Do not desire a multitude of useless children, nor rejoice over ungodly sons.
The Koine Bible
The Scriptures in Greek with direct English translation.
Rahlfs Septuagint
Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 16
Greek text followed verse by verse by a direct English translation.
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If they multiply, do not rejoice over them, unless the fear of the Lord is with them.
ἐμπιστεύσῃς τῇ ζωῇ αὐτῶν καὶ μὴ ἔπεχε ἐπὶ τὸ πλῆθος αὐτῶν κρείσσων γὰρ εἷς ἢ χίλιοι καὶ ἀποθανεῖν ἄτεκνον ἢ ἔχειν τέκνα ἀσεβῆ
Do not trust in their life, and do not rely on their multitude, for one is better than a thousand, and to die childless than to have ungodly children.
For from one prudent man a city will be inhabited, but a tribe of lawless men will be made desolate.
My eye has seen many such things, and my ear has heard stronger than these.
In the assembly of sinners fire will be kindled, and in a disobedient nation wrath was kindled.
He did not make propitiation for the ancient giants, who apostatized in the strength of them.
He did not spare concerning the sojourn of Lot, whom he abhorred because of their pride.
He did not have mercy on a nation of destruction, those lifted up in their sins.
and so six hundred thousand foot soldiers, those who were gathered together in the hardness of their heart
ᾖ εἷς σκληροτράχηλος θαυμαστὸν τοῦτο εἰ ἀθῳωθήσεται ἔλεος γὰρ καὶ ὀργὴ παρ᾿ αὐτῷ δυνάστης ἐξιλασμῶν καὶ ἐκχέων ὀργήν
And if there is one stiff-necked, this is marvelous, if he will be held guiltless; for mercy and wrath are with him, mighty one of propitiations and one pouring out wrath
According to his abundant mercy, so also is his abundant rebuke; he will judge a man according to his works.
A sinner will not escape in plunder, and the endurance of a godly man will certainly not be delayed.
For every almsgiving each one will make room, according to his works he will find.
εἴπῃς ὅτι ἀπὸ κυρίου κρυβήσομαι καὶ ἐξ ὕψους τίς μου μνησθήσεται ἐν λαῷ πλείονι οὐ μὴ γνωσθῶ τίς γὰρ ἡ ψυχή μου ἐν ἀμετρήτῳ κτίσει
Do not say, I shall be hidden from the Lord, and who from on high will remember me? In a great multitude I shall surely not be known; for what is my soul in the immeasurable creation?
Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heaven, the abyss and the earth, will be shaken at his oversight.
At the same time the mountains and the foundations of the earth are shaken with trembling when he looks upon them.
and over them no heart will ponder, and his ways, who will consider?
and a storm that man will not see; but the greater part of his works are in hidden places
Who will declare works of righteousness, or who will endure them? For the covenant is far off.
A man lacking heart thinks these things, and a foolish and wandering man thinks foolish things.
Listen to me, child, and learn knowledge, and pay attention with your heart to my words
I will make instruction shine forth by measure and I will proclaim knowledge with exactness
In the judgment of the Lord are his works from the beginning, and from their making he separated their portions
εἰς αἰῶνα τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ καὶ τὰς ἀρχὰς αὐτῶν εἰς γενεὰς αὐτῶν οὔτε ἐπείνασαν οὔτε ἐκοπίασαν καὶ οὐκ ἐξέλιπον ἀπὸ τῶν ἔργων αὐτῶν
He adorned their works for ever, and their beginnings for their generations; neither did they hunger nor were they wearied, and they did not fail from their works.
Each one did not oppress his neighbor, and they will not disobey his word for ever.
And after these things the Lord looked upon the earth and filled it with his good things
He covered her face with the soul of every living thing, and their return is to her.