1 Great occupation has been created for every man, and a heavy yoke upon the sons of Adam from the day of their going out from the womb of their mother until the day of return to the mother of all
2 their thoughts and the fear of heart; imagination of expectation, the day of death
3 from one sitting on a glorious throne and even to one humbled in earth and ashes
4 From the one wearing hyacinthine garments and a crown and to the one wrapped in coarse linen, anger and zeal and confusion and tossing and fear of death and rancor and strife
5 and in a time of rest upon a bed, sleep of night changes his knowledge
6 A little, as nothing, in rest, and from it in sleep, as in the day of watching, disturbed in the vision of his heart, as one who has fled from the face of war
7 At the time of his need he is awakened, and marvelling, into no fear.
8 with all flesh, from man to beast, and upon sinners sevenfold more than these
9 Death and blood and strife and the sword, misfortunes, famine and crushing and scourge
10 For the lawless all these things were created, and because of them the flood came to be
11 All things that are from earth turn back to earth, and from waters it returns to sea.
12 Every gift and injustice will be wiped away, but faithfulness will stand forever
13 The possessions of the unjust will dry up like a river, and like a great thunder in rain it will sound aloud.
14 When he opens his hands, he will rejoice; so those who transgress will come to an end, they will fail.
15 The offspring of the ungodly will not multiply branches, and unclean roots on a craggy rock
16 As a rule, beside every water and at the bank of a river, it will be plucked up before every grass.
17 Grace is like a paradise of blessings, and almsgiving remains forever
18 The life of one who is self-sufficient and of a laborer will be made sweet, and above both is he who finds a treasure
19 Children and a city’s building establish a name, and beyond both a blameless woman is accounted.
20 Wine and music gladden the heart, and above both is love of wisdom
21 Flute and psaltery make melodies sweet, and above both a sweet tongue
22 Grace and beauty the eye will desire, and above both, grass of seed
23 A friend and companion, meeting at a time, and beyond both, a wife with a husband
24 Brothers and help are for a time of affliction, and above both almsgiving will deliver.
25 Gold and silver will set a foot, and above both, counsel is approved.
26 Wealth and strength will exalt the heart, and above both is the fear of the Lord; there is no lack in the fear of the Lord, and there is no seeking for help in it.
27 The fear of the Lord is like a paradise of blessing, and above all glory he covered him.
28 Child, do not live a life of begging; it is better to die than to beg
29 A man looking upon another’s table, his life is not his own; in reckoning of life he will defile his soul with another’s dishes. But a man who is understanding and trained will guard himself.
30 In the mouth of the shameless man beggary will be sweetened, and in his belly fire will burn.
Old Testament Greek text based on Alfred Rahlfs' Septuaginta (1935). New Testament Greek text based on the SBL Greek New Testament (SBLGNT), edited by Michael W. Holmes and used under CC BY 4.0.
English translation and website presentation © The Koine Bible. Provided freely for biblical education.
LXX lexical, morphological, transliteration, pronunciation, gloss, and Strong’s data derived from Eliran Wong’s LXX-Rahlfs-1935 project, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 , and based in part on CATSS/CCAT and Open Scriptures Greek Resources.