“No one sews

A piece

Of new unshrunk cloth

On an old cloak.

The patch pulls away

From the cloak.

A worse tear is made.”

 

οὐδεὶς δὲ ἐπιβάλλει ἐπίβλημα ῥάκους ἀγνάφου ἐπὶ ἱματίῳ παλαιῷ· αἴρει γὰρ τὸ πλήρωμα αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ τοῦ ἱματίου, καὶ χεῖρον σχίσμα γίνεται.

 

This mending of cloth saying is almost the same as in Mark, chapter 2:21, and Luke, chapter 5:36.  No one would sow a new piece of cloth (οὐδεὶς δὲ ἐπιβάλλει ἐπίβλημα ῥάκους ἀγνάφου) on an old cloak or coat (ἐπὶ ἱματίῳ παλαιῷ).  This new patch would pull away (αἴρει γὰρ τὸ πλήρωμα αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ τοῦ ἱματίου) and there would be a worse tear there than before (καὶ χεῖρον σχίσμα γίνεται.).  In other words, do not mend coats with new pieces of cloth.  The new with the old will not work.  Let the old garment wear out, because there is nothing that you can do to it.