνέκραγον υἱοὶ ᾿Ααρών, ἐν σάλπιγξιν ἐλαταῖς ἤχησαν, ἀκουστὴν ἐποίησαν φωνὴν μεγάλην εἰς μνημόσυνον ἔναντι ῾Υψίστου. 17 τότε πᾶς ὁ λαὸς κοινῇ κατέσπευσε καὶ ἔπεσαν ἐπὶ πρόσωπον ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν προσκυνῆσαι τῷ Κυρίῳ αὐτῶν παντοκράτορι Θεῷ τῷ ῾Υψίστῳ· 18 καὶ ᾔνεσαν οἱ ψαλμῳδοὶ ἐν φωναῖς αὐτῶν, ἐν πλείστῳ οἴκῳ ἐγλυκάνθη μέλος. 19 καὶ ἐδεήθη ὁ λαὸς Κυρίου ῾Υψίστου ἐν προσευχῇ κατέναντι ἐλεήμονος, ἕως συντελεσθῇ κόσμος Κυρίου, καὶ τὴν λειτουργίαν αὐτοῦ ἐτελείωσαν. 20 τότε καταβὰς ἐπῇρε χεῖρας αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ πᾶσαν ἐκκλησίαν υἱῶν ᾿Ισραὴλ δοῦναι εὐλογίαν Κυρίῳ ἐκ χειλέων αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐν ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ καυχᾶσθαι. 21 καὶ ἐδευτέρωσεν ἐν προσκυνήσει ἐπιδείξασθαι τὴν εὐλογίαν παρὰ ῾Υψίστου.
22 Καὶ νῦν εὐλογήσατε τῷ Θεῷ πάντων τῷ μεγαλοποιοῦντι πάντη, τὸν ὑψοῦντα ἡμέρας ἡμῶν ἐκ μήτρας καὶ ποιοῦντα μεθ᾿ ἡμῶν κατὰ τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ. 23 δῴῃ ἡμῖν εὐφροσύνην καρδίας καὶ γενέσθαι εἰρήνην ἐν ἡμέραις ἡμῶν ἐν ᾿Ισραὴλ κατὰ τὰς ἡμέρας τοῦ αἰῶνος· 24 ἐμπιστεύσαι μεθ᾿ ἡμῶν τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις αὐτοῦ λυτρωσάσθω ἡμᾶς. 25 ᾿Εν δυσὶν ἔθνεσι προσώχθισεν ἡ ψυχή μου, καὶ τὸ τρίτον οὐκ ἔστιν ἔθνος. 26 οἱ καθήμενοι ἐν ὄρει Σαμαρείας καὶ Φυλιστιεὶμ καὶ ὁ λαὸς μωρὸς ὁ κατοικῶν ἐν Σικίμοις.
27 Παιδείαν συνέσεως καὶ ἐπιστήμης ἐχάραξα ἐν τῷ βιβλίῳ τούτῳ, ᾿Ιησοῦς υἱὸς Σειρὰχ ῾Ιεροσολυμίτης, ὃς ἀνώμβρησε σοφίαν ἀπὸ καρδίας αὐτοῦ. 28 μακάριος ὃς ἐν τούτοις ἀναστραφήσεται, καὶ θεὶς αὐτὰ ἐπὶ καρδίαν αὐτοῦ σοφισθήσεται·
29 ἐὰν γὰρ αὐτὰ ποιήσῃ, πρὸς πάντα ἰσχύσει, ὅτι φῶς Κυρίου τὸ ἴχνος αὐτοῦ.
ΠΡΟΣΕΥΧΗ ΙΗΣΟΥ ΥΙΟΥ ΣΕΙΡΑΧ. ᾿ Εξομολογήσομαί σοι, Κύριε βασιλεῦ, καὶ αἰνέσω σε Θεὸν τὸν σωτῆρά μου, ἐξομολογοῦμαι τῷ ὀνόματί σου, 2 ὅτι σκεπαστὴς καὶ βοηθὸς ἐγένου μοι καὶ ἐλυτρώσω τὸ σῶμά μου ἐξ ἀπωλείας καὶ ἐκ παγίδος διαβολῆς γλώσσης, ἀπὸ χειλέων ἐργαζομένων ψεῦδος καὶ ἔναντι τῶν παρεστηκότων ἐγένου μοι βοηθὸς 3 καὶ ἐλυτρώσω με κατὰ τὸ πλῆθος ἐλέους καὶ ὀνόματός σου ἐκ βρυγμῶν ἑτοίμων εἰς βρῶμα, ἐκ χειρὸς ζητούντων τὴν ψυχήν μου, ἐκ πλειόνων θλίψεων, ὧν ἔσχον,
4 ἀπὸ πνιγμοῦ πυρᾶς κυκλόθεν καὶ ἐκ μέσου πυρός, οὗ οὐκ ἐξέκαυσα. 5 ἐκ βάθους κοιλίας ᾅδου καὶ ἀπὸ γλώσσης ἀκαθάρτου καὶ λόγου ψευδοῦς. 6 βασιλεῖ διαβολὴ γλώσσης ἀδίκου. ἤγγισεν ἕως θανάτου ἡ ψυχή μου, καὶ ἡ ζωή μου ἦν σύνεγγυς ᾅδου κάτω. 7 περιέσχον με πάντοθεν καὶ οὐκ ἦν ὁ βοηθῶν, ἐνέβλεπον εἰς ἀντίληψιν ἀνθρώπων, καὶ οὐκ ἦν.
8 καὶ ἐμνήσθην τοῦ ἐλέους σου, Κύριε, καὶ τῆς ἐργασίας σου τῆς ἀπ᾿ αἰῶνος, ὅτι ἐξαιρῇ τοὺς ὑπομένοντάς σε καὶ σῴζεις αὐτοὺς ἐκ χειρὸς ἐθνῶν. 9 καὶ ἀνύψωσα ἀπὸ γῆς ἱκετείαν μου καὶ ὑπὲρ θανάτου ρύσεως ἐδεήθην. 10 ἐπεκαλεσάμην Κύριον πατέρα κυρίου μου, μή με ἐγκαταλιπεῖν ἐν ἡμέραις θλίψεως, ἐν καιρῷ ὑπερηφάνων ἀβοηθησίας. 11 αἰνέσω τὸ ὄνομά σου ἐνδελεχῶς καὶ ὑμνήσω ἐν ἐξομολογήσει. καὶ εἰσηκούσθη ἡ δέησίς μου·
12 ἔσωσας γάρ με ἐξ ἀπωλείας καὶ ἐξείλου με ἐκ καιροῦ πονηροῦ. διὰ τοῦτο ἐξομολογήσομαι καὶ αἰνέσω σε καὶ εὐλογήσω τῷ ὀνόματι Κυρίου. 13 ἔτι ὢν νεώτερος, πρὶν ἢ πλανηθῆναί με, ἐζήτησα σοφίαν προφανῶς ἐν προσευχῇ μου, 14 ἔναντι ναοῦ ἠξίουν περὶ αὐτῆς καὶ ἕως ἐσχάτων ἐκζητήσω αὐτήν. 15 ἐξ ἄνθους ὡς περκαζούσης σταφυλῆς εὐφράνθη ἡ καρδία μου ἐν αὐτῇ. ἐπέβη ὁ πούς μου ἐν εὐθύτητι, ἐκ νεότητός μου ἴχνευσα αὐτήν. 16 ἔκλινα ὀλίγον τὸ οὖς μου καὶ ἐδεξάμην καὶ πολλὴν εὗρον ἐμαυτῷ παιδείαν. 17 προκοπὴ ἐγένετό μοι ἐν αὐτῇ· τῷ διδόντι μοι σοφίαν δώσω δόξαν. 18 διενοήθην γὰρ τοῦ ποιῆσαι αὐτὴν καὶ ἐζήλωσα τὸ ἀγαθὸν καὶ οὐ μὴ αἰσχυνθῶ.
19 διαμεμάχισται ἡ ψυχή μου ἐν αὐτῇ καὶ ἐν ποιήσει λιμοῦ διηκριβησάμην. τὰς χεῖράς μου ἐξεπέτασα πρὸς ὕψος καὶ τὰ ἀγνοήματα αὐτῆς ἐπένθησα. 20 τὴν ψυχήν μου κατεύθυνα εἰς αὐτήν, καρδίαν ἐκτησάμην μετ᾿ αὐτῆς ἀπ᾿ ἀρχῆς καὶ ἐν καθαρισμῷ εὗρον αὐτήν, διὰ τοῦτο οὐ μὴ ἐγκαταλειφθῶ· 21 καὶ ἡ κοιλία μου ἐταράχθη τοῦ ἐκζητῆσαι αὐτήν· διὰ τοῦτο ἐκτησάμην ἀγαθὸν κτῆμα. 22 ἔδωκε Κύριος γλῶσσάν μοι μισθόν μου, καὶ ἐν αὐτῇ αἰνέσω αὐτόν. 23 ἐγγίσατε πρός με, ἀπαίδευτοι, καὶ αὐλίσθητε ἐν οἴκῳ παιδείας, 24 τί ὅτι ὑστερεῖτε ἐν τούτοις καὶ αἱ ψυχαὶ ὑμῶν διψῶσι σφόδρα; 25 ἤνοιξα τὸ στόμα μου καὶ ἐλάλησα· κτήσασθε ἑαυτοῖς ἄνευ ἀργυρίου. 26 τὸν τράχηλον ὑμῶν ὑπόθετε ὑπὸ ζυγόν, καὶ ἐπιδεξάσθω ἡ ψυχὴ ὑμῶν παιδείαν· ἐγγύς ἐστιν εὑρεῖν αὐτήν. 27 ἴδετε ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς ὑμῶν ὅτι ὀλίγον ἐκοπίασα καὶ εὗρον ἐμαυτῷ πολλὴν ἀνάπαυσιν. 28 μετάσχετε παιδείας ἐν πολλῷ ἀριθμῷ ἀργυρίου καὶ πολὺν χρυσὸν κτήσασθε ἐν αὐτῇ. 29 εὐφρανθείη ἡ ψυχὴ ὑμῶν ἐν τῷ ἐλέει αὐτοῦ, καὶ μὴ αἰσχυνθείητε ἐν αἰνέσει αὐτοῦ. 30 ἐργάζεσθε τὸ ἔργον ὑμῶν πρὸ καιροῦ, καὶ δώσει τὸν μισθὸν ὑμῶν ἐν καιρῷ αὐτοῦ.
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WISDOM OF THE SON OF SIRACH
41 O death, how bitter is the remembrance of thee to a man that liveth at rest in his possessions, unto the man that hath nothing to vex him, and that hath prosperity in all things: yea, unto him that is yet able to receive meat! 2 O death, acceptable is thy sentence unto the needy, and unto him whose strength faileth, that is now in the last age, and is vexed with all things, and to him that despaireth, and hath lost patience! 3 Fear not the sentence of death, remember them that have been before thee, and that come after; 4 for this is the sentence of the Lord over all flesh. And why art thou against the pleasure of the most High? there is no inquisition in the grave, whether thou have lived ten, or an hundred, or a thousand years. 5 The children of sinners are abominable children, and they that are conversant in the dwelling of the ungodly. 6 The inheritance of sinners’ children shall perish, and their posterity shall have a perpetual reproach. 7 The children will complain of an ungodly father, because they shall be reproached for his sake. 8 Woe be unto you, ungodly men, which have forsaken the law of the most high God! 9 And if ye be born, ye shall be born to a curse: and if ye die, a curse shall be your portion. 10 All that are of the earth shall turn to earth again: so the ungodly shall go from a curse to destruction. 11 The mourning of men is about their bodies: but an ill name of sinners shall be blotted out. 12 Have regard to thy name; for that shall continue with thee above a thousand great treasures of gold. 13 A good life hath but few days: but a good name endureth for ever. 14 My children, keep discipline in peace: for wisdom that is hid, and a treasure that is not seen, what profit is in them both? 15 A man that hideth his foolishness is better than a man that hideth his wisdom.
16 Therefore be shamefaced according to my word: for it is not good to retain all shamefacedness; neither is it altogether approved in every thing. 17 Be ashamed of whoredom before father and mother: and of a lie before a prince and a mighty man; 18 Of an offence before a judge and ruler; of iniquity before a congregation and people; 19 of unjust dealing before thy partner and friend; And of theft in regard of the place where thou sojournest, 20 and in regard of the truth of God and his covenant; and to lean with thine elbow upon the meat; 21 and of scorning to give and take; And of silence before them that salute thee; 22 and to look upon an harlot; And to turn away thy face from thy kinsman; 23 or to take away a portion or a gift; or to gaze upon another man’s wife. 24 Or to be overbusy with his maid, and come not near her bed; 25 or of upbraiding speeches before friends; and after thou hast given, upbraid not; 26 Or of iterating and speaking again that which thou hast heard; and of revealing of secrets. 27 So shalt thou be truly shamefaced and find favour before all men.
42 Of these things be not thou ashamed, and accept no person to sin thereby: 2 Of the law of the most High, and his covenant; and of judgment to justify the ungodly; 3 Of reckoning with thy partners and travellers; or of the gift of the heritage of friends; 4 Of exactness of balance and weights; or of getting much or little; 5 And of merchants’ indifferent selling; of much correction of children; and to make the side of an evil servant to bleed. 6 Sure keeping is good, where an evil wife is; and shut up, where many hands are. 7 Deliver all things in number and weight; and put all in writing that thou givest out, or receivest in. 8 Be not ashamed to inform the unwise and foolish, and the extreme aged that contendeth with those that are young: thus shalt thou be truly learned, and approved of all men living. 9 A daughter is a wakeful care to a father; and the care for her taketh away sleep: when she is young, lest she pass away the flower of her age; and being married, lest she should be hated: 10 In her virginity, lest she should be defiled and gotten with child in her father’s house; and having an man, lest she should transgress; and when she is married, lest she should be barren. 11 Keep a sure watch over a shameless daughter, lest she make thee a laughingstock to thine enemies, and a byword in the city, and a reproach among the people, and make thee ashamed before the multitude. 12 Behold not every body's beauty, and sit not in the midst of women. 13 For from garments cometh a moth, and from woman a woman's wickedness. 14 Better is the churlishness of a man than a courteous woman, a woman, I say, which bringeth shame and reproach. 15 I will now remember the works of the Lord, and declare the things that I have seen: In the words of the Lord are his works. 16 The sun that giveth light looketh upon all things, and the work thereof is full of the glory of the Lord. 17 The Lord hath not given power to the saints to declare all his marvellous works, which the Almighty Lord firmly settled, that whatsoever is might be established for his glory. 18 He seeketh out the deep, and the heart, and considereth their crafty devices: for the Lord knoweth all that may be known, and he beholdeth the signs of the world. 19 He declareth the things that are past, and for to come, and revealeth the steps of hidden things. 20 No thought escapeth him, neither any word is hidden from him. 21 He hath garnished the excellent works of his wisdom, for he is before eternity unto eternity: unto him may nothing be added, neither can he be diminished, and he hath no need of any counsellor. 22 Oh how desirable are all his works! and that a man may see even to a spark. 23 All these things live and remain for ever for all uses, and they are all obedient. 24 All things are double one against another: and he hath made nothing imperfect. 25 One thing establisheth the good or another: and who shall be filled with beholding his glory?
43 The pride of the height, the clear firmament, the beauty of heaven, with his glorious shew; 2 The sun when it appeareth, declaring at his rising a marvellous instrument, the work of the most High: 3 At noon it parcheth the country, and who can abide the burning heat thereof? 4 A man blowing a furnace is in works of heat, but the sun burneth the mountains three times more; breathing out fiery vapours, and sending forth bright beams, it dimmeth the eyes. 5 Great is the Lord that made it; and at his commandment runneth hastily. 6 He made the moon also to serve in her season for a declaration of times, and a sign of eternity. 7 From the moon is the sign of feasts, a light that decreaseth in her perfection. 8 The month is called after her name, increasing wonderfully in her changing, being an instrument of the armies above, shining in the firmament of heaven; 9 The beauty of heaven, the glory of the stars, an ornament giving light in the highest places of the Lord. 10 At the commandment of the Holy One they will stand in their order, and never faint in their watches. 11 Look upon the rainbow, and praise him that made it; very beautiful it is in the brightness thereof. 12 It compasseth the heaven about with a glorious circle, and the hands of the most High have bended it. 13 By his commandment he maketh the snow to fall apace, and sendeth swiftly the lightnings of his judgment. 14 Through this the treasures are opened: and clouds fly forth as fowls. 15 By his great power he maketh the clouds firm, and the hailstones are broken small. 16 At his sight the mountains are shaken, and at his will the south wind bloweth. 17 The noise of the thunder maketh the earth to tremble: so doth the northern storm and the whirlwind: 18 as birds flying he scattereth the snow, and the falling down thereof is as the lighting of grasshoppers: The eye marvelleth at the beauty of the whiteness thereof, and the heart is astonished at the raining of it. 19 And frost, like salt, he pours upon the earth, and when it freezes, points of thorns occur. 20 When the cold north wind bloweth, and the water is congealed into ice, it abideth upon every gathering together of water, and clotheth the water as with a breastplate. 21 It devoureth the mountains, and burneth the wilderness, and consumeth the grass as fire. 22 A mist hastens healing for all things; a dew that comes out will refresh from the heat. 23 By his counsel he appeaseth the deep, and planteth islands therein. 24 They that sail on the sea tell of the danger thereof; and when we hear it with our ears, we marvel thereat. 25 For therein be strange and wondrous works, variety of all kinds of beasts and whales created. 26 Because of him, his messenger succeeds, and by his word all things hold together. 27 We may speak much, and yet come short: wherefore in sum, he is all. 28 How shall we be able to magnify him? for he is great above all his works. 29 The Lord is terrible and very great, and marvellous is his power. 30 When ye glorify the Lord, exalt him as much as ye can; for even yet will he far exceed: and when ye exalt him, put forth all your strength, and be not weary; for ye can never go far enough. 31 Who hath seen him, that he might tell us? and who can magnify him as he is? 32 There are yet hid greater things than these be, for we have seen but a few of his works. 33 For the Lord hath made all things; and to the godly hath he given wisdom.
44 A HYMN TO THE FATHERS Let us now praise famous men, and our fathers that begat us. 2 The Lord hath wrought great glory by them through his great power from the beginning. 3 Such as did bear rule in their kingdoms, men renowned for their power, giving counsel by their understanding, and declaring prophecies: 4 Leaders of the people by their counsels, and by their knowledge of learning meet for the people, wise and eloquent are their instructions: 5 Such as found out musical tunes, and recited verses in writing: 6 Rich men furnished with ability, living peaceably in their habitations: 7 All these were honoured in their generations, and were the glory of their times. 8 There be of them, that have left a name behind them, that their praises might be reported. 9 And some there be, which have no memorial; who are perished, as though they had never been; and are become as though they had never been born; and their children after them. 10 But these were merciful men, whose righteousness hath not been forgotten. 11 With their seed shall continually remain a good inheritance, and with their children's children; 12 Their seed stood steadfast in the covenants, and their children remain for their sake. 13 Their seed shall remain for ever, and their glory shall not be blotted out. 14 Their bodies are buried in peace; but their name liveth for evermore. 15 The people will tell of their wisdom, and the congregation will shew forth their praise. 16 Enoch pleased the Lord, and was translated, being an example of repentance to all generations. 17 Noah was found perfect and righteous; in the time of wrath he became an exchange; therefore was he left as a remnant unto the earth, when the flood came. 18 An everlasting covenant was made with him, that all flesh should perish no more by the flood. 19 Abraham was a great father of many people: in glory was there none like unto him; 20 Who kept the law of the most High, and was in covenant with him: he established the covenant in his flesh; and when he was proved, he was found faithful. 21 Therefore he assured him by an oath, that he would bless the nations in his seed, and that he would multiply him as the dust of the earth, and exalt his seed as the stars, and cause them to inherit from sea to sea, and from the river unto the utmost part of the land. 22 With Isaac did he establish likewise for Abraham his father’s sake the blessing of all men, and the covenant, 23 And made it rest upon the head of Jacob. He acknowledged him in his blessing, and gave him an heritage, and divided his portions; among the twelve tribes did he part them.
45 And he brought out of him a merciful man, which found favour in the sight of all flesh, even Moses, beloved of God and men, whose memorial is blessed.
2 He made him like to the glorious saints, and magnified him, so that his enemies stood in fear of him. 3 By his words he caused the wonders to cease, and he made him glorious in the sight of kings, and gave him a commandment for his people, and shewed him part of his glory. 4 He sanctified him in his faithfulness and meekness, and chose him out of all men. 5 He made him to hear his voice, and brought him into the dark cloud, and gave him commandments before his face, even the law of life and knowledge, that he might teach Jacob his covenants, and Israel his judgments. 6 He exalted Aaron, an holy man like unto him, even his brother, of the tribe of Levi. 7 An everlasting covenant he made with him and gave him the priesthood among the people; he beautified him with comely ornaments, and clothed him with a robe of glory. 8 He put upon him perfect glory; and strengthened him with rich garments, with breeches, with a long robe, and the ephod. 9 And he compassed him with pomegranates, and with many golden bells round about, that as he went there might be a sound, and a noise made that might be heard in the temple, for a memorial to the children of his people; 10 With the sacred vestment, with gold and blue and purple, a work of an embroiderer, with the oracle of judgment, for manifestations of truth, with twisted scarlet, a work of an artisan, 11 with precious stones graven like seals, and set in gold, the work of the jeweller, with a writing engraved for a memorial, after the number of the tribes of Israel. 12 He set a crown of gold upon the mitre, wherein was engraved Holiness, an ornament of honour, a costly work, the desires of the eyes, goodly and beautiful. 13 Before him there were none such, neither did ever any stranger put them on, but only his children and his children’s children perpetually. 14 Their sacrifices shall be wholly consumed every day twice continually. 15 Moses filled his hands and anointed him with holy oil: this was appointed unto him by an everlasting covenant, and to his seed, so long as the heavens should remain, that they should minister unto him, and execute the office of the priesthood, and bless the people in his name. 16 He chose him out of all men living to offer sacrifices to the Lord, incense, and a sweet savour, for a memorial, to make reconciliation for his people.
17 He gave unto him his commandments, and authority in the statutes of judgments, that he should teach Jacob the testimonies, and enlighten Israel in his laws. 18 Strangers conspired together against him, and maligned him in the wilderness, even the men that were of Dathan’s and Abiron’s side, and the congregation of Core, with fury and wrath. 19 This the Lord saw, and it displeased him, and in his wrathful indignation were they consumed: he did wonders upon them, to consume them with the fiery flame. 20 But he made Aaron more honourable, and gave him an heritage, and divided unto him the firstfruits of the increase; especially he prepared bread in abundance: 21 For they eat of the sacrifices of the Lord, which he gave unto him and his seed. 22 Howbeit in the land of the people he had no inheritance, neither had he any portion among the people: for the Lord himself is his portion and inheritance. 23 The third in glory is Phinees the son of Eleazar, because he had zeal in the fear of the Lord, and stood up with good courage of heart: when the people were turned back, and made reconciliation for Israel. 24 Therefore was there a covenant of peace made with him, that he should be the chief of the sanctuary and of his people, and that he and his posterity should have the dignity of the priesthood for ever: 25 According to the covenant made with David son of Jesse, of the tribe of Juda, that the inheritance of the king should be to his posterity alone: so the inheritance of Aaron should also be unto his seed. 26 God give you wisdom in your heart to judge his people in righteousness, that their good things be not abolished, and that their glory may endure for ever.
46 Jesus the son a Nave was valiant in the wars, and was the successor of Moses in prophecies, who according to his name was made great for the saving of the elect of God, and taking vengeance of the enemies that rose up against them, that he might set Israel in their inheritance. 2 How great glory gat he, when he did lift up his hands, and stretched out his sword against the cities! 3 Who before him so stood to it? for the Lord himself brought his enemies unto him. 4 Did not the sun go back by his means? and was not one day as long as two? 5 He called upon the most high Lord, when the enemies pressed upon him on every side; and the great Lord heard him. And with hailstones of mighty power,
6
He rushed down upon a nation in
battle, and on a slope he destroyed those who resisted so that nations
might know his armament, because their battle was against the Lord, for
indeed he followed after a mighty 7 In the time of Moses also he did a work of mercy, he and Caleb the son of Jephunne, in that they withstood the congregation, and withheld the people from sin, and appeased the wicked murmuring. 8 And of six hundred thousand people on foot, they two were preserved to bring them in to the heritage, even unto the land that floweth with milk and honey. 9 The Lord gave strength also unto Caleb, which remained with him unto his old age: so that he entered upon the high places of the land, and his seed obtained it for an heritage: 10 That all the children of Israel might see that it is good to follow the Lord. 11 And concerning the judges, every one by name, whose heart went not a whoring, nor departed from the Lord, let their memory be blessed.
12 Let their bones flourish out of their place, and let the name of them that were honoured be continued upon their children. 13 Samuel, the prophet of the Lord, beloved of his Lord, established a kingdom, and anointed princes over his people. 14 By the law of the Lord he judged the congregation, and the Lord visited Jacob. 15 By his faithfulness he was found a true prophet, and by his word he was known to be faithful in vision. 16 He called upon the mighty Lord, when his enemies pressed upon him on every side, when he offered the sucking lamb. 17 And the Lord thundered from heaven, and with a great noise made his voice to be heard. 18 And he destroyed the rulers of the Tyrians, and all the princes of the Philistines. 19 And before his long sleep he made protestations in the sight of the Lord and his anointed, I have not taken any man’s goods, so much as a shoe: and no man did accuse him. 20 And after his death he prophesied, and shewed the king his end, and lifted up his voice from the earth in prophecy, to blot out the wickedness of the people.
47 And after him rose up Nathan to prophesy in the time of David. 2 As is the fat taken away from the peace offering, so was David chosen out of the children of Israel. 3 He played with lions as with kids, and with bears as with lambs. 4 Slew he not a giant, when he was yet but young? and did he not take away reproach from the people, when he lifted up his hand with the stone in the sling, and beat down the boasting of Goliath? 5 For he called upon the most high Lord; and he gave him strength in his right hand to slay that mighty warrior, and set up the horn of his people.
6 So the people honoured him with ten thousands, and praised him in the blessings of the Lord, in that he gave him a crown of glory. 7 For he destroyed the enemies on every side, and brought to nought the Philistines his adversaries, and brake their horn in sunder unto this day. 8 In all his works he praised the Holy One most high with words of glory; with his whole heart he sung songs, and loved him that made him. 9 He set singers also before the altar, that by their voices they might make sweet melody.
10 He beautified their feasts, and set in order the solemn times until the end, that they might praise his holy name, and that the temple might sound from morning. 11 The Lord took away his sins, and exalted his horn for ever: he gave him a covenant of kings, and a throne of glory in Israel.
12 After him rose up a wise son, and for his sake he dwelt at large. 13 Solomon reigned in a peaceable time, and was honoured; for God made all quiet round about him, that he might build an house in his name, and prepare his sanctuary for ever. 14 How wise wast thou in thy youth and, as a flood, filled with understanding! 15 Thy soul covered the whole earth, and thou filledst it with dark parables. 16 Thy name went far unto the islands; and for thy peace thou wast beloved. 17 The countries marvelled at thee for thy songs, and proverbs, and parables, and interpretations. 18 By the name of the Lord God, which is called the Lord God of Israel, thou didst gather gold as tin and didst multiply silver as lead. 19 Thou didst bow thy loins unto women, and by thy body thou wast brought into subjection. 20 Thou didst stain thy honour, and pollute thy seed: so that thou broughtest wrath upon thy children, and wast grieved for thy folly. 21 So the kingdom was divided, and out of Ephraim ruled a rebellious kingdom. 22 But the Lord will never leave off his mercy, neither shall any of his works perish, neither will he abolish the posterity of his elect, and the seed of him that loveth him he will not take away: wherefore he gave a remnant unto Jacob, and out of him a root unto David. 23 Thus rested Solomon with his fathers, and of his seed he left behind him Roboam, even the foolishness of the people, and one that had no understanding, who turned away the people through his counsel. There was also Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin, and shewed Ephraim the way of sin: 24 And their sins were multiplied exceedingly, that they were driven out of the land. 25 For they sought out all wickedness, till the vengeance came upon them.
48 Then stood up Elias the prophet as fire, and his word burned like a lamp. 2 He brought a sore famine upon them, and by his zeal he diminished their number. 3 By the word of the Lord he shut up the heaven, and also three times brought down fire. 4 O Elias, how wast thou honoured in thy wondrous deeds! and who may glory like unto thee! 5 Who didst raise up a dead man from death and from out of Hades by the word of the most High. 6 Who broughtest kings to destruction, and honourably men from their bed: 7 Who heardest the rebuke of the Lord in Sinai, and in Horeb the judgment of vengeance: 8 Who anointedst kings to take revenge, and prophets to succeed after him: 9 Who was taken up in a whirlwind of fire, and in a chariot of fiery horses: 10 He who was recorded ready for the times, to calm anger before wrath, to turn the heart of a father to a son and to restore the tribes of Jacob. 11 Blessed are they that saw thee, and slept in love; for we shall surely live. 12 Elias it was, who was covered with a whirlwind: and Eliseus was filled with his spirit: whilst he lived, he was not moved with the presence of any prince, neither could any bring him into subjection. 13 No word could overcome him; and after his death his body prophesied. 14 He did wonders in his life, and at his death were his works marvellous. 15 For all this the people repented not, neither departed they from their sins, till they were spoiled and carried out of their land, and were scattered through all the earth: yet there remained a small people, and a ruler in the house of David: 16 Of whom some did that which was pleasing to God, and some multiplied sins. 17 Ezekias fortified his city, and brought in water into the midst thereof: he digged the hard rock with iron, and made wells for waters. 18 In his days Sennacherim came up, and he sent Rapsakes and departed, and he raised up his hand against Sion and made great boasts in his arrogance.
19 Then trembled their hearts and hands, and they were in pain, as women in travail. 20 But they called upon the Lord which is merciful, and stretched out their hands toward him: and immediately the Holy One heard them out of heaven, and delivered them by the hand of Isaiah. 21 He smote the host of the Assyrians, and his angel destroyed them. 22 For Ezekias had done the thing that pleased the Lord, and was strong in the ways of David his father, as Isaiah the prophet, who was great and faithful in his vision, had commanded him. 23 In his time the sun went backward, and he lengthened the king’s life. 24 He saw by an excellent spirit what should come to pass at the last, and he comforted them that mourned in Sion. 25 He shewed what should come to pass for ever, and secret things before ever they came.
49 The remembrance of Josias is like the composition of the perfume that is made by the art of the apothecary: it is sweet as honey in all mouths, and as musick at a banquet of wine. 2 He behaved himself uprightly in the conversion of the people, and took away the abominations of iniquity. 3 He directed his heart toward the Lord; in days of lawless people he strengthened piety. 4 Except for David and Ezekias and Josias, all committed error, for they abandoned the law of the Most High; the kings of Judah failed, 5 Therefore he gave their power unto others, and their glory to a strange nation. 6 They burnt the chosen city of the sanctuary, and made the streets desolate, by the hand of Jeremias. 7 For they mistreated him, and he was hallowed a prophet in the womb, to uproot and to ruin and to destroy, likewise to build and to plant.
8 It was Ezekiel who saw the glorious vision, which was shewed him upon the chariot of the cherubims. 9 For he remembered his enemies in a thunderstorm and did good to those who made straight their ways. 10 And may the bones of the twelve prophets sprout anew out of their place, for they comforted Jacob and they redeemed them in confidence of hope. 11 How shall we magnify Zorobabel? even he was as a signet on the right hand: 12 So was Jesus the son of Josedec: who in their time builded the house, and set up an holy temple to the Lord, which was prepared for everlasting glory. 13 And among the elect was Neemias, whose renown is great, who raised up for us the walls that were fallen, and set up the gates and the bars, and raised up our ruins again. 14 But upon the earth was no man created like Enoch; for he was taken from the earth. 15 Neither was there born a man like Joseph, a governor of his brethren, a support of the people, and they watched over his bones. 16 Sem and Seth were in great honour among men, and so was Adam above every living thing in creation.
50 Simon the great priest, the son of Onias, who in his life repaired the house again, and in his days fortified the temple: 2 And by him was built from the foundation the double height, the high fortress of the wall about the temple: 3 In his days a cistern for water was quarried, a reservoir like the circumference of a sea. 4 He who gave heed to his people out of calamity and strengthened the city against a siege, 5 How was he honoured in the midst of the people in his coming out of the sanctuary! 6 He was as the morning star in the midst of a cloud, and as the moon at the full: 7 As the sun shining upon the temple of the most High, and as the rainbow radiant in clouds of glory: 8 And as the flower of roses in the days of spring, as lilies by the exits of water, and as the branches of the frankincense tree in the time of summer: 9 As fire and incense in the censer, and as a vessel of beaten gold set with all manner of precious stones:
10 And as a fair olive tree budding forth fruit, and as a cypress tree which groweth up to the clouds.
11 When he
put on the robe of honour, and was clothed with the perfection of glory,
when he went up to the holy altar,
he glorified the enclosure of
the holy precinct. 13 So were all the sons of Aaron in their glory, and the oblations of the Lord in their hands, before all the congregation of Israel. 14 And finishing the service at the altar, that he might adorn the offering of the most high Almighty, 15 He stretched out his hand to the cup, and poured of the blood of the grape, he poured out at the foundation of the altar a sweetsmelling savour unto the most high King of all. 16 Then shouted the sons of Aaron, and sounded the silver trumpets, and made a great noise to be heard, for a remembrance before the most High. 17 Then all the people together hasted, and fell down to the earth upon their faces to worship their Lord God Almighty, the most High. 18 The singers also sang praises with their voices, with great variety of sounds was there made sweet melody. 19 And the people besought the Lord, the most High, by prayer before him that is merciful, till the solemnity of the Lord was ended, and they had finished his service. 20 Then he went down, and lifted up his hands over the whole congregation of the children of Israel, to give the blessing of the Lord with his lips, and to rejoice in his name. 21 And they bowed themselves down to worship the second time, that they might receive a blessing from the most High. 22 Now therefore bless ye the God of all, which only doeth wondrous things every where, which exalteth our days from the womb, and dealeth with us according to his mercy. 23 He grant us joyfulness of heart, and that peace may be in our days in Israel for ever:
24 That he would confirm his mercy with us, and deliver us at his time! 25 There be two manner of nations which my heart abhorreth, and the third is no nation: 26 They that sit upon the mountain of Samaria, and they that dwell among the Philistines, and that foolish people that dwell in Sichem. 27 Instruction of understanding and knowledge I have inscribed in this book, Jesus the son of Sirach of Jerusalem, who poured forth wisdom from his heart.
28 Blessed is he that shall be exercised in these things; and he that layeth them up in his heart shall become wise. 29 For if he do them, he shall be strong to all things: for the light of the Lord leadeth him.
51 A PRAYER OF JESUS SON OF SIRACH I will thank thee, O Lord and King, and praise thee, O God my Saviour: I do give praise unto thy name:
2 For thou art my defender and helper, and has preserved my body from destruction, and from the snare of the slanderous tongue, and from the lips that forge lies, and has been mine helper against mine adversaries: 3 And hast delivered me, according to the multitude of they mercies and greatness of thy name, from the teeth of them that were ready to devour me, and out of the hands of such as sought after my life, and from the manifold afflictions which I had; 4 From the choking of fire on every side, and from the midst of the fire which I kindled not; 5 From the depth of the belly of hell, from an unclean tongue, and from lying words. 6 By an accusation to the king from an unrighteous tongue my soul drew near even unto death, my life was near to the hell beneath. 7 They compassed me on every side, and there was no man to help me: I looked for the succour of men, but there was none. 8 Then thought I upon thy mercy, O Lord, and upon thy acts of old, how thou deliverest such as wait for thee, and savest them out of the hands of the enemies.
9 Then lifted I up my supplications from the earth, and prayed for deliverance from death. 10 I called upon the Lord, the Father of my Lord, that he would not leave me in the days of my trouble, and in the time of the proud, when there was no help. 11 I will praise thy name continually, and will sing praises with thanksgiving; and so my prayer was heard: 12 For thou savedst me from destruction, and deliveredst me from the evil time: therefore will I give thanks, and praise thee, and bless they name, O Lord. 13 When I was yet young, or ever I went abroad, I desired wisdom openly in my prayer. 14 I prayed for her before the temple, and will seek her out even to the end. 15 Even from the flower till the grape was ripe hath my heart delighted in her: my foot went the right way, from my youth up sought I after her. 16 I bowed down mine ear a little, and received her, and gat much learning. 17 I profited therein, therefore will I ascribe glory unto him that giveth me wisdom. 18 For I purposed to do after her, and earnestly I followed that which is good; so shall I not be confounded. 19 My soul hath wrestled with her, and in my doings I was exact: I stretched forth my hands to the heaven above, and bewailed my ignorances of her.
20 I directed my soul unto her, and I found her in pureness: I have had my heart joined with her from the beginning, therefore shall I not be forsaken.
21 My heart was troubled in seeking her: therefore have I gotten a good possession. 22 The Lord hath given me a tongue for my reward, and I will praise him therewith. 23 Draw near unto me, ye unlearned, and dwell in the house of learning. 24 Wherefore are ye slow, and what say ye to these things, seeing your souls are very thirsty? 25 I opened my mouth, and said, Buy her for yourselves without money. 26 Put your neck under the yoke, and let your soul receive instruction: she is hard at hand to find.
27 Behold with your eyes, how that I have but little labour, and have gotten unto me much rest. 28 Get learning with a great sum of money, and get much gold by her. 29 Let your soul rejoice in his mercy, and be not ashamed of his praise. 30 Work your work betimes, and in his time he will give you your reward.
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