1
Ἀγρυπνία πλούτου ἐκτήκει σάρκας, καὶ ἡ μέριμνα αὐτοῦ ἀφιστᾷ ὕπνον.
Watching for riches consumeth the flesh, And the care thereof driveth away sleep.
2
Μέριμνα ἀγρυπνίας ἀπαιτήσει νυσταγμὸν, καὶ ἀῤῥώστημα βαρὺ ἐκνήψει ὕπνος.
Watching care will not let a man slumber, As a sore disease breaketh sleep.
3
עמלי עשיר לקבץ הון, ואם ינוח לקבל תענוג. יגע עני לחסר ביתו, ואם ינוח יהיה צריך. עמל עני לחסר כחו, ואם ינוח לא נחה לו.
The labour (M) of the rich is to gather (G S) wealth; And if he rest, it is to take pleasure. The poor toileth for the lack of his house; And if he rest, he becometh needy. The labour of the poor is for the lack of his means (?); And if he rest, it is to his lamentation ( or he is distressed).
Ἐκοπίασε πλούσιος ἐν συναγωγῇ χρημάτων, καὶ ἐν τῇ ἀναπαύσει ἐμπίπλαται τῶν τρυφημάτων αὐτοῦ·
The rich hath great labor in gathering riches together; And when he resteth, he is filled with his delicacies.
4
ἐκοπίασε πτωχὸς ἐν ἐλαττώσει βίου, καὶ ἐν τῇ ἀναπαύσει ἐπιδεὴς γίνεται.
The poor laboreth in his poor estate; And when he leaveth off, he is still needy.
5
רודף חרוץ לא ינקה, ואוהב מחיר בו ישגה.
He that pursueth after gold shall not be innocent; And he that loveth hire shall err thereby.
Ὁ ἀγαπῶν χρυσίον οὐ δικαιωθήσεται, καὶ ὁ διώκων διαφθορὰν, αὐτὸς πλησθήσεται.
He that loveth gold shall not be justified, And he that followeth corruption shall have enough thereof.
6
רבים היו חבולי זהב, והבוטח על פנינים. ולא מצאו להנצל מרעה, וגם להושע ביום עברה.
Many are there that have been given in pledge (?) to gold; And that trusted (?) on rubies. And they found not how to escape from evil; Neither to save themselves in the day of wrath.
Πολλοὶ ἐδόθησαν εἰς πτῶμα χάριν χρυσίου, καὶ ἐγενήθη ἀπώλεια αὐτῶν κατὰ πρόσωπον αὐτῶν.
Gold hath been the ruin of many, And their destruction was present.
7
כי תקלה הוא לאויל, וכל פותה יוקש בו.
For it is a stumblingblock to the fool; And whoso is simple is enticed thereby.
Ξύλον προσκόμματός ἐστι τοῖς ἐνθυσιάζουσιν αὐτῷ, καὶ πᾶς ἄφρων ἁλώσεται ἐν αὐτῷ.
It is a stumbling block unto them that sacrifice unto it, And every fool shall be taken therewith.
8
אשרי איש נמצא תמים, ויחר ממון לא נלוז.
Blessed is the man (H) that hath been found perfect; And that hath not gone aside after mammon.
Μακάριος πλούσιος ὃς εὑρέθη ἄμωμος, καὶ ὃς ὀπίσω χρυσίου οὐκ ἐπορεύθη.
Blessed is the rich that is found without blemish, And hath not gone after gold.
9
מי הוא זה ונאשרנו, כי הפליא לעשות בעמו.
Who is he? and we will call him blessed: For he hath done wonderously among his people.
Τίς ἐστι καὶ μακαριοῦμεν αὐτόν; ἐποίησε γὰρ θαυμάσια ἐν λαῷ αὐτοῦ.
Who is he? and we will call him blessed: For wonderful things hath he done among his people.
10
מי הוא זה שנדבק בו, והיה לו שלום, והיה לו תפארה. כי ברבות שלום חייו, יהיה לך לתפארת. מי ברכו וישלם בחייו, הוא לך לתפארת. מי יוכל לסור ולא סר, ולהרע רעה ולא אבה. על כן חזק טובו, ותהלתו יספר קהל. מוסר לחם, ויין יחדו.
Who is he? that we may cleave (H) unto him; And he shall have peace, and he shall have glory. For when as the peace of his life multiplieth, I will be a glory unto thee (?). Who hath blessed it (?), and made his life perfect? I will be a glory unto thee (?). Who was able to stray, and strayed not? And to do evil to a neighbour, and would not? Therefore his good is sure; And the congregation shall declare his praise. *******
Τίς ἐδοκιμάσθη ἐν αὐτῷ καὶ ἐτελειώθη, καὶ ἔστω εἰς καύχησιν; τίς ἐδύνατο παραβῆναι, καὶ οὐ παρέβη, καὶ ποιῆσαι κακὰ, καὶ οὐκ ἐποίησε;
Who hath been tried thereby, and found perfect? Then let him glory. Who might offend, and hath not offended? Or done evil, and hath not done it?
11
Στερεωθήσεται τὰ ἀγαθὰ αὐτοῦ, καὶ τὰς ἐλεημοσύνας αὐτοῦ ἐκδιηγήσεται ἐκκλησία.
His goods shall be established, And the congregation shall declare his alms.
12
בני אם על שלחן גדול, ישבת, אל תפתח עליו גרנך.
My son, if you sit at a great table, do not open your throat at it.
Ἐπὶ τραπέζης μεγάλης ἐκάθισας; μὴ ἀνοίξῃς ἐπʼ αὐτῆς φάρυγγά σου· καὶ μὴ εἴπῃς, πολλά γε τὰ ἐπʼ αὐτῆς.
If thou sit at a bountiful table, Be not greedy upon it, And say not, There is much meat on it.
13
אל תאמר ספוק עליו, זכור כי רעה עין רעה. רע עין שונא אל, ורע ממנו לא ברא. כי זה מפני כל דבר תזוע עין, ומפנים דמעה תדמע. רע מעין לא חלק אל, על כן מפני כל נם לחה מקום יביט טל תושיט יד, ואל תחד עמו בטנא.
Do not say, 'There is plenty on it'; remember that an evil eye is an evil thing. God hates an evil eye; he created nothing worse than it. For this the eye trembles at everything, and sheds tears at every face. God has apportioned nothing worse than the eye, so it is moist at everything. Where it looks, do not stretch out your hand, and do not reach into the dish with him.
Μνήσθητι ὅτι κακὸν ὀφθαλμὸς πονηρὸς, πονηρότερον ὀφθαλμοῦ τί ἔκτισται; διὰ τοῦτο ἀπὸ παντὸς προσώπου δακρύει.
Remember that a wicked eye is an evil thing: And what is created more wicked than an eye? Therefore it weepeth upon every occasion.
14
Οὗ ἐὰν ἐπιβλέψῃ, μὴ ἐκτείνῃς χεῖρα, καὶ μὴ συνθλίβου αὐτῷ ἐν τρυβλίῳ.
Stretch not thy hand whithersoever it looketh, And thrust it not with him into the dish.
15
דעה רעך כנפשך, ובכל ששנאת התבונן. הסב כאיש אשר נבחר, ואל תעט פן תגעל.
Know your neighbour as yourself, and consider whatever you hate. Recline like a man who has been chosen, and do not rush, lest you be loathed.
Νόει τὰ τοῦ πλησίον ἐκ σεαυτοῦ, καὶ ἐπὶ παντὶ πράγματι διανοοῦ.
Judge of thy neighbor by thyself: And be discreet in every point.
16
דע שרעך איש כמוך, ואכול דבר ששם לפניך.
Know that your neighbour is a man like you, and eat what is set before you.
Φάγε ὡς ἄνθρωπος τὰ παρακείμενά σοι, καὶ μὴ διαμασῷ, μὴ μισηθῇς.
Eat, as it becometh a man, those things which are set before thee; And devour not, lest thou be hated.
17
חדל ראשון בעבור מוסר, ולא תהיה גרגרן פן תמאס.
Stop first for the sake of good manners, and do not be greedy, lest you be despised.
Παῦσαι πρῶτος χάριν παιδείας, καὶ μὴ ἀπληστεύου, μήποτε προσκόψῃς.
Leave off first for manners’ sake; And be not unsatiable, lest thou offend.
18
וגם אם בין רבים ישבת, לפני רע אל תושיט יד. הלא די אנוש נבון מזער, ועל יצועיו לא ישיק. מכאוב ונדד ישנה, ומער ותשניק, ופני הפוכות עם איש כסיל.
Even if you sit among many, do not reach out your hand before your neighbour. Is not a little enough for a sensible man? On his bed he will not gasp. Pain and sleeplessness, distress and choking, and twisted faces go with the fool.
Καὶ εἰ ἀναμέσον πλειόνων ἐκάθισας, πρότερος αὐτῶν μὴ ἐκτείνῃς τὴν χεῖρά σου.
When thou sittest among many, Reach not thy hand out first of all.
19
Ὡς ἱκανὸν ἀνθρώπῳ πεπαιδευμένῳ τὸ ὀλίγον, καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς κοίτης αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἀσθμαίνει.
A very little is sufficient for a man well nurtured, And he fetcheth not his wind short upon his bed.
20
שנות חיים על קרב תולל וקם בבקר ונפשו אתו. שנות חיים עם איש נבון, ילין עד בקר ונפשו עמו. [ואם יפצירו בך לאכול, סור מן הסבה] ותמצא נחת.
Healthy sleep comes from a moderate stomach: he rises in the morning with his wits about him. Healthy sleep goes with a sensible man: he rests till morning and his wits are with him. [And if they press you to eat, get up from the table] and you will find relief.
Ὕπνος ὑγείας ἐπὶ ἐντέρῳ μετρίῳ, ἀνέστη πρωῒ, καὶ ἡ ψυχὴ αὐτοῦ μετʼ αὐτοῦ· πόνος ἀγρυπνίας καὶ χολέρας καὶ στρόφος μετὰ ἀνδρὸς ἀπλήστου.
Sound sleep cometh of moderate eating: He riseth early, and his wits are with him: But the pain of watching, and choler, and pangs of the belly, are with an unsatiable man.
21
Καὶ εἰ ἐβιάσθης ἐν ἐδέσμασιν, ἀνάστα μεσοπωρῶν καὶ ἀναπαύσῃ.
And if thou hast been forced to eat, Arise, go forth, vomit, and thou shalt have rest.
22
בכל מעשיך היה צנוע, וכל אסון לא יגע בך. וגם אם נאנסתה, במטעמים קוה קוה וינוח לך. שמע בני ואל תבוז לי, ובאחרית תשיג אמרי. שמע בני וקח אמרי, ואל תלעיז עליי, ובאחרית תמצא דברי.
In all you do be modest, and no harm will touch you. And even if you are forced among the delicacies, hope, hope, and it will be eased for you. Listen, my son, and do not despise me; in the end you will grasp my words. Listen, my son, and take my sayings, and do not mock me; in the end you will find my words true.
Ἄκουσόν μου τέκνον καὶ μὴ ἐξουδενώσῃς με, καὶ ἐπʼ ἐσχάτῳ εὑρήσεις τοὺς λόγους μου· ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς ἔργοις σου γίνου ἐντρεχὴς, καὶ πᾶν αρρώστημα οὐ μή σοι ἀπαντήσῃ.
My son, hear me, and despise me not, And at the last thou shalt find as I told thee: In all thy works be quick, So shall there no sickness come unto thee.
23
טוב על לחם תברך שפה, עדות טובו נאמנה.
Lips bless one who is generous with bread; the testimony to his goodness is reliable.
Λαμπρὸν ἐπʼ ἄρτοῖς εὐλογήσει χείλη, καὶ μαρτυρία τῆς καλλονῆς αὐτοῦ πιστή.
Whoso is liberal of his meat, men shall speak well of him; And the report of his good housekeeping will be believed.
24
רע על לחם ירגז בשער, רעת רועו נאמנה.
One who is mean with bread is grumbled at in the gate; the report of his meanness is reliable.
Πονηρῷ ἐπʼ ἄρτῳ διαγογγύσει πόλις, καὶ ἡ μαρτυρία τῆς πονηρίας αὐτοῦ ἐκριβής.
But against him that is a niggard of his meat the whole city shall murmur; And the testimonies of his niggardness shall not be doubted of.
25
וגם על היין אל תתגבר, כי רבים הכשיל תירוש.
Also with wine do not play the hero, for new wine has tripped up many.
Ἐν οἴνῳ μὴ ἀνδρίζου, πολλοὺς γὰρ ἀπώλεσεν ὁ οἶνος·
Show not thy valiantness in wine; For wine hath destroyed many.
26
כור בוחן מעשה לוטש, כן היין למצות לצים. נבון בוחן מעשה מעשה, כן שכר לריב לצים.
As the furnace tests the smith's work, so wine tests the quarrels of scoffers. As one who understands tests work after work, so strong drink in the quarrel of scoffers.
Κάμινος δοκιμάζει στόμωμα ἐν βαφῇ, οὕτως οἶνος καρδίας ἐν μάχῃ ὑπερηφάνων.
The furnace proveth the edge by dipping: So doth wine the hearts of the proud by drunkenness.
27
למי היין חיים? לאנוש אם ישתנו במכתנתו. מה חיים חסר היין, שהוא מראשית לשמחה נוצר.
To whom is wine life? To a man, if he drinks it in moderation. What is life to one who lacks wine, which was created from the beginning for joy?
Ἐπίσον ζωῆς οἶνος ἀνθρώπῳ, ἐὰν πίνῃς αὐτὸν μέτρῳ αὐτοῦ· τίς ζωὴ ἐλασσουμένῳ οἴνῳ; καὶ αὐτὸς ἔκτισται εἰς εὐφροσύνην ἀνθρώποις.
Wine is as good as life to a man, if it be drunk moderately: What life is then to a man that is without wine? For it was made to make men glad.
28
שמחת לב וששון ועדון, יין נשתה בעתו וראי. חיי מה לחסר תירוש, והוא לגיל נחלק מראש.
Gladness of heart, joy and delight is wine drunk in its time and as is fitting. What life has one who lacks new wine, which was given from the beginning for gladness?
Ἀγαλλίαμα καρδίας καὶ εὐφροσύνη ψυχῆς οἶνος πινόμενος ἐν καιρῷ αὐτάρκης·
Wine measurably drunk and in season Bringeth gladness of the heart, and cheerfulness of the mind:
29
כאב ראש לענה וקלון, יין נשתה בתחרה וכעס.
Headache, bitterness and disgrace is wine drunk in rivalry and anger.
πικρία ψυχῆς οἶνος πινόμενος πολὺς, ἐν ὀρεθισμῷ καὶ ἀντιπτώματι.
But wine drunken with excess maketh bitterness of the mind, With brawling and quarreling.
30
מרבה חמר לכסיל מוקש, מחסר כח ומספיק פצע.
Much wine is a snare to the fool; it lessens strength and multiplies wounds.
Πληθύνει μέθη θυμὸν ἄφρονος εἰς πρόσκομμα, ἐλαττῶν ἰσχὺν καὶ προσποιῶν τραύματα.
Drunkenness increaseth the rage of a fool till he offend: It diminisheth strength, and maketh wounds.
31
במשתה היין אך תוכח רע, [ואל תבוזהו בשמחתו. דבר חרפה אל [תאמר לו, ולא תנצח] אתו לעיני בני אדם.
At a wine feast do not rebuke your neighbour, [and do not despise him in his merriment. Do not say a word of reproach to him, and do not strive] with him before people.
Ἐν συμποσίῳ οἴνου μὴ ἐλέγξῃς τὸν πλησίον, καὶ μὴ ἐξουδενώσῃς αὐτὸν ἐν εὐφροσύνῃ αὐτοῦ· λόγον ὀνειδισμοῦ μὴ εἴπῃς αὐτῷ, καὶ μὴ αὐτὸν θλίψῃς ἐν ἀπαιτήσει. ΠΕΡΙ ἩΓΟΥΜΕΝΩΝ.
Rebuke not thy neighbor at the wine, And despise him not in his mirth: Give him no despiteful words, And press not upon him with urging him [to drink].