Thursday, January 09, 2025

Seven Sages and Revelation 16:5

The Precepts of the Seven Sages (or "Sentences of the Seven Sages" or "Injunctions of the Seven Sages") is a collection of concise wisdom.  There are nearly 150 statements in list, and seems to cover various moral and ethical rules in the form of maxims or gnomic commands.  They are thought to originate around the 5th century before Christ (although the TLG suggests as early as the 6th or 7th century BC).  

Of particular interest to me are two of the rules: 
  • Ὅσια κρῖνε. 
  • Κρῖνε δίκαια.
These are of interest because of Revelation 16:5, which states:
  • Καὶ ἤκουσα τοῦ ἀγγέλου τῶν ὑδάτων λέγοντος· δίκαιος εἶ, ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν, ὁ ὅσιος, ὅτι ταῦτα ἔκρινας
You may notice that Revelation 16:5 mentions a form of the verb "judge" (κρίνω) in linked connection with both ὅσιος (traditionally translated "holy") and δίκαιος (traditionally translated "righteous").  The seven sages rules include commands to judge ὅσια and δίκαια.  

This serves to demonstrate, in a very minor way, the semantic propriety of the reading that is found in nearly all of the Greek manuscripts of Revelation, over against any naysayers, particularly those who are simply using the traditional English translations of the terms, without regard to the nuances of the Greek.

The text of the precepts with a very amateur and provisional translation is as follows (also see the links provided above for other translations)(this section may be in need of serious correction, which I will make if/when I identify the needed corrections):
 
Greek English
ΣΩΣΙΑΔΟΥ Sosiades
ΤΩΝ ΕΠΤΑ ΣΟΦΩΝ ΥΠΟΘΗΚΑΙ. The Precepts of the Seven Sages
—Ἕπου θεῷ. Follow God.
—Νόμῳ πείθου. Obey the law.
—Θεοὺς σέβου. Honor the gods.
—Γονεῖς αἰδοῦ. Respect your parents.
—Ἡττῶ ὑπὲρ δικαίου. Yield for justice.
—Γνῶθι μαθών. Learn, then understand.
—Ἀκούσας νόει. Understand after listening.
—Σαυτὸν ἴσθι. Know yourself.
—Γαμεῖν μέλλων καιρὸν γνῶθι. When about to marry, know the proper time.
—Φρόνει θνητά. Think mortal thoughts.
—Ξένος ὢν ἴσθι. When you are a stranger, act as one.
—Ἑστίαν τίμα. Honor the hearth.
—Ἄρχε σαυτοῦ. Govern yourself.
—Φίλοις βοήθει. Help your friends.
—Θυμοῦ κράτει. Master your temper.
—Φρόνησιν ἄσκει. Cultivate wisdom.
—Πρόνοιαν τίμα. Value foresight.
—Ὅρκῳ μὴ χρῶ. Do not use oaths.
—Φιλίαν ἀγάπα. Love friendship.
—Παιδείας ἀντέχου. Hold fast to education.
—Δόξαν δίωκε. Pursue glory.
—Σοφίαν ζήλου. Strive for wisdom.
—Καλὸν εὖ λέγε. Speak well of the good.
—Ψέγε μηδένα. Blame no one.
—Ἐπαίνει ἀρετήν. Praise virtue.
—Πρᾶττε δίκαια. Practice justice.
—Φίλοις εὐνόει. Be kind to your friends.
—Ἐχθροὺς ἀμύνου. Defend yourself against enemies.
—Εὐγένειαν ἄσκει. Cultivate nobility.
—Κακίας ἀπέχου. Shun wickedness.
—Κοινὸς γίνου. Be common to all.
—Ἴδια φύλασσε. Guard what is yours.
—Ἀλλοτρίων ἀπέχου. Avoid what belongs to others.
—Εὔφημος ἴσθι. Be of good speech.
—Ἄκουε πάντα. Listen to everything.
—Φίλῳ χαρίζου. Be gracious to your friend.
—Μηδὲν ἄγαν. Nothing in excess.
—Χρόνου φείδου. Spare time.
—Ὅρα τὸ μέλλον. Consider the future.
—Ὕβριν μίσει. Hate hubris.
—Ἱκέτας αἰδοῦ. Show respect to supplicants.
—Πᾶσιν ἅρμοζε. Adapt to all.
—Υἱοὺς παίδευε. Educate your sons.
—Ἔχων χαρίζου. Be generous when you have.
—Δόλον φοβοῦ. Fear deceit.
—Εὐλόγει πάντας. Speak well of everyone.
—Φιλόσοφος γίνου. Become a philosopher.
—Ὅσια κρῖνε. Judge what is holy.
—Γνοὺς πρᾶττε. Act after knowing.
—Φόνου ἀπέχου. Avoid murder.
—Εὔχου δυνατά. Pray for possible things.
—Σοφοῖς χρῶ. Associate with the wise.
—Ἦθος δοκίμαζε. Examine character.
—Λαβὼν ἀπόδος. Repay what you receive.
—Ὑφορῶ μηδένα. Look down on no one.
—Τέχνῃ χρῶ. Use skill.
—Ὃ μέλλεις, δός. Give what you intend to.
—Εὐεργεσίας τίμα. Honor acts of kindness.
—Φθόνει μηδενί. Envy no one.
—Φυλακῇ πρόσεχε. Be mindful of guarding.
—Ἐλπίδα αἴνει. Praise hope.
—Διαβολὴν μίσει. Hate slander.
—Δικαίως κτῶ. Acquire justly.
—Ἀγαθοὺς τίμα. Honor the good.
—Κριτὴν γνῶθι. Recognize a judge.
—Γάμους κράτει. Control marriage.
—Τύχην νόμιζε. Respect fortune.
—Ἐγγύην φεῦγε. Avoid guarantees.
—Πᾶσι διαλέγου. Converse with everyone.
—Ὁμοίοις χρῶ. Use like-minded people.
—Δαπανῶν ἄρχου. Manage your expenses.
—Κτώμενος ἥδου. Rejoice in acquiring.
—Αἰσχύνην σέβου. Respect modesty.
—Χάριν ἐκτέλει. Fulfill gratitude.
—Εὐτυχίαν εὔχου. Pray for success.
—Τύχην στέργε. Embrace fortune.
—Ἀκούων ὅρα. Be watchful while hearing.
—Ἐργάζου κτητά. Work for what is attainable.
—Ἔριν μίσει. Hate strife.
—Ὄνειδος ἔχθαιρε. Detest disgrace.
—Γλῶσσαν ἴσχε. Restrain your tongue.
—Ὕβριν ἀμύνου. Defend against arrogance.
—Κρῖνε δίκαια. Judge fairly.
—Χρῶ χρήμασιν. Use your resources wisely.
—Ἀδωροδόκητος δοκίμαζε. Test without bribes.
—Αἰτιῶ παρόντα. Hold accountable the present.
—Λέγε εἰδώς. Speak with knowledge.
—Βίας μὴ ἔχου. Do not practice violence.
—Ἀλύπως βίου. Live without pain.
—Ὁμίλει πρᾴως. Associate gently.
—Πέρας ἐπιτέλει μὴ ἀποδειλιῶν. Complete your tasks without hesitation.
—Φιλοφρόνει πᾶσιν. Be kind to all.
—Υἱοῖς μὴ καταρῶ. Do not curse your sons.
—Γλώττης ἄρχε. Control your tongue.
—Σαυτὸν εὖ ποίει. Take care of yourself.
—Εὐπροσήγορος γίνου. Be approachable.
—Ἀποκρίνου ἐν καιρῷ. Respond at the right time.
—Πόνει μετὰ δικαίου. Labor with justice.
—Πρᾶττε ἀμετανοήτως. Act without regret.
—Ἁμαρτάνων μετανόει. Repent if you err.
—Ὀφθαλμοῦ κράτει. Control your eyes.
—Βουλεύου χρόνῳ. Deliberate with time.
—Ἐπιτέλει συντόμως. Accomplish quickly.
—Φιλίαν φύλασσε. Preserve friendship.
—Εὐγνώμων γίνου. Be grateful.
—Ὁμόνοιαν δίωκε. Strive for unity.
—Ἄῤῥητον μὴ λέγε. Do not say the unspeakable.
—Τὸ κρατοῦν φοβοῦ. Fear authority.
—Τὸ συμφέρον θηρῶ. Seek what is beneficial.
—Καιρὸν προσδέχου. Await the right time.
—Ἔχθρας διάλυε. Dissolve hostilities.
—Γῆρας προσδέχου. Welcome old age.
—Ἐπὶ ῥώμῃ μὴ καυχῶ. Do not boast in strength.
—Εὐφημίαν ἄσκει. Cultivate good reputation.
—Ἀπέχθειαν φεῦγε. Avoid hatred.
—Πλούτει δικαίως. Prosper justly.
—Δόξαν μὴ λεῖπε. Do not forsake glory.
—Κακίαν μίσει. Hate evil.
—Μανθάνων μὴ κάμνε. Do not tire in learning.
—Κινδύνευε φρονίμως. Risk wisely.
—Ἡδόμενος μὴ λεῖπε. Do not cease enjoying.
—Χρησμοὺς θαύμαζε. Marvel at prophecies.
—Οὓς τρέφεις, ἀγάπα. Love those you nurture.
—Ἀπόντι μὴ μάχου. Do not fight with the absent.
—Πρεσβύτερον αἰδοῦ. Respect the elder.
—Νεώτερον δίδασκε. Teach the younger.
—Πλούτῳ ἀπίστει. Do not trust in wealth.
—Σαυτὸν αἰδοῦ. Respect yourself.
—Μὴ ἄρχε ὑβρίζειν. Do not begin with arrogance.
—Προγόνους στεφάνου. Crown your ancestors.
—Θνῆσκε ὑπὲρ πατρίδος. Die for your country.
—Τῷ βίῳ μὴ μάχου. Do not oppose life.
—Ἐπὶ νεκρῷ μὴ γέλα. Do not mock the dead.
—Ἀτυχοῦντι συνάχθου. Join with the unfortunate.
—Χαρίζου ἀβλαβῶς. Be gracious without harm.
—Μὴ ἐπὶ παντὶ λυποῦ. Do not grieve over everything.
—Ἐξ εὐγενῶν γέννα. Marry from noble stock.
—Ἐπαγγέλλου μηδενί. Promise nothing at all.
—Φθιμένους μὴ ἀδίκει. Do not wrong the deceased.
—Εὖ πάσχε ὡς θνητός. Endure well as a mortal.
—Τύχῃ μὴ πίστευε. Do not trust in fortune.
—Παῖς ὢν κόσμιος ἴσθι, ἡβῶν ἐγκρατής, μέσος δίκαιος, πρεσβύτερος εὔλογος. As a child, be orderly; as a youth, temperate; as an adult, just; as an elder, wise.
—Τελεύτα ἀλύπως. End life without pain.
—Πλήθει ἄρεσκε. Please the majority.
—Μὴ λάλει πρὸς ἡδονήν. Do not speak for pleasure.
—Ὁμολογίαις ἔμμενε. Keep your agreements.
—Θυσίας πρόσφερε κατὰ δύναμιν. Offer sacrifices according to your ability.
—Σαυτῷ μὴ μάχου. Do not fight with yourself.
—Μὴ ἐπὶ παντὶ λυποῦ. Do not grieve over everything.
—Τῷ βίῳ μὴ ἄχθου. Do not burden yourself with life.
—Μὴ φιλαίτιος ἴσθι. Do not be contentious.
—Ἐπαγγέλλου μηδενὶ τὸ παράπαν. Promise nothing at all.
—Χρόνου φείδου. Spare time.
—Ἐνδαπανώμενος καὶ ἐφ’ ἃ μὴ δεῖ, ὀλίγος ἔσῃ ἐφ’ ἃ δεῖ. If you waste on unnecessary things, you will lack for necessary ones.

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