Bible, King James Version
Wisdom of Jesus Son of Sirach
Sir.1
[1] All wisdom cometh from the Lord, and is with him for
ever.
[2] Who can number the sand of the sea, and the drops of rain,
and the days of eternity?
[3] Who can find out the height of heaven,
and the breadth of the earth, and the deep, and wisdom?
[4] Wisdom
hath been created before all things, and the understanding of prudence from
everlasting.
[5] The word of God most high is the fountain of wisdom;
and her ways are everlasting commandments.
[6] To whom hath the root
of wisdom been revealed? or who hath known her wise counsels?
[7]
[Unto whom hath the knowledge of wisdom been made manifest? and who hath
understood her great experience?]
[8] There is one wise and greatly to
be feared, the Lord sitting upon his throne.
[9] He created her, and
saw her, and numbered her, and poured her out upon all his works.
[10]
She is with all flesh according to his gift, and he hath given her to them that
love him.
[11] The fear of the Lord is honour, and glory, and
gladness, and a crown of rejoicing.
[12] The fear of the Lord maketh a
merry heart, and giveth joy, and gladness, and a long life.
[13] Whoso
feareth the Lord, it shall go well with him at the last, and he shall find
favour in the day of his death.
[14] To fear the Lord is the beginning
of wisdom: and it was created with the faithful in the womb.
[15] She
hath built an everlasting foundation with men, and she shall continue with their
seed.
[16] To fear the Lord is fulness of wisdom, and filleth men with
her fruits.
[17] She filleth all their house with things desirable,
and the garners with her increase.
[18] The fear of the Lord is a
crown of wisdom, making peace and perfect health to flourish; both which are the
gifts of God: and it enlargeth their rejoicing that love him.
[19]
Wisdom raineth down skill and knowledge of understanding standing, and exalteth
them to honour that hold her fast.
[20] The root of wisdom is to fear
the Lord, and the branches thereof are long life.
[21] The fear of the
Lord driveth away sins: and where it is present, it turneth away
wrath.
[22] A furious man cannot be justified; for the sway of his
fury shall be his destruction.
[23] A patient man will tear for a
time, and afterward joy shall spring up unto him.
[24] He will hide
his words for a time, and the lips of many shall declare his
wisdom.
[25] The parables of knowledge are in the treasures of wisdom:
but godliness is an abomination to a sinner.
[26] If thou desire
wisdom, keep the commandments, and the Lord shall give her unto
thee.
[27] For the fear of the Lord is wisdom and instruction: and
faith and meekness are his delight.
[28] Distrust not the fear of the
Lord when thou art poor: and come not unto him with a double
heart.
[29] Be not an hypocrite in the sight of men, and take good
heed what thou speakest.
[30] Exalt not thyself, lest thou fall, and
bring dishonour upon thy soul, and so God discover thy secrets, and cast thee
down in the midst of the congregation, because thou camest not in truth to the
fear of the Lord, but thy heart is full of deceit.
Sir.2
[1] My son, if thou come to serve the Lord, prepare thy
soul for temptation.
[2] Set thy heart aright, and constantly endure,
and make not haste in time of trouble.
[3] Cleave unto him, and depart
not away, that thou mayest be increased at thy last end.
[4]
Whatsoever is brought upon thee take cheerfully, and be patient when thou art
changed to a low estate.
[5] For gold is tried in the fire, and
acceptable men in the furnace of adversity.
[6] Believe in him, and he
will help thee; order thy way aright, and trust in him.
[7] Ye that
fear the Lord, wait for his mercy; and go not aside, lest ye fall.
[8]
Ye that fear the Lord, believe him; and your reward shall not
fail.
[9] Ye that fear the Lord, hope for good, and for everlasting
joy and mercy.
[10] Look at the generations of old, and see; did ever
any trust in the Lord, and was confounded? or did any abide in his fear, and was
forsaken? or whom did he ever despise, that called upon him?
[11] For
the Lord is full of compassion and mercy, longsuffering, and very pitiful, and
forgiveth sins, and saveth in time of affliction.
[12] Woe be to
fearful hearts, and faint hands, and the sinner that goeth two
ways!
[13] Woe unto him that is fainthearted! for he believeth not;
therefore shall he not be defended.
[14] Woe unto you that have lost
patience! and what will ye do when the Lord shall visit you?
[15] They
that fear the Lord will not disobey his Word; and they that love him will keep
his ways.
[16] They that fear the Lord will seek that which is well,
pleasing unto him; and they that love him shall be filled with the
law.
[17] They that fear the Lord will prepare their hearts, and
humble their souls in his sight,
[18] Saying, We will fall into the
hands of the Lord, and not into the hands of men: for as his majesty is, so is
his mercy.
Sir.3
[1] Hear me your father, O children, and do thereafter,
that ye may be safe.
[2] For the Lord hath given the father honour
over the children, and hath confirmed the authority of the mother over the
sons.
[3] Whoso honoureth his father maketh an atonement for his
sins:
[4] And he that honoureth his mother is as one that layeth up
treasure.
[5] Whoso honoureth his father shall have joy of his own
children; and when he maketh his prayer, he shall be heard.
[6] He
that honoureth his father shall have a long life; and he that is obedient unto
the Lord shall be a comfort to his mother.
[7] He that feareth the
Lord will honour his father, and will do service unto his parents, as to his
masters.
[8] Honour thy father and mother both in word and deed, that
a blessing may come upon thee from them.
[9] For the blessing of the
father establisheth the houses of children; but the curse of the mother rooteth
out foundations.
[10] Glory not in the dishonour of thy father; for
thy father's dishonour is no glory unto thee.
[11] For the glory of a
man is from the honour of his father; and a mother in dishonour is a reproach to
the children.
[12] My son, help thy father in his age, and grieve him
not as long as he liveth.
[13] And if his understanding fail, have
patience with him; and despise him not when thou art in thy full
strength.
[14] For the relieving of thy father shall not be forgotten:
and instead of sins it shall be added to build thee up.
[15] In the
day of thine affliction it shall be remembered; thy sins also shall melt away,
as the ice in the fair warm weather.
[16] He that forsaketh his father
is as a blasphemer; and he that angereth his mother is cursed: of
God.
[17] My son, go on with thy business in meekness; so shalt thou
be beloved of him that is approved.
[18] The greater thou art, the
more humble thyself, and thou shalt find favour before the Lord.
[19]
Many are in high place, and of renown: but mysteries are revealed unto the
meek.
[20] For the power of the Lord is great, and he is honoured of
the lowly.
[21] Seek not out things that are too hard for thee,
neither search the things that are above thy strength.
[22] But what
is commanded thee, think thereupon with reverence, for it is not needful for
thee to see with thine eyes the things that are in secret.
[23] Be not
curious in unnecessary matters: for more things are shewed unto thee than men
understand.
[24] For many are deceived by their own vain opinion; and
an evil suspicion hath overthrown their judgment.
[25] Without eyes
thou shalt want light: profess not the knowledge therefore that thou hast
not.
[26] A stubborn heart shall fare evil at the last; and he that
loveth danger shall perish therein.
[27] An obstinate heart shall be
laden with sorrows; and the wicked man shall heap sin upon sin.
[28]
In the punishment of the proud there is no remedy; for the plant of wickedness
hath taken root in him.
[29] The heart of the prudent will understand
a parable; and an attentive ear is the desire of a wise man.
[30]
Water will quench a flaming fire; and alms maketh an atonement for
sins.
[31] And he that requiteth good turns is mindful of that which
may come hereafter; and when he falleth, he shall find a stay.
Sir.4
[1] My son, defraud not the poor of his living, and make
not the needy eyes to wait long.
[2] Make not an hungry soul
sorrowful; neither provoke a man in his distress.
[3] Add not more
trouble to an heart that is vexed; and defer not to give to him that is in
need.
[4] Reject not the supplication of the afflicted; neither turn
away thy face from a poor man.
[5] Turn not away thine eye from the
needy, and give him none occasion to curse thee:
[6] For if he curse
thee in the bitterness of his soul, his prayer shall be heard of him that made
him.
[7] Get thyself the love of the congregation, and bow thy head to
a great man.
[8] Let it not grieve thee to bow down thine ear to the
poor, and give him a friendly answer with meekness.
[9] Deliver him
that suffereth wrong from the hand of the oppressor; and be not fainthearted
when thou sittest in judgment.
[10] Be as a father unto the
fatherless, and instead of an husband unto their mother: so shalt thou be as the
son of the most High, and he shall love thee more than thy mother
doth.
[11] Wisdom exalteth her children, and layeth hold of them that
seek her.
[12] He that loveth her loveth life; and they that seek to
her early shall be filled with joy.
[13] He that holdeth her fast
shall inherit glory; and wheresoever she entereth, the Lord will
bless.
[14] They that serve her shall minister to the Holy One: and
them that love her the Lord doth love.
[15] Whoso giveth ear unto her
shall judge the nations: and he that attendeth unto her shall dwell
securely.
[16] If a man commit himself unto her, he shall inherit her;
and his generation shall hold her in possession.
[17] For at the first
she will walk with him by crooked ways, and bring fear and dread upon him, and
torment him with her discipline, until she may trust his soul, and try him by
her laws.
[18] Then will she return the straight way unto him, and
comfort him, and shew him her secrets.
[19] But if he go wrong, she
will forsake him, and give him over to his own ruin.
[20] Observe the
opportunity, and beware of evil; and be not ashamed when it concerneth thy
soul.
[21] For there is a shame that bringeth sin; and there is a
shame which is glory and grace.
[22] Accept no person against thy
soul, and let not the reverence of any man cause thee to fall.
[23]
And refrain not to speak, when there is occasion to do good, and hide not thy
wisdom in her beauty.
[24] For by speech wisdom shall be known: and
learning by the word of the tongue.
[25] In no wise speak against the
truth; but be abashed of the error of thine ignorance.
[26] Be not
ashamed to confess thy sins; and force not the course of the
river.
[27] Make not thyself an underling to a foolish man; neither
accept the person of the mighty.
[28] Strive for the truth unto death,
and the Lord shall fight for thee.
[29] Be not hasty in thy tongue,
and in thy deeds slack and remiss.
[30] Be not as a lion in thy house,
nor frantick among thy servants.
[31] Let not thine hand be stretched
out to receive, and shut when thou shouldest repay.
Sir.5
[1] Set thy heart upon thy goods; and say not, I have
enough for my life.
[2] Follow not thine own mind and thy strength, to
walk in the ways of thy heart:
[3] And say not, Who shall controul me
for my works? for the Lord will surely revenge thy pride.
[4] Say not,
I have sinned, and what harm hath happened unto me? for the Lord is
longsuffering, he will in no wise let thee go.
[5] Concerning
propitiation, be not without fear to add sin unto sin:
[6] And say not
His mercy is great; he will be pacified for the multitude of my sins: for mercy
and wrath come from him, and his indignation resteth upon sinners.
[7]
Make no tarrying to turn to the Lord, and put not off from day to day: for
suddenly shall the wrath of the Lord come forth, and in thy security thou shalt
be destroyed, and perish in the day of vengeance.
[8] Set not thine
heart upon goods unjustly gotten, for they shall not profit thee in the day of
calamity.
[9] Winnow not with every wind, and go not into every way:
for so doth the sinner that hath a double tongue.
[10] Be stedfast in
thy understanding; and let thy word be the same.
[11] Be swift to
hear; and let thy life be sincere; and with patience give answer.
[12]
If thou hast understanding, answer thy neighbour; if not, lay thy hand upon thy
mouth.
[13] Honour and shame is in talk: and the tongue of man is his
fall.
[14] Be not called a whisperer, and lie not in wait with thy
tongue: for a foul shame is upon the thief, and an evil condemnation upon the
double tongue.
[15] Be not ignorant of any thing in a great matter or
a small.
Sir.6
[1] Instead of a friend become not an enemy; for [thereby]
thou shalt inherit an ill name, shame, and reproach: even so shall a sinner that
hath a double tongue.
[2] Extol not thyself in the counsel of thine
own heart; that thy soul be not torn in pieces as a bull [straying
alone.]
[3] Thou shalt eat up thy leaves, and lose thy fruit, and
leave thyself as a dry tree.
[4] A wicked soul shall destroy him that
hath it, and shall make him to be laughed to scorn of his enemies.
[5]
Sweet language will multiply friends: and a fairspeaking tongue will increase
kind greetings.
[6] Be in peace with many: nevertheless have but one
counsellor of a thousand.
[7] If thou wouldest get a friend, prove him
first and be not hasty to credit him.
[8] For some man is a friend for
his own occasion, and will not abide in the day of thy trouble.
[9]
And there is a friend, who being turned to enmity, and strife will discover thy
reproach.
[10] Again, some friend is a companion at the table, and
will not continue in the day of thy affliction.
[11] But in thy
prosperity he will be as thyself, and will be bold over thy
servants.
[12] If thou be brought low, he will be against thee, and
will hide himself from thy face.
[13] Separate thyself from thine
enemies, and take heed of thy friends.
[14] A faithfu1l friend is a
strong defence: and he that hath found such an one hath found a
treasure.
[15] Nothing doth countervail a faithful friend, and his
excellency is invaluable.
[16] A faithful friend is the medicine of
life; and they that fear the Lord shall find him.
[17] Whoso feareth
the Lord shall direct his friendship aright: for as he is, so shall his
neighbour be also.
[18] My son, gather instruction from thy youth up:
so shalt thou find wisdom till thine old age.
[19] Come unto her as
one that ploweth and soweth, and wait for her good fruits: for thou shalt not
toil much in labouring about her, but thou shalt eat of her fruits right
soon.
[20] She is very unpleasant to the unlearned: he that is without
understanding will not remain with her.
[21] She will lie upon him as
a mighty stone of trial; and he will cast her from him ere it be
long.
[22] For wisdom is according to her name, and she is not
manifest unto many.
[23] Give ear, my son, receive my advice, and
refuse not my counsel,
[24] And put thy feet into her fetters, and thy
neck into her chain.
[25] Bow down thy shoulder, and bear her, and be
not grieved with her bonds.
[26] Come unto her with thy whole heart,
and keep her ways with all thy power.
[27] Search, and seek, and she
shall be made known unto thee: and when thou hast got hold of her, let her not
go.
[28] For at the last thou shalt find her rest, and that shall be
turned to thy joy.
[29] Then shall her fetters be a strong defence for
thee, and her chains a robe of glory.
[30] For there is a golden
ornament upon her, and her bands are purple lace.
[31] Thou shalt put
her on as a robe of honour, and shalt put her about thee as a crown of
joy.
[32] My son, if thou wilt, thou shalt be taught: and if thou wilt
apply thy mind, thou shalt be prudent.
[33] If thou love to hear, thou
shalt receive understanding: and if thou bow thine ear, thou shalt be
wise,
[34] Stand in the multitude of the elders; and cleave unto him
that is wise.
[35] Be willing to hear every godly discourse; and let
not the parables of understanding escape thee.
[36] And if thou seest
a man of understanding, get thee betimes unto him, and let thy foot wear the
steps of his door.
[37] Let thy mind be upon the ordinances of the
Lord and meditate continually in his commandments: he shall establish thine
heart, and give thee wisdom at thine owns desire.
Sir.7
[1] Do no evil, so shall no harm come unto
thee.
[2] Depart from the unjust, and iniquity shall turn away from
thee.
[3] My son, sow not upon the furrows of unrighteousness, and
thou shalt not reap them sevenfold.
[4] Seek not of the Lord
preeminence, neither of the king the seat of honour.
[5] justify not
thyself before the Lord; and boast not of thy wisdom before the
king.
[6] Seek not to be judge, being not able to take away iniquity;
lest at any time thou fear the person of the mighty, an stumblingblock in the
way of thy uprightness.
[7] Offend not against the multitude of a
city, and then thou shalt not cast thyself down among the people.
[8]
Bind not one sin upon another; for in one thou shalt not be
unpunished.
[9] Say not, God will look upon the multitude of my
oblations, and when I offer to the most high God, he will accept
it.
[10] Be not fainthearted when thou makest thy prayer, and neglect
not to give alms.
[11] Laugh no man to scorn in the bitterness of his
soul: for there is one which humbleth and exalteth.
[12] Devise not a
lie against thy brother; neither do the like to thy friend.
[13] Use
not to make any manner of lie: for the custom thereof is not
good.
[14] Use not many words in a multitude of elders, and make not
much babbling when thou prayest.
[15] Hate not laborious work, neither
husbandry, which the most High hath ordained.
[16] Number not thyself
among the multitude of sinners, but remember that wrath will not tarry
long.
[17] Humble thyself greatly: for the vengeance of the ungodly is
fire and worms.
[18] Change not a friend for any good by no means;
neither a faithful brother for the gold of Ophir.
[19] Forego not a
wise and good woman: for her grace is above gold.
[20] Whereas thy
servant worketh truly, entreat him not evil. nor the hireling that bestoweth
himself wholly for thee.
[21] Let thy soul love a good servant, and
defraud him not of liberty.
[22] Hast thou cattle? have an eye to
them: and if they be for thy profit, keep them with thee.
[23] Hast
thou children? instruct them, and bow down their neck from their
youth.
[24] Hast thou daughters? have a care of their body, and shew
not thyself cheerful toward them.
[25] Marry thy daughter, and so
shalt thou have performed a weighty matter: but give her to a man of
understanding.
[26] Hast thou a wife after thy mind? forsake her not:
but give not thyself over to a light woman.
[27] Honour thy father
with thy whole heart, and forget not the sorrows of thy mother.
[28]
Remember that thou wast begotten of them; and how canst thou recompense them the
things that they have done for thee?
[29] Fear the Lord with all thy
soul, and reverence his priests.
[30] Love him that made thee with all
thy strength, and forsake not his ministers.
[31] Fear the Lord, and
honor the priest; and give him his portion, as it is commanded thee; the
firstfruits, and the trespass offering, and the gift of the shoulders, and the
sacrifice of sanctification, and the firstfruits of the holy
things.
[32] And stretch thine hand unto the poor, that thy blessing
may be perfected.
[33] A gift hath grace in the sight of every man
living; and for the dead detain it not.
[34] Fail not to be with them
that weep, and mourn with them that mourn.
[35] Be not slow to visit
the sick: fir that shall make thee to be beloved.
[36] Whatsoever thou
takest in hand, remember the end, and thou shalt never do amiss.
Sir.8
[1] Strive not with a mighty man' lest thou fall into his
hands.
[2] Be not at variance with a rich man, lest he overweigh thee:
for gold hath destroyed many, and perverted the hearts of kings.
[3]
Strive not with a man that is full of tongue, and heap not wood upon his
fire.
[4] Jest not with a rude man, lest thy ancestors be
disgraced.
[5] Reproach not a man that turneth from sin, but remember
that we are all worthy of punishment.
[6] Dishonour not a man in his
old age: for even some of us wax old.
[7] Rejoice not over thy
greatest enemy being dead, but remember that we die all.
[8] Despise
not the discourse of the wise, but acquaint thyself with their proverbs: for of
them thou shalt learn instruction, and how to serve great men with
ease.
[9] Miss not the discourse of the elders: for they also learned
of their fathers, and of them thou shalt learn understanding, and to give answer
as need requireth.
[10] Kindle not the coals of a sinner, lest thou be
burnt with the flame of his fire.
[11] Rise not up [in anger] at the
presence of an injurious person, lest he lie in wait to entrap thee in thy
words
[12] Lend not unto him that is mightier than thyself; for if
thou lendest him, count it but lost.
[13] Be not surety above thy
power: for if thou be surety, take care to pay it.
[14] Go not to law
with a judge; for they will judge for him according to his
honour.
[15] Travel not by the way with a bold fellow, lest he become
grievous unto thee: for he will do according to his own will, and thou shalt
perish with him through his folly.
[16] Strive not with an angry man,
and go not with him into a solitary place: for blood is as nothing in his sight,
and where there is no help, he will overthrow thee.
[17] Consult not
with a fool; for he cannot keep counsel.
[18] Do no secret thing
before a stranger; for thou knowest not what he will bring forth.
[19]
Open not thine heart to every man, lest he requite thee with a shrewd turn.
Sir.9
[1] Be not jealous over the wife of thy bosom, and teach
her not an evil lesson against thyself.
[2] Give not thy soul unto a
woman to set her foot upon thy substance.
[3] Meet not with an harlot,
lest thou fall into her snares.
[4] Use not much the company of a
woman that is a singer, lest thou be taken with her attempts.
[5] Gaze
not on a maid, that thou fall not by those things that are precious in
her.
[6] Give not thy soul unto harlots, that thou lose not thine
inheritance.
[7] Look not round about thee in the streets of the city,
neither wander thou in the solitary place thereof.
[8] Turn away thine
eye from a beautiful woman, and look not upon another's beauty; for many have
been deceived by the beauty of a woman; for herewith love is kindled as a
fire.
[9] Sit not at all with another man's wife, nor sit down with
her in thine arms, and spend not thy money with her at the wine; lest thine
heart incline unto her, and so through thy desire thou fall into
destruction.
[10] Forsake not an old friend; for the new is not
comparable to him: a new friend is as new wine; when it is old, thou shalt drink
it with pleasure.
[11] Envy not the glory of a sinner: for thou
knowest not what shall be his end.
[12] Delight not in the thing that
the ungodly have pleasure in; but remember they shall not go unpunished unto
their grave.
[13] Keep thee far from the man that hath power to kill;
so shalt thou not doubt the fear of death: and if thou come unto him, make no
fault, lest he take away thy life presently: remember that thou goest in the
midst of snares, and that thou walkest upon the battlements of the
city.
[14] As near as thou canst, guess at thy neighbour, and consult
with the wise.
[15] Let thy talk be with the wise, and all thy
communication in the law of the most High.
[16] And let just men eat
and drink with thee; and let thy glorying be in the fear of the
Lord.
[17] For the hand of the artificer the work shall be commended:
and the wise ruler of the people for his speech.
[18] A man of an ill
tongue is dangerous in his city; and he that is rash in his talk shall be
hated.
Sir.10
[1] A wise judge will instruct his people; and the
government of a prudent man is well ordered.
[2] As the judge of the
people is himself, so are his officers; and what manner of man the ruler of the
city is, such are all they that dwell therein.
[3] An unwise king
destroyeth his people; but through the prudence of them which are in authority
the city shall be inhabited.
[4] The power of the earth is in the hand
of the Lord, and in due time he will set over it one that is
profitable.
[5] In the hand of God is the prosperity of man: and upon
the person of the scribe shall he lay his honour.
[6] Bear not hatred
to thy neighbour for every wrong; and do nothing at all by injurious
practices.
[7] Pride is hateful before God and man: and by both doth
one commit iniquity.
[8] Because of unrighteous dealings, injuries,
and riches got by deceit, the kingdom is translated from one people to
another.
[9] Why is earth and ashes proud? There is not a more wicked
thing than a covetous man: for such an one setteth his own soul to sale; because
while he liveth he casteth away his bowels.
[10] The physician cutteth
off a long disease; and he that is to day a king to morrow shall
die.
[11] For when a man is dead, he shall inherit creeping things,
beasts, and worms.
[12] The beginning of pride is when one departeth
from God, and his heart is turned away from his Maker.
[13] For pride
is the beginning of sin, and he that hath it shall pour out abomination: and
therefore the Lord brought upon them strange calamities, and overthrew them
utterly.
[14] The Lord hath cast down the thrones of proud princes,
and set up the meek in their stead.
[15] The Lord hath plucked up the
roots of the proud nations, and planted the lowly in their place.
[16]
The Lord overthrew countries of the heathen, and destroyed them to the
foundations of the earth.
[17] He took some of them away, and
destroyed them, and hath made their memorial to cease from the
earth.
[18] Pride was not made for men, nor furious anger for them
that are born of a woman.
[19] They that fear the Lord are a sure
seed, and they that love him an honourable plant: they that regard not the law
are a dishonourable seed; they that transgress the commandments are a deceivable
seed.
[20] Among brethren he that is chief is honorable; so are they
that fear the Lord in his eyes.
[21] The fear of the Lord goeth before
the obtaining of authority: but roughness and pride is the losing
thereof.
[22] Whether he be rich, noble, or poor, their glory is the
fear of the Lord.
[23] It is not meet to despise the poor man that
hath understanding; neither is it convenient to magnify a sinful
man.
[24] Great men, and judges, and potentates, shall be honoured;
yet is there none of them greater than he that feareth the Lord.
[25]
Unto the servant that is wise shall they that are free do service: and he that
hath knowledge will not grudge when he is reformed.
[26] Be not
overwise in doing thy business; and boast not thyself in the time of thy
distress.
[27] Better is he that laboureth, and aboundeth in all
things, than he that boasteth himself, and wanteth bread.
[28] My son,
glorify thy soul in meekness, and give it honour according to the dignity
thereof.
[29] Who will justify him that sinneth against his own soul?
and who will honour him that dishonoureth his own life?
[30] The poor
man is honoured for his skill, and the rich man is honoured for his
riches.
[31] He that is honoured in poverty, how much more in riches?
and he that is dishonourable in riches, how much more in poverty?
Sir.11
[1] Wisdom lifteth up the head of him that is of low
degree, and maketh him to sit among great men.
[2] Commend not a man
for his beauty; neither abhor a man for his outward appearance.
[3]
The bee is little among such as fly; but her fruit is the chief of sweet
things.
[4] Boast not of thy clothing and raiment, and exalt not
thyself in the day of honour: for the works of the Lord are wonderful, and his
works among men are hidden.
[5] Many kings have sat down upon the
ground; and one that was never thought of hath worn the crown.
[6]
Many mighty men have been greatly disgraced; and the honourable delivered into
other men's hands.
[7] Blame not before thou hast examined the truth:
understand first, and then rebuke.
[8] Answer not before thou hast
heard the cause: neither interrupt men in the midst of their talk.
[9]
Strive not in a matter that concerneth thee not; and sit not in judgment with
sinners.
[10] My son, meddle not with many matters: for if thou meddle
much, thou shalt not be innocent; and if thou follow after, thou shalt not
obtain, neither shalt thou escape by fleeing.
[11] There is one that
laboureth, and taketh pains, and maketh haste, and is so much the more
behind.
[12] Again, there is another that is slow, and hath need of
help, wanting ability, and full of poverty; yet the eye of the Lord looked upon
him for good, and set him up from his low estate,
[13] And lifted up
his head from misery; so that many that saw from him is peace over all
the
[14] Prosperity and adversity, life and death, poverty and riches,
come of the Lord.
[15] Wisdom, knowledge, and understanding of the
law, are of the Lord: love, and the way of good works, are from
him.
[16] Error and darkness had their beginning together with
sinners: and evil shall wax old with them that glory therein.
[17] The
gift of the Lord remaineth with the ungodly, and his favour bringeth prosperity
for ever.
[18] There is that waxeth rich by his wariness and pinching,
and this his the portion of his reward:
[19] Whereas he saith, I have
found rest, and now will eat continually of my goods; and yet he knoweth not
what time shall come upon him, and that he must leave those things to others,
and die.
[20] Be stedfast in thy covenant, and be conversant therein,
and wax old in thy work.
[21] Marvel not at the works of sinners; but
trust in the Lord, and abide in thy labour: for it is an easy thing in the sight
of the Lord on the sudden to make a poor man rich.
[22] The blessing
of the Lord is in the reward of the godly, and suddenly he maketh his blessing
flourish.
[23] Say not, What profit is there of my service? and what
good things shall I have hereafter?
[24] Again, say not, I have
enough, and possess many things, and what evil shall I have
hereafter?
[25] In the day of prosperity there is a forgetfulness of
affliction: and in the day of affliction there is no more remembrance of
prosperity.
[26] For it is an easy thing unto the Lord in the day of
death to reward a man according to his ways.
[27] The affliction of an
hour maketh a man forget pleasure: and in his end his deeds shall be
discovered.
[28] Judge none blessed before his death: for a man shall
be known in his children.
[29] Bring not every man into thine house:
for the deceitful man hath many trains.
[30] Like as a partridge taken
[and kept] in a cage, so is the heart of the proud; and like as a spy, watcheth
he for thy fall:
[31] For he lieth in wait, and turneth good into
evil, and in things worthy praise will lay blame upon thee.
[32] Of a
spark of fire a heap of coals is kindled: and a sinful man layeth wait for
blood.
[33] Take heed of a mischievous man, for he worketh wickedness;
lest he bring upon thee a perpetual blot.
[34] Receive a stranger into
thine house, and he will disturb thee, and turn thee out of thine own.
Sir.12
[1] When thou wilt do good know to whom thou doest it; so
shalt thou be thanked for thy benefits.
[2] Do good to the godly man,
and thou shalt find a recompence; and if not from him, yet from the most
High.
[3] There can no good come to him that is always occupied in
evil, nor to him that giveth no alms.
[4] Give to the godly man, and
help not a sinner.
[5] Do well unto him that is lowly, but give not to
the ungodly: hold back thy bread, and give it not unto him, lest he overmaster
thee thereby: for [else] thou shalt receive twice as much evil for all the good
thou shalt have done unto him.
[6] For the most High hateth sinners,
and will repay vengeance unto the ungodly, and keepeth them against the mighty
day of their punishment.
[7] Give unto the good, and help not the
sinner.
[8] A friend cannot be known in prosperity: and an enemy
cannot be hidden in adversity.
[9] In the prosperity of a man enemies
will be grieved: but in his adversity even a friend will depart.
[10]
Never trust thine enemy: for like as iron rusteth, so is his
wickedness.
[11] Though he humble himself, and go crouching, yet take
good heed and beware of him, and thou shalt be unto him as if thou hadst wiped a
lookingglass, and thou shalt know that his rust hath not been altogether wiped
away.
[12] Set him not by thee, lest, when he hath overthrown thee, he
stand up in thy place; neither let him sit at thy right hand, lest he seek to
take thy seat, and thou at the last remember my words, and be pricked
therewith.
[13] Who will pity a charmer that is bitten with a serpent,
or any such as come nigh wild beasts?
[14] So one that goeth to a
sinner, and is defiled with him in his sins, who will pity?
[15] For a
while he will abide with thee, but if thou begin to fall, he will not
tarry.
[16] An enemy speaketh sweetly with his lips, but in his heart
he imagineth how to throw thee into a pit: he will weep with his eyes, but if he
find opportunity, he will not be satisfied with blood.
[17] If
adversity come upon thee, thou shalt find him there first; and though he pretend
to help thee, yet shall he undermine thee.
[18] He will shake his
head, and clap his hands, and whisper much, and change his countenance.
Sir.13
[1] He that toucheth pitch shall be defiled therewith; and
he that hath fellowship with a proud man shall be like unto him.
[2]
Burden not thyself above thy power while thou livest; and have no fellowship
with one that is mightier and richer than thyself: for how agree the kettle and
the earthen pot together? for if the one be smitten against the other, it shall
be broken.
[3] The rich man hath done wrong, and yet he threateneth
withal: the poor is wronged, and he must intreat also.
[4] If thou be
for his profit, he will use thee: but if thou have nothing, he will forsake
thee.
[5] If thou have any thing, he will live with thee: yea, he will
make thee bare, and will not be sorry for it.
[6] If he have need of
thee, he will deceive thee, and smile upon thee, and put thee in hope; he will
speak thee fair, and say, What wantest thou?
[7] And he will shame
thee by his meats, until he have drawn thee dry twice or thrice, and at the last
he will laugh thee to scorn afterward, when he seeth thee, he will forsake thee,
and shake his head at thee.
[8] Beware that thou be not deceived and
brought down in thy jollity.
[9] If thou be invited of a mighty man,
withdraw thyself, and so much the more will he invite thee.
[10] Press
thou not upon him, lest thou be put back; stand not far off, lest thou be
forgotten.
[11] Affect not to be made equal unto him in talk, and
believe not his many words: for with much communication will he tempt thee, and
smiling upon thee will get out thy secrets:
[12] But cruelly he will
lay up thy words, and will not spare to do thee hurt, and to put thee in
prison.
[13] Observe, and take good heed, for thou walkest in peril of
thy overthrowing: when thou hearest these things, awake in thy
sleep.
[14] Love the Lord all thy life, and call upon him for thy
salvation.
[15] Every beast loveth his like, and every man loveth his
neighbor.
[16] All flesh consorteth according to kind, and a man will
cleave to his like.
[17] What fellowship hath the wolf with the lamb?
so the sinner with the godly.
[18] What agreement is there between the
hyena and a dog? and what peace between the rich and the poor?
[19] As
the wild ass is the lion's prey in the wilderness: so the rich eat up the
poor.
[20] As the proud hate humility: so doth the rich abhor the
poor.
[21] A rich man beginning to fall is held up of his friends: but
a poor man being down is thrust away by his friends.
[22] When a rich
man is fallen, he hath many helpers: he speaketh things not to be spoken, and
yet men justify him: the poor man slipped, and yet they rebuked him too; he
spake wisely, and could have no place.
[23] When a rich man speaketh,
every man holdeth his tongue, and, look, what he saith, they extol it to the
clouds: but if the poor man speak, they say, What fellow is this? and if he
stumble, they will help to overthrow him.
[24] Riches are good unto
him that hath no sin, and poverty is evil in the mouth of the
ungodly.
[25] The heart of a man changeth his countenance, whether it
be for good or evil: and a merry heart maketh a cheerful
countenance.
[26] A cheerful countenance is a token of a heart that is
in prosperity; and the finding out of parables is a wearisome labour of the
mind.
Sir.14
[1] Blessed is the man that hath not slipped with his
mouth, and is not pricked with the multitude of sins.
[2] Blessed is
he whose conscience hath not condemned him, and who is not fallen from his hope
in the Lord.
[3] Riches are not comely for a niggard: and what should
an envious man do with money?
[4] He that gathereth by defrauding his
own soul gathereth for others, that shall spend his goods
riotously.
[5] He that is evil to himself, to whom will he be good? he
shall not take pleasure in his goods.
[6] There is none worse than he
that envieth himself; and this is a recompence of his wickedness.
[7]
And if he doeth good, he doeth it unwillingly; and at the last he will declare
his wickedness.
[8] The envious man hath a wicked eye; he turneth away
his face, and despiseth men.
[9] A covetous man's eye is not satisfied
with his portion; and the iniquity of the wicked drieth up his
soul.
[10] A wicked eye envieth [his] bread, and he is a niggard at
his table.
[11] My son, according to thy ability do good to thyself,
and give the Lord his due offering.
[12] Remember that death will not
be long in coming, and that the covenant of the grave is not shewed unto
thee.
[13] Do good unto thy friend before thou die, and according to
thy ability stretch out thy hand and give to him.
[14] Defraud not
thyself of the good day, and let not the part of a good desire overpass
thee.
[15] Shalt thou not leave thy travails unto another? and thy
labours to be divided by lot?
[16] Give, and take, and sanctify thy
soul; for there is no seeking of dainties in the grave.
[17] All flesh
waxeth old as a garment: for the covenant from the beginning is, Thou shalt die
the death.
[18] As of the green leaves on a thick tree, some fall, and
some grow; so is the generation of flesh and blood, one cometh to an end, and
another is born.
[19] Every work rotteth and consumeth away, and the
worker thereof shall go withal.
[20] Blessed is the man that doth
meditate good things in wisdom, and that reasoneth of holy things by his
understanding. ing.
[21] He that considereth her ways in his heart
shall also have understanding in her secrets.
[22] Go after her as one
that traceth, and lie in wait in her ways.
[23] He that prieth in at
her windows shall also hearken at her doors.
[24] He that doth lodge
near her house shall also fasten a pin in her walls.
[25] He shall
pitch his tent nigh unto her, and shall lodge in a lodging where good things
are.
[26] He shall set his children under her shelter, and shall lodge
under her branches.
[27] By her he shall be covered from heat, and in
her glory shall he dwell.
Sir.15
[1] He that feareth the Lord will do good, and he that
hath the knowledge of the law shall obtain her.
[2] And as a mother
shall she meet him, and receive him as a wife married of a virgin.
[3]
With the bread of understanding shall she feed him, and give him the water of
wisdom to drink.
[4] He shall be stayed upon her, and shall not be
moved; and shall rely upon her, and shall not be confounded.
[5] She
shall exalt him above his neighbours, and in the midst of the congregation shall
she open his mouth.
[6] He shall find joy and a crown of gladness, and
she shall cause him to inherit an everlasting name.
[7] But foolish
men shall not attain unto her, and sinners shall not see her.
[8] For
she is far from pride, and men that are liars cannot remember her.
[9]
Praise is not seemly in the mouth of a sinner, for it was not sent him of the
Lord.
[10] For praise shall be uttered in wisdom, and the Lord will
prosper it.
[11] Say not thou, It is through the Lord that I fell
away: for thou oughtest not to do the things that he hateth.
[12] Say
not thou, He hath caused me to err: for he hath no need of the sinful
man.
[13] The Lord hateth all abomination; and they that fear God love
it not.
[14] He himself made man from the beginning, and left him in
the hand of his counsel;
[15] If thou wilt, to keep the commandments,
and to perform acceptable faithfulness.
[16] He hath set fire and
water before thee: stretch forth thy hand unto whether thou wilt.
[17]
Before man is life and death; and whether him liketh shall be given
him.
[18] For the wisdom of the Lord is great, and he is mighty in
power, and beholdeth all things:
[19] And his eyes are upon them that
fear him, and he knoweth every work of man.
[20] He hath commanded no
man to do wickedly, neither hath he given any man licence to sin.
Sir.16
[1] Desire not a multitude of unprofitable children,
neither delight in ungodly sons.
[2] Though they multiply, rejoice not
in them, except the fear of the Lord be with them.
[3] Trust not thou
in their life, neither respect their multitude: for one that is just is better
than a thousand; and better it is to die without children, than to have them
that are ungodly.
[4] For by one that hath understanding shall the
city be replenished: but the kindred of the wicked shall speedily become
desolate.
[5] Many such things have I seen with mine eyes, and mine
ear hath heard greater things than these.
[6] In the congregation of
the ungodly shall a fire be kindled; and in a rebellious nation wrath is set on
fire.
[7] He was not pacified toward the old giants, who fell away in
the strength of their foolishness.
[8] Neither spared he the place
where Lot sojourned, but abhorred them for their pride.
[9] He pitied
not the people of perdition, who were taken away in their sins:
[10]
Nor the six hundred thousand footmen, who were gathered together in the hardness
of their hearts.
[11] And if there be one stiffnecked among the
people, it is marvel if he escape unpunished: for mercy and wrath are with him;
he is mighty to forgive, and to pour out displeasure.
[12] As his
mercy is great, so is his correction also: he judgeth a man according to his
works
[13] The sinner shall not escape with his spoils: and the
patience of the godly shall not be frustrate.
[14] Make way for every
work of mercy: for every man shall find according to his works.
[15]
The Lord hardened Pharaoh, that he should not know him, that his powerful works
might be known to the world.
[16] His mercy is manifest to every
creature; and he hath separated his light from the darkness with an
adamant.
[17] Say not thou, I will hide myself from the Lord: shall
any remember me from above? I shall not be remembered among so many people: for
what is my soul among such an infinite number of creatures?
[18]
Behold, the heaven, and the heaven of heavens, the deep, and the earth, and all
that therein is, shall be moved when he shall visit.
[19] The
mountains also and foundations of the earth be shaken with trembling, when the
Lord looketh upon them.
[20] No heart can think upon these things
worthily: and who is able to conceive his ways?
[21] It is a tempest
which no man can see: for the most part of his works are hid.
[22] Who
can declare the works of his justice? or who can endure them? for his covenant
is afar off, and the trial of all things is in the end.
[23] He that
wanteth understanding will think upon vain things: and a foolish man erring
imagineth follies.
[24] by son, hearken unto me, and learn knowledge,
and mark my words with thy heart.
[25] I will shew forth doctrine in
weight, and declare his knowledge exactly.
[26] The works of the Lord
are done in judgment from the beginning: and from the time he made them he
disposed the parts thereof.
[27] He garnished his works for ever, and
in his hand are the chief of them unto all generations: they neither labour, nor
are weary, nor cease from their works.
[28] None of them hindereth
another, and they shall never disobey his word.
[29] After this the
Lord looked upon the earth, and filled it with his blessings.
[30]
With all manner of living things hath he covered the face thereof; and they
shall return into it again.
Sir.17
[1] The Lord created man of the earth, and turned him into
it again.
[2] He gave them few days, and a short time, and power also
over the things therein.
[3] He endued them with strength by
themselves, and made them according to his image,
[4] And put the fear
of man upon all flesh, and gave him dominion over beasts and
fowls.
[5] They received the use of the five operations of the Lord,
and in the sixth place he imparted them understanding, and in the seventh
speech, an interpreter of the cogitations thereof.]
[6] Counsel, and a
tongue, and eyes, ears, and a heart, gave he them to understand.
[7]
Withal he filled them with the knowledge of understanding, and shewed them good
and evil.
[8] He set his eye upon their hearts, that he might shew
them the greatness of his works.
[9] He gave them to glory in his
marvellous acts for ever, that they might declare his works with
understanding.
[10] And the elect shall praise his holy
name.
[11] Beside this he gave them knowledge, and the law of life for
an heritage.
[12] He made an everlasting covenant with them, and
shewed them his judgments.
[13] Their eyes saw the majesty of his
glory, and their ears heard his glorious voice.
[14] And he said unto
them, Beware of all unrighteousness; and he gave every man commandment
concerning his neighbour.
[15] Their ways are ever before him, and
shall not be hid from his eyes.
[16] Every man from his youth is given
to evil; neither could they make to themselves fleshy hearts for
stony.
[17] For in the division of the nations of the whole earth he
set a ruler over every people; but Israel is the Lord's portion:
[18]
Whom, being his firstborn, he nourisheth with discipline, and giving him the
light of his love doth not forsake him.
[19] Therefore all their works
are as the sun before him, and his eyes are continually upon their
ways.
[20] None of their unrighteous deeds are hid from him, but all
their sins are before the Lord
[21] But the Lord being gracious and
knowing his workmanship, neither left nor forsook them, but spared
them.
[22] The alms of a man is as a signet with him, and he will keep
the good deeds of man as the apple of the eye, and give repentance to his sons
and daughters.
[23] Afterwards he will rise up and reward them, and
render their recompence upon their heads.
[24] But unto them that
repent, he granted them return, and comforted those that failed in
patience.
[25] Return unto the Lord, and forsake thy sins, make thy
prayer before his face, and offend less.
[26] Turn again to the most
High, and turn away from iniquity: for he will lead thee out of darkness into
the light of health, and hate thou abomination vehemently.
[27] Who
shall praise the most High in the grave, instead of them which live and give
thanks?
[28] Thanksgiving perisheth from the dead, as from one that is
not: the living and sound in heart shall praise the Lord.
[29] How
great is the lovingkindness of the Lord our God, and his compassion unto such as
turn unto him in holiness!
[30] For all things cannot be in men,
because the son of man is not immortal.
[31] What is brighter than the
sun? yet the light thereof faileth; and flesh and blood will imagine
evil.
[32] He vieweth the power of the height of heaven; and all men
are but earth and ashes.
Sir.18
[1] He that liveth for ever Hath created all things in
general.
[2] The Lord only is righteous, and there is none other but
he,
[3] Who governeth the world with the palm of his hand, and all
things obey his will: for he is the King of all, by his power dividing holy
things among them from profane.
[4] To whom hath he given power to
declare his works? and who shall find out his noble acts?
[5] Who
shall number the strength of his majesty? and who shall also tell out his
mercies?
[6] As for the wondrous works of the Lord, there may nothing
be taken from them, neither may any thing be put unto them, neither can the
ground of them be found out.
[7] When a man hath done, then he
beginneth; and when he leaveth off, then he shall be doubtful.
[8]
What is man, and whereto serveth he? what is his good, and what is his
evil?
[9] The number of a man's days at the most are an hundred
years.
[10] As a drop of water unto the sea, and a gravelstone in
comparison of the sand; so are a thousand years to the days of
eternity.
[11] Therefore is God patient with them, and poureth forth
his mercy upon them.
[12] He saw and perceived their end to be evil;
therefore he multiplied his compassion.
[13] The mercy of man is
toward his neighbour; but the mercy of the Lord is upon all flesh: he reproveth,
and nurtureth, and teacheth and bringeth again, as a shepherd his
flock.
[14] He hath mercy on them that receive discipline, and that
diligently seek after his judgments.
[15] My son, blemish not thy good
deeds, neither use uncomfortable words when thou givest any
thing.
[16] Shall not the dew asswage the heat? so is a word better
than a gift.
[17] Lo, is not a word better than a gift? but both are
with a gracious man.
[18] A fool will upbraid churlishly, and a gift
of the envious consumeth the eyes.
[19] Learn before thou speak, and
use physick or ever thou be sick.
[20] Before judgment examine
thyself, and in the day of visitation thou shalt find mercy.
[21]
Humble thyself before thou be sick, and in the time of sins shew
repentance.
[22] Let nothing hinder thee to pay thy vow in due time,
and defer not until death to be justified.
[23] Before thou prayest,
prepare thyself; and be not as one that tempteth the Lord.
[24] Think
upon the wrath that shall be at the end, and the time of vengeance, when he
shall turn away his face.
[25] When thou hast enough, remember the
time of hunger: and when thou art rich, think upon poverty and
need.
[26] From the morning until the evening the time is changed, and
all things are soon done before the Lord.
[27] A wise man will fear in
every thing, and in the day of sinning he will beware of offence: but a fool
will not observe time.
[28] Every man of understanding knoweth wisdom,
and will give praise unto him that found her.
[29] They that were of
understanding in sayings became also wise themselves, and poured forth exquisite
parables.
[30] Go not after thy lusts, but refrain thyself from thine
appetites.
[31] If thou givest thy soul the desires that please her,
she will make thee a laughingstock to thine enemies that malign
thee.
[32] Take not pleasure in much good cheer, neither be tied to
the expence thereof.
[33] Be not made a beggar by banqueting upon
borrowing, when thou hast nothing in thy purse: for thou shalt lie in wait for
thine own life, and be talked on.
Sir.19
[1] A labouring man that A is given to drunkenness shall
not be rich: and he that contemneth small things shall fall by little and
little.
[2] Wine and women will make men of understanding to fall
away: and he that cleaveth to harlots will become impudent.
[3] Moths
and worms shall have him to heritage, and a bold man shall be taken
away.
[4] He that is hasty to give credit is lightminded; and he that
sinneth shall offend against his own soul.
[5] Whoso taketh pleasure
in wickedness shall be condemned: but he that resisteth pleasures crowneth his
life.
[6] He that can rule his tongue shall live without strife; and
he that hateth babbling shall have less evil.
[7] Rehearse not unto
another that which is told unto thee, and thou shalt fare never the
worse.
[8] Whether it be to friend or foe, talk not of other men's
lives; and if thou canst without offence, reveal them not.
[9] For he
heard and observed thee, and when time cometh he will hate thee.
[10]
If thou hast heard a word, let it die with thee; and be bold, it will not burst
thee.
[11] A fool travaileth with a word, as a woman in labour of a
child.
[12] As an arrow that sticketh in a man's thigh, so is a word
within a fool's belly.
[13] Admonish a friend, it may be he hath not
done it: and if he have done it, that he do it no more.
[14] Admonish
thy friend, it may be he hath not said it: and if he have, that he speak it not
again.
[15] Admonish a friend: for many times it is a slander, and
believe not every tale.
[16] There is one that slippeth in his speech,
but not from his heart; and who is he that hath not offended with his
tongue?
[17] Admonish thy neighbour before thou threaten him; and not
being angry, give place to the law of the most High.
[18] The fear of
the Lord is the first step to be accepted [of him,] and wisdom obtaineth his
love.
[19] The knowledge of the commandments of the Lord is the
doctrine of life: and they that do things that please him shall receive the
fruit of the tree of immortality.
[20] The fear of the Lord is all
wisdom; and in all wisdom is the performance of the law, and the knowledge of
his omnipotency.
[21] If a servant say to his master, I will not do as
it pleaseth thee; though afterward he do it, he angereth him that nourisheth
him.
[22] The knowledge of wickedness is not wisdom, neither at any
time the counsel of sinners prudence.
[23] There is a wickedness, and
the same an abomination; and there is a fool wanting in wisdom.
[24]
He that hath small understanding, and feareth God, is better than one that hath
much wisdom, and transgresseth the law of the most High.
[25] There is
an exquisite subtilty, and the same is unjust; and there is one that turneth
aside to make judgment appear; and there is a wise man that justifieth in
judgment.
[26] There is a wicked man that hangeth down his head sadly;
but inwardly he is full of deceit,
[27] Casting down his countenance,
and making as if he heard not: where he is not known, he will do thee a mischief
before thou be aware.
[28] And if for want of power he be hindered
from sinning, yet when he findeth opportunity he will do evil.
[29] A
man may be known by his look, and one that hath understanding by his
countenance, when thou meetest him.
[30] A man's attire, and excessive
laughter, and gait, shew what he is.
Sir.20
[1] There is a reproof that is not comely: again, some man
holdeth his tongue, and he is wise.
[2] It is much better to reprove,
than to be angry secretly: and he that confesseth his fault shall be preserved
from hurt.
[3] How good is it, when thou art reproved, to shew
repentance! for so shalt thou escape wilful sin.
[4] As is the lust of
an eunuch to deflower a virgin; so is he that executeth judgment with
violence.
[5] There is one that keepeth silence, and is found wise:
and another by much babbling becometh hateful.
[6] Some man holdeth
his tongue, because he hath not to answer: and some keepeth silence, knowing his
time.
[7] A wise man will hold his tongue till he see opportunity: but
a babbler and a fool will regard no time.
[8] He that useth many words
shall be abhorred; and he that taketh to himself authority therein shall be
hated.
[9] There is a sinner that hath good success in evil things;
and there is a gain that turneth to loss.
[10] There is a gift that
shall not profit thee; and there is a gift whose recompence is
double.
[11] There is an abasement because of glory; and there is that
lifteth up his head from a low estate.
[12] There is that buyeth much
for a little, and repayeth it sevenfold.
[13] A wise man by his words
maketh him beloved: but the graces of fools shall be poured out.
[14]
The gift of a fool shall do thee no good when thou hast it; neither yet of the
envious for his necessity: for he looketh to receive many things for
one.
[15] He giveth little, and upbraideth much; he openeth his mouth
like a crier; to day he lendeth, and to morrow will he ask it again: such an one
is to be hated of God and man.
[16] The fool saith, I have no friends,
I have no thank for all my good deeds, and they that eat my bread speak evil of
me.
[17] How oft, and of how many shall he be laughed to scorn! for he
knoweth not aright what it is to have; and it is all one unto him as if he had
it not.
[18] To slip upon a pavement is better than to slip with the
tongue: so the fall of the wicked shall come speedily.
[19] An
unseasonable tale will always be in the mouth of the unwise.
[20] A
wise sentence shall be rejected when it cometh out of a fool's mouth; for he
will not speak it in due season.
[21] There is that is hindered from
sinning through want: and when he taketh rest, he shall not be
troubled.
[22] There is that destroyeth his own soul through
bashfulness, and by accepting of persons overthroweth himself.
[23]
There is that for bashfulness promiseth to his friend, and maketh him his enemy
for nothing.
[24] A lie is a foul blot in a man, yet it is continually
in the mouth of the untaught.
[25] A thief is better than a man that
is accustomed to lie: but they both shall have destruction to
heritage.
[26] The disposition of a liar is dishonourable, and his
shame is ever with him.
[27] A wise man shall promote himself to
honour with his words: and he that hath understanding will please great
men.
[28] He that tilleth his land shall increase his heap: and he
that pleaseth great men shall get pardon for iniquity.
[29] Presents
and gifts blind the eyes of the wise, and stop up his mouth that he cannot
reprove.
[30] Wisdom that is hid, and treasure that is hoarded up,
what profit is in them both?
[31] Better is he that hideth his folly
than a man that hideth his wisdom.
[32] Necessary patience in seeking
ing the Lord is better than he that leadeth his life without a guide.
Sir.21
[1] My son, hast thou sinned? do so no more, but ask
pardon for thy former sins.
[2] Flee from sin as from the face of a
serpent: for if thou comest too near it, it will bite thee: the teeth thereof
are as the teeth of a lion, slaying the souls of men.
[3] All iniquity
is as a two edged sword, the wounds whereof cannot be healed.
[4] To
terrify and do wrong will waste riches: thus the house of proud men shall be
made desolate.
[5] A prayer out of a poor man's mouth reacheth to the
ears of God, and his judgment cometh speedily.
[6] He that hateth to
be reproved is in the way of sinners: but he that feareth the Lord will repent
from his heart.
[7] An eloquent man is known far and near; but a man
of understanding knoweth when he slippeth.
[8] He that buildeth his
house with other men's money is like one that gathereth himself stones for the
tomb of his burial.
[9] The congregation of the wicked is like tow
wrapped together: and the end of them is a flame of fire to destroy
them.
[10] The way of sinners is made plain with stones, but at the
end thereof is the pit of hell.
[11] He that keepeth the law of the
Lord getteth the understanding thereof: and the perfection of the fear of the
Lord is wisdom.
[12] He that is not wise will not be taught: but there
is a wisdom which multiplieth bitterness.
[13] The knowledge of a wise
man shall abound like a flood: and his counsel is like a pure fountain of
life.
[14] The inner parts of a fool are like a broken vessel, and he
will hold no knowledge as long as he liveth.
[15] If a skilful man
hear a wise word, he will commend it, and add unto it: but as soon as one of no
understanding heareth it, it displeaseth him, and he casteth it behind his
back.
[16] The talking of a fool is like a burden in the way: but
grace shall be found in the lips of the wise.
[17] They enquire at the
mouth of the wise man in the congregation, and they shall ponder his words in
their heart.
[18] As is a house that is destroyed, so is wisdom to a
fool: and the knowledge of the unwise is as talk without sense.
[19]
Doctrine unto fools is as fetters on the feet, and like manacles on the right
hand.
[20] A fool lifteth up his voice with laughter; but a wise man
doth scarce smile a little.
[21] Learning is unto a wise man as an
ornament of gold, and like a bracelet upon his right arm.
[22] A
foolish man's foot is soon in his [neighbour's] house: but a man of experience
is ashamed of him.
[23] A fool will peep in at the door into the
house: but he that is well nurtured will stand without.
[24] It is the
rudeness of a man to hearken at the door: but a wise man will be grieved with
the disgrace.
[25] The lips of talkers will be telling such things as
pertain not unto them: but the words of such as have understanding are weighed
in the balance.
[26] The heart of fools is in their mouth: but the
mouth of the wise is in their heart.
[27] When the ungodly curseth
Satan, he curseth his own soul.
[28] A whisperer defileth his own
soul, and is hated wheresoever he dwelleth.
Sir.22
[1] A slothful man is compared to a filthy stone, and
every one will hiss him out to his disgrace.
[2] A slothful man is
compared to the filth of a dunghill: every man that takes it up will shake his
hand.
[3] An evilnurtured man is the dishonour of his father that
begat him: and a [foolish] daughter is born to his loss.
[4] A wise
daughter shall bring an inheritance to her husband: but she that liveth
dishonestly is her father's heaviness.
[5] She that is bold
dishonoureth both her father and her husband, but they both shall despise
her.
[6] A tale out of season [is as] musick in mourning: but stripes
and correction of wisdom are never out of time.
[7] Whoso teacheth a
fool is as one that glueth a potsherd together, and as he that waketh one from a
sound sleep.
[8] He that telleth a tale to a fool speaketh to one in a
slumber: when he hath told his tale, he will say, What is the
matter?
[9] If children live honestly, and have wherewithal, they
shall cover the baseness of their parents.
[10] But children, being
haughty, through disdain and want of nurture do stain the nobility of their
kindred.
[11] Weep for the dead, for he hath lost the light: and weep
for the fool, for he wanteth understanding: make little weeping for the dead,
for he is at rest: but the life of the fool is worse than death.
[12]
Seven days do men mourn for him that is dead; but for a fool and an ungodly man
all the days of his life.
[13] Talk not much with a fool, and go not
to him that hath no understanding: beware of him, lest thou have trouble, and
thou shalt never be defiled with his fooleries: depart from him, and thou shalt
find rest, and never be disquieted with madness.
[14] What is heavier
than lead? and what is the name thereof, but a fool?
[15] Sand, and
salt, and a mass of iron, is easier to bear, than a man without
understanding.
[16] As timber girt and bound together in a building
cannot be loosed with shaking: so the heart that is stablished by advised
counsel shall fear at no time.
[17] A heart settled upon a thought of
understanding is as a fair plaistering on the wall of a gallery.
[18]
Pales set on an high place will never stand against the wind: so a fearful heart
in the imagination of a fool cannot stand against any fear.
[19] He
that pricketh the eye will make tears to fall: and he that pricketh the heart
maketh it to shew her knowledge.
[20] Whoso casteth a stone at the
birds frayeth them away: and he that upbraideth his friend breaketh
friendship.
[21] Though thou drewest a sword at thy friend, yet
despair not: for there may be a returning [to favour.]
[22] If thou
hast opened thy mouth against thy friend, fear not; for there may be a
reconciliation: except for upbraiding, or pride, or disclosing of secrets, or a
treacherous wound: for for these things every friend will depart.
[23]
Be faithful to thy neighbour in his poverty, that thou mayest rejoice in his
prosperity: abide stedfast unto him in the time of his trouble, that thou mayest
be heir with him in his heritage: for a mean estate is not always to be
contemned: nor the rich that is foolish to be had in admiration.
[24]
As the vapour and smoke of a furnace goeth before the fire; so reviling before
blood.
[25] I will not be ashamed to defend a friend; neither will I
hide myself from him.
[26] And if any evil happen unto me by him,
every one that heareth it will beware of him.
[27] Who shall set a
watch before my mouth, and a seal of wisdom upon my lips, that I fall not
suddenly by them, and that my tongue destroy me not?
Sir.23
[1] O Lord, Father and Governor of all my whole life,
leave me not to their counsels, and let me not fall by them.
[2] Who
will set scourges over my thoughts, and the discipline of wisdom over mine
heart? that they spare me not for mine ignorances, and it pass not by my
sins:
[3] Lest mine ignorances increase, and my sins abound to my
destruction, and I fall before mine adversaries, and mine enemy rejoice over me,
whose hope is far from thy mercy.
[4] O Lord, Father and God of my
life, give me not a proud look, but turn away from thy servants always a haughty
mind.
[5] Turn away from me vain hopes and concupiscence, and thou
shalt hold him up that is desirous always to serve thee.
[6] Let not
the greediness of the belly nor lust of the flesh take hold of me; and give not
over me thy servant into an impudent mind.
[7] Hear, O ye children,
the discipline of the mouth: he that keepeth it shall never be taken in his
lips.
[8] The sinner shall be left in his foolishness: both the evil
speaker and the proud shall fall thereby.
[9] Accustom not thy mouth
to swearing; neither use thyself to the naming of the Holy One.
[10]
For as a servant that is continually beaten shall not be without a blue mark: so
he that sweareth and nameth God continually shall not be
faultless.
[11] A man that useth much swearing shall be filled with
iniquity, and the plague shall never depart from his house: if he shall offend,
his sin shall be upon him: and if he acknowledge not his sin, he maketh a double
offence: and if he swear in vain, he shall not be innocent, but his house shall
be full of calamities.
[12] There is a word that is clothed about with
death: God grant that it be not found in the heritage of Jacob; for all such
things shall be far from the godly, and they shall not wallow in their
sins.
[13] Use not thy mouth to intemperate swearing, for therein is
the word of sin.
[14] Remember thy father and thy mother, when thou
sittest among great men. Be not forgetful before them, and so thou by thy custom
become a fool, and wish that thou hadst not been born, and curse they day of thy
nativity.
[15] The man that is accustomed to opprobrious words will
never be reformed all the days of his life.
[16] Two sorts of men
multiply sin, and the third will bring wrath: a hot mind is as a burning fire,
it will never be quenched till it be consumed: a fornicator in the body of his
flesh will never cease till he hath kindled a fire.
[17] All bread is
sweet to a whoremonger, he will not leave off till he die.
[18] A man
that breaketh wedlock, saying thus in his heart, Who seeth me? I am compassed
about with darkness, the walls cover me, and no body seeth me; what need I to
fear? the most High will not remember my sins:
[19] Such a man only
feareth the eyes of men, and knoweth not that the eyes of the Lord are ten
thousand times brighter than the sun, beholding all the ways of men, and
considering the most secret parts.
[20] He knew all things ere ever
they were created; so also after they were perfected he looked upon them
all.
[21] This man shall be punished in the streets of the city, and
where he suspecteth not he shall be taken.
[22] Thus shall it go also
with the wife that leaveth her husband, and bringeth in an heir by
another.
[23] For first, she hath disobeyed the law of the most High;
and secondly, she hath trespassed against her own husband; and thirdly, she hath
played the whore in adultery, and brought children by another
man.
[24] She shall be brought out into the congregation, and
inquisition shall be made of her children.
[25] Her children shall not
take root, and her branches shall bring forth no fruit.
[26] She shall
leave her memory to be cursed, and her reproach shall not be blotted
out.
[27] And they that remain shall know that there is nothing better
than the fear of the Lord, and that there is nothing sweeter than to take heed
unto the commandments of the Lord.
[28] It is great glory to follow
the Lord, and to be received of him is long life.
Sir.24
[1] Wisdom shall praise herself, and shall glory in the
midst of her people.
[2] In the congregation of the most High shall
she open her mouth, and triumph before his power.
[3] I came out of
the mouth of the most High, and covered the earth as a cloud.
[4] I
dwelt in high places, and my throne is in a cloudy pillar.
[5] I alone
compassed the circuit of heaven, and walked in the bottom of the
deep.
[6] In the waves of the sea and in all the earth, and in every
people and nation, I got a possession.
[7] With all these I sought
rest: and in whose inheritance shall I abide?
[8] So the Creator of
all things gave me a commandment, and he that made me caused my tabernacle to
rest, and said, Let thy dwelling be in Jacob, and thine inheritance in
Israel.
[9] He created me from the beginning before the world, and I
shall never fail.
[10] In the holy tabernacle I served before him; and
so was I established in Sion.
[11] Likewise in the beloved city he
gave me rest, and in Jerusalem was my power.
[12] And I took root in
an honourable people, even in the portion of the Lord's
inheritance.
[13] I was exalted like a cedar in Libanus, and as a
cypress tree upon the mountains of Hermon.
[14] I was exalted like a
palm tree in En-gaddi, and as a rose plant in Jericho, as a fair olive tree in a
pleasant field, and grew up as a plane tree by the water.
[15] I gave
a sweet smell like cinnamon and aspalathus, and I yielded a pleasant odour like
the best myrrh, as galbanum, and onyx, and sweet storax, and as the fume of
frankincense in the tabernacle.
[16] As the turpentine tree I
stretched out my branches, and my branches are the branches of honour and
grace.
[17] As the vine brought I forth pleasant savour, and my
flowers are the fruit of honour and riches.
[18] I am the mother of
fair love, and fear, and knowledge, and holy hope: I therefore, being eternal,
am given to all my children which are named of him.
[19] Come unto me,
all ye that be desirous of me, and fill yourselves with my
fruits.
[20] For my memorial is sweeter than honey, and mine
inheritance than the honeycomb.
[21] They that eat me shall yet be
hungry, and they that drink me shall yet be thirsty.
[22] He that
obeyeth me shall never be confounded, and they that work by me shall not do
amiss.
[23] All these things are the book of the covenant of the most
high God, even the law which Moses commanded for an heritage unto the
congregations of Jacob.
[24] Faint not to be strong in the Lord; that
he may confirm you, cleave unto him: for the Lord Almighty is God alone, and
beside him there is no other Saviour.
[25] He filleth all things with
his wisdom, as Phison and as Tigris in the time of the new
fruits.
[26] He maketh the understanding to abound like Euphrates, and
as Jordan in the time of the harvest.
[27] He maketh the doctrine of
knowledge appear as the light, and as Geon in the time of
vintage.
[28] The first man knew her not perfectly: no more shall the
last find her out.
[29] For her thoughts are more than the sea, and
her counsels profounder than the great deep.
[30] I also came out as a
brook from a river, and as a conduit into a garden.
[31] I said, I
will water my best garden, and will water abundantly my garden bed: and, lo, my
brook became a river, and my river became a sea.
[32] I will yet make
doctrine to shine as the morning, and will send forth her light afar
off.
[33] I will yet pour out doctrine as prophecy, and leave it to
all ages for ever.
[34] Behold that I have not laboured for myself
only, but for all them that seek wisdom.
Sir.25
[1] In three things I was beautified, and stood up
beautiful both before God and men: the unity of brethren, the love of
neighbours, a man and a wife that agree together.
[2] Three sorts of
men my soul hateth, and I am greatly offended at their life: a poor man that is
proud, a rich man that is a liar, and an old adulterer that
doateth.
[3] If thou hast gathered nothing in thy youth, how canst
thou find any thing in thine age?
[4] O how comely a thing is judgment
for gray hairs, and for ancient men to know counsel!
[5] O how comely
is the wisdom of old men, and understanding and counsel to men of
honour.
[6] Much experience is the crown of old men, and the fear of
God is their glory.
[7] There be nine things which I have judged in
mine heart to be happy, and the tenth I will utter with my tongue: A man that
hath joy of his children; and he that liveth to see the fall of his
enemy:
[8] Well is him that dwelleth with a wife of understanding, and
that hath not slipped with his tongue, and that hath not served a man more
unworthy than himself:
[9] Well is him that hath found prudence, and
he that speaketh in the ears of them that will hear:
[10] O how great
is he that findeth wisdom! yet is there none above him that feareth the
Lord.
[11] But the love of the Lord passeth all things for
illumination: he that holdeth it, whereto shall he be likened?
[12]
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of his love: and faith is the beginning of
cleaving unto him.
[13] [Give me] any plague, but the plague of the
heart: and any wickedness, but the wickedness of a woman:
[14] And any
affliction, but the affliction from them that hate me: and any revenge, but the
revenge of enemies.
[15] There is no head above the head of a serpent;
and there is no wrath above the wrath of an enemy.
[16] I had rather
dwell with a lion and a dragon, than to keep house with a wicked
woman.
[17] The wickedness of a woman changeth her face, and darkeneth
her countenance like sackcloth.
[18] Her husband shall sit among his
neighbours; and when he heareth it shall sigh bitterly.
[19] All
wickedness is but little to the wickedness of a woman: let the portion of a
sinner fall upon her.
[20] As the climbing up a sandy way is to the
feet of the aged, so is a wife full of words to a quiet man.
[21]
Stumble not at the beauty of a woman, and desire her not for
pleasure.
[22] A woman, if she maintain her husband, is full of anger,
impudence, and much reproach.
[23] A wicked woman abateth the courage,
maketh an heavy countenance and a wounded heart: a woman that will not comfort
her husband in distress maketh weak hands and feeble knees.
[24] Of
the woman came the beginning of sin, and through her we all die.
[25]
Give the water no passage; neither a wicked woman liberty to gad
abroad.
[26] If she go not as thou wouldest have her, cut her off from
thy flesh, and give her a bill of divorce, and let her go.
Sir.26
[1] Blessed is the man that hath a virtuous wife, for the
number of his days shall be double.
[2] A virtuous woman rejoiceth her
husband, and he shall fulfil the years of his life in peace.
[3] A
good wife is a good portion, which shall be given in the portion of them that
fear the Lord.
[4] Whether a man be rich or poor, if he have a good
heart toward the Lord, he shall at all times rejoice with a cheerful
countenance.
[5] There be three things that mine heart feareth; and
for the fourth I was sore afraid: the slander of a city, the gathering together
of an unruly multitude, and a false accusation: all these are worse than
death.
[6] But a grief of heart and sorrow is a woman that is jealous
over another woman, and a scourge of the tongue which communicateth with
all.
[7] An evil wife is a yoke shaken to and fro: he that hath hold
of her is as though he held a scorpion.
[8] A drunken woman and a
gadder abroad causeth great anger, and she will not cover her own
shame.
[9] The whoredom of a woman may be known in her haughty looks
and eyelids.
[10] If thy daughter be shameless, keep her in straitly,
lest she abuse herself through overmuch liberty.
[11] Watch over an
impudent eye: and marvel not if she trespass against thee.
[12] She
will open her mouth, as a thirsty traveller when he hath found a fountain, and
drink of every water near her: by every hedge will she sit down, and open her
quiver against every arrow.
[13] The grace of a wife delighteth her
husband, and her discretion will fatten his bones.
[14] A silent and
loving woman is a gift of the Lord; and there is nothing so much worth as a mind
well instructed.
[15] A shamefaced and faithful woman is a double
grace, and her continent mind cannot be valued.
[16] As the sun when
it ariseth in the high heaven; so is the beauty of a good wife in the ordering
of her house.
[17] As the clear light is upon the holy candlestick; so
is the beauty of the face in ripe age.
[18] As the golden pillars are
upon the sockets of silver; so are the fair feet with a constant
heart.
[19] My son, keep the flower of thine age sound; and give not
thy strength to strangers.
[20] When thou hast gotten a fruitful
possession through all the field, sow it with thine own seed, trusting in the
goodness of thy stock.
[21] So thy race which thou leavest shall be
magnified, having the confidence of their good descent.
[22] An harlot
shall be accounted as spittle; but a married woman is a tower against death to
her husband.
[23] A wicked woman is given as a portion to a wicked
man: but a godly woman is given to him that feareth the Lord.
[24] A
dishonest woman contemneth shame: but an honest woman will reverence her
husband.
[25] A shameless woman shall be counted as a dog; but she
that is shamefaced will fear the Lord.
[26] A woman that honoureth her
husband shall be judged wise of all; but she that dishonoureth him in her pride
shall be counted ungodly of all.
[27] A loud crying woman and a scold
shall be sought out to drive away the enemies.
[28] There be two
things that grieve my heart; and the third maketh me angry: a man of war that
suffereth poverty; and men of understanding that are not set by; and one that
returneth from righteousness to sin; the Lord prepareth such an one for the
sword.
[29] A merchant shall hardly keep himself from doing wrong; and
an huckster shall not be freed from sin.
Sir.27
[1] Many have sinned for a small matter; and he that
seeketh for abundance will turn his eyes away.
[2] As a nail sticketh
fast between the joinings of the stones; so doth sin stick close between buying
and selling.
[3] Unless a man hold himself diligently in the fear of
the Lord, his house shall soon be overthrown.
[4] As when one sifteth
with a sieve, the refuse remaineth; so the filth of man in his
talk.
[5] The furnace proveth the potter's vessels; so the trial of
man is in his reasoning.
[6] The fruit declareth if the tree have been
dressed; so is the utterance of a conceit in the heart of man.
[7]
Praise no man before thou hearest him speak; for this is the trial of
men.
[8] If thou followest righteousness, thou shalt obtain her, and
put her on, as a glorious long robe.
[9] The birds will resort unto
their like; so will truth return unto them that practise in her.
[10]
As the lion lieth in wait for the prey; so sin for them that work
iniquity.
[11] The discourse of a godly man is always with wisdom; but
a fool changeth as the moon.
[12] If thou be among the indiscreet,
observe the time; but be continually among men of understanding.
[13]
The discourse of fools is irksome, and their sport is the wantonness of
sin.
[14] The talk of him that sweareth much maketh the hair stand
upright; and their brawls make one stop his ears.
[15] The strife of
the proud is bloodshedding, and their revilings are grievous to the
ear.
[16] Whoso discovereth secrets loseth his credit; and shall never
find friend to his mind.
[17] Love thy friend, and be faithful unto
him: but if thou betrayest his secrets, follow no more after him.
[18]
For as a man hath destroyed his enemy; so hast thou lost the love of thy
neighbor.
[19] As one that letteth a bird go out of his hand, so hast
thou let thy neighbour go, and shalt not get him again
[20] Follow
after him no more, for he is too far off; he is as a roe escaped out of the
snare.
[21] As for a wound, it may be bound up; and after reviling
there may be reconcilement: but he that betrayeth secrets is without
hope.
[22] He that winketh with the eyes worketh evil: and he that
knoweth him will depart from him.
[23] When thou art present, he will
speak sweetly, and will admire thy words: but at the last he will writhe his
mouth, and slander thy sayings.
[24] I have hated many things, but
nothing like him; for the Lord will hate him.
[25] Whoso casteth a
stone on high casteth it on his own head; and a deceitful stroke shall make
wounds.
[26] Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that
setteth a trap shall be taken therein.
[27] He that worketh mischief,
it shall fall upon him, and he shall not know whence it cometh.
[28]
Mockery and reproach are from the proud; but vengeance, as a lion, shall lie in
wait for them.
[29] They that rejoice at the fall of the righteous
shall be taken in the snare; and anguish shall consume them before they
die.
[30] Malice and wrath, even these are abominations; and the
sinful man shall have them both.
Sir.28
[1] He that revengeth shall find vengeance from the Lord,
and he will surely keep his sins [in remembrance.]
[2] Forgive thy
neighbour the hurt that he hath done unto thee, so shall thy sins also be
forgiven when thou prayest.
[3] One man beareth hatred against
another, and doth he seek pardon from the Lord?
[4] He sheweth no
mercy to a man, which is like himself: and doth he ask forgiveness of his own
sins?
[5] If he that is but flesh nourish hatred, who will intreat for
pardon of his sins?
[6] Remember thy end, and let enmity cease;
[remember] corruption and death, and abide in the commandments.
[7]
Remember the commandments, and bear no malice to thy neighbour: [remember] the
covenant of the Highest, and wink at ignorance.
[8] Abstain from
strife, and thou shalt diminish thy sins: for a furious man will kindle
strife,
[9] A sinful man disquieteth friends, and maketh debate among
them that be at peace.
[10] As the matter of the fire is, so it
burneth: and as a man's strength is, so is his wrath; and according to his
riches his anger riseth; and the stronger they are which contend, the more they
will be inflamed.
[11] An hasty contention kindleth a fire: and an
hasty fighting sheddeth blood.
[12] If thou blow the spark, it shall
burn: if thou spit upon it, it shall be quenched: and both these come out of thy
mouth.
[13] Curse the whisperer and doubletongued: for such have
destroyed many that were at peace.
[14] A backbiting tongue hath
disquieted many, and driven them from nation to nation: strong cities hath it
pulled down, and overthrown the houses of great men.
[15] A backbiting
tongue hath cast out virtuous women, and deprived them of their
labours.
[16] Whoso hearkeneth unto it shall never find rest, and
never dwell quietly.
[17] The stroke of the whip maketh marks in the
flesh: but the stroke of the tongue breaketh the bones.
[18] Many have
fallen by the edge of the sword: but not so many as have fallen by the
tongue.
[19] Well is he that is defended through the venom thereof;
who hath not drawn the yoke thereof, nor hath been bound in her
bands.
[20] For the yoke thereof is a yoke of iron, and the bands
thereof are bands of brass.
[21] The death thereof is an evil death,
the grave were better than it.
[22] It shall not have rule over them
that fear God, neither shall they be burned with the flame
thereof.
[23] Such as forsake the Lord shall fall into it; and it
shall burn in them, and not be quenched; it shall be sent upon them as a lion,
and devour them as a leopard.
[24] Look that thou hedge thy possession
about with thorns, and bind up thy silver and gold,
[25] And weigh thy
words in a balance, and make a door and bar for thy mouth.
[26] Beware
thou slide not by it, lest thou fall before him that lieth in wait.
Sir.29
[1] He that is merciful will lend unto his neighbour; and
he that strengtheneth his hand keepeth the commandments.
[2] Lend to
thy neighbour in time of his need, and pay thou thy neighbour again in due
season.
[3] Keep thy word, and deal faithfully with him, and thou
shalt always find the thing that is necessary for thee.
[4] Many, when
a thing was lent them, reckoned it to be found, and put them to trouble that
helped them.
[5] Till he hath received, he will kiss a man's hand; and
for his neighbour's money he will speak submissly: but when he should repay, he
will prolong the time, and return words of grief, and complain of the
time.
[6] If he prevail, he shall hardly receive the half, and he will
count as if he had found it: if not, he hath deprived him of his money, and he
hath gotten him an enemy without cause: he payeth him with cursings and
railings; and for honour he will pay him disgrace.
[7] Many therefore
have refused to lend for other men's ill dealing, fearing to be
defrauded.
[8] Yet have thou patience with a man in poor estate, and
delay not to shew him mercy.
[9] Help the poor for the commandment's
sake, and turn him not away because of his poverty.
[10] Lose thy
money for thy brother and thy friend, and let it not rust under a stone to be
lost.
[11] Lay up thy treasure according to the commandments of the
most High, and it shall bring thee more profit than gold.
[12] Shut up
alms in thy storehouses: and it shall deliver thee from all
affliction.
[13] It shall fight for thee against thine enemies better
than a mighty shield and strong spear.
[14] An honest man is surety
for his neighbour: but he that is impudent will forsake him.
[15]
Forget not the friendship of thy surety, for he hath given his life for
thee.
[16] A sinner will overthrow the good estate of his
surety:
[17] And he that is of an unthankful mind will leave him [in
danger] that delivered him.
[18] Suretiship hath undone many of good
estate, and shaken them as a wave of the sea: mighty men hath it driven from
their houses, so that they wandered among strange nations.
[19] A
wicked man transgressing the commandments of the Lord shall fall into
suretiship: and he that undertaketh and followeth other men's business for gain
shall fall into suits.
[20] Help thy neighbour according to thy power,
and beware that thou thyself fall not into the same.
[21] The chief
thing for life is water, and bread, and clothing, and an house to cover
shame.
[22] Better is the life of a poor man in a mean cottage, than
delicate fare in another man's house.
[23] Be it little or much, hold
thee contented, that thou hear not the reproach of thy house.
[24] For
it is a miserable life to go from house to house: for where thou art a stranger,
thou darest not open thy mouth.
[25] Thou shalt entertain, and feast,
and have no thanks: moreover thou shalt hear bitter words:
[26] Come,
thou stranger, and furnish a table, and feed me of that thou hast
ready.
[27] Give place, thou stranger, to an honourable man; my
brother cometh to be lodged, and I have need of mine house.
[28] These
things are grievous to a man of understanding; the upbraiding of houseroom, and
reproaching of the lender.
Sir.30
[1] He that loveth his son causeth him oft to feel the
rod, that he may have joy of him in the end.
[2] He that chastiseth
his son shall have joy in him, and shall rejoice of him among his
acquaintance.
[3] He that teacheth his son grieveth the enemy: and
before his friends he shall rejoice of him.
[4] Though his father die,
yet he is as though he were not dead: for he hath left one behind him that is
like himself.
[5] While he lived, he saw and rejoiced in him: and when
he died, he was not sorrowful.
[6] He left behind him an avenger
against his enemies, and one that shall requite kindness to his
friends.
[7] He that maketh too much of his son shall bind up his
wounds; and his bowels will be troubled at every cry.
[8] An horse not
broken becometh headstrong: and a child left to himself will be
wilful.
[9] Cocker thy child, and he shall make thee afraid: play with
him, and he will bring thee to heaviness.
[10] Laugh not with him,
lest thou have sorrow with him, and lest thou gnash thy teeth in the
end.
[11] Give him no liberty in his youth, and wink not at his
follies.
[12] Bow down his neck while he is young, and beat him on the
sides while he is a child, lest he wax stubborn, and be disobedient unto thee,
and so bring sorrow to thine heart.
[13] Chastise thy son, and hold
him to labour, lest his lewd behaviour be an offence unto thee.
[14]
Better is the poor, being sound and strong of constitution, than a rich man that
is afflicted in his body.
[15] Health and good estate of body are
above all gold, and a strong body above infinite wealth.
[16] There is
no riches above a sound body, and no joy above the joy of the
heart.
[17] Death is better than a bitter life or continual
sickness.
[18] Delicates poured upon a mouth shut up are as messes of
meat set upon a grave.
[19] What good doeth the offering unto an idol?
for neither can it eat nor smell: so is he that is persecuted of the
Lord.
[20] He seeth with his eyes and groaneth, as an eunuch that
embraceth a virgin and sigheth.
[21] Give not over thy mind to
heaviness, and afflict not thyself in thine own counsel.
[22] The
gladness of the heart is the life of man, and the joyfulness of a man prolongeth
his days.
[23] Love thine own soul, and comfort thy heart, remove
sorrow far from thee: for sorrow hath killed many, and there is no profit
therein.
[24] Envy and wrath shorten the life, and carefulness
bringeth age before the time.
[25] A cheerful and good heart will have
a care of his meat and diet.
Sir.31
[1] Watching for riches consumeth the flesh, and the care
thereof driveth away sleep.
[2] Watching care will not let a man
slumber, as a sore disease breaketh sleep,
[3] The rich hath great
labour in gathering riches together; and when he resteth, he is filled with his
delicates.
[4] The poor laboureth in his poor estate; and when he
leaveth off, he is still needy.
[5] He that loveth gold shall not be
justified, and he that followeth corruption shall have enough
thereof.
[6] Gold hath been the ruin of many, and their destruction
was present.
[7] It is a stumblingblock unto them that sacrifice unto
it, and every fool shall be taken therewith.
[8] Blessed is the rich
that is found without blemish, and hath not gone after gold.
[9] Who
is he? and we will call him blessed: for wonderful things hath he done among his
people.
[10] Who hath been tried thereby, and found perfect? then let
him glory. Who might offend, and hath not offended? or done evil, and hath not
done it?
[11] His goods shall be established, and the congregation
shall declare his alms.
[12] If thou sit at a bountiful table, be not
greedy upon it, and say not, There is much meat on it.
[13] Remember
that a wicked eye is an evil thing: and what is created more wicked than an eye?
therefore it weepeth upon every occasion.
[14] Stretch not thine hand
whithersoever it looketh, and thrust it not with him into the
dish.
[15] Judge not thy neighbour by thyself: and be discreet in
every point.
[16] Eat as it becometh a man, those things which are set
before thee; and devour note, lest thou be hated.
[17] Leave off first
for manners' sake; and be not unsatiable, lest thou offend.
[18] When
thou sittest among many, reach not thine hand out first of all.
[19] A
very little is sufficient for a man well nurtured, and he fetcheth not his wind
short upon his bed.
[20] Sound sleep cometh of moderate eating: he
riseth early, and his wits are with him: but the pain of watching, and choler,
and pangs of the belly, are with an unsatiable man.
[21] And if thou
hast been forced to eat, arise, go forth, vomit, and thou shalt have
rest.
[22] My son, hear me, and despise me not, and at the last thou
shalt find as I told thee: in all thy works be quick, so shall there no sickness
come unto thee.
[23] Whoso is liberal of his meat, men shall speak
well of him; and the report of his good housekeeping will be
believed.
[24] But against him that is a niggard of his meat the whole
city shall murmur; and the testimonies of his niggardness shall not be doubted
of.
[25] Shew not thy valiantness in wine; for wine hath destroyed
many.
[26] The furnace proveth the edge by dipping: so doth wine the
hearts of the proud by drunkeness.
[27] Wine is as good as life to a
man, if it be drunk moderately: what life is then to a man that is without wine?
for it was made to make men glad.
[28] Wine measurably drunk and in
season bringeth gladness of the heart, and cheerfulness of the
mind:
[29] But wine drunken with excess maketh bitterness of the mind,
with brawling and quarrelling.
[30] Drunkenness increaseth the rage of
a fool till he offend: it diminisheth strength, and maketh
wounds.
[31] Rebuke not thy neighbour at the wine, and despise him not
in his mirth: give him no despiteful words, and press not upon him with urging
him [to drink.]
Sir.32
[1] If thou be made the master [of a feast,] lift not
thyself up, but be among them as one of the rest; take diligent care for them,
and so sit down.
[2] And when thou hast done all thy office, take thy
place, that thou mayest be merry with them, and receive a crown for thy well
ordering of the feast.
[3] Speak, thou that art the elder, for it
becometh thee, but with sound judgment; and hinder not musick.
[4]
Pour not out words where there is a musician, and shew not forth wisdom out of
time.
[5] A concert of musick in a banquet of wine is as a signet of
carbuncle set in gold.
[6] As a signet of an emerald set in a work of
gold, so is the melody of musick with pleasant wine.
[7] Speak, young
man, if there be need of thee: and yet scarcely when thou art twice
asked.
[8] Let thy speech be short, comprehending much in few words;
be as one that knoweth and yet holdeth his tongue.
[9] If thou be
among great men, make not thyself equal with them; and when ancient men are in
place, use not many words.
[10] Before the thunder goeth lightning;
and before a shamefaced man shall go favour.
[11] Rise up betimes, and
be not the last; but get thee home without delay.
[12] There take thy
pastime, and do what thou wilt: but sin not by proud speech.
[13] And
for these things bless him that made thee, and hath replenished thee with his
good things.
[14] Whoso feareth the Lord will receive his discipline;
and they that seek him early shall find favour.
[15] He that seeketh
the law shall be filled therewith: but the hypocrite will be offended
thereat.
[16] They that fear the Lord shall find judgment, and shall
kindle justice as a light.
[17] A sinful man will not be reproved, but
findeth an excuse according to his will.
[18] A man of counsel will be
considerate; but a strange and proud man is not daunted with fear, even when of
himself he hath done without counsel.
[19] Do nothing without advice;
and when thou hast once done, repent not.
[20] Go not in a way wherein
thou mayest fall, and stumble not among the stones.
[21] Be not
confident in a plain way.
[22] And beware of thine own
children.
[23] In every good work trust thy own soul; for this is the
keeping of the commandments.
[24] He that believeth in the Lord taketh
heed to the commandment; and he that trusteth in him shall fare never the
worse.
Sir.33
[1] There shall no evil happen unto him that feareth the
Lord; but in temptation even again he will deliver him.
[2] A wise man
hateth not the law; but he that is an hypocrite therein is as a ship in a
storm.
[3] A man of understanding trusteth in the law; and the law is
faithful unto him, as an oracle.
[4] Prepare what to say, and so thou
shalt be heard: and bind up instruction, and then make answer.
[5] The
heart of the foolish is like a cartwheel; and his thoughts are like a rolling
axletree.
[6] A stallion horse is as a mocking friend, he neigheth
under every one that sitteth upon him.
[7] Why doth one day excel
another, when as all the light of every day in the year is of the
sun?
[8] By the knowledge of the Lord they were distinguished: and he
altered seasons and feasts.
[9] Some of them hath he made high days,
and hallowed them, and some of them hath he made ordinary days.
[10]
And all men are from the ground, and Adam was created of earth:
[11]
In much knowledge the Lord hath divided them, and made their ways
diverse.
[12] Some of them hath he blessed and exalted and some of
them he sanctified, and set near himself: but some of them hath he cursed and
brought low, and turned out of their places.
[13] As the clay is in
the potter's hand, to fashion it at his pleasure: so man is in the hand of him
that made him, to render to them as liketh him best.
[14] Good is set
against evil, and life against death: so is the godly against the sinner, and
the sinner against the godly.
[15] So look upon all the works of the
most High; and there are two and two, one against another.
[16] I
awaked up last of all, as one that gathereth after the grapegatherers: by the
blessing of the Lord I profited, and tred my winepress like a gatherer of
grapes.
[17] Consider that I laboured not for myself only, but for all
them that seek learning.
[18] Hear me, O ye great men of the people,
and hearken with your ears, ye rulers of the congregation.
[19] Give
not thy son and wife, thy brother and friend, power over thee while thou livest,
and give not thy goods to another: lest it repent thee, and thou intreat for the
same again.
[20] As long as thou livest and hast breath in thee, give
not thyself over to any.
[21] For better it is that thy children
should seek to thee, than that thou shouldest stand to their
courtesy.
[22] In all thy works keep to thyself the preeminence; leave
not a stain in thine honour.
[23] At the time when thou shalt end thy
days, and finish thy life, distribute thine inheritance.
[24] Fodder,
a wand, and burdens, are for the ass; and bread, correction, and work, for a
servant. .
[25] If thou set thy servant to labour, thou shalt find
rest: but if thou let him go idle, he shall seek liberty.
[26] A yoke
and a collar do bow the neck: so are tortures and torments for an evil
servant.
[27] Send him to labour, that he be not idle; for idleness
teacheth much evil.
[28] Set him to work, as is fit for him: if he be
not obedient, put on more heavy fetters.
[29] But be not excessive
toward any; and without discretion do nothing.
[30] If thou have a
servant, let him be unto thee as thyself, because thou hast bought him with a
price.
[31] If thou have a servant, entreat him as a brother: for thou
hast need of him, as of thine own soul: if thou entreat him evil, and he run
from thee, which way wilt thou go to seek him?
Sir.34
[1] The hopes of a man void of understanding are vain and
false: and dreams lift up fools.
[2] Whoso regardeth dreams is like
him that catcheth at a shadow, and followeth after the wind.
[3] The
vision of dreams is the resemblance of one thing to another, even as the
likeness of a face to a face.
[4] Of an unclean thing what can be
cleansed? and from that thing which is false what truth can come?
[5]
Divinations, and soothsayings, and dreams, are vain: and the heart fancieth, as
a woman's heart in travail.
[6] If they be not sent from the most High
in thy visitation, set not thy heart upon them.
[7] For dreams have
deceived many, and they have failed that put their trust in them.
[8]
The law shall be found perfect without lies: and wisdom is perfection to a
faithful mouth.
[9] A man that hath travelled knoweth many things; and
he that hath much experience will declare wisdom.
[10] He that hath no
experience knoweth little: but he that hath travelled is full of
prudence.
[11] When I travelled, I saw many things; and I understand
more than I can express.
[12] I was ofttimes in danger of death: yet I
was delivered because of these things.
[13] The spirit of those that
fear the Lord shall live; for their hope is in him that saveth
them.
[14] Whoso feareth the Lord shall not fear nor be afraid; for he
is his hope.
[15] Blessed is the soul of him that feareth the Lord: to
whom doth he look? and who is his strength?
[16] For the eyes of the
Lord are upon them that love him, he is their mighty protection and strong stay,
a defence from heat, and a cover from the sun at noon, a preservation from
stumbling, and an help from falling.
[17] He raiseth up the soul, and
lighteneth the eyes: he giveth health, life, and blessing.
[18] He
that sacrificeth of a thing wrongfully gotten, his offering is ridiculous; and
the gifts of unjust men are not accepted.
[19] The most High is not
pleased with the offerings of the wicked; neither is he pacified for sin by the
multitude of sacrifices.
[20] Whoso bringeth an offering of the goods
of the poor doeth as one that killeth the son before his father's
eyes.
[21] The bread of the needy is their life: he that defraudeth
him thereof is a man of blood.
[22] He that taketh away his
neighbour's living slayeth him; and he that defraudeth the labourer of his hire
is a bloodshedder.
[23] When one buildeth, and another pulleth down,
what profit have they then but labour?
[24] When one prayeth, and
another curseth, whose voice will the Lord hear?
[25] He that washeth
himself after the touching of a dead body, if he touch it again, what availeth
his washing?
[26] So is it with a man that fasteth for his sins, and
goeth again, and doeth the same: who will hear his prayer? or what doth his
humbling profit him?
Sir.35
[1] He that keepeth the law bringeth offerings enough: he
that taketh heed to the commandment offereth a peace offering.
[2] He
that requiteth a goodturn offereth fine flour; and he that giveth alms
sacrificeth praise.
[3] To depart from wickedness is a thing pleasing
to the Lord; and to forsake unrighteousness is a propitiation.
[4]
Thou shalt not appear empty before the Lord.
[5] For all these things
[are to be done] because of the commandment.
[6] The offering of the
righteous maketh the altar fat, and the sweet savour thereof is before the most
High.
[7] The sacrifice of a just man is acceptable. and the memorial
thereof shall never be forgotten.
[8] Give the Lord his honour with a
good eye, and diminish not the firstfruits of thine hands.
[9] In all
thy gifts shew a cheerful countenance, and dedicate thy tithes with
gladness.
[10] Give unto the most High according as he hath enriched
thee; and as thou hast gotten, give with a cheerful eye.
[11] For the
Lord recompenseth, and will give thee seven times as much.
[12] Do not
think to corrupt with gifts; for such he will not receive: and trust not to
unrighteous sacrifices; for the Lord is judge, and with him is no respect of
persons.
[13] He will not accept any person against a poor man, but
will hear the prayer of the oppressed.
[14] He will not despise the
supplication of the fatherless; nor the widow, when she poureth out her
complaint.
[15] Do not the tears run down the widow's cheeks? and is
not her cry against him that causeth them to fall?
[16] He that
serveth the Lord shall be accepted with favour, and his prayer shall reach unto
the clouds.
[17] The prayer of the humble pierceth the clouds: and
till it come nigh, he will not be comforted; and will not depart, till the most
High shall behold to judge righteously, and execute judgment.
[18] For
the Lord will not be slack, neither will the Mighty be patient toward them, till
he have smitten in sunder the loins of the unmerciful, and repayed vengeance to
the heathen; till he have taken away the multitude of the proud, and broken the
sceptre of the unrighteous;
[19] Till he have rendered to every man
according to his deeds, and to the works of men according to their devices; till
he have judged the cause of his people, and made them to rejoice in his
mercy.
[20] Mercy is seasonable in the time of affliction, as clouds
of rain in the time of drought.
Sir.36
[1] Have mercy upon us, O Lord God of all, and behold
us:
[2] And send thy fear upon all the nations that seek not after
thee.
[3] Lift up thy hand against the strange nations, and let them
see thy power.
[4] As thou wast sanctified in us before them: so be
thou magnified among them before us.
[5] And let them know thee, as we
have known thee, that there is no God but only thou, O God.
[6] Shew
new signs, and make other strange wonders: glorify thy hand and thy right arm,
that they may set forth thy wondrous works.
[7] Raise up indignation,
and pour out wrath: take away the adversary, and destroy the
enemy.
[8] Sake the time short, remember the covenant, and let them
declare thy wonderful works.
[9] Let him that escapeth be consumed by
the rage of the fire; and let them perish that oppress the
people.
[10] Smite in sunder the heads of the rulers of the heathen,
that say, There is none other but we.
[11] Gather all the tribes of
Jacob together, and inherit thou them, as from the beginning.
[12] O
Lord, have mercy upon the people that is called by thy name, and upon Israel,
whom thou hast named thy firstborn.
[13] O be merciful unto Jerusalem,
thy holy city, the place of thy rest.
[14] Fill Sion with thine
unspeakable oracles, and thy people with thy glory:
[15] Give
testimony unto those that thou hast possessed from the beginning, and raise up
prophets that have been in thy name.
[16] Reward them that wait for
thee, and let thy prophets be found faithful.
[17] O Lord, hear the
prayer of thy servants, according to the blessing of Aaron over thy people, that
all they which dwell upon the earth may know that thou art the Lord, the eternal
God.
[18] The belly devoureth all meats, yet is one meat better than
another.
[19] As the palate tasteth divers kinds of venison: so doth
an heart of understanding false speeches.
[20] A froward heart causeth
heaviness: but a man of experience will recompense him.
[21] A woman
will receive every man, yet is one daughter better than another.
[22]
The beauty of a woman cheereth the countenance, and a man loveth nothing
better.
[23] If there be kindness, meekness, and comfort, in her
tongue, then is not her husband like other men.
[24] He that getteth a
wife beginneth a possession, a help like unto himself, and a pillar of
rest.
[25] Where no hedge is, there the possession is spoiled: and he
that hath no wife will wander up and down mourning.
[26] Who will
trust a thief well appointed, that skippeth from city to city? so [who will
believe] a man that hath no house, and lodgeth wheresoever the night taketh
him?
Sir.37
[1] Every friend saith, I am his friend also: but there is
a friend, which is only a friend in name.
[2] Is it not a grief unto
death, when a companion and friend is turned to an enemy?
[3] O wicked
imagination, whence camest thou in to cover the earth with deceit?
[4]
There is a companion, which rejoiceth in the prosperity of a friend, but in the
time of trouble will be against him.
[5] There is a companion, which
helpeth his friend for the belly, and taketh up the buckler against the
enemy.
[6] Forget not thy friend in thy mind, and be not unmindful of
him in thy riches.
[7] Every counsellor extolleth counsel; but there
is some that counselleth for himself.
[8] Beware of a counsellor, and
know before what need he hath; for he will counsel for himself; lest he cast the
lot upon thee,
[9] And say unto thee, Thy way is good: and afterward
he stand on the other side, to see what shall befall thee.
[10]
Consult not with one that suspecteth thee: and hide thy counsel from such as
envy thee.
[11] Neither consult with a woman touching her of whom she
is jealous; neither with a coward in matters of war; nor with a merchant
concerning exchange; nor with a buyer of selling; nor with an envious man of
thankfulness; nor with an unmerciful man touching kindness; nor with the
slothful for any work; nor with an hireling for a year of finishing work; nor
with an idle servant of much business: hearken not unto these in any matter of
counsel.
[12] But be continually with a godly man, whom thou knowest
to keep the commandments of the Lord, whose, mind is according to thy mind, and
will sorrow with thee, if thou shalt miscarry.
[13] And let the
counsel of thine own heart stand: for there is no man more faithful unto thee
than it.
[14] For a man's mind is sometime wont to tell him more than
seven watchmen, that sit above in an high tower.
[15] And above all
this pray to the most High, that he will direct thy way in truth.
[16]
Let reason go before every enterprize, and counsel before every
action.
[17] The countenance is a sign of changing of the
heart.
[18] Four manner of things appear: good and evil, life and
death: but the tongue ruleth over them continually.
[19] There is one
that is wise and teacheth many, and yet is unprofitable to
himself.
[20] There is one that sheweth wisdom in words, and is hated:
he shall be destitute of all food.
[21] For grace is not given, him
from the Lord, because he is deprived of all wisdom.
[22] Another is
wise to himself; and the fruits of understanding are commendable in his
mouth.
[23] A wise man instructeth his people; and the fruits of his
understanding fail not.
[24] A wise man shall be filled with blessing;
and all they that see him shall count him happy.
[25] The days of the
life of man may be numbered: but the days of Israel are
innumerable.
[26] A wise man shall inherit glory among his people, and
his name shall be perpetual.
[27] My son, prove thy soul in thy life,
and see what is evil for it, and give not that unto it.
[28] For all
things are not profitable for all men, neither hath every soul pleasure in every
thing.
[29] Be not unsatiable in any dainty thing, nor too greedy upon
meats:
[30] For excess of meats bringeth sickness, and surfeiting will
turn into choler.
[31] By surfeiting have many perished; but he that
taketh heed prolongeth his life.
Sir.38
[1] Honour a physician with the honour due unto him for
the uses which ye may have of him: for the Lord hath created him.
[2]
For of the most High cometh healing, and he shall receive honour of the
king.
[3] The skill of the physician shall lift up his head: and in
the sight of great men he shall be in admiration.
[4] The Lord hath
created medicines out of the earth; and he that is wise will not abhor
them.
[5] Was not the water made sweet with wood, that the virtue
thereof might be known?
[6] And he hath given men skill, that he might
be honoured in his marvellous works.
[7] With such doth he heal [men,]
and taketh away their pains.
[8] Of such doth the apothecary make a
confection; and of his works there is no end; and from him is peace over all the
earth,
[9] My son, in thy sickness be not negligent: but pray unto the
Lord, and he will make thee whole.
[10] Leave off from sin, and order
thine hands aright, and cleanse thy heart from all wickedness.
[11]
Give a sweet savour, and a memorial of fine flour; and make a fat offering, as
not being.
[12] Then give place to the physician, for the Lord hath
created him: let him not go from thee, for thou hast need of him.
[13]
There is a time when in their hands there is good success.
[14] For
they shall also pray unto the Lord, that he would prosper that, which they give
for ease and remedy to prolong life.
[15] He that sinneth before his
Maker, let him fall into the hand of the physician.
[16] My son, let
tears fall down over the dead, and begin to lament, as if thou hadst suffered
great harm thyself; and then cover his body according to the custom, and neglect
not his burial.
[17] Weep bitterly, and make great moan, and use
lamentation, as he is worthy, and that a day or two, lest thou be evil spoken
of: and then comfort thyself for thy heaviness.
[18] For of heaviness
cometh death, and the heaviness of the heart breaketh strength.
[19]
In affliction also sorrow remaineth: and the life of the poor is the curse of
the heart.
[20] Take no heaviness to heart: drive it away, and member
the last end.
[21] Forget it not, for there is no turning again: thou
shalt not do him good, but hurt thyself.
[22] Remember my judgment:
for thine also shall be so; yesterday for me, and to day for
thee.
[23] When the dead is at rest, let his remembrance rest; and be
comforted for him, when his Spirit is departed from him.
[24] The
wisdom of a learned man cometh by opportunity of leisure: and he that hath
little business shall become wise.
[25] How can he get wisdom that
holdeth the plough, and that glorieth in the goad, that driveth oxen, and is
occupied in their labours, and whose talk is of bullocks?
[26] He
giveth his mind to make furrows; and is diligent to give the kine
fodder.
[27] So every carpenter and workmaster, that laboureth night
and day: and they that cut and grave seals, and are diligent to make great
variety, and give themselves to counterfeit imagery, and watch to finish a
work:
[28] The smith also sitting by the anvil, and considering the
iron work, the vapour of the fire wasteth his flesh, and he fighteth with the
heat of the furnace: the noise of the hammer and the anvil is ever in his ears,
and his eyes look still upon the pattern of the thing that he maketh; he setteth
his mind to finish his work, and watcheth to polish it perfectly:
[29]
So doth the potter sitting at his work, and turning the wheel about with his
feet, who is alway carefully set at his work, and maketh all his work by
number;
[30] He fashioneth the clay with his arm, and boweth down his
strength before his feet; he applieth himself to lead it over; and he is
diligent to make clean the furnace:
[31] All these trust to their
hands: and every one is wise in his work.
[32] Without these cannot a
city be inhabited: and they shall not dwell where they will, nor go up and
down:
[33] They shall not be sought for in publick counsel, nor sit
high in the congregation: they shall not sit on the judges' seat, nor understand
the sentence of judgment: they cannot declare justice and judgment; and they
shall not be found where parables are spoken.
[34] But they will
maintain the state of the world, and [all] their desire is in the work of their
craft.
Sir.39
[1] But he that giveth his mind to the law of the most
High, and is occupied in the meditation thereof, will seek out the wisdom of all
the ancient, and be occupied in prophecies.
[2] He will keep the
sayings of the renowned men: and where subtil parables are, he will be there
also.
[3] He will seek out the secrets of grave sentences, and be
conversant in dark parables.
[4] He shall serve among great men, and
appear before princes: he will travel through strange countries; for he hath
tried the good and the evil among men.
[5] He will give his heart to
resort early to the Lord that made him, and will pray before the most High, and
will open his mouth in prayer, and make supplication for his sins.
[6]
When the great Lord will, he shall be filled with the spirit of understanding:
he shall pour out wise sentences, and give thanks unto the Lord in his
prayer.
[7] He shall direct his counsel and knowledge, and in his
secrets shall he meditate.
[8] He shall shew forth that which he hath
learned, and shall glory in the law of the covenant of the Lord.
[9]
Many shall commend his understanding; and so long as the world endureth, it
shall not be blotted out; his memorial shall not depart away, and his name shall
live from generation to generation.
[10] Nations shall shew forth his
wisdom, and the congregation shall declare his praise.
[11] If he die,
he shall leave a greater name than a thousand: and if he live, he shall increase
it.
[12] Yet have I more to say, which I have thought upon; for I am
filled as the moon at the full.
[13] Hearken unto me, ye holy
children, and bud forth as a rose growing by the brook of the
field:
[14] And give ye a sweet savour as frankincense, and flourish
as a lily, send forth a smell, and sing a song of praise, bless the Lord in all
his works.
[15] Magnify his name, and shew forth his praise with the
songs of your lips, and with harps, and in praising him ye shall say after this
manner:
[16] All the works of the Lord are exceeding good, and
whatsoever he commandeth shall be accomplished in due season.
[17] And
none may say, What is this? wherefore is that? for at time convenient they shall
all be sought out: at his commandment the waters stood as an heap, and at the
words of his mouth the receptacles of waters.
[18] At his commandment
is done whatsoever pleaseth him; and none can hinder, when he will
save.
[19] The works of all flesh are before him, and nothing can be
hid from his eyes.
[20] He seeth from everlasting to everlasting; and
there is nothing wonderful before him.
[21] A man need not to say,
What is this? wherefore is that? for he hath made all things for their
uses.
[22] His blessing covered the dry land as a river, and watered
it as a flood.
[23] As he hath turned the waters into saltness: so
shall the heathen inherit his wrath.
[24] As his ways are plain unto
the holy; so are they stumblingblocks unto the wicked.
[25] For the
good are good things created from the beginning: so evil things for
sinners.
[26] The principal things for the whole use of man's life are
water, fire, iron, and salt, flour of wheat, honey, milk, and the blood of the
grape, and oil, and clothing.
[27] All these things are for good to
the godly: so to the sinners they are turned into evil.
[28] There be
spirits that are created for vengeance, which in their fury lay on sore strokes;
in the time of destruction they pour out their force, and appease the wrath of
him that made them.
[29] Fire, and hail, and famine, and death, all
these were created for vengeance;
[30] Teeth of wild beasts, and
scorpions, serpents, and the sword punishing the wicked to
destruction.
[31] They shall rejoice in his commandment, and they
shall be ready upon earth, when need is; and when their time is come, they shall
not transgress his word.
[32] Therefore from the beginning I was
resolved, and thought upon these things, and have left them in
writing.
[33] All the works of the Lord are good: and he will give
every needful thing in due season.
[34] So that a man cannot say, This
is worse than that: for in time they shall all be well approved.
[35]
And therefore praise ye the Lord with the whole heart and mouth, and bless the
name of the Lord.
Sir.40
[1] Great travail is created for every man, and an heavy
yoke is upon the sons of Adam, from the day that they go out of their mother's
womb, till the day that they return to the mother of all things.
[2]
Their imagination of things to come, and the day of death, [trouble] their
thoughts, and [cause] fear of heart;
[3] From him that sitteth on a
throne of glory, unto him that is humbled in earth and ashes;
[4] From
him that weareth purple and a crown, unto him that is clothed with a linen
frock.
[5] Wrath, and envy, trouble, and unquietness, fear of death,
and anger, and strife, and in the time of rest upon his bed his night sleep, do
change his knowledge.
[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.
[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, and that is sevenfold
more upon sinners.
[9] Death, and bloodshed, strife, and sword,
calamities, famine, tribulation, and the scourge;
[10] These things
are created for the wicked, and for their sakes came the flood.
[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.
[12] All bribery and
injustice shall be blotted out: but true dealing shall endure for
ever.
[13] The goods of the unjust shall be dried up like a river, and
shall vanish with noise, like a great thunder in rain.
[14] While he
openeth his hand he shall rejoice: so shall transgressors come to
nought.
[15] The children of the ungodly shall not bring forth many
branches: but are as unclean roots upon a hard rock.
[16] The weed
growing upon every water and bank of a river shall be pulled up before all
grass.
[17] Bountifulness is as a most fruitful garden, and
mercifulness endureth for ever.
[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.
[19] Children and the building of a city continue a man's name:
but a blameless wife is counted above them both.
[20] Wine and musick
rejoice the heart: but the love of wisdom is above them both.
[21] The
pipe and the psaltery make sweet melody: but a pleasant tongue is above them
both.
[22] Thine eye desireth favour and beauty: but more than both
corn while it is green.
[23] A friend and companion never meet amiss:
but above both is a wife with her husband.
[24] Brethren and help are
against time of trouble: but alms shall deliver more than them
both.
[25] Gold and silver make the foot stand sure: but counsel is
esteemed above them both.
[26] Riches and strength lift up the heart:
but the fear of the Lord is above them both: there is no want in the fear of the
Lord, and it needeth not to seek help.
[27] The fear of the Lord is a
fruitful garden, and covereth him above all glory.
[28] My son, lead
not a beggar's life; for better it is to die than to beg.
[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.
[30] Begging is sweet in the mouth of
the shameless: but in his belly there shall burn a fire.
Sir.41
[1] O death, how bitter is the remembrance of thee to a
man that liveth at rest in his possessions, unto the man that hath nothing to
vex him, and that hath prosperity in all things: yea, unto him that is yet able
to receive meat!
[2] O death, acceptable is thy sentence unto the
needy, and unto him whose strength faileth, that is now in the last age, and is
vexed with all things, and to him that despaireth, and hath lost
patience!
[3] Fear not the sentence of death, remember them that have
been before thee, and that come after; for this is the sentence of the Lord over
all flesh.
[4] And why art thou against the pleasure of the most High?
there is no inquisition in the grave, whether thou have lived ten, or an
hundred, or a thousand years.
[5] The children of sinners are
abominable children, and they that are conversant in the dwelling of the
ungodly.
[6] The inheritance of sinners' children shall perish, and
their posterity shall have a perpetual reproach.
[7] The children will
complain of an ungodly father, because they shall be reproached for his
sake.
[8] Woe be unto you, ungodly men, which have forsaken the law of
the most high God! for if ye increase, it shall be to your
destruction:
[9] And if ye be born, ye shall be born to a curse: and
if ye die, a curse shall be your portion.
[10] All that are of the
earth shall turn to earth again: so the ungodly shall go from a curse to
destruction.
[11] The mourning of men is about their bodies: but an
ill name of sinners shall be blotted out.
[12] Have regard to thy
name; for that shall continue with thee above a thousand great treasures of
gold.
[13] A good life hath but few days: but a good name endureth for
ever.
[14] My children, keep discipline in peace: for wisdom that is
hid, and a treasure that is not seen, what profit is in them
both?
[15] A man that hideth his foolishness is better than a man that
hideth his wisdom.
[16] Therefore be shamefaced according to my word:
for it is not good to retain all shamefacedness; neither is it altogether
approved in every thing.
[17] Be ashamed of whoredom before father and
mother: and of a lie before a prince and a mighty man;
[18] Of an
offence before a judge and ruler; of iniquity before a congregation and people;
of unjust dealing before thy partner and friend;
[19] And of theft in
regard of the place where thou sojournest, and in regard of the truth of God and
his covenant; and to lean with thine elbow upon the meat; and of scorning to
give and take;
[20] And of silence before them that salute thee; and
to look upon an harlot;
[21] And to turn away thy face from thy
kinsman; or to take away a portion or a gift; or to gaze upon another man's
wife.
[22] Or to be overbusy with his maid, and come not near her bed;
or of upbraiding speeches before friends; and after thou hast given, upbraid
not;
[23] Or of iterating and speaking again that which thou hast
heard; and of revealing of secrets.
[24] So shalt thou be truly
shamefaced and find favour before all men.
Sir.42
[1] Of these things be not thou ashamed, and accept no
person to sin thereby:
[2] Of the law of the most High, and his
covenant; and of judgment to justify the ungodly;
[3] Of reckoning
with thy partners and travellers; or of the gift of the heritage of
friends;
[4] Of exactness of balance and weights; or of getting much
or little;
[5] And of merchants' indifferent selling; of much
correction of children; and to make the side of an evil servant to
bleed.
[6] Sure keeping is good, where an evil wife is; and shut up,
where many hands are.
[7] Deliver all things in number and weight; and
put all in writing that thou givest out, or receivest in.
[8] Be not
ashamed to inform the unwise and foolish, and the extreme aged that contendeth
with those that are young: thus shalt thou be truly learned, and approved of all
men living.
[9] The father waketh for the daughter, when no man
knoweth; and the care for her taketh away sleep: when she is young, lest she
pass away the flower of her age; and being married, lest she should be
hated:
[10] In her virginity, lest she should be defiled and gotten
with child in her father's house; and having an husband, lest she should
misbehave herself; and when she is married, lest she should be
barren.
[11] Keep a sure watch over a shameless daughter, lest she
make thee a laughingstock to thine enemies, and a byword in the city, and a
reproach among the people, and make thee ashamed before the
multitude.
[12] Behold not every body's beauty, and sit not in the
midst of women.
[13] For from garments cometh a moth, and from women
wickedness.
[14] Better is the churlishness of a man than a courteous
woman, a woman, I say, which bringeth shame and reproach.
[15] I will
now remember the works of the Lord, and declare the things that I have seen: In
the words of the Lord are his works.
[16] The sun that giveth light
looketh upon all things, and the work thereof is full of the glory of the
Lord.
[17] The Lord hath not given power to the saints to declare all
his marvellous works, which the Almighty Lord firmly settled, that whatsoever is
might be established for his glory.
[18] He seeketh out the deep, and
the heart, and considereth their crafty devices: for the Lord knoweth all that
may be known, and he beholdeth the signs of the world.
[19] He
declareth the things that are past, and for to come, and revealeth the steps of
hidden things.
[20] No thought escapeth him, neither any word is
hidden from him.
[21] He hath garnished the excellent works of his
wisdom, and he is from everlasting to everlasting: unto him may nothing be
added, neither can he be diminished, and he hath no need of any
counsellor.
[22] Oh how desirable are all his works! and that a man
may see even to a spark.
[23] All these things live and remain for
ever for all uses, and they are all obedient.
[24] All things are
double one against another: and he hath made nothing imperfect.
[25]
One thing establisheth the good or another: and who shall be filled with
beholding his glory?
Sir.43
[1] The pride of the height, the clear firmament, the
beauty of heaven, with his glorious shew;
[2] The sun when it
appeareth, declaring at his rising a marvellous instrument, the work of the most
High:
[3] At noon it parcheth the country, and who can abide the
burning heat thereof?
[4] A man blowing a furnace is in works of heat,
but the sun burneth the mountains three times more; breathing out fiery vapours,
and sending forth bright beams, it dimmeth the eyes.
[5] Great is the
Lord that made it; and at his commandment runneth hastily.
[6] He made
the moon also to serve in her season for a declaration of times, and a sign of
the world.
[7] From the moon is the sign of feasts, a light that
decreaseth in her perfection.
[8] The month is called after her name,
increasing wonderfully in her changing, being an instrument of the armies above,
shining in the firmament of heaven;
[9] The beauty of heaven, the
glory of the stars, an ornament giving light in the highest places of the
Lord.
[10] At the commandment of the Holy One they will stand in their
order, and never faint in their watches.
[11] Look upon the rainbow,
and praise him that made it; very beautiful it is in the brightness
thereof.
[12] It compasseth the heaven about with a glorious circle,
and the hands of the most High have bended it.
[13] By his commandment
he maketh the snow to fall aplace, and sendeth swiftly the lightnings of his
judgment.
[14] Through this the treasures are opened: and clouds fly
forth as fowls.
[15] By his great power he maketh the clouds firm, and
the hailstones are broken small.
[16] At his sight the mountains are
shaken, and at his will the south wind bloweth.
[17] The noise of the
thunder maketh the earth to tremble: so doth the northern storm and the
whirlwind: as birds flying he scattereth the snow, and the falling down thereof
is as the lighting of grasshoppers:
[18] The eye marvelleth at the
beauty of the whiteness thereof, and the heart is astonished at the raining of
it.
[19] The hoarfrost also as salt he poureth on the earth, and being
congealed, it lieth on the top of sharp stakes.
[20] When the cold
north wind bloweth, and the water is congealed into ice, it abideth upon every
gathering together of water, and clotheth the water as with a
breastplate.
[21] It devoureth the mountains, and burneth the
wilderness, and consumeth the grass as fire.
[22] A present remedy of
all is a mist coming speedily, a dew coming after heat
refresheth.
[23] By his counsel he appeaseth the deep, and planteth
islands therein.
[24] They that sail on the sea tell of the danger
thereof; and when we hear it with our ears, we marvel thereat.
[25]
For therein be strange and wondrous works, variety of all kinds of beasts and
whales created.
[26] By him the end of them hath prosperous success,
and by his word all things consist.
[27] We may speak much, and yet
come short: wherefore in sum, he is all.
[28] How shall we be able to
magnify him? for he is great above all his works.
[29] The Lord is
terrible and very great, and marvellous is his power.
[30] When ye
glorify the Lord, exalt him as much as ye can; for even yet will he far exceed:
and when ye exalt him, put forth all your strength, and be not weary; for ye can
never go far enough.
[31] Who hath seen him, that he might tell us?
and who can magnify him as he is?
[32] There are yet hid greater
things than these be, for we have seen but a few of his works.
[33]
For the Lord hath made all things; and to the godly hath he given wisdom.
Sir.44
[1] Let us now praise famous men, and our fathers that
begat us.
[2] The Lord hath wrought great glory by them through his
great power from the beginning.
[3] Such as did bear rule in their
kingdoms, men renowned for their power, giving counsel by their understanding,
and declaring prophecies:
[4] Leaders of the people by their counsels,
and by their knowledge of learning meet for the people, wise and eloquent are
their instructions:
[5] Such as found out musical tunes, and recited
verses in writing:
[6] Rich men furnished with ability, living
peaceably in their habitations:
[7] All these were honoured in their
generations, and were the glory of their times.
[8] There be of them,
that have left a name behind them, that their praises might be
reported.
[9] And some there be, which have no memorial; who are
perished, as though they had never been; and are become as though they had never
been born; and their children after them.
[10] But these were merciful
men, whose righteousness hath not been forgotten.
[11] With their seed
shall continually remain a good inheritance, and their children are within the
covenant.
[12] Their seed standeth fast, and their children for their
sakes.
[13] Their seed shall remain for ever, and their glory shall
not be blotted out.
[14] Their bodies are buried in peace; but their
name liveth for evermore.
[15] The people will tell of their wisdom,
and the congregation will shew forth their praise.
[16] Enoch pleased
the Lord, and was translated, being an example of repentance to all
generations.
[17] Noah was found perfect and righteous; in the time of
wrath he was taken in exchange [for the world;] therefore was he left as a
remnant unto the earth, when the flood came.
[18] An everlasting
covenant was made with him, that all flesh should perish no more by the
flood.
[19] Abraham was a great father of many people: in glory was
there none like unto him;
[20] Who kept the law of the most High, and
was in covenant with him: he established the covenant in his flesh; and when he
was proved, he was found faithful.
[21] Therefore he assured him by an
oath, that he would bless the nations in his seed, and that he would multiply
him as the dust of the earth, and exalt his seed as the stars, and cause them to
inherit from sea to sea, and from the river unto the utmost part of the
land.
[22] With Isaac did he establish likewise [for Abraham his
father's sake] the blessing of all men, and the covenant, And made it rest upon
the head of Jacob. He acknowledged him in his blessing, and gave him an
heritage, and divided his portions; among the twelve tribes did he part
them.
Sir.45
[1] And he brought out of him a merciful man, which found
favour in the sight of all flesh, even Moses, beloved of God and men, whose
memorial is blessed.
[2] He made him like to the glorious saints, and
magnified him, so that his enemies stood in fear of him.
[3] By his
words he caused the wonders to cease, and he made him glorious in the sight of
kings, and gave him a commandment for his people, and shewed him part of his
glory.
[4] He sanctified him in his faithfuless and meekness, and
chose him out of all men.
[5] He made him to hear his voice, and
brought him into the dark cloud, and gave him commandments before his face, even
the law of life and knowledge, that he might teach Jacob his covenants, and
Israel his judgments.
[6] He exalted Aaron, an holy man like unto him,
even his brother, of the tribe of Levi.
[7] An everlasting covenant he
made with him and gave him the priesthood among the people; he beautified him
with comely ornaments, and clothed him with a robe of glory.
[8] He
put upon him perfect glory; and strengthened him with rich garments, with
breeches, with a long robe, and the ephod.
[9] And he compassed him
with pomegranates, and with many golden bells round about, that as he went there
might be a sound, and a noise made that might be heard in the temple, for a
memorial to the children of his people;
[10] With an holy garment,
with gold, and blue silk, and purple, the work of the embroidere, with a
breastplate of judgment, and with Urim and Thummim;
[11] With twisted
scarlet, the work of the cunning workman, with precious stones graven like
seals, and set in gold, the work of the jeweller, with a writing engraved for a
memorial, after the number of the tribes of Israel.
[12] He set a
crown of gold upon the mitre, wherein was engraved Holiness, an ornament of
honour, a costly work, the desires of the eyes, goodly and
beautiful.
[13] Before him there were none such, neither did ever any
stranger put them on, but only his children and his children's children
perpetually.
[14] Their sacrifices shall be wholly consumed every day
twice continually.
[15] Moses consecrated him, and anointed him with
holy oil: this was appointed unto him by an everlasting covenant, and to his
seed, so long as the heavens should remain, that they should minister unto him,
and execute the office of the priesthood, and bless the people in his
name.
[16] He chose him out of all men living to offer sacrifices to
the Lord, incense, and a sweet savour, for a memorial, to make reconciliation
for his people.
[17] He gave unto him his commandments, and authority
in the statutes of judgments, that he should teach Jacob the testimonies, and
inform Israel in his laws.
[18] Strangers conspired together against
him, and maligned him in the wilderness, even the men that were of Dathan's and
Abiron's side, and the congregation of Core, with fury and wrath.
[19]
This the Lord saw, and it displeased him, and in his wrathful indignation were
they consumed: he did wonders upon them, to consume them with the fiery
flame.
[20] But he made Aaron more honourable, and gave him an
heritage, and divided unto him the firstfruits of the increase; especially he
prepared bread in abundance:
[21] For they eat of the sacrifices of
the Lord, which he gave unto him and his seed.
[22] Howbeit in the
land of the people he had no inheritance, neither had he any portion among the
people: for the Lord himself is his portion and inheritance.
[23] The
third in glory is Phinees the son of Eleazar, because he had zeal in the fear of
the Lord, and stood up with good courage of heart: when the people were turned
back, and made reconciliation for Israel.
[24] Therefore was there a
covenant of peace made with him, that he should be the chief of the sanctuary
and of his people, and that he and his posterity should have the dignity of the
priesthood for ever:
[25] According to the covenant made with David
son of Jesse, of the tribe of Juda, that the inheritance of the king should be
to his posterity alone: so the inheritance of Aaron should also be unto his
seed.
[26] God give you wisdom in your heart to judge his people in
righteousness, that their good things be not abolished, and that their glory may
endure for ever.
Sir.46
[1] Jesus the son a Nave was valiant in the wars, and was
the successor of Moses in prophecies, who according to his name was made great
for the saving of the elect of God, and taking vengeance of the enemies that
rose up against them, that he might set Israel in their
inheritance.
[2] How great glory gat he, when he did lift up his
hands, and stretched out his sword against the cities!
[3] Who before
him so stood to it? for the Lord himself brought his enemies unto
him.
[4] Did not the sun go back by his means? and was not one day as
long as two?
[5] He called upon the most high Lord, when the enemies
pressed upon him on every side; and the great Lord heard him.
[6] And
with hailstones of mighty power he made the battle to fall violently upon the
nations, and in the descent [of Beth-horon] he destroyed them that resisted,
that the nations might know all their strength, because he fought in the sight
of the Lord, and he followed the Mighty One.
[7] In the time of Moses
also he did a work of mercy, he and Caleb the son of Jephunne, in that they
withstood the congregation, and withheld the people from sin, and appeased the
wicked murmuring.
[8] And of six hundred thousand people on foot, they
two were preserved to bring them in to the heritage, even unto the land that
floweth with milk and honey.
[9] The Lord gave strength also unto
Caleb, which remained with him unto his old age: so that he entered upon the
high places of the land, and his seed obtained it for an
heritage:
[10] That all the children of Israel might see that it is
good to follow the Lord.
[11] And concerning the judges, every one by
name, whose heart went not a whoring, nor departed from the Lord, let their
memory be blessed.
[12] Let their bones flourish out of their place,
and let the name of them that were honoured be continued upon their
children.
[13] Samuel, the prophet of the Lord, beloved of his Lord,
established a kingdom, and anointed princes over his people.
[14] By
the law of the Lord he judged the congregation, and the Lord had respect unto
Jacob.
[15] By his faithfulness he was found a true prophet, and by
his word he was known to be faithful in vision.
[16] He called upon
the mighty Lord, when his enemies pressed upon him on every side, when he
offered the sucking lamb.
[17] And the Lord thundered from heaven, and
with a great noise made his voice to be heard.
[18] And he destroyed
the rulers of the Tyrians, and all the princes cf the
Philistines.
[19] And before his long sleep he made protestations in
the sight of the Lord and his anointed, I have not taken any man's goods, so
much as a shoe: and no man did accuse him.
[20] And after his death he
prophesied, and shewed the king his end, and lifted up his voice from the earth
in prophecy, to blot out the wickedness of the people.
Sir.47
[1] And after him rose up Nathan to prophesy in the time
of David.
[2] As is the fat taken away from the peace offering, so was
David chosen out of the children of Israel.
[3] He played with lions
as with kids, and with bears as with lambs.
[4] Slew he not a giant,
when he was yet but young? and did he not take away reproach from the people,
when he lifted up his hand with the stone in the sling, and beat down the
boasting of Goliath?
[5] For he called upon the most high Lord; and he
gave him strength in his right hand to slay that mighty warrior, and set up the
horn of his people.
[6] So the people honoured him with ten thousands,
and praised him in the blessings of the Lord, in that he gave him a crown of
glory.
[7] For he destroyed the enemies on every side, and brought to
nought the Philistines his adversaries, and brake their horn in sunder unto this
day.
[8] In all his works he praised the Holy One most high with words
of glory; with his whole heart he sung songs, and loved him that made
him.
[9] He set singers also before the altar, that by their voices
they might make sweet melody, and daily sing praises in their
songs.
[10] He beautified their feasts, and set in order the solemn
times until the end, that they might praise his holy name, and that the temple
might sound from morning.
[11] The Lord took away his sins, and
exalted his horn for ever: he gave him a covenant of kings, and a throne of
glory in Israel.
[12] After him rose up a wise son, and for his sake
he dwelt at large.
[13] Solomon reigned in a peaceable time, and was
honoured; for God made all quiet round about him, that he might build an house
in his name, and prepare his sanctuary for ever.
[14] How wise wast
thou in thy youth and, as a flood, filled with understanding!
[15] Thy
soul covered the whole earth, and thou filledst it with dark
parables.
[16] Thy name went far unto the islands; and for thy peace
thou wast beloved.
[17] The countries marvelled at thee for thy songs,
and proverbs, and parables, and interpretations.
[18] By the name of
the Lord God, which is called the Lord God of Israel, thou didst gather gold as
tin and didst multiply silver as lead.
[19] Thou didst bow thy loins
unto women, and by thy body thou wast brought into subjection.
[20]
Thou didst stain thy honour, and pollute thy seed: so that thou broughtest wrath
upon thy children, and wast grieved for thy folly.
[21] So the kingdom
was divided, and out of Ephraim ruled a rebellious kingdom.
[22] But
the Lord will never leave off his mercy, neither shall any of his works perish,
neither will he abolish the posterity of his elect, and the seed of him that
loveth him he will not take away: wherefore he gave a remnant unto Jacob, and
out of him a root unto David.
[23] Thus rested Solomon with his
fathers, and of his seed he left behind him Roboam, even the foolishness of the
people, and one that had no understanding, who turned away the people through
his counsel. There was also Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin,
and shewed Ephraim the way of sin:
[24] And their sins were multiplied
exceedingly, that they were driven out of the land.
[25] For they
sought out all wickedness, till the vengeance came upon them.
Sir.48
[1] Then stood up Elias the prophet as fire, and his word
burned like a lamp.
[2] He brought a sore famine upon them, and by his
zeal he diminished their number.
[3] By the word of the Lord he shut
up the heaven, and also three times brought down fire.
[4] O Elias,
how wast thou honoured in thy wondrous deeds! and who may glory like unto
thee!
[5] Who didst raise up a dead man from death, and his soul from
the place of the dead, by the word of the most High:
[6] Who
broughtest kings to destruction, and honorable men from their bed:
[7]
Who heardest the rebuke of the Lord in Sinai, and in Horeb the judgment of
vengeance:
[8] Who annointedst kings to take revenge, and prophets to
succeed after him:
[9] Who was taken up in a whirlwind of fire, and in
a chariot of fiery horses:
[10] Who wast ordained for reproofs in
their times, to pacify the wrath of the Lord's judgment, before it brake forth
into fury, and to turn the heart of the father unto the son, and to restore the
tribes of Jacob.
[11] Blessed are they that saw thee, and slept in
love; for we shall surely live.
[12] Elias it was, who was covered
with a whirlwind: and Eliseus was filled with his spirit: whilst he lived, he
was not moved with the presence of any prince, neither could any bring him into
subjection.
[13] No word could overcome him; and after his death his
body prophesied.
[14] He did wonders in his life, and at his death
were his works marvellous.
[15] For all this the people repented not,
neither departed they from their sins, till they were spoiled and carried out of
their land, and were scattered through all the earth: yet there remained a small
people, and a ruler in the house of David:
[16] Of whom some did that
which was pleasing to God, and some multiplied sins.
[17] Ezekias
fortified his city, and brought in water into the midst thereof: he digged the
hard rock with iron, and made wells for waters.
[18] In his time
Sennacherib came up, and sent Rabsaces, and lifted up his hand against Sion, and
boasted proudly.
[19] Then trembled their hearts and hands, and they
were in pain, as women in travail.
[20] But they called upon the Lord
which is merciful, and stretched out their hands toward him: and immediately the
Holy One heard them out of heaven, and delivered them by the ministry of
Esay.
[21] He smote the host of the Assyrians, and his angel destroyed
them.
[22] For Ezekias had done the thing that pleased the Lord, and
was strong in the ways of David his father, as Esay the prophet, who was great
and faithful in his vision, had commanded him.
[23] In his time the
sun went backward, and he lengthened the king's life.
[24] He saw by
an excellent spirit what should come to pass at the last, and he comforted them
that mourned in Sion.
[25] He shewed what should come to pass for
ever, and secret things or ever they came.
Sir.49
[1] The remembrance of Josias is like the composition of
the perfume that is made by the art of the apothecary: it is sweet as honey in
all mouths, and as musick at a banquet of wine.
[2] He behaved himself
uprightly in the conversion of the people, and took away the abominations of
iniquity.
[3] He directed his heart unto the Lord, and in the time of
the ungodly he established the worship of God.
[4] All, except David
and Ezekias and Josias, were defective: for they forsook the law of the most
High, even the kings of Juda failed.
[5] Therefore he gave their power
unto others, and their glory to a strange nation.
[6] They burnt the
chosen city of the sanctuary, and made the streets desolate, according to the
prophecy of Jeremias.
[7] For they entreated him evil, who
nevertheless was a prophet, sanctified in his mother's womb, that he might root
out, and afflict, and destroy; and that he might build up also, and
plant.
[8] It was Ezekiel who saw the glorious vision, which was
shewed him upon the chariot of the cherubims.
[9] For he made mention
of the enemies under the figure of the rain, and directed them that went
right.
[10] And of the twelve prophets let the memorial be blessed,
and let their bones flourish again out of their place: for they comforted Jacob,
and delivered them by assured hope.
[11] How shall we magnify
Zorobabel? even he was as a signet on the right hand:
[12] So was
Jesus the son of Josedec: who in their time builded the house, and set up an
holy temple to the Lord, which was prepared for everlasting
glory.
[13] And among the elect was Neemias, whose renown is great,
who raised up for us the walls that were fallen, and set up the gates and the
bars, and raised up our ruins again.
[14] But upon the earth was no
man created like Enoch; for he was taken from the earth.
[15] Neither
was there a young man born like Joseph, a governor of his brethren, a stay of
the people, whose bones were regarded of the Lord.
[16] Sem and Seth
were in great honour among men, and so was Adam above every living thing in
creation.
Sir.50
[1] Simon the high priest, the son of Onias, who in his
life repaired the house again, and in his days fortified the
temple:
[2] And by him was built from the foundation the double
height, the high fortress of the wall about the temple:
[3] In his
days the cistern to receive water, being in compass as the sea, was covered with
plates of brass:
[4] He took care of the temple that it should not
fall, and fortified the city against besieging:
[5] How was he
honoured in the midst of the people in his coming out of the
sanctuary!
[6] He was as the morning star in the midst of a cloud, and
as the moon at the full:
[7] As the sun shining upon the temple of the
most High, and as the rainbow giving light in the bright clouds:
[8]
And as the flower of roses in the spring of the year, as lilies by the rivers of
waters, and as the branches of the frankincense tree in the time of
summer:
[9] As fire and incense in the censer, and as a vessel of
beaten gold set with all manner of precious stones:
[10] And as a fair
olive tree budding forth fruit, and as a cypress tree which groweth up to the
clouds.
[11] When he put on the robe of honour, and was clothed with
the perfection of glory, when he went up to the holy altar, he made the garment
of holiness honourable.
[12] When he took the portions out of the
priests' hands, he himself stood by the hearth of the altar, compassed about, as
a young cedar in Libanus; and as palm trees compassed they him round
about.
[13] So were all the sons of Aaron in their glory, and the
oblations of the Lord in their hands, before all the congregation of
Israel.
[14] And finishing the service at the altar, that he might
adorn the offering of the most high Almighty,
[15] He stretched out
his hand to the cup, and poured of the blood of the grape, he poured out at the
foot of the altar a sweetsmelling savour unto the most high King of
all.
[16] Then shouted the sons of Aaron, and sounded the silver
trumpets, and made a great noise to be heard, for a remembrance before the most
High.
[17] Then all the people together hasted, and fell down to the
earth upon their faces to worship their Lord God Almighty, the most
High.
[18] The singers also sang praises with their voices, with great
variety of sounds was there made sweet melody.
[19] And the people
besought the Lord, the most High, by prayer before him that is merciful, till
the solemnity of the Lord was ended, and they had finished his
service.
[20] Then he went down, and lifted up his hands over the
whole congregation of the children of Israel, to give the blessing of the Lord
with his lips, and to rejoice in his name.
[21] And they bowed
themselves down to worship the second time, that they might receive a blessing
from the most High.
[22] Now therefore bless ye the God of all, which
only doeth wondrous things every where, which exalteth our days from the womb,
and dealeth with us according to his mercy.
[23] He grant us
joyfulness of heart, and that peace may be in our days in Israel for
ever:
[24] That he would confirm his mercy with us, and deliver us at
his time!
[25] There be two manner of nations which my heart
abhorreth, and the third is no nation:
[26] They that sit upon the
mountain of Samaria, and they that dwell among the Philistines, and that foolish
people that dwell in Sichem.
[27] Jesus the son of Sirach of Jerusalem
hath written in this book the instruction of understanding and knowledge, who
out of his heart poured forth wisdom.
[28] Blessed is he that shall be
exercised in these things; and he that layeth them up in his heart shall become
wise.
[29] For if he do them, he shall be strong to all things: for
the light of the Lord leadeth him, who giveth wisdom to the godly. Blessed be
the name of the Lord for ever. Amen, Amen.
Sir.51
[A Prayer of Jesus the son of Sirach.][1] I
will thank thee, O Lord and King, and praise thee, O God my Saviour: I do give
praise unto thy name:
[2] For thou art my defender and helper, and has
preserved my body from destruction, and from the snare of the slanderous tongue,
and from the lips that forge lies, and has been mine helper against mine
adversaries:
[3] And hast delivered me, according to the multitude of
they mercies and greatness of thy name, from the teeth of them that were ready
to devour me, and out of the hands of such as sought after my life, and from the
manifold afflictions which I had;
[4] From the choking of fire on
every side, and from the midst of the fire which I kindled not;
[5]
From the depth of the belly of hell, from an unclean tongue, and from lying
words.
[6] By an accusation to the king from an unrighteous tongue my
soul drew near even unto death, my life was near to the hell
beneath.
[7] They compassed me on every side, and there was no man to
help me: I looked for the succour of men, but there was none.
[8] Then
thought I upon thy mercy, O Lord, and upon thy acts of old, how thou deliverest
such as wait for thee, and savest them out of the hands of the
enemies.
[9] Then lifted I up my supplications from the earth, and
prayed for deliverance from death.
[10] I called upon the Lord, the
Father of my Lord, that he would not leave me in the days of my trouble, and in
the time of the proud, when there was no help.
[11] I will praise thy
name continually, and will sing praises with thanksgiving; and so my prayer was
heard:
[12] For thou savedst me from destruction, and deliveredst me
from the evil time: therefore will I give thanks, and praise thee, and bless
they name, O Lord.
[13] When I was yet young, or ever I went abroad, I
desired wisdom openly in my prayer.
[14] I prayed for her before the
temple, and will seek her out even to the end.
[15] Even from the
flower till the grape was ripe hath my heart delighted in her: my foot went the
right way, from my youth up sought I after her.
[16] I bowed down mine
ear a little, and received her, and gat much learning.
[17] I profited
therein, therefore will I ascribe glory unto him that giveth me
wisdom.
[18] For I purposed to do after her, and earnestly I followed
that which is good; so shall I not be confounded.
[19] My soul hath
wrestled with her, and in my doings I was exact: I stretched forth my hands to
the heaven above, and bewailed my ignorances of her.
[20] I directed
my soul unto her, and I found her in pureness: I have had my heart joined with
her from the beginning, therefore shall I not be foresaken.
[21] My
heart was troubled in seeking her: therefore have I gotten a good
possession.
[22] The Lord hath given me a tongue for my reward, and I
will praise him therewith.
[23] Draw near unto me, ye unlearned, and
dwell in the house of learning.
[24] Wherefore are ye slow, and what
say ye to these things, seeing your souls are very thirsty?
[25] I
opened my mouth, and said, Buy her for yourselves without money.
[26]
Put your neck under the yoke, and let your soul receive instruction: she is hard
at hand to find.
[27] Behold with your eyes, how that I have but
little labour, and have gotten unto me much rest.
[28] Get learning
with a great sum of money, and get much gold by her.
[29] Let your
soul rejoice in his mercy, and be not ashamed of his praise.
[30] Work
your work betimes, and in his time he will give you your reward.
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