Παροιμίαι 18
1 προφάσεις ζητεῖ ἀνὴρ βουλόμενος χωρίζεσθαι ἀπὸ φίλων ἐν παντὶ δὲ καιρῷ ἐπονείδιστος ἔσται
Whoever has a will to withdraw from a friend, seeks occasions; he shall be reproached at all times.
2 οὐ χρείαν ἔχει σοφίας ἐνδεὴς φρενῶν μᾶλλον γὰρ ἄγεται ἀφροσύνῃ
The foolish do not accept words of prudence, unless you say what is already turning in his heart.
3 ὅταν ἔλθῃ ἀσεβὴς εἰς βάθος κακῶν καταφρονεῖ ἐπέρχεται δὲ αὐτῷ ἀτιμία καὶ ὄνειδος
The impious, when he has arrived within the depths of sin, thinks little of it. But ill repute and disgrace follow him.
4 ὕδωρ βαθὺ λόγος ἐν καρδίᾳ ἀνδρός ποταμὸς δὲ ἀναπηδύει καὶ πηγὴ ζωῆς
Words from the mouth of a man are deep waters. And the fountain of wisdom is a torrent overflowing.
5 θαυμάσαι πρόσωπον ἀσεβοῦς οὐ καλόν οὐδὲ ὅσιον ἐκκλίνειν τὸ δίκαιον ἐν κρίσει
It is not good to accept the character of the impious, so as to turn away from true judgment.
6 χείλη ἄφρονος ἄγουσιν αὐτὸν εἰς κακά τὸ δὲ στόμα αὐτοῦ τὸ θρασὺ θάνατον ἐπικαλεῖται
The lips of the foolish meddle in disputes. And his mouth provokes conflicts.
7 στόμα ἄφρονος συντριβὴ αὐτῷ τὰ δὲ χείλη αὐτοῦ παγὶς τῇ ψυχῇ αὐτοῦ
The mouth of the foolish is his destruction, and his own lips are the ruin of his soul.
8 ὀκνηροὺς καταβάλλει φόβος ψυχαὶ δὲ ἀνδρογύνων πεινάσουσιν
The words of the double-tongued seem simple. And they reach even to the interior of the gut. Fear casts down the lazy, but the souls of the effeminate shall go hungry.
9 ὁ μὴ ἰώμενος ἑαυτὸν ἐν τοῖς ἔργοις αὐτοῦ ἀδελφός ἐστιν τοῦ λυμαινομένου ἑαυτόν
Whoever is dissolute and slack in his work is the brother of him who wastes his own works.
10 ἐκ μεγαλωσύνης ἰσχύος ὄνομα κυρίου αὐτῷ δὲ προσδραμόντες δίκαιοι ὑψοῦνται
The name of the Lord is a very strong tower. The just one rushes to it, and he shall be exalted.
11 ὕπαρξις πλουσίου ἀνδρὸς πόλις ὀχυρά ἡ δὲ δόξα αὐτῆς μέγα ἐπισκιάζει
The substance of the wealthy is the city of his strength, and it is like a strong wall encircling him.
12 πρὸ συντριβῆς ὑψοῦται καρδία ἀνδρός καὶ πρὸ δόξης ταπεινοῦται
The heart of a man is exalted before it is crushed and humbled before it is glorified.
13 ὃς ἀποκρίνεται λόγον πρὶν ἀκοῦσαι ἀφροσύνη αὐτῷ ἐστιν καὶ ὄνειδος
Whoever responds before he listens, demonstrates himself to be foolish and deserving of confusion.
14 θυμὸν ἀνδρὸς πραΰνει θεράπων φρόνιμος ὀλιγόψυχον δὲ ἄνδρα τίς ὑποίσει
The spirit of a man sustains his weakness. Yet who can sustain a spirit that is easily angered?
15 καρδία φρονίμου κτᾶται αἴσθησιν ὦτα δὲ σοφῶν ζητεῖ ἔννοιαν
A prudent heart shall possess knowledge. And the ear of the wise seeks doctrine.
16 δόμα ἀνθρώπου ἐμπλατύνει αὐτὸν καὶ παρὰ δυνάσταις καθιζάνει αὐτόν
A man’s gift expands his way and makes space for him before leaders.
17 δίκαιος ἑαυτοῦ κατήγορος ἐν πρωτολογίᾳ ὡς δ’ ἂν ἐπιβάλῃ ὁ ἀντίδικος ἐλέγχεται
The just is the first accuser of himself; his friend arrives and shall investigate him.
18 ἀντιλογίας παύει κλῆρος ἐν δὲ δυνάσταις ὁρίζει
Casting a lot suppresses contentions and passes judgment, even among the powerful.
19 ἀδελφὸς ὑπὸ ἀδελφοῦ βοηθούμενος ὡς πόλις ὀχυρὰ καὶ ὑψηλή ἰσχύει δὲ ὥσπερ τεθεμελιωμένον βασίλειον
A brother who is helped by a brother is like a reinforced city, and judgments are like the bars of cities.
20 ἀπὸ καρπῶν στόματος ἀνὴρ πίμπλησιν κοιλίαν αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ δὲ καρπῶν χειλέων αὐτοῦ ἐμπλησθήσεται
From the fruit of a man’s mouth shall his belly be filled. And the harvest of his own lips shall satisfy him.
21 θάνατος καὶ ζωὴ ἐν χειρὶ γλώσσης οἱ δὲ κρατοῦντες αὐτῆς ἔδονται τοὺς καρποὺς αὐτῆς
Death and life are in the power of the tongue. Whoever values it shall eat from its fruits.
22 ὃς εὗρεν γυναῖκα ἀγαθήν εὗρεν χάριτας ἔλαβεν δὲ παρὰ θεοῦ ἱλαρότητα ὃς ἐκβάλλει γυναῖκα ἀγαθήν ἐκβάλλει τὰ ἀγαθά ὁ δὲ κατέχων μοιχαλίδα ἄφρων καὶ ἀσεβής
He who has found a good wife has found goodness, and he shall draw contentment from the Lord. He who expels a good wife expels goodness. But he who holds on to an adulteress is foolish and impious.
The poor will speak with supplications. And the rich will express themselves roughly.
A man amiable to society shall be more friendly than a brother.
