Wisdom of Jesus son of Sirach 40

(ⲁ︦) ⲁⲩⲥⲛ̅ⲧ ⲟⲩⲛⲟϭ ⲙ̅ⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲧⲥⲣ̅ϥⲉ ⲣ̅ⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲟⲩⲛⲁϩⲃ̅ ⲉϥϩⲟⲣϣ̅ ⲉϫⲛ̅ ⲛ̅ϣⲏⲣⲉ ⲛ̅ⲁⲇⲁⲙ (1) Great travail is created for every man, and an heavy yoke is upon the sons of Adam,
(ⲃ︦) ϫⲓⲛ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉϩⲟⲟⲩ ⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲩⲉⲓ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛ̅ϩⲏⲧⲥ̅ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲩⲙⲁⲁⲩ ϣⲁ ⲡⲉϩⲟⲟⲩ ⲙ̅ⲡⲧⲟⲙⲥⲟⲩ ⲉⲡⲙⲁ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲟⲛ ⲛⲓⲙ: from the day that they go out of their mother’s womb, till the day that they return to the mother of all things.
(ⲅ︦) ⲉⲧⲉ ⲛⲉⲩⲙⲟⲕⲙⲉⲕ ⲛⲉ ⲙⲛ̅ ⲑⲟⲧⲉ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲩϩⲏⲧ ⲙ̅ⲙⲉⲉⲩⲉ ⲉⲧⲟⲩϭⲱϣⲧ̅ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲏⲧⲟⲩ ⲙⲛ̅ ⲡⲉϩⲟⲟⲩ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲩⲙⲟⲩ: (2) Their imagination of things to come, and the day of death, trouble their thoughts, and cause fear of heart;
(ⲇ︦) ϫⲓⲛ ⲡⲉⲧϩⲙⲟⲟⲥ ϩⲓ ⲟⲩⲑⲣⲟⲛⲟⲥ ⲉϥϩⲁ ⲉⲟⲟⲩ ϣⲁ ⲡⲉⲧⲑⲃ̅ⲃⲓⲏⲩ ϩⲛ̅ ⲡⲕⲁϩ ⲙⲛ̅ ⲡⲕⲣ̅ⲙⲉⲥ: (3) From him that sitteth on a throne of glory, unto him that is humbled in earth and ashes;
(ⲉ︦) ϫⲓⲛ ⲡⲉⲧⲫⲟⲣⲓ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩϩⲩⲁⲕⲓⲛⲑⲓⲛⲟⲛ ⲙⲛ̅ ⲟⲩⲕⲗⲟⲙ ϣⲁ ϩⲣⲁⲓ̈ ⲉⲡⲉⲧⲉⲣⲉ ⲟⲩϭⲁϭⲓⲧⲱⲛ ϩⲓⲱⲱϥ. (4) From him that weareth purple and a crown, unto him that is clothed with a linen frock.
(ⲋ︦) ⲡϭⲱⲛⲧ̅ ⲙⲛ̅ ⲡⲕⲱϩ ⲡⲉϣⲧⲟⲣⲧⲣ̅ ⲙⲛ̅ ⲡⲕⲓⲙ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲑⲟⲧⲉ ⲙ̅ⲡⲙⲟⲩ ⲙⲛ̅ ⲡⲛⲟⲩϭⲥ̅ ⲙⲛ̅ ⲡϯⲧⲱⲛ (5) Wrath, and envy, trouble, and unquietness, fear of death, and anger, and strife,
(ⲍ︦) ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲩⲛⲟⲩ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲙ̅ⲧⲟⲛ ϩⲓ ⲡⲉⲩⲙⲁ ⲛ̅ⲛ̅ⲕⲟⲧⲕ̅ ϣⲁⲣⲉ ⲫⲓⲛⲏⲃ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲩϣⲏ ϣⲓⲃⲉ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉϥⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ. and in the time of rest upon his bed his night sleep, do change his knowledge.
(ⲏ︦) ...... ⲗⲁⲁⲩ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲉϥⲙ̅ⲧⲟⲛ .. ⲡⲁⲓ̈ ⲉϣϫⲉ ⲉϥϩⲙ̅ ⲡⲉϩⲟⲟⲩ ⲙ̅ⲡϭⲱϣⲧ̅ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛ̅ⲣ̅ⲣⲁⲥⲟⲩ .. ϣⲧⲣ̅ⲧⲱⲣ ϩⲛ̅ ⲑⲟⲣⲁⲥⲓⲥ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉϥϩⲏⲧ ⲛ̅ⲑⲉ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲛⲧⲁϥⲣ̅ⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲛ̅ ⲟⲩⲡⲟⲗⲉⲙⲟⲥ. (6) A little or nothing is his rest, and afterward he is in his sleep, as in a day of keeping watch, troubled in the vision of his heart, as if he were escaped out of a battle.
(ⲑ︦) ⲁϥⲧⲱⲟⲩⲛ ϩⲛ̅ ⲧⲉⲩⲛⲟⲩ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉϥⲟⲩϫⲁⲓ̈ ⲉⲛϥ̅ⲣ̅ϣⲡⲏⲣⲉ ⲁⲛ ⲗⲗⲁⲁⲩ ⲛ̅ϩⲟⲧⲉ ⲙⲛ̅ ⲥⲁⲣⲝ̅ ⲛⲓⲙ ϫⲓⲛ ⲛ̅ⲣⲱⲙⲉ ϣⲁ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲃⲛⲏ: (7) When all is safe, he awaketh, and marvelleth that the fear was nothing. (8) Such things happen unto all flesh, both man and beast,
(ⲓ︦) ⲁⲩⲱ ⲥⲁϣϥ̅ ⲛ̅ⲕⲱⲃ ⲛ̅ⲛⲁⲓ̈ ⲛⲉⲧⲛ̅ⲛⲏⲩ ⲉϫⲛ̅ ⲛ̅ⲣⲉϥⲣ̅ⲛⲟⲃⲉ. and that is sevenfold more upon sinners.
(ⲓ︦ⲁ︦) ⲡⲙⲟⲩ ⲙⲛ̅ ⲡϯⲧⲱⲛ ⲙⲛ̅ ⲡⲉⲥⲛⲟϥ ⲙⲛ̅ ⲧⲥⲏϥⲉ ⲛⲉⲥⲛⲁⲩϩ ⲙⲛ̅ ⲫⲉⲃⲱⲱⲛ ⲙⲛ̅ ⲡⲟⲩⲱϣϥ̅ ⲙⲛ̅ ⲙ̅ⲙⲁⲥⲧⲓⲅⲝ̅ (9) Death, and bloodshed, strife, and sword, calamities, famine, tribulation, and the scourge;
(ⲓ︦ⲃ︦) ⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲩⲥⲛ̅ⲧ ⲛⲁⲓ̈ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ ⲉⲛⲁⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛ̅ⲧⲁ ⲡⲕⲁⲧⲁⲕⲗⲩⲥⲙⲟⲥ ϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲉⲧⲃⲏⲧⲟⲩ. (10) These things are created for the wicked, and for their sakes came the flood.
(ⲓ︦ⲅ︦) ⲛ̅ⲕⲁ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲉⲛⲧⲁⲩⲉⲓ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲙ̅ ⲡⲕⲁϩ ⲉⲩⲛⲁⲕⲟⲧⲟⲩ ⲉⲡⲕⲁϩ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛ̅ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲛ̅ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟⲟⲩ ⲉⲩⲛⲁⲕⲟⲧⲟⲩ ⲉⲑⲁⲗⲁⲥⲥⲁ. (11) All things that are of the earth shall turn to the earth again: and that which is of the waters doth return into the sea.
(ⲓ︦ⲇ︦) ⲇⲱⲣⲟⲛ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲁⲩⲱ ϫⲓⲛ̅ϭⲟⲛⲥ̅ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲛⲁϥⲱⲧⲉ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲧⲡⲓⲥⲧⲓⲥ ⲇⲉ ⲛⲁⲁϩⲉ ⲣⲁⲧⲥ̅ ⲛ̅ϣⲁ ⲉⲛⲉϩ. (12) All bribery and injustice shall be blotted out: but true dealing shall endure for ever.
(ⲓ︦ⲉ︦) ⲛⲉⲭⲣⲏⲙⲁ ⲛ̅ⲛ̅ⲣⲉϥϫⲓⲛ̅ϭⲟⲛⲥ̅ ⲛⲁϣⲟⲩⲟ ⲛ̅ⲑⲉ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲉⲓⲉⲣⲟ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲥⲉⲛⲁⲱϣ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛ̅ⲑⲉ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩϩⲣⲟⲩⲃⲃⲁⲓ̈ ⲛⲟϭ ϩⲛ̅ ⲟⲩ.... (13) The goods of the unjust shall be dried up like a river, and shall vanish with noise, like a great thunder in rain.
(ⲓ︦ⲋ︦) ϩⲙ̅ ⲡⲧⲣⲉϥⲟⲩⲱⲛ ⲛ̅ⲛⲉϥϭⲓϫ ⲉϥⲛⲁⲉⲩⲫⲣⲁⲛⲉ: ⲧⲁⲓ̈ ⲧⲉ ⲑⲉ ⲛ̅ⲛⲉⲧⲡⲁⲣⲁⲃⲁ: ⲥⲉⲛⲁⲱϫⲛ̅ ..... (14) While he openeth his hand he shall rejoice: so shall transgressors come to nought.
(ⲓ︦ⲍ︦) ⲛ̅ⲛⲉ ⲛ̅ϣⲏⲣⲉ ⲛ̅ⲁⲥⲉⲃⲏⲥ ⲧⲁϣⲉ ⲛⲉⲩⲕⲗⲁⲇⲟⲥ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛ̅ⲛⲟⲩⲛⲉ ⲛ̅ⲛⲓⲁⲕⲁⲑⲁⲣⲧⲟⲥ ⲉⲩⲟ ⲛ̅ⲑⲉ ⲛ̅ⲛⲉⲧϩⲓϫⲛ̅ ⲛⲓⲡⲉⲧⲣⲁ ⲉⲧⲛⲁϣⲧ̅. (15) The children of the ungodly shall not bring forth many branches: but are as unclean roots upon a hard rock.
(ⲓ︦ⲏ︦) ϣⲁⲩϥⲉϭ ⲡⲁϩⲣ̅ ⲉⲧϩⲓϫⲛ̅ ⲙⲟⲟⲩ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛⲉⲥⲡⲟⲧⲟⲩ ⲙ̅ⲡⲓⲉⲣⲟ ϩⲁ ⲑⲏ ⲛ̅ⲭⲟⲣⲧⲟⲥ ⲛⲓⲙ. (16) The weed growing upon every water and bank of a river shall be pulled up before all grass.
(ⲓ︦ⲑ︦) ⲉⲣⲉ ⲧⲉⲭⲁⲣⲓⲥ ⲟ ⲛ̅ⲑⲉ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲡⲁⲣⲁⲇⲓⲥⲟⲥ ϩⲛ̅ ⲛⲉⲥⲙⲟⲩ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲧⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲛⲁ ⲛⲁϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲛ̅ϣⲁ ⲉⲛⲉϩ. (17) Bountifulness is as a most fruitful garden, and mercifulness endureth for ever.
(ⲕ︦) ⲛⲁⲛⲟⲩ ⲡⲱⲛϩ̅ ⲉⲧⲧⲏϣ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲉⲣⲅⲁⲧⲏⲥ ⲛⲁϥ ⲡⲉⲛⲧⲁϥϩⲉ ⲇⲉ ⲉⲩⲁϩⲟ ⲥⲟⲧⲡ̅ ⲉⲣⲟϥ. (18) To labour, and to be content with that a man hath, is a sweet life: but he that findeth a treasure is above them both.
(ⲕ︦ⲁ︦) ϣⲏⲣⲉ ϩⲓ ⲕⲱⲧ ⲙ̅ⲡⲟⲗⲓⲥ ⲛⲉϣⲁⲩⲧⲁϫⲣⲉ ⲣⲁⲛ ⲟⲩⲛ̅ ⲟⲩⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ ⲇⲉ ⲉⲥⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ ⲥⲟⲧⲡ̅ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ̈ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲥⲛⲁⲩ. (19) Children and the building of a city continue a man’s name: but a blameless wife is counted above them both.
(ⲕ︦ⲃ︦) ⲏⲣⲡ̅ ϩⲓ ⲙⲟⲩⲥⲓⲕⲟⲛ ⲡⲉϣⲁϥⲉⲩⲫⲣⲁⲛⲉ ⲙ̅ⲫⲏⲧ ⲧⲁⲅⲁⲡⲏ ⲇⲉ ⲙⲛ̅ ⲧⲥⲟⲫⲓⲁ ⲥⲟⲧⲡ̅ ⲉⲣⲟⲟⲩ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲥⲛⲁⲩ. (20) Wine and musick rejoice the heart: but the love of wisdom is above them both.
(ⲕ︦ⲅ︦) ⲥⲏϥⲉ ⲛ̅ϫⲱ ϩⲓ ⲯⲁⲗⲧⲏⲣⲓⲟⲛ ⲛⲉϣⲁⲩϯ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲗ̅ⲗⲉ ⲟⲩⲗⲁⲥ ⲇⲉ ⲉϥⲛⲟⲧⲙ̅ ⲥⲟⲧⲡ̅ ⲉⲣⲟⲟⲩ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲥⲛⲁⲩ. (21) The pipe and the psaltery make sweet melody: but a pleasant tongue is above them both.
(ⲕ︦ⲇ︦) ⲡⲉⲕⲃⲁⲗ ⲛⲁⲉⲡⲓⲑⲩⲙⲓ ⲉⲩⲭⲁⲣⲓⲥ ⲙⲛ̅ ⲟⲩⲥⲁ ⲟⲩⲟⲩⲟⲧⲟⲩⲉⲧ ⲇⲉ ⲛ̅ⲧⲥⲱϣⲉ ⲥⲟⲧⲡ̅ ⲉⲣⲟⲟⲩ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲥⲛⲁⲩ. (22) Thine eye desireth favour and beauty: but more than both corn while it is green.
(ⲕ︦ⲉ︦) ϣⲁⲣⲉ ⲡⲉⲕϣⲃⲏⲣ ⲙⲛ̅ ⲡⲉⲕⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲧⲱⲙⲛ̅ⲧ ⲉⲣⲟⲕ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲕⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓϣ ⲟⲩⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ ⲇⲉ ⲙⲛ̅ ⲡⲉⲥϩⲁⲓ̈ ⲥⲟⲧⲡ̅ ⲉⲣⲟⲟⲩ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲥⲛⲁⲩ. (23) A friend and companion never meet amiss: but above both is a wife with her husband.
(ⲕ︦ⲋ︦) ϣⲁⲣⲉ ϩⲛ̅ⲥⲛⲏⲩ ϯ ⲧⲟⲟⲧⲕ̅ ⲙⲛ̅ ⲟⲩⲃⲏⲑⲓⲁ ϩⲙ̅ ⲡⲉⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓϣ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲑⲗⲓⲯⲓⲥ ⲧⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲛⲁ ⲇⲉ ⲛⲁⲛⲟⲩϩⲙ̅ ϩⲟⲩⲉ ⲉⲣⲟⲟⲩ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲥⲛⲁⲩ. (24) Brethren and help are against time of trouble: but alms shall deliver more than them both.
(ⲕ︦ⲍ︦) ϣⲁⲣⲉ ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲃ ⲙⲛ̅ ⲫⲁⲧ ⲥⲙ̅ⲛ ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲡϣⲟϫⲛⲉ ⲇⲉ ⲥⲟⲧⲡ̅ ⲉⲣⲟⲟⲩ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲥⲛⲁⲩ. (25) Gold and silver make the foot stand sure: but counsel is esteemed above them both.
(ⲕ︦ⲏ︦) ϣⲁⲣⲉ ⲭⲣⲏⲙⲁ ϩⲓ ϭⲟⲙ ϫⲓⲥⲉ ⲙ̅ⲫⲏⲧ ⲑⲟⲧⲉ ⲇⲉ ⲙ̅ⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲥⲟⲧⲡ̅ ⲉⲣⲟⲟⲩ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲥⲛⲁⲩ. (26) Riches and strength lift up the heart: but the fear of the Lord is above them both:
(ⲕ︦ⲑ︦) ⲙⲛ̅ ϣⲱⲱⲧ ϩⲛ̅ ⲑⲟⲧⲉ ⲙ̅ⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲙⲛ̅ ⲧⲣⲉⲕϣⲓⲛⲉ ⲛ̅ⲥⲁ ⲃⲟⲏⲑⲓⲁ ⲉⲕⲛ̅ϩⲏⲧⲥ̅. there is no want in the fear of the Lord, and it needeth not to seek help.
(ⲗ︦) ⲉⲣⲉ ⲑⲟⲧⲉ ⲙ̅ⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲟ ⲛ̅ⲑⲉ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲡⲁⲣⲁⲇⲓⲥⲟⲥ ⲛ̅ⲥⲙⲟⲩ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲥⲛⲁϩⲟⲃⲥϥ̅ ⲉϩⲟⲩ ⲉⲟⲩⲟⲛ ⲛⲓⲙ. (27) The fear of the Lord is a fruitful garden, and covereth him above all glory.
(ⲗ︦ⲁ︦) ⲡⲁϣⲏⲣⲉ ⲙ̅ⲡⲣ̅ⲣ̅ ⲧϭⲓⲛⲱⲛϩ̅ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲣⲉϥⲧⲱⲃϩ̅: ⲛⲁⲛⲟⲩⲥ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲉⲧⲣⲉⲕⲙⲟⲩ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲉ ⲧⲱⲃϩ̅. (28) My son, lead not a beggar’s life; for better it is to die than to beg.
(ⲗ︦ⲃ︦) ⲟⲩⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉϥϭⲱϣⲧ̅ ⲉⲩⲧⲣⲁⲡⲉⲍⲁ ⲉⲛⲧⲱϥ ⲁⲛ ⲧⲉ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲁϩⲉ ⲁⲛ .... ϥⲛⲁⲧⲙ̅ⲙⲉ ⲧⲉϥⲯⲩⲭⲏ ⲛ̅ϩⲉⲛϭⲓⲛⲟⲩⲟⲟⲙ ⲉⲛⲛⲟⲩϥ ⲁⲛ ⲛⲉ: ⲟⲩⲛ̅ ⲟⲩⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲇⲉ ⲛ̅ⲥⲁⲃⲉ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲉϥⲧⲥⲁⲃⲏⲩ ⲛⲁϩⲁⲣⲉϩ ⲉⲣⲟϥ. (29) The life of him that dependeth on another man’s table is not to be counted for a life; for he polluteth himself with other men’s meat: but a wise man well nurtured will beware thereof.
(ⲗ︦ⲅ︦) ⲡⲧⲱⲃϩ̅ ⲛⲁϩⲗⲟϭ ϩⲛ̅ ⲧⲧⲁⲡⲣⲟ ⲙ̅ⲡⲁⲧϣⲓⲡⲉ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲟⲩⲛ̅ ⲟⲩⲕⲱϩⲧ̅ ⲛⲁⲙⲟⲩϩ ⲛ̅ϩⲏⲧϥ̅. (30) Begging is sweet in the mouth of the shameless: but in his belly there shall burn a fire.