THE HOLY
BIBLE
Douay-Rheims Version
THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTICUS THE PROLOGUE
THE knowledge of many and great things hath been shewn us
by the law, and the prophets, and others that have followed
them: for which things Israel is to be commended for doctrine
and wisdom, because not only they that speak must needs be
skilful, but strangers also, both speaking and writing, may by
their means become most learned. My grandfather Jesus, after
he had much given himself to a diligent reading of the law,
and the prophets, and other books, that were delivered to us
from our fathers, had a mind also to write something himself,
pertaining to doctrine and wisdom: that such as are desirous
to learn, and are made knowing in these things, may be more
and more attentive in mind, and be strengthened to live
according to the law. I entreat you therefore to come with
benevolence, and to read with attention, and to pardon us for
those things wherein we may seem, while we follow the image of
wisdom, to come short in the composition of words; for the
Hebrew words have not the same force in them when translated
into another tongue. And not only these, but the law also
itself, and the prophets, and the rest of the books, have no
small difference, when they are spoken in their own language.
For in the eight and thirtieth year coming into Egypt, when
Ptolemy Evergetes was king, and continuing there a long time,
I found there books left, of no small nor contemptible
learning. Therefore I thought it good, and necessary for me to
bestow some diligence and labour to interpret this book; and
with much watching and study in some space of time, I brought
the book to an end, and set it forth for the service of them
that are willing to apply their mind, and to learn how they
ought to conduct themselves, who purpose to lead their life
according to the law of the Lord.
The Book of Ecclesiasticus, Chapter 1
ALL wisdom is from the Lord God, and hath been always with
him, and is before all time.
2 Who hath numbered the sand of the sea, and the drops of
rain, and the days of the world? Who hath measured the
height of heaven, and the breadth of the earth, and the
depth of the abyss?
3 Who hath searched out the wisdom of God that goeth before
all things?
4 Wisdom hath been created before all things, and the
understanding of prudence from everlasting.
5 The word of God on high is the fountain of wisdom, and her
ways are everlasting commandments.
6 To whom hath the root of wisdom been revealed, and who
hath known her wise counsels?
7 To whom hath the discipline of wisdom been revealed and
made manifest? and who hath understood the multiplicity of
her steps?
8 There is one most high Creator Almighty, and a powerful
king, and greatly to be feared, who sitteth upon his
throne, and is the God of dominion.
9 He created her in the Holy Ghost, and saw her, and
numbered her, and measured her.
10 And he poured her out upon all his works, and upon all
flesh according to his gift, and hath given her to them
that love him.
11 The fear of the Lord is honour, and glory, and gladness,
and a crown of joy.
12 The fear of the Lord shall delight the heart, and shall
give joy, and gladness, and length of days.
13 With him that feareth the Lord, it shall go well in the
latter end, and in the day of his death he shall be
blessed.
14 The love of God is honourable wisdom.
15 Ana they to whom she shall shew herself love her by the
sight, and by the knowledge of her great works.
16 The fear of the Lord Is the beginning of wisdom, and was
created with the faithful in the womb, it walketh with
chosen women, and is known with the just and faithful.
17 The fear of the Lord is the religiousness of knowledge.
18 Religiousness shall keep and justify the heart, it shall
give joy and gladness.
19 It shall go well with him that feareth the Lord, and in
the days of his end he shall be blessed.
20 To fear God is the fulness of wisdom, and fulness is from
the fruits thereof.
21 She shall fill all her house with her increase, and the
storehouses with her treasures.
22 The fear of the Lord is a crown of wisdom, filling up
peace and the fruit of salvation:
23 And it hath seen, and numbered her: but both are the gifts
of God.
24 Wisdom shall distribute knowledge, and understanding of
prudence: and exalteth the glory of them that hold her.
25 The root of wisdom is to fear the Lord: and the branches
thereof are longlived.
26 In the treasures of wisdom is understanding, and
religiousness of knowledge: but to sinners wisdom is an
abomination.
27 The fear of the Lord driveth out sin:
28 For he that is without fear, cannot be justified: for the
wrath of his high spirits is his ruin.
29 A patient man shall bear for a time, and afterwards joy
shall be restored to him.
30 A good understanding will hide his words for a time, and
the lips of many shall declare his wisdom.
31 In the treasures of wisdom is the signification of
discipline:
32 But the worship of God is an abomination to a sinner.
33 Son, if thou desire wisdom, keep justice, and God will
give her to thee.
34 For the fear of the Lord is wisdom and discipline: and
that which is agreeable to him,
35 Is faith, and meekness: and he will fill up his treasures.
36 Be not incredulous to the fear of the Lord: and come not
to him with a double heart.
37 Be not a hypocrite in the sight of men, and let not thy
lips be a stumblingblock to thee.
38 Watch over them, lest thou fall, and bring dishonour upon
thy soul,
39 And God discover thy secrets, and cast thee down in the
midst of the congregation.
40 Because thou camest to the Lord wickedly, and thy heart is
full of guile and deceit.
The Book of Ecclesiasticus, Chapter 2
SON, when thou comest to the service of God, stand in justice
and in fear, and prepare thy soul for temptation.
2 Humble thy heart, and endure: incline thy ear, and receive
the words of understanding: and make not haste in the time
of clouds.
3 Wait on God with patience: join thyself to God, and
endure, that thy life may be increased in the latter end.
4 Take all that shall be brought upon thee: and in thy
sorrow endure, and in thy humiliation keep patience.
5 For gold and silver are tried in the fire, but acceptable
men in the furnace of humiliation.
6 Believe God, and he will recover thee: and direct thy way,
and trust in him. Keep his fear, and grow old therein.
7 Ye that fear the Lord, wait for his mercy: and go not
aside from him, lest ye fall.
8 Ye that fear the Lord, believe him: and your reward shall
not be made void.
9 Ye that fear the Lord, hope in him: and mercy shall come
to you for your delight.
10 Ye that fear the Lord, love him, and your hearts shall be
enlightened.
11 My children behold the generations of men: and know ye
that no one hath hoped in the Lord, and hath been
confounded.
12 For who hath continued in his commandment, and hath been
forsaken? or who hath called upon him, and he despised
him?
13 For God is compassionate and merciful, and will forgive
sins in the day of tribulation: and he is a protector to
all that seek him in truth.
14 Woe to them that are of a double heart and to wicked lips,
and to the hands that do evil, and to the sinner that
goeth on the earth two ways.
15 Woe to them that are fainthearted, who believe not God:
and therefore they shall not be protected by him.
16 Woe to them that have lost patience, and that have
forsaken the right ways, and have gone aside into crooked
ways.
17 And what will they do, when the Lord shall begin to
examine?
18 They that fear the Lord, will not be incredulous to his
word: and they that love him, will keep his way.
19 They that fear the Lord, will seek after the things that
are well pleasing to him: and they that love him, shall be
filled with his law.
20 They that fear the Lord, will prepare their hearts, and in
his sight will sanctify their souls.
21 They that fear the Lord, keep his Commandments, and will
have patience even until his visitation,
22 Saying: If we do not penance, we shall fall into the hands
of the Lord, and not into the hands of men.
23 For according to his greatness, so also is his mercy with
him.
The Book of Ecclesiasticus, Chapter 3
THE sons of wisdom are the church of the just: and their
generation, obedience and love.
2 Children, hear the judgment of your father, and so do that
you may be saved.
3 For God hath made the father honourable to the children:
and seeking the judgment of the mothers, hath confirmed it
upon the children.
4 He that loveth God, shall obtain pardon for his sine by
prayer, and shall refrain himself from them, and shall be
heard in the prayer of days.
5 And he that honoureth his mother is as one that layeth up
a treasure.
6 He that honoureth his father shall have joy in his own
children, and in the day of his prayer he shall be heard.
7 He that honoureth his father shall enjoy a long life: and
he that obeyeth the father, shall be a comfort to his
mother.
8 He that feareth the Lord, honoureth his parents, and will
serve them as his masters that brought him into the world.
9 Honour thy father, in work and word, and all patience,
10 That a blessing may come upon thee from him, and his
blessing may remain in the latter end.
11 The father's blessing establisheth the houses of the
children: but the mother's curse rooteth up the
foundation.
12 Glory not in the dishonour of thy father: for his shame is
no glory to thee.
13 For the glory of a man is from the honour of his father,
and a father without honour is the disgrace of the son.
14 Son, support the old age of thy father, and grieve him not
in his life;
15 And if his understanding fail, have patience with him, and
despise him not when thou art in thy strength: for the
relieving of the father shall not be for- gotten.
16 For good shall be repaid to thee for the sin of thy
mother.
17 And in justice thou shalt be built up, and in the day of
affliction thou shalt be remembered: and thy sine shall
melt away as the ice in the fair warm weather.
18 Of what an evil fame is he that forsaketh his father: and
he is cursed of God that angereth his mother.
19 My son, do thy works in meekness, and thou shalt be
beloved above the glory of men.
20 The greater thou art, the more humble thyself in all
things, and thou shalt find grace before God:
21 For great is the power of God alone, and he is honoured by
the humble.
22 Seek not the things that are too high for thee, and search
not into things above thy ability: but the things that God
hath commanded thee, think on them always, and in many of
his works be not curious.
23 For it is not necessary for thee to see with thy eyes
those things that are hid.
24 In unnecessary matters be not over curious, and in many of
his works thou shalt not be inquisitive.
25 For many things are shewn to thee above the understanding
of men.
26 And the suspicion of them hath deceived many, and hath
detained their minds in vanity.
27 A hard heart shall fear evil at the last: and he that
loveth danger shall perish in it.
28 A heart that goeth two ways shall not have success, and
the perverse of heart shall be scandalized therein.
29 A wicked heart shall be laden with sorrows, and the sinner
will add sin to sin.
30 The congregation of the proud shall not be healed: for the
plant of wickedness shall take root in them, and it shall
not be perceived.
31 The heart of the wise is understood in wisdom, and a good
ear will hear wisdom with all desire.
32 A wise heart, and which hath under- standing, will abstain
from sine, and in the works of justice shall have success.
33 Water quencheth a flaming fire, and alms resisteth sins:
34 And God provideth for him that sheweth favour: he
remembereth him afterwards, and in the time of his fall he
shall find a sure stay.
The Book of Ecclesiasticus, Chapter 4
SON, defraud not the poor of alms, and turn not away thy eyes
from the poor.
2 Despise not the hungry soul: and provoke not the Boor in
his want.
3 Afflict not the heart of the needy, and defer not to give
to him that is in distress.
4 Reject not the petition of the afflicted: and turn not
away thy face from the needy.
5 Turn not away thy eyes from the poor for fear of anger:
and leave not to them that ask of thee to curse thee
behind thy back.
6 For the prayer of him that curseth thee in the bitterness
of his soul, shall be heard, for he that made him will
hear him.
7 Make thyself affable to the congregation of the poor, and
humble thy soul to the ancient, and bow thy head to a
great man.
8 Bow down thy ear cheerfully to the poor, and pay what thou
owest, and answer him peaceable words with mildness.
9 Deliver him that suffereth wrong out of the hand of the
proud: and be not fainthearted in thy soul.
10 In judging be merciful to the fatherless as a father, and
as a husband to their mother.
11 And thou shalt be as the obedient son of the most High,
and he will have mercy on thee more than a mother.
12 Wisdom inspireth life into her children, and protecteth
them that seek after her, and will go before them in the
way of justice.
13 And he that loveth her, loveth life: and they that watch
for her, shall embrace her sweetness.
14 They that hold her fast, shall inherit life: and
whithersoever she entereth, God will give a blessing.
15 They that serve her, shall be servants to the holy one:
and God loveth them that love her.
16 He that hearkeneth to her, shall judge nations: and he
that looketh upon her, shall remain secure.
17 If he trust to her, he shall inherit her, and his
generation shall be in assurance.
18 For she walketh with him in temptation, and at the first
she chooseth him.
19 She will bring upon him fear and dread and trial: and she
will scourge him with the affliction of her discipline,
till she try him by her laws, and trust his soul.
20 Then she will strengthen him, and make a straight way to
him, and give him joy,
21 And will disclose her secrets to him, and will heap upon
him treasures of knowledge and understanding of justice.
22 But if he go astray, she will forsake him, and deliver him
into the hands of his enemy.
23 Son, observe the time, and fly from evil.
24 For thy soul be not ashamed to say the truth.
25 For there is a shame that bringeth sin, and there is a
shame that bringeth glory and grace.
26 Accept no person against thy own person, nor against thy
soul a lie.
27 Reverence not thy neighbour in his fall:
28 And refrain not to speak in the time of salvation. Hide
not thy wisdom in her beauty.
29 For by the tongue wisdom is discerned: and understanding,
and knowledge, and learning by the word of the wise, and
steadfastness in the works of justice.
30 In nowise speak against the truth, but be ashamed of the
lie of thy ignorance.
31 Be not ashamed to confess thy sins, but submit not thyself
to every man for sin.
32 Resist not against the face of the mighty, and do not
strive against the stream of the river.
33 Strive for justice for thy soul, and even unto death fight
for justice, and God will overthrow thy enemies for thee.
34 Be not hasty in thy tongue: and slack and remiss in thy
works.
35 Be not as a lion in thy house, terrifying them of thy
household, and oppressing them that are under thee.
36 Let not thy hand be stretched out to receive, and shut
when thou shouldst give.
The Book of Ecclesiasticus, Chapter 5
SET not thy heart upon unjust possessions, and say not: I have
enough to live on: for it shall be of no service in the time
of vengeance and darkness.
2 Follow not in thy strength the desires of thy heart:
3 And say not: How mighty am I? and who shall bring me under
for my deeds? for God will surely take revenge.
4 Say not: I have sinned, and whet harm hath befallen me?
for the most High is a patient rewarder.
5 Be not without fear about sin forgiven, and add not sin
upon sin:
6 And say not: The mercy of the Lord is great, he will have
mercy on the multitude of my sins.
7 For mercy and wrath quickly come from him, and his wrath
looketh upon sinners.
8 Delay not to be converted to the Lord, and defer it not
from day to day.
9 For his wrath shall come on a sudden, and in the time of
vengeance he will destroy thee.
10 Be not anxious for goods unjustly gotten: for they shall
not profit thee in the day of calamity and revenge.
11 Winnow not with every wind, and go not into every way: for
so is every sinner proved by a double tongue.
12 Be steadfast in the way of the Lord, and in the truth of
thy judgment, and in knowledge, and let the word of peace
and justice keep with thee.
13 Be meek to hear the word, that thou mayst understand: and
return a true answer with wisdom.
14 If thou have understanding, answer thy neighbour: but if
not, let thy hand be upon thy mouth, lest thou be
surprised in an unskilful word, and be confounded.
15 Honour and glory is in the word of the wise, but the
tongue of the fool is his ruin.
16 Be not called a whisperer, and be not taken in thy tongue,
and confounded.
17 For confusion and repentance is upon a thief, and an evil
mark of disgrace upon the double tongued, but to the
whisperer hatred, and enmity, and reproach.
18 Justify alike the small and the great.
The Book of Ecclesiasticus, Chapter 6
INSTEAD of a friend become not an enemy to thy neighbour: for
an evil man shall inherit reproach and shame, so shall every
sinner that is envious and double tongued.
2 Extol not thyself in the thoughts of thy soul like a bull:
lest thy strength be quashed by folly,
3 And it eat up thy leaves, and destroy thy fruit: and thou
be left as a dry tree in the wilderness.
4 For a wicked soul shall destroy him that hath it, and
maketh him to be a joy to his enemies, and shall lead him
into the lot of the wicked.
5 A sweet word multiplieth friends, and appeaseth enemies,
and a gracious tongue in a good man aboundeth.
6 Be in peace with many, but let one of a thousand be thy
counsellor.
7 If thou wouldst get a friend, try him before thou takest
him, and do not credit him easily.
8 For there is a friend for his own occasion, and he will
not abide in the day of thy trouble.
9 And there is a friend that turneth to enmity; and there is
a friend that will disclose hatred and strife and
reproaches.
10 And there is a friend a companion at the table, and he
will not abide in the day of distress.
11 A friend ii he continue steadfast, shall be to thee as
thyself, and shall act with confidence among them of thy
household.
12 If he humble himself before thee, and hide himself from
thy face, thou shalt have unanimous friendship for good.
13 Separate thyself from thy enemies, and take heed of thy
friends.
14 A faithful friend is a strong defence: and he that hath
found him, hath found a treasure.
15 Nothing can be compared to a faithful friend, and no
weight of gold and silver is able to countervail the
goodness of his fidelity.
16 A faithful friend is the medicine of life and immortality:
and they that fear the Lord, shall find him.
17 He that feareth God, shall likewise have good friendship:
because according to him shall his friend be.
18 My son, from thy youth up receive instruction, and even to
thy grey hairs thou shalt find wisdom.
19 Come to her as one that plougheth, and soweth, and wait
for her good fruits:
20 For in working about her thou shalt labour a little, and
shalt quickly eat of her fruits.
21 How very unpleasant is wisdom to the unlearned, and the
unwise will not continue with her.
22 She shall be to them as a mighty stone of trial, and they
will cast her from them before it be long.
23 For the wisdom of doctrine is according to her name, and
she is not manifest unto many, but with them to whom she
is known, she continueth even to the sight of God.
24 Give ear, my son, and take wise counsel, and cast not away
my advice.
25 Put thy feet into her fetters, and thy neck into her
chains:
26 Bow down thy shoulder, and bear her, and be not grieved
with her bands.
27 Come to her with all thy mind, and keep her ways with all
thy power.
28 Search for her, and she shall be made known to thee, and
when thou hast gotten her, let her not go:
29 For in the latter end thou shalt find rest in her, and she
shall be turned to thy joy.
30 Then shall her fetters be a strong defence for thee, and
a firm foundation, and her chain a robe of glory:
31 For in her is the beauty of life, and her bands are a
healthful binding.
32 Thou shalt put her on as a robe of glory, and thee shalt
set her upon thee as a crown of joy.
33 My son, if thou wilt attend to me, thou shalt learn: and
if thou wilt apply thy mind, thou shalt be wise.
34 If thou wilt incline thy ear, thou shalt receive
instruction: and if thou love to hear, thou shalt be wise.
35 Stand in the multitude of ancients that are wise, and join
thyself from thy heart to their wisdom, that thou mayst
hear every discourse of God, and the sayings of praise may
not escape thee.
36 And if thou see a man of understanding, go to him early in
the morning, and let thy foot wear the steps of his doors.
37 Let thy thoughts be upon the precepts of God, and meditate
continually on his commandments: and he will give thee a
heart, and the desire of wisdom shall be given thee.
The Book of Ecclesiasticus, Chapter 7
DO no evils, and no evils shall lay hold of thee.
2 Depart from the unjust, and evils shall depart from thee.
3 My son, sow not evils in the furrows of injustice, and
thou shalt not reap them sevenfold.
4 Seek not of the Lord a pre-eminence, nor of the king the
seat of honour.
5 Justify not thyself before God, for he knoweth the heart:
and desire not to appear wise before the king.
6 Seek not to be made a judge, unless thou have strength
enough to extirpate iniquities: lest thou fear the person
of the powerful, and lay a stumblingblock for thy
integrity.
7 Offend not against the multitude of a city, neither cast
thyself in upon the people,
8 Nor bind sin to sin: for even in one thou shalt not be
unpunished.
9 Be not fainthearted in thy mind:
10 Neglect not to pray, and to give alms.
11 Say not: God will have respect to the multitude of my
gifts, and when I offer to the most high God, he will
accept my offerings.
12 Laugh no man to scorn in the bitterness of his soul: for
there is one that humbleth and exalteth, God who seeth
13 Devise not a lie against thy brother: neither do the like
against thy friend.
14 Be not willing to make any manner of lie: for the custom
thereof is not good.
15 Be not full of words in a multitude of ancients, and
repeat not the word in thy prayer.
16 Hate not laborious works, nor husbandry ordained by the
most High.
17 Number not thyself among the multitude of the disorderly.
18 Remember wrath, for it will not tarry long.
19 Humble thy spirit very much: for the vengeance on the
flesh of the ungodly is fire and worms.
20 Do not transgress against thy friend deferring money, nor
despise thy dear brother for the sake of gold.
21 Depart not from a wise and good wife, whom thou best
gotten in the fear of the Lord: for the grace of her
modesty is above gold.
22 Hurt not the servant that worketh faithfully, nor the
hired man that giveth thee his life.
23 Let a wise servant be dear to thee as thy own soul,
defraud him not of liberty, nor leave him needy.
24 Hast thou cattle? have an eye to them: and if they be for
thy profit, keep them with thee.
25 Hast thou children? instruct them, and bow down their neck
from their childhood.
26 Hast thou daughters? have a care of their body, and shew
not thy countenance gay towards them.
27 Marry thy daughter well, and then shalt do a great work,
and give her to a wise man.
28 If thou hast a wife according to thy soul, cast her not
off: and to her that is hateful, trust not thyself. With
thy whole heart,
29 Honour thy father, and forget not the groanings of thy
mother:
30 Remember that thou hadst not been born but through them:
and make a return to them as they have done for thee.
31 With all thy soul fear the Lord, and reverence his
priests.
32 With all thy strength love him that made thee: and forsake
not his ministers.
33 Honour God with all thy soul, and give honour to the
priests, and purify thyself with thy arms.
34 Give them their portion, as it is commanded thee, of the
firstfruits and of purifications: and for thy negligences
purify thyself with a few.
35 Offer to the Lord the gift of thy shoulders, and the
sacrifice of sanctification, and the firstfruits of the
holy things:
38 And stretch out thy hand to the poor, that thy expiation
and thy blessing may be perfected.
37 A gift hath grace in the sight of all the living, and
restrain not grace from the dead.
38 Be not wanting in comforting them that weep, and walk with
them that mourn.
39 Be not slow to visit the sick: for by these things thou
shalt be confirmed in love.
40 In all thy works remember thy last end, and thou shalt
never sin.
The Book of Ecclesiasticus, Chapter 8
STRIVE not with a powerful man, lest thou fall into his hands.
2 Contend not with a rich man, lest he bring an action
against thee.
3 For gold and silver hath destroyed many, and hath reached
even to the heart of kings, and perverted them.
4 Strive not with a man that is full of tongue, and heap not
wood upon his fire.
5 Communicate not with an ignorant man, lest he speak ill of
thy family.
6 Despise not a man that turneth away from sin, nor reproach
him therewith: remember that we are all worthy of reproof.
7 Despise not a man in his old age; for we also shall become
old.
8 Rejoice not at the death of thy enemy; knowing that we all
die, and are not willing that others should rejoice at our
death.
9 Despise not the discourse of them that are ancient and
wise, but acquaint thyself with their proverbs.
10 For of them thou shalt learn wisdom, and instruction of
understanding, and to serve great men without blame.
11 Let not the discourse of the ancients escape thee, for
they have learned of their fathers:
12 For of them thou shalt learn understanding, and to give an
answer in time of need.
13 Kindle not the coals of sinners by rebuking them, lest
thou be burnt with the flame of the fire of their sins.
14 Stand not against the face of an injurious person, lest he
sit as a spy to entrap thee in thy words.
15 Lend not to a man that is mightier than thyself: and if
thou lendest, count it as lost.
16 Be not surety above thy power: and if thou be surety,
think as if thou wert to pay it.
17 Judge not against a judge: for he judgeth according to
that which is just.
18 Go not on the way with a bold man, lest he burden thee
with his evils: for he goeth according to his own will,
and thou shalt perish together with his folly.
19 Quarrel not with a passionate man, and go not into the
desert with a bold man: for blood is as nothing in his
sight, and where there is no help he will overthrow thee.
20 Advise not with fools, for they cannot love but such
things as please them.
21 Before a stranger do no matter of counsel: for thou
knowest not what he will bring forth.
22 Open not thy heart to every man: lest he repay thee with
an evil turn, and speak reproachfully to thee.
The Book of Ecclesiasticus, Chapter 9
BE not jealous over the wife of thy bosom, lest she shew in
thy regard the malice of a wicked lesson.
2 Give not the power of thy soul to a woman, lest she enter
upon thy strength, and thou be confounded.
3 Look not upon a woman that hath a mind for many: lest thou
fall into her snares.
4 Use not much the company of her that is a dancer, and
hearken not to her, lest thou perish by the force of her
charms.
5 Gaze not upon a maiden, lest her beauty be a
stumblingblock to thee.
6 Give not thy soul to harlots in any point: lest thou
destroy thyself and thy inheritance.
7 Look not round about thee in the of the city, nor wander
up and down in the streets thereof.
8 Turn away thy face from a woman dressed up, and gaze not
about upon another's beauty.
9 For many have perished by the beauty of a woman, and
hereby lust is enkindled as a fire.
10 Every woman that is a harlot, shall be trodden upon as
dung in the way.
11 Many by admiring the beauty of another man's wife, have
become reprobate, for her conversation burneth as fire.
12 Sit not at all with another man's wife, nor repose upon
the bed with her:
13 And strive not with her over wine, lest thy heart decline
towards her, and by thy blood thou fall into destruction.
14 Forsake not an old friend, for the new will not be like to
him.
15 A new friend is as new wine: it shall grow old, and thou
shalt drink it with pleasure.
16 Envy not the glory and riches of a sinner: for thou
knowest not what his ruin shall be.
17 Be not pleased with the wrong done by the unjust, knowing
that even to hell the wicked shall not please.
18 Keep thee far from the man that hath power to kill, so
thou shalt not suspect the fear of death.
19 And if thou come to him, commit no fault, lest he take
away thy life.
20 Know it to be a communication with death: for thou art
going in the midst of snares, and walking upon the arms of
them that are grieved:
21 According to thy power beware of thy neighbor, and treat
with the wise and prudent.
22 Let just men be thy guests, and let thy glory be in the
fear of God.
23 And let the thought of God be in thy mind, and all thy
discourse on the commandments of the Highest.
24 Works shall be praised for the hand of the artificers, and
the prince of the people for the wisdom of his speech, but
word of the ancients for the sense.
25 A man full of tongue is terrible in his city, and he that
is rash in his word shall be hateful.
The Book of Ecclesiasticus, Chapter 10
A WISE judge shall judge his people, and the government of a
prudent man shall be steady.
2 As the judge of the people is himself, so also are his
ministers: and what manner of man the ruler of a city is,
such also are they that dwell therein.
3 An unwise king shall be the ruin of his people: and cities
shall be inhabited through the prudence of the rulers.
4 The power of the earth is in the hand of God, and in his
time he will raise up a profitable ruler over it.
5 The prosperity of man is in the hand of God, and upon the
person of the scribe he shall lay his honour.
6 Remember not any injury done thee by thy neighbour, and do
thou nothing by deeds of injury.
7 Pride is hateful before God and men: and ah iniquity of
nations is execrable.
8 A kingdom is translated from one people to another,
because of injustices, and wrongs, and injuries, and
divers deceits.
9 But nothing is more wicked than the covetous man. Why is
earth and ashes proud?
10 There is not a more wicked thing than to love money: for
such a one setteth even his own soul to sale: because
while he liveth he hath cast away his bowels.
11 All power is of short life. A long sickness is troublesome
to the physician.
12 The physician cutteth off it short sickness: so also a
king is to day, and to morrow he shall die.
13 For when a man shall die, he shall inherit serpents, end
beasts, and worms.
14 The beginning of the pride of man, is to fall off from
God:
15 Because his heart is departed from him that made him: for
pride is the beginning of all sin: be that holdeth it,
shall be filled with maledictions, and it shall ruin him
in the end.
16 Therefore hath the Lord disgraced the assemblies of the
wicked, and hath utterly destroyed them.
17 God hath overturned the thrones of proud princes, and hath
set up the meek in their stead.
18 God hath made the roots of proud nations to wither, and
hath planted the humble of these nations.
19 The Lord hath overthrown the lands of the Gentiles, and
hath destroyed them even to the foundation.
20 He hath made some of them to wither away, and hath
destroyed them, and hath made the memory of them to cease
from the earth.
21 God hath abolished the memory of the proud, and hath
preserved the memory of them that are humble in mind.
22 Pride was not made for men: nor wrath for the race of
women.
23 That seed of men shall be honoured, which feareth God: but
that seed shall be dishonoured, which transgresseth the
commandments of the Lord.
24 In the midst of brethren their chief is honourable: so
shall they that fear the Lord, be in his eyes.
25 The fear of God is the glory of the rich, and of the
honourable, and of the poor:
26 Despise not a just man that is poor, and do not magnify a
sinful man that is rich.
27 The great man, and the judge, and the mighty is in honour:
and there is none greater than he that feareth God.
28 They that are free shall serve a servant that is wise: and
a man that is prudent and well instructed will not murmur
when he is reproved; and he that is ignorant, shall not be
honoured.
29 Extol not thyself in doing thy work, and linger not in the
time of distress:
30 Better is he that laboureth, and aboundeth in all things,
than he that boasteth himself and wanteth bread.
31 My son, keep thy soul in meekness, and give it honour
according to its desert.
32 Who will justify him that sinneth against his own soul?
and who will honour him that dishonoureth his own soul?
33 The poor man is glorified by his discipline and fear: and
there is a man that is honoured for his wealth.
34 But he that is glorified in poverty, how much more in
wealth? and he that is glorified in wealth, let him fear
poverty.
The Book of Ecclesiasticus, Chapter 11
THE wisdom of the humble shall exalt his head, and shall make
him sit in the midst of great men.
2 Praise not a man for his beauty, neither despise a man for
his look.
3 The bee is small among flying things, but her fruit hath
the chiefest sweetness.
4 Glory not in apparel at any time, and be not exalted in
the day of thy honour: for the works of the Highest only
are wonderful, and his works are glorious, and secret, end
hidden.
5 Many tyrants have sat on the throne, and he whom no man
would think on, hath worn the crown.
6 Many mighty men have been greatly brought down, and the
glorious have been delivered into the hand of others.
7 Before thou inquire, blame no man: and when thou hast
inquired, reprove justly.
8 Before thou hear, answer not a word: and interrupt not
others in the midst of their discourse.
9 Strive not in a matter which doth not concern thee, and
sit not in judgment with sinners.
10 My son, meddle not with many matters: and if thou be rich,
thou shalt not be free from sin: for if thou pursue after
thou shalt not overtake: and if thou run before thou shalt
not escape.
11 There is an ungodly man that laboureth, and maketh haste,
and is in sorrow, and is so much the more in want.
12 Again, there is an inactive man that wanteth help, is very
weak in ability, and full of poverty:
13 Yet the eye of God hath looked upon him for good, and hath
lifted him up from his low estate, and hath exalted his
head: and many have wondered at him, and have glorified
God.
14 Good things and evil, life and death, poverty and riches,
are from God.
15 Wisdom and discipline, and the knowledge of the law are
with God. Love and the ways of good things are with him
16 Error and darkness are created with sinners: and they that
glory in evil things, grow old in evil.
17 The gift of God abideth with the just, and his advancement
shall have success for ever.
18 There is one that is enriched by living sparingly, and
this is the portion of his reward.
19 In that he saith: I have found me rest, and now I will eat
of my goods alone:
20 And he knoweth not what time shall pass, and that death
approacheth, and that he must leave all to others, and
shall die.
21 Be steadfast in thy covenant, and be conversant therein,
and grow old in the work of thy commandments.
22 Abide not in the works of sinners. But trust in God, and
stay in thy place.
23 For it is easy in the eyes of God on a sudden to make the
poor man rich.
24 The blessing of God maketh haste to reward the just, and
in a swift hour his blessing beareth fruit.
25 Say not: What need I, and what good shall I have by this?
26 Say not: I am sufficient for myself: and what shall I be
made worse by this?
27 In the day of good things be not unmindful of evils: and
in the day of evils be not unmindful of good things:
28 For it is easy before God in the day of death to reward
every one according to his ways.
29 The affliction of an hour maketh one forget great
delights, and in the end of a man is the disclosing of his
works.
30 Praise not any man before death, for a man is known by his
children.
31 Bring not every man into thy house: for many are the
snares of the deceitful.
32 For as corrupted bowels send forth stinking breath, and as
the partridge is brought into the cage, and as the roe
into the snare: so also is the heart of the proud, and as
a spy that looketh on the fall of his neighbour.
33 For he lieth in wait and turneth good into evil, and on
the elect he will lay a blot.
34 Of one spark cometh a great fire, and of one deceitful man
much blood: and a sinful man lieth in wait for blood.
35 Take heed to thyself of a mischievous man, for he worketh
evils: lest he bring upon thee reproach for ever.
36 Receive a stranger in, and he shall overthrow thee with a
whirlwind, and shall turn thee out of thy own.
The Book of Ecclesiasticus, Chapter 12
IF thou do good, know to whom thou dost it, and there shall be
much thanks for thy good deeds.
2 Do good to the just, and thou shalt find great recompense:
and if not of him, assuredly of the Lord.
3 For there is no good for him that is always occupied in
evil, and that giveth no alms: for the Highest hateth
sinners, and hath mercy on the penitent.
4 Give to the merciful and uphold not the sinner: God will
repay vengeance to the ungodly and to sinners, and keep
them against the day of vengeance.
5 Give to the good, and receive not a sinner.
6 Do good to the humble, and give not to the ungodly: hold
back thy bread, and give it not to him, lest thereby he
overmaster thee.
7 For thou shalt receive twice as much evil for all the good
thou shalt have done to him: for the Highest also hateth
sinners, and will repay vengeance to the ungodly.
8 A friend shall not be known in prosperity, and an enemy
shall not be hidden in adversity.
9 In the prosperity of a man, his enemies are grieved: and
a friend is known in his adversity.
10 Never trust thy enemy: for as a brass pot his wickedness
rusteth:
11 Though he humble himself and go crouching, yet take good
heed and beware of him.
12 Set him not by thee, neither let him sit on thy right
hand, lest he turn into thy place, and seek to take thy
seat: and at the last thou acknowledge my words, and be
pricked with my sayings.
13 Who will pity an enchanter struck by a serpent, or any
that come near wild beasts? so is it with him that keepeth
company with a wicked man, and is involved in his sins.
14 For an hour he will abide with thee: but if thou begin to
decline, he will not endure it.
15 An enemy speaketh sweetly with his lips, but in his heart
he lieth in wait, to throw thee into a pit.
16 An enemy weepeth with his eyes: but if he find an
opportunity he will not be satisfied with blood:
17 And if evils come upon thee, thou shalt find him there
first.
18 An enemy hath tears in his eyes, and while he pretendeth
to help thee, will undermine thy feet.
19 He will shake his head, and clap his hands, and whisper
much, and change his countenance.
The Book of Ecclesiasticus, Chapter 13
HE that toucheth pitch, shall be defiled with it: and he that
hath fellowship with the proud, shall put on pride.
2 He shall take a burden upon him that hath fellowship with
one more honour- able than himself. And have no fellow-
ship with one that is richer than thyself.
3 What agreement shall the earthen pot have with the kettle?
for if they knock one against the other, it shall be
broken.
4 The rich man hath done wrong, and yet he will fume: but
the poor is wronged and must hold his peace.
5 If thou give, he will make use of thee: and if thou have
nothing, he will forsake thee.
6 If thou have any thing, he will live with thee, and will
make thee bare, and he will not be sorry for thee.
7 If he have need of thee he will deceive thee, and smiling
upon thee will put thee in hope; he will speak thee fair,
and will say: What wantest thou?
8 And he will shame thee by his meats, till he have drawn
thee dry twice or thrice, and at last he will laugh at
thee: and afterward when he seeth thee, he will forsake
thee, and shake his head at thee.
9 Humble thyself to God, and wait for his hands.
10 Beware that thou be not deceived Into folly, and be
humbled.
11 Be not lowly in thy wisdom, lest being humbled thou be
deceived into folly.
12 If thou be invited by one that is mightier, withdraw
thyself: for so he will invite thee the more.
13 Be not troublesome to him, lest thou be put back: and keep
not far from him, lest thou be forgotten.
14 Affect not to speak with him as an equal: and believe not
his many words: for by much talk he will sift thee, and
smiling will examine thee concerning thy secrets.
15 His cruel mind will lay up thy words: and he will not
spare to do thee hurt, and to cast thee into prison.
16 Take heed to thyself, and attend diligently to what thou
hearest: for thou walkest in danger of thy ruin.
17 When thou hearest those things, see as it were in sleep,
and thou shalt awake.
18 Love God all thy life, and call upon him for thy
salvation.
19 Every beast loveth its like: so also every man him that is
nearest to himself.
20 All flesh shall consort with the like to itself, and every
man shall associate himself to his like.
21 If the wolf shall at any time have fellowship with the
lamb, so the sinner with the just.
22 What fellowship hath a holy man with a dog, or what part
hath the rich with the poor?
23 The wild ass is the lion's prey in the desert: so also the
poor are devoured by the rich.
24 And as humility is an abomination to the proud: so also
the rich man abhorreth the poor.
25 When a rich man is shaken, he is kept up by his friends:
but when a poor man is fallen down, he is thrust away even
by his acquaintance.
26 When a rich man hath been deceived, he hath many helpers:
he hath spoken proud things, and they have justified him.
27 The poor man was deceived, and he is rebuked also: he hath
spoken wisely, and could have no place.
28 The rich man spoke, and all held their peace, and what he
said they extol even to the clouds.
29 The poor man spoke, and they say: Who is this? and if he
stumble, they will overthrow him.
30 Riches are good to him that hath no sin in his conscience:
and poverty is very wicked in the mouth of the ungodly.
31 The heart of a man changeth his countenance, either for
good, or for evil.
32 The token of a good heart, and a good countenance thou
shalt hardly find, and with labour.
The Book of Ecclesiasticus, Chapter 14
BLESSED is the man that hath not slipped by a word out of his
mouth, and is not pricked with the remorse of sin.
2 Happy is he that hath had no sadness of his mind, and who
is not fallen from his hope.
3 Riches are not comely for a covetous man and a niggard,
and what should an envious man do with gold?
4 He that gathereth together by wronging his own soul,
gathereth for others, and another will squander away his
goods in rioting.
5 He that is evil to himself, to whom will he be good? and
he shall not take pleasure in his goods.
6 There is none worse than he that envieth himself, and this
is the reward of his wickedness:
7 And if he do good, he doth it ignorantly, and unwillingly:
and at the last he discovereth his wickedness.
8 The eye of the envious is wicked: and he turneth away his
face, and despiseth his own soul.
9 The eye of the covetous man is insatiable in his portion
of iniquity: he will not be satisfied till he consume his
own soul, drying it up.
10 An evil eye is towards evil things: and he shall not have
his fill of bread, but shall be needy and pensive at his
own table.
11 My son, if thou have any thing, do good to thyself, and
offer to God worthy offerings.
12 Remember that death is not slow, and that the covenant of
hell hath been shewn to thee: for the covenant of this
world shall surely die.
13 Do good to thy friend before thou die, and according to
thy ability, stretching out thy hand give to the poor.
14 Defraud not thyself of the good day, and let not the part
of a good gift over- pass thee.
15 Shalt thou not leave to others to divide by lot thy
sorrows and labours?
16 Give and take, and justify thy soul.
17 Before thy death work justice: for in hell there is no
finding food.
18 All flesh shall fade as grass, and as the leaf that
springeth out on a green tree.
19 Some grow, and some fall off: so is the generation of
flesh and blood, one cometh to an end, and another is
born.
20 Every work that is corruptible shall fail in the end: and
the worker thereof shall go with it.
21 And every excellent work shall be justified: and the
worker thereof shall be honoured therein.
22 Blessed is the man that shall continue in wisdom, and that
shall meditate in his justice, and in his mind shall think
of the all seeing eye of God.
23 He that considereth her ways in his heart, and hath
understanding in her secrets, who goeth after her as one
that traceth, and stayeth in her ways:
24 He who looketh in at her windows, and hearkeneth at her
door:
25 He that lodgeth near her house, and fastening a pin in her
walls shall set up his tent nigh unto her, where good
things shall rest in his lodging for ever.
26 He shall set his children under her shelter, and shall
lodge under her branches:
27 He shall be protected under her covering from the heat,
and shall rest in her glory.
The Book of Ecclesiasticus, Chapter 15
HE that feareth God, will do good: and he that possesseth
justice, shall lay hold on her,
2 And she will meet him as an honourable mother, and will
receive him as a wife married of a virgin.
3 With the bread of life and understanding, she shall feed
him, and give him the water of wholesome wisdom to drink:
and she shall be made strong in him, and he shall not be
moved:
4 And she shall hold him fast, and he shall not be
confounded: and she shall exalt him among his neighbours.
5 And in the midst of the church she shall open his mouth,
and shall fill him with the spirit of wisdom and
understanding, and shall clothe him with a robe of glory.
6 She shall heap upon him a treasure of joy and gladness,
and shall cause him to inherit an everlasting name.
7 But foolish men shall not obtain her, and wise men shall
meet her, foolish men shall not see her: for she is far
from pride and deceit.
8 Lying men shall not be mindful of her: but men that speak
truth shall be found with her, and shall advance, even
till they come to the sight of God.
9 Praise is not seemly in the mouth of a sinner:
10 For wisdom came forth from God: for praise shall be with
the wisdom of God, and shall abound in a faithful mouth,
and the sovereign Lord will give praise unto it.
11 Say not: It is through God, that she is not with me: for
do not thou the things that he hateth.
12 Say not: He hath caused me to err: for he hath no need of
wicked men.
13 The Lord hateth all abomination of error, and they that
fear him shall not love it.
14 God made man from the beginning, and left him in the hand
of his own counsel.
15 He added his commandments and precepts.
16 If thou wilt keep the commandments and perform acceptable
fidelity for ever, they shall preserve thee.
17 He hath set water and fire before thee: stretch forth thy
hand to which thou wilt.
18 Before man is life and death, good and evil, that which he
shall choose shall be given him:
19 For the wisdom of God is great, and he is strong in power,
seeing all men without ceasing.
20 The eyes of the Lord are towards them that fear him, and
he knoweth all the work of man.
21 He hath commanded no man to do wickedly, and he hath given
no man license to sin:
22 For he desireth not a multitude of faithless and
unprofitable children.
The Book of Ecclesiasticus, Chapter 16
REJOICE not in ungodly children, if they be multiplied:
neither be delighted in them, if the fear of God be not with
them.
2 Trust not to their life, and respect not their labours.
3 For better is one that feareth God, than a thousand
ungodly children.
4 And it is better to die without children, than to leave
ungodly children.
5 By one that is wise a country shall be inhabited, the
tribe of the ungodly shall become desolate.
6 Many such things hath my eyes seen, and greater things
than these my ear hath heard.
7 In the congregation of sinners a fire shall be kindled,
and in an unbelieving nation wrath shall dame out.
8 The ancient giants did not obtain pardon for their sine,
who were destroyed trusting to their own strength:
9 And he spared not the place where Lot sojourned, but
abhorred them for the pride of their word.
10 He had not pity on them, destroying the whole nation that
extolled them- selves in their sine.
11 So did he with the six hundred thousand footmen, who were
gathered together in the hardness of their heart: and if
one had been stiffnecked, it is a wonder if he had escaped
unpunished:
12 For mercy and wrath are with him. He is mighty to forgive,
and to pour out indignation:
13 According as his mercy is, so his correction judgeth a man
according to his works.
14 The sinner shall not escape in his rapines, and the
patience of him that sheweth mercy shall not be put off.
15 All mercy shall make a place for every man according to
the merit of his works, and according to the wisdom of his
sojournment.
16 Say not: I shall be hidden from God. and who shall
remember me from on high?
17 In such a multitude I shall not be known: for what is my
soul in such an immense creation?
18 Behold the heaven, and the heavens of heavens, the deep,
and all the earth, and the things that are in them, shall
be moved in his sight,
19 The mountains also, and the hills, end the foundations of
the earth: when God shall look upon them, they shall be
shaken with trembling.
20 And in all these things the heart is senseless: and every
heart is understood by him:
21 And his ways who shall understand, and the storm, which no
eye of man see?
22 For many of his works are hidden: hut the works of his
justice who shall declare? or who shall endure? for the
testament is far from some, and the examination of all is
in the end.
23 He that wanteth understanding thinketh vain things: and
the foolish, and erring man, thinketh foolish things.
24 Hearken to me, my son, and learn the discipline of
understanding, and attend to my words in thy heart.
25 And I will shew forth good doctrine in equity, and will
seek to declare wisdom: and attend to my words in thy
heart, whilst with equity of spirit I tell thee the
virtues that God hath put upon his works from the
beginning, and I shew forth in truth his knowledge.
26 The works of God are done in judgment from the beginning,
and from the making of them he distinguished their parts,
and their beginnings in their generations.
27 He beautified their works for ever, they have neither
hungered, nor laboured, and they have not ceased from
their works.
28 Nor shall any of them straiten his neighbour at any time.
29 Be not thou incredulous to his word.
30 After this God looked upon the earth, and filled it with
his goods.
31 The soul of every living thing hath shewn forth before the
face thereof, and into it they return again.
The Book of Ecclesiasticus, Chapter 17
GOD created man of the earth, and made him after his own
image.
2 And he turned him into it again, and clothed him with
strength according to himself.
3 He gave him the number of his days and time, and gave him
power over all things that are upon the earth.
4 He put the fear of him upon all flesh, and he had dominion
over beasts and fowls.
5 He created of him a helpmate like to himself: he gave them
counsel, and a tongue, and eyes, and ears, and a heart to
devise: and he filled them with the knowledge of
understanding.
6 He created in them the science of the spirit, he filled
their heart with wisdom, and shewed them both good and
evil.
7 He set his eye upon their hearts to shew them the
greatness of his works:
8 That they might praise the name which he hath sanctified:
and glory in his wondrous acts, that they might declare
the glorious things of his works.
9 Moreover he gave them instructions, and the law of life
for an inheritance.
10 He made an everlasting covenant with them, and he shewed
them his justice and judgments.
11 And their eye saw the majesty of his glory. and their ears
heard his glorious voice, and he said to them: Beware of
all iniquity.
12 And he gave to every one of them commandment concerning
his neighbour.
13 Their ways are always before him, they are not hidden from
his eyes.
14 Over every nation he set a ruler.
15 And Israel was made the manifest portion of God.
16 And all their works are as the sun in the sight of God:
and his eyes are continually upon their ways.
17 Their covenants were not hid by their iniquity, and all
their iniquities are in the sight of God.
18 The alms of a man is as a signet with him, and shall
preserve the grace of a man as the apple of the eye:
19 And afterward he shall rise up, and shall render them
their reward, to every one upon their own head, and shall
turn them down into the bowels of the earth.
20 But to the penitent he hath given the way of justice, and
he hath strengthened them that were fainting in patience,
and hath appointed to them the lot of truth.
21 Turn to the Lord, and forsake thy sins:
22 Make thy prayer before the face of the Lord, and offend
less.
23 Return to the Lord, and turn away from thy injustice, and
greatly hate abomination.
24 And know the justices and judgments of God, and stand firm
in the lot set before thee, and in prayer to the most high
God.
25 Go to the side of the holy age, with them that live and
give praise to God.
26 Tarry not in the error of the ungodly, give glory before
death. Praise perisheth from the dead as nothing.
27 Give thanks whilst thou art living, whilst thou art alive
and in health thou shalt give thanks, and shalt praise
God, and shalt glory in his mercies.
28 How great is the mercy of the Lord, and his forgiveness to
them that turn to him I
29 For all things cannot be in men, because the son of man is
not immortal, and they are delighted with the vanity of
evil.
30 What is brighter than the sun; yet it shall be eclipsed.
Or what is more wicked than that which flesh and blood
hath invented? and this shall be reproved.
31 He beholdeth the power of the height of heaven: and all
men are earth and ashes.
The Book of Ecclesiasticus, Chapter 18
HE that liveth for ever created all things together. God only
shall be justified, and he remaineth an invincible king for
ever.
2 Who is able to declare his works?
3 For who shall search out his glorious acts?
4 And who shall shew forth the power of his majesty? or who
shall be able to declare his mercy?
5 Nothing may be taken away, nor added, neither is it
possible to find out the glorious works of God:
6 When a man hath done, then shall he begin: and when he
leaveth off, he shall be at a loss.
7 What is man, and what is his grace? and what is his good,
or what is his evil?
8 The number of the days of men at the most are a hundred
years: as a drop of water of the sea are they esteemed:
and as a pebble of the sand, so are a few years compared
to eternity.
9 Therefore God is patient in them, and poureth forth his
mercy upon them.
10 He hath seen the presumption of their heart that it is
wicked, and hath known their end that it is evil.
11 Therefore bath he filled up his mercy in their favour, and
hath shewn them the way of justice.
12 The compassion of man is toward his neighbour: but the
mercy of God is upon all flesh.
13 He hath mercy, and teacheth, and correcteth, as a shepherd
doth his hock.
14 He hath mercy on him that receiveth the discipline of
mercy, and that maketh haste in his judgments.
15 My son, in thy good deeds, make no complaint, and when
thou givest any thing, add not grief by an evil word.
16 Shall not the dew assuage the heat? so also the good word
is better than the gift.
17 Lo, is not a word better than a gift? but both are with a
justified man.
18 A fool will upbraid bitterly: and a gift of one ill taught
consumeth the eyes.
19 Before judgment prepare thee justice, and learn before
thou speak.
20 Before sickness take a medicine, and before judgment
examine thyself, and thou shalt find mercy in the sight of
God.
21 Humble thyself before thou art sick, and in the time of
sickness shew thy conversation.
22 Let nothing hinder thee from praying always, and be not
afraid to be justified even to death: for the reward of
God continueth for ever.
23 Before prayer prepare thy soul: and be not as a man that
tempteth God.
24 Remember the wrath that shall be at the last day, and the
time of repaying when he shall turn away his face.
25 Remember poverty is the time of abundance, and the
necessities of poverty in the day of riches.
26 From the morning until the evening the time shall be
changed, and all these are swift in the eyes of God.
27 A wise man will fear in every thing, and in the days of
sine will beware of sloth.
28 Every man of understanding knoweth wisdom, and will give
praise to him that findeth her.
29 They that were of good understanding in words, have also
done wisely themselves: and have understood truth and
justice, and have poured forth pro- verbs and judgments.
30 Go not after thy lusts, but turn away from thy own will.
31 If thou give to thy soul her desires, she will make thee
a joy to thy enemies.
32 Take no pleasure in riotous assemblies, be they ever so
small: for their concertation is continual.
33 Make not thyself poor by borrowing to contribute to feasts
when thou hast nothing in thy purse : for thou shalt be an
enemy to thy own life.
The Book of Ecclesiasticus, Chapter 19
A WORKMAN that is a drunkard shall not be rich: and he that
contemneth small things, shall fall by little and little.
2 Wine and women make wise men fall off, and shall rebuke
the prudent:
3 And he that joineth himself to harlots, will be wicked.
Rottenness and worms shall inherit him, and he shall be
lifted up for a greater example, and his soul shall be
taken away out of the number.
4 He that is hasty to give credit, is light of heart, and
shall be lessened: and he that sinneth against his own
soul, shall be despised.
5 He that rejoiceth in iniquity, shall be censured, and he
that hateth chastisement, shall have less life: and he
that hateth babbling, extinguisheth evil.
6 He that sinneth against his own soul, shall repent: and he
that is delighted with wickedness, shall be condemned.
7 Rehearse not again a wicked and harsh word, and thou shalt
not fare the worse.
8 Tell not thy mind to friend or foe: and if there be a sin
with thee, disclose it not.
9 For he will hearken to thee, and will witch thee, and as
it were defending thy sin he will hate thee, and so will
he be with thee always.
10 Hast thou heard a word against thy neighbour? let it die
within thee, trusting that it will not burst thee.
11 At the hearing of a word the fool is in travail, as a
woman groaning. in the bringing forth a child.
12 As an arrow that sticketh in a man's thigh: so is a word
in the heart of a fool.
13 Reprove a friend, lest he may not have understood, and say
: f did it not: or if he did it, that he may do it no
more.
14 Reprove thy neighbour, for it may be he hath not said it:
and if he hath said it, that he may not say it again.
15 Admonish thy friend: for there is often a fault committed.
16 And believe not every word. There is one, that slippeth
with the tongue, but not from his heart.
17 For who is there that hath not offended with his tongue?
Admonish thy neighbour before thou threaten him.
18 And give place to the fear of the most High: for the fear
of God is all wisdom, and therein is to fear God, and the
disposition of the law is in all wisdom.
19 But the learning of wickedness is not wisdom: and the
device of sinners is not prudence.
20 There is a subtle wickedness, and the same is detestable:
and there is a man that is foolish, wanting in wisdom.
21 Better is a man that hath less wisdom, and wanteth
understanding, with the fear of God, than he that
aboundeth in understanding, and transgresseth the law of
the most High.
22 There is an exquisite subtilty, and the same is unjust.
23 And there is one that uttereth an exact word telling the
truth. There is one that humbleth himself wickedly, and
his interior is full of deceit:
24 And there is one that submitteth himself exceedingly with
a great lowliness: and there is one that casteth down his
countenance, and maketh as if he did not see that which is
unknown:
25 And if he be hindered from sinning for want of power, if
he shall find opportunity to do evil, he will do it.
26 A man is known by his look, and a wise man, when thou
meetest him, is known by his countenance.
27 The attire of the body, and the laughter of the teeth, and
the gait of the man, shew what he is.
28 There is a lying rebuke in the anger of an injurious man:
and there is a judgment that is not allowed to be good:
and there is one that holdeth his peace, he is wise.
The Book of Ecclesiasticus, Chapter 20
HOW much better is it to reprove, than to be angry, and not to
hinder him that confesseth in prayer.
2 The lust of an eunuch shall devour a young maiden:
3 So is he that by violence executeth unjust judgment.
4 How good is it, when thou art reproved, to shew
repentance! for so thou shalt escape wilful sin.
5 There is one that holdeth his peace, that is found wise:
and there is another that is hateful, that is bold in
speech.
6 There is one that holdeth his peace, because he knoweth
not what to say: and there is another that holdeth his
peace, knowing the proper time.
7 A wise man will hold his peace till he see opportunity:
but a babbler, and a fool, will regard no time.
8 He that useth many words shall hurt his own soul: and he
that taketh authority to himself unjustly shall be hated.
9 There is success in evil things to a man without
discipline, and there is a finding that turneth to loss.
10 There is a gift that is not profitable: and there is a
gift, the recompense of which is double.
11 There is an abasement because of glory: and there is one
that shall lift up his head from a low estate.
12 There is that buyeth much for a small price, and restoreth
the same sevenfold.
13 A man wise in words shall make himself beloved: but the
graces of fools shall be poured out.
14 The gift of the fool shall do thee no good: for his eyes
are sevenfold.
15 He will give a few things, and upbraid much: and the
opening of his mouth is the kindling of a fire.
16 To day a man lendeth, and to morrow he asketh it again:
such a man as this is hateful.
17 A fool shall have no friend, and there shall be no thanks
for his good deeds.
18 For they that eat his bread, are of a false tongue. How
often, and how many will laugh him to scorn!
19 For he doth not distribute with right understanding that
which was to be had: in like manner also that which was
not to be had.
20 The slipping of a false tongue is as one that falleth on
the pavement: so the fall of the wicked shall come
speedily.
21 A man without grace is as a vain fable, it shall be
continually in the mouth of the unwise.
22 A parable coming out, of a fool's mouth shall be rejected:
for he doth not speak it in due season.
23 There is that is hindered from sinning through want, and
in his rest he shall be pricked.
24 There is that will destroy his own soul through
shamefacedness, and by occasion of an unwise person he
will destroy it: and by respect of person he will destroy
himself.
25 There is that for bashfulness promiseth to his friend, and
maketh him his enemy for nothing.
26 A lie is a foul blot in a man, and yet it will be
continually in the mouth of men without discipline.
27 A thief is better than a man that is always lying: but
both of them shall inherit destruction.
28 The manners of lying men are without honour: and their
confusion is with them without ceasing.
29 A wise man shall advance himself with his words, and a
prudent man shall please the great ones.
30 He that tilleth his land shall make a high heap of corn:
and he that worketh justice shall be exalted: and he that
pleaseth great men shall escape iniquity.
31 Presents and gifts blind the eyes of judges, and make them
dumb in the mouth, so that they cannot correct.
32 Wisdom that is hid, and treasure that is not seen: what
profit is there in them both?
33 Better is he that hideth his folly, than the man that
hideth his wisdom.
The Book of Ecclesiasticus, Chapter 21
MY son, hast thou sinned? do so no more: but for thy former
sins also pray that they may be forgiven thee.
2 Flee from sins as from the face of a serpent: for if thou
comest near them, they will take hold of thee.
3 The teeth thereof are the teeth of a lion, killing the
souls of men.
4 All iniquity is like a two-edged sword, there is no remedy
for the wound thereof.
5 Injuries and wrongs will waste riches: and the house that
is very rich shall be brought to nothing by pride : so the
substance of the proud shall be rooted out.
6 The prayer out of the mouth of the poor shall reach the
ears of God, and judgment shall come for him speedily.
7 He that hateth to be reproved walketh in the trace of a
sinner: and he that feareth God will turn to his own
heart.
8 He that is mighty by a bold tongue is known afar off, but
a wise man knoweth to slip by him.
9 He that buildeth his house at other men's charges, is as
he that gathereth himself stones to build in the winter.
10 The congregation of sinners is like tow heaped together,
and the end of them is a flame of fire.
11 The way of sinners is made plain with stones, and in their
end is hell, and darkness, and pains.
12 He that keepeth justice shall get the understanding
thereof.
13 The perfection of the fear of God is wisdom and
understanding.
14 He that is not wise in good, will not be taught.
15 But there is a wisdom that aboundeth in evil : and there
is no understanding where there is bitterness.
16 The knowledge of a wise man shall abound like a flood, and
his counsel continueth like a fountain of life.
17 The heart of a fool is like a broken vessel, and no wisdom
at all shall it hold.
18 A man of sense will praise every wise word he shall hear,
and will apply it to himself: the luxurious man hath heard
it, and it shall displease him, and he will cast it behind
his back.
19 The talking of a fool is like a burden in the way: but in
the lips of the wise, grace shall be found.
20 The mouth of the prudent is sought after in the church,
and they will think upon his words in their hearts.
21 As a house that is destroyed, so is wisdom to a fool : and
the knowledge of the unwise is as words without sense.
22 Doctrine to a fool is as fetters on the feet, and like
manacles on the right hand.
23 A fool lifteth up his voice in laughter: but a wise man
will scarce laugh low to himself.
24 Learning to the prudent is as an ornament of gold, and
like a bracelet upon his right arm.
25 The foot of a fool is soon in his neighbour's house: but
a man of experience will be abashed at the person of the
mighty.
26 A fool will peep through the window into the house: but he
that is well taught will stand without.
27 It is the folly of a man to hearken at the door: and a
wise man will be grieved with the disgrace.
28 The lips of the unwise will be telling foolish things but
the words of the wise shall be weighed in a balance.
29 The heart of fools is in their mouth: and the mouth of
wise men is in their heart.
30 While the ungodly curseth the devil, he curseth his own
soul.
31 The talebearer shall defile his own soul, and shall be
hated by all: and he that shall abide with him shall be
hateful: the silent and wise man shall be honoured.
The Book of Ecclesiasticus, Chapter 22
THE sluggard is pelted with a dirty stone, and all men will
speak of his disgrace.
2 The sluggard is pelted with the dung of oxen: and every
one that toucheth him will shake his hands.
3 A son ill taught is the confusion of the father: and a
foolish daughter shall be to his loss.
4 A wise daughter shall bring an inheritance to her husband:
but she that confoundeth, becometh a disgrace to her
father.
5 She that is bold shameth both her father and husband, and
will not be inferior to the ungodly: and shall be
disgraced by them both.
6 A tale out of time is like music in mourning: but the
stripes and instruction of wisdom are never out of time.
7 He that teacheth a fool, is like one that glueth a
potsherd together.
8 He that telleth a word to him that heareth not, is like
one that waketh a man out of a deep sleep.
9 He speaketh with one that is asleep, who uttereth wisdom
to a fool: and in the end of the discourse he saith: Who
is this?
10 Weep for the dead, for his light hath failed: and weep for
the fool, for his understanding faileth.
11 Weep but a little for the dead, for he is at rest.
12 For the wicked life of a wicked fool is worse than death.
13 The mourning for the dead is seven days: but for a fool
and an ungodly man all the days of their life.
14 Talk not much with a fool, and go not with him that hath
no sense.
15 Keep thyself from him, that thou mayst not have trouble,
and thou shalt not be defiled with his sin.
16 Turn away from him, and thou shalt find rest, and shalt
not be wearied out with his folly.
17 What is heavier than lead? and what other name hath he but
fool?
18 Sand and salt, and a mass of iron is easier to bear, than
a man without sense, that is both foolish and wicked.
19 A frame of wood bound together in the foundation of a
building, shall not be loosed: so neither shall the heart
that is established by advised counsel.
20 The thought of him that is wise at all times, shall not be
depraved by fear.
21 As pales set in high places, and plasterings made without
cost, will not stand against the face of the wind:
22 So also a fearful heart in the imagination of a fool shall
not resist against the violence of fear.
23 As a fearful heart in the thought of a fool at all times
will not fear, so neither shall he that continueth always
in the commandments of God.
24 He that pricketh the eye, bringeth out tears: and he that
pricketh the heart, bringeth forth resentment.
25 He that flingeth a stone at birds, shall drive them away:
so he that upbraideth his friend, breaketh friendship.
26 Although thou hast drawn a sword at a friend, despair not:
for there may be a returning. To a friend,
27 If thou hast opened a sad mouth, fear not, for there may
be a reconciliation: except upbraiding, and reproach, and
pride, and disclosing of secrets, or a treacherous wound:
for in all these cases a friend will flee away.
28 Keep fidelity with a friend in his poverty, that in his
prosperity also thou mayst rejoice.
29 In the time of his trouble continue faithful to him, that
thou mayst also be heir with him in his inheritance.
30 As the vapour of a chimney, and the smoke of the fire
goeth up before the fire: so also injurious words, and
reproaches, and threats, before blood.
31 I will not be ashamed to salute a friend, neither will I
hide myself from his face: and if any evil happen to me by
him, I will bear it.
32 But every one that shall hear it, will beware of him.
33 Who will set a guard before my mouth, and a sure seal upon
my lips, that I fall not by them, and that my tongue
destroy me not?
The Book of Ecclesiasticus, Chapter 23
O LORD, father, and sovereign ruler of my life, leave me not
to their counsel: nor suffer me to fall by them.
2 Who will set scourges over my thoughts, and the discipline
of wisdom over my heart, that they spare me not in their
ignorances, and that their sine may not appear:
3 Lest my ignorances increase, and my offences be
multiplied, and my sine abound, and I fall before my
adversaries, and my enemy rejoice over me?
4 O Lord, father, and God of my life, leave me not to their
devices.
5 Give me not haughtiness of my eyes, and turn away from me
all coveting.
6 Take from me the greediness of the belly, and let not the
lusts of the flesh take hold of me, and give me not over
to a shameless and foolish mind.
7 Hear, O ye children, the discipline of the mouth: and he
that will keep it shall not perish by his lips, nor be
brought to fall into most wicked works.
8 A sinner is caught in his own vanity, and the proud and
the evil speakers shall fall thereby.
9 Let not thy mouth be accustomed to swearing: for in it
there are many falls.
10 And let not the naming of God be usual in thy mouth, and
meddle not with the names of saints, for thou shalt not
escape free from them.
11 For as a slave daily put to the question, is never without
a blue mark: so every one that sweareth, and nameth, shall
not be wholly pure from sin.
12 A man that sweareth much, shall be filled with iniquity,
and a scourge shall not depart from his house.
13 And if he make it void, his sin shall be upon him: and if
he dissemble it, he offendeth double:
14 And if he swear in vain, he shall not be justified: for
his house shall be filled with his punishment.
15 There is also another speech opposite to death, let it not
be found in the inheritance of Jacob.
16 For from the merciful all these things shall be taken
away, and they shall not wallow in sins.
17 Let not thy mouth be accustomed to indiscreet speech: for
therein is the word of sin.
18 Remember thy father and thy mother, for thou sittest is
the midst of great men:
19 Lest God forget thee in their sight, and thou, by thy
daily custom, be infatuated and suffer reproach: and wish
that thou hadst not been born, and curse the day of thy
nativity.
20 The man that is accustomed to opprobrious words, will
never be corrected all the days of his life.
21 Two sorts of men multiply sins, and the third bringeth
wrath and destruction.
22 A hot soul is a burning fire, it will never be quenched,
till it devour some thing.
23 And a man that is wicked in the mouth of his flesh, will
not leave off till he hath kindled a fire.
24 To a man that is a fornicator all bread is sweet, he will
not be weary of sinning unto the end.
25 Every man that passeth beyond his own bed, despising his
own soul, and saying: Who seeth me?
26 Darkness compasseth me about, and the walls cover me, and
no man seeth me: whom do I fear? the most High will not
remember my sins.
27 And he understandeth not that his eye seeth all things,
for such a man's fear driveth from him the fear of God,
and the eyes of men fearing him:
28 And he knoweth not that the eyes of the Lord are far
brighter than the sun, beholding round about all the ways
of men, and the bottom of the deep, and looking into the
hearts of men, into the most hidden parts.
29 For all things were known to the Lord God, before they
were created: so also after they were perfected he
beholdeth all things.
30 This man shall be punished in the streets of the city, and
he shall be chased as a colt: and where he suspected not,
he shall be taken.
31 And he shall be in disgrace with all men, because he
understood not the fear of the Lord.
32 So every woman also that leaveth her husband, and bringeth
in an heir by another :
33 For first she hath been unfaithful to the law of the most
High: and secondly, she hath offended against her husband:
thirdly, she hath fornicated in adultery, end hath gotten
her children of another man.
34 This woman shall be brought into the assembly, and
inquisition shall be made of her children.
35 Her children shall not take root, and her branches shall
bring forth no fruit.
36 She shall leave her memory to be cursed, and her infamy
shall not be blotted out.
37 And they that remain shall know. that there is nothing
better than the fear of God: and that there is nothing
sweeter than to have regard to the commandments of the
Lord.
38 It is great glory to follow the Lord for length of days
shall be received from him.
The Book of Ecclesiasticus, Chapter 24
WISDOM shall praise her own self, and shall be honoured in
God, and shall glory in the midst of her people,
2 And shall open her mouth in the churches of the most High,
and shall glorify herself in the sight of his power,
3 And in the midst of her own people she shall be exalted,
and shall be ad- mired in the holy assembly.
4 And in the multitude of the elect she shall have praise,
and among the blessed she shall be blessed, saying:
5 I came out of the mouth of the most High, the firstborn
before all creatures:
6 I made that in the heavens there should rise light that
never faileth, and as a cloud I covered all the earth:
7 I dwelt in the highest places, and my throne is in a
pillar of a cloud.
8 I alone have compassed the circuit of heaven, and have
penetrated into the bottom of the deep, and have walked in
the waves of the sea,
9 And have stood in all the earth: and in every people,
10 And in every nation I have had the chief rule:
11 And by my power I have trodden under my feet the hearts of
all the high and low: and in all these I sought rest, and
I shall abide in the inheritance of the Lord.
12 Then the creator of all things commanded, and said to me:
and he that made me, rested in my tabernacle,
13 And he said to me: Let thy dwelling be in Jacob, and thy
inheritance in Israel, and take root in my elect.
14 From the beginning, and before the world, was I created,
and unto the world to come I shall not cease to be, and in
the holy dwelling place I have ministered before him.
15 And so was I established in Sion, and in the holy city
likewise I rested, and my power was in Jerusalem.
16 And I took root in an honourable people, and in the
portion of mg God his inheritance, and my abode is in the
full assembly of saints.
17 I was exalted like a cedar in Libanus, and as a cypress
tree on mount Sion.
18 I was exalted like a palm tree in Cades, and as a rose
plant in Jericho:
19 As a fair olive tree in the plains, and as a plane tree by
the water in the streets, was I exalted.
20 I gave a sweet smell like cinnamon. and aromatical balm:
I yielded a sweet odour like the best myrrh:
21 And I perfumed my dwelling as storax, and galbanum, and
onyx, and aloes, and as the frankincense not cut, and my
odour is as the purest balm.
22 I have stretched out my branches as the turpentine tree,
and my branches are of honour and grace.
23 As the vine I have brought forth a pleasant odour: and my
flowers are the fruit of honour and riches.
24 I am the mother of fair love, and of fear, and of
knowledge, and of holy hope.
25 In me is all grace of the way and of the truth, in me is
all hope of life and of virtue.
26 Come over to me, all ye that desire me, and be filled with
my fruits.
27 For my spirit is sweet above honey, and my inheritance
above honey and the honeycomb.
28 My memory is unto everlasting generations.
29 They that eat me, shall yet hunger: and they that drink
me, shall yet thirst.
30 He that hearkeneth to me, shall not be confounded: and
they that work by me, shall not sin.
31 They that explain me shall have life everlasting.
32 All these things are the book of life, and the covenant of
the most High, and the knowledge of truth.
33 Moses commanded a law in the precepts of justices, and an
inheritance to the house of Jacob, and the promises to
Israel.
34 He appointed to David his servant to raise up of him a
most mighty king, and sitting on the throne of glory for
ever.
35 Who filleth up wisdom as the Phison, and as the Tigris in
the days of the new fruits.
36 Who maketh understanding to abound as the Euphrates, who
multiplieth it as the Jordan in the time of harvest.
37 Who sendeth knowledge as the light, and riseth up as Gehon
in the time of the vintage.
38 Who first hath perfect knowledge of her, and a weaker
shall not search her out.
39 For her thoughts are more vast than the sea, and her
counsels more deep than the great ocean.
40 I, wisdom, have poured out rivers.
41 I, like a brook out of a river of a mighty water; I, like
a channel of a river. and like an aqueduct, came out of
paradise.
42 I said: I will water my garden of plants, and I will water
abundantly the fruits of my meadow.
43 And behold my brook became a great river, and my river
came near to a sea:
44 For I make doctrine to shine forth to all as the morning
light, and I will declare it afar off.
45 I will penetrate to all the lower parts of the earth, and
will behold all that sleep, and will enlighten all that
hope in the Lord.
46 I will yet pour out doctrine as prophecy, and will leave
it to them that seek wisdom, and will not cease to
instruct their offspring even to the holy age.
47 See ye that I have not laboured for myself only, but for
all that seek out the truth.
The Book of Ecclesiasticus, Chapter 25
WITH three things my spirit is pleased, which are approved
before God and men:
2 The concord of brethren, and the love of neighbours, and
mall and wife that agree well together.
3 Three sorts my soul hateth, and I am greatly grieved at
their life:
4 A poor man that is proud: a rich man that is a liar: an
old man that is a fool, and doting.
5 The things that thou hast not gathered in thy youth, how
shalt thou find them in thy old age?
6 O how comely is judgment for a grey head, and for ancients
to know counsel!
7 O how comely is wisdom for the aged, and understanding and
counsel to men of honour!
8 Much experience is the crown of old men, and the fear of
God is their glory.
9 Nine things that are not to be imagined by the heart have
I magnified, and the tenth I will utter to men with my
tongue.
10 A man that hath joy of his children: and he that liveth
and seeth the fall of his enemies.
11 Blessed is he. that dwelleth with a wise woman, and that
hath not slipped with his tongue, and that hath not served
such as are unworthy of him.
12 Blessed is he that findeth a true friend, and that
declareth justice to an ear that heareth.
13 How great is he that findeth wisdom and knowledge! but
there is none above him that feareth the Lord.
14 The fear of God hath set itself above all things:
15 Blessed is the man, to whom it is given to have the fear
of God: he that holdeth it, to whom shall he be likened?
16 The fear of God is the beginning of his love: and the
beginning of faith is to be fast joined unto it.
17 The sadness of the heart is every plague: and the
wickedness of a woman is all evil.
18 And a man will choose any plague, but the plague of the
heart:
19 And ally wickedness, but the wickedness of a woman:
20 And any affliction, but the affliction from them that hate
him:
21 And ally revenge, but the revenge of enemies.
22 There is no head worse than the head of a serpent:
23 And there is no anger above the anger of a woman. It will
be more agreeable to abide with a lion and a dragon, than
to dwell with a wicked woman.
24 The wickedness of a woman changeth her face: and she
darkeneth her countenance as a bear: and sheweth it like
sackcloth. In the midst of her neighbours,
25 Her husband groaned, and hearing he sighed a little.
26 All malice is shore to the malice of a woman, let the lot
of sinners fall upon her.
27 As the climbing of a sandy way is to the feet of the aged,
so is a wife full of tongue to a quiet man.
28 Look not upon a woman's beauty, and desire not a woman for
beauty.
29 A woman's anger, and impudence, and confusion is great.
30 A woman, if she have superiority, is contrary to her
husband.
31 A wicked woman abateth the courage, and maketh a heavy
countenance, and a wounded heart.
32 Feeble hands, and disjointed knees, a woman that doth not
make her husband happy.
33 From the woman came the beginning of sin, and by her we
all die.
34 Give no issue to thy water, no, not a little: nor to a
wicked woman liberty to gad abroad.
35 If she walk not at thy hand, she will confound thee in the
sight of thy enemies.
36 Cut her off from thy flesh, lest she always abuse thee.
The Book of Ecclesiasticus, Chapter 26
HAPPY is the husband of a good wife: for the number of his
years is double.
2 A virtuous woman rejoiceth her husband: and shall fulfil
the years of his life in peace.
3 A good wife is a good portion, she shall be given in the
portion of them that fear God, to a man for his good
deeds.
4 Rich or poor, if his heart is good, his countenance shall
be cheerful at all times.
5 Of three things my heart hath been afraid, and at the
fourth my face hath trembled:
6 The accusation of a city, and the gathering together of
the people:
7 And a false calumny, all are more grievous than death.
8 A jealous woman is the grief and mourning of the heart.
9 With a jealous woman is a scourge of the tongue which
communicateth with all.
10 As a yoke of oxen that is moved to and fro, so also is a
wicked woman: he that hath hold of her, is as he that
taketh hold of a scorpion.
11 A drunken woman is a great wrath: and her reproach and
shame shall not be hid.
12 The fornication of a woman shall be known by the
haughtiness of her eyes, and by her eyelids.
13 On a daughter that turneth not away herself, set a strict
watch: lest finding an opportunity she abuse herself.
14 Take heed of the impudence of her eyes, and wonder not if
she slight thee.
15 She will open her mouth as a thirsty traveller to the
fountain, and will drink of every water near her, and will
sit down by every hedge, and open her quiver against every
arrow, until she fail.
16 The grace of a diligent woman shall delight her husband,
and shall fat his bones.
17 Her discipline is the gift of God.
18 Such is a wise and silent woman, and there is nothing so
much worth as a well instructed soul.
19 A holy and shamefaced woman is grace upon grace.
20 And no price is worthy of a continent soul.
21 As the sun when it riseth to the world in the high places
of God, so is the beauty of a good wife for the ornament
of her house.
22 As the lamp shining upon the holy candlestick, so is the
beauty of the face in a ripe age.
23 As golden pillars upon bases of silver, so are the firm
feet upon the soles of a steady woman.
24 As everlasting foundations upon a solid rock, so the
commandments of God In the heart of a holy woman.
25 At two things my heart is grieved, and the third bringeth
anger upon me:
26 A man of was fainting through poverty: and a man of sense
despised:
27 And he that passeth over from justice to sin, God hath
prepared such an one for the sword.
28 Two sorts of callings have appeared to me hard and
dangerous: a merchant is hardly free from negligence: and
a huckster shall not be justified from the sins of the
lips.
The Book of Ecclesiasticus, Chapter 27
THROUGH poverty many have sinned: and he that seeketh to be
enriched, turneth away his eye.
2 As a stake sticketh fast in the midst of the joining of
stones, so also in the midst of selling and buying, sin
shall stick fast.
3 Sin shall be destroyed with the sinner.
4 Unless thou hold thyself diligently in the fear of the
Lord, thy house shall quickly be overthrown.
5 As when one sifteth with a sieve, the dust will remain: so
will the perplexity of a man in his thoughts.
6 The furnace trieth the potter's vessels, and the trial of
affliction just men.
7 Be the dressing of a tree sheweth the fruit thereof, so a
word out of the thought of the heart of man.
8 Praise not a man before he speaketh, for this is the trial
of men.
9 If thou followest justice, thou shalt obtain her: and
shalt put her on as a long robe of honour, and thou shalt
dwell with her: and she shall protect thee for ever, and
in the day of acknowledgment thou shalt find a strong
foundation.
10 Birds resort unto their like: so truth will return to them
that practise her.
11 The lion always lieth in wait for prey: so do sine for
them that work iniquities.
12 A holy man continueth in wisdom as the sun: but a fool is
changed as the moon.
13 In the midst of the unwise keep in the word till its time:
but be continually among men that think.
14 The discourse of sinners is hateful, and their laughter is
at the pleasures of sin.
15 The speech that sweareth much shall make the hair of the
head stand upright: and its irreverence shall make one
stop his ears.
16 Is the quarrels of the proud is the shedding of blood: and
their cursing is a grievous hearing.
17 He that discloseth the secret of a friend loseth his
credit, and shall never find a friend to his mind.
18 Love thy neighbour, and be joined to him with fidelity.
19 But if thou discover his secrets, follow no more after
him.
20 For as a man that destroyeth his friend, so also is he
that destroyeth the friendship of his neighbour.
21 And as one that letteth a bird go out of his hand, so hast
thou let thy neighbour go, and thou shalt not get him
again.
22 Follow after him no more, for he is gone afar off, he is
fled, as a roe escaped out of the snare: because his soul
is wounded.
23 Thou canst no more bind him up. And of a curse there is
reconciliation:
24 But to disclose the secrets of a friend, leaveth no hope
to an unhappy soul.
25 He that winketh with the eye forgeth wicked things, and no
man will cast him off:
26 In the sight of thy eyes he will sweeten his mouth, and
will admire thy words: but at the last he will writhe his
mouth, and on thy words he will lay a stumblingblock.
27 I have hated many things, but not like him, and the Lord
will hate him.
28 If one cast a stone on high, it will fall upon his own
head: and the deceitful stroke will wound the deceitful.
29 He that diggeth a pit, shall fall into it: and he that
setteth a stone for his neighbour, shall stumble upon it:
and he that layeth a snare for another, shall perish in
it.
30 A mischievous counsel shall be rolled back upon the
author, and he shall not know from whence it cometh to
him.
31 Mockery and reproach are of the proud, and vengeance as a
lion shall lie in wait for him.
32 They shall perish in a snare that are delighted with the
fall of the just: and sorrow shall consume them before
they die.
33 Anger and fury are both of them abominable, and the sinful
man shall be subject to them.
The Book of Ecclesiasticus, Chapter 28
HE that seeketh to revenge himself, shall find vengeance from
the Lord, and he will surely keep his sins in remembrance.
2 Forgive thy neighbour if he hath hurl thee: and then shall
thy sins be forgiven to thee when thou prayest.
3 Man to man reserveth anger, and doth he seek remedy of
God?
4 He hath no mercy on a man like himself, and doth he
entreat for his own sins?
5 He that is but flesh, nourisheth anger, and doth he ask
forgiveness of God? who shall obtain pardon for his sins?
6 Remember thy last things, and let enmity cease:
7 For corruption and death hang over in his commandments.
8 Remember the fear of God, and be not angry with thy
neighbour.
9 Remember the covenant of the most High, and overlook the
ignorance of thy neighbour.
10 Refrain from strife, and thou shalt diminish thy sine:
11 For a passionate man kindleth strife, and a sinful man
will trouble his friends, and bring in debate in the midst
of them that are at peace.
12 For as the wood of the forest is, so the fire burneth: and
as a man's strength is, so shall his anger be, and
according to his riches he shall increase his anger.
13 A hasty contention kindleth a fire: and a hasty quarrel
sheddeth blood: and a tongue that beareth witness bringeth
death.
14 If thou blow the spark, it shall burn as a fire: and if
thou spit upon it, it shall be quenched: both come out of
the mouth.
15 The whisperer and the double tongued is accursed: for he
hath troubled many that were at peace.
16 The tongue of a third person hath disquieted many, and
scattered them from nation to nation.
17 It hath destroyed the strong cities of the rich, and hath
overthrown the houses of great men.
18 It hath cut in pieces the forces of people, and undone
strong nations.
19 The tongue of a third person hath cast out valiant women,
and deprived them of their labours.
20 He that hearkeneth to it, shall never have rest, neither
shall he have a friend in whom he may repose.
21 The stroke of a whip maketh a blue mark: but the stroke of
the tongue will break the bones.
22 Many have fallen by the edge of the sword, but not so many
as have perished by their own tongue.
23 Blessed is he that is defended from a wicked tongue, that
hath not passed into the wrath thereof, and that hath not
drawn the yoke thereof, and hath not been bound in its
bands.
24 For its yoke is a yoke of iron: and its bands are bands of
brass.
25 The death thereof is a most evil death: and hell is
preferable to it.
26 Its continuance shall not be for a long time, but it shall
possess the ways of the unjust: and the just shall not be
burnt with its flame.
27 They that forsake God shall fall into it, and it shall
burn in them, and shall not be quenched, and it shall be
sent upon them as a lion, and as a leopard it shall tear
them.
28 Hedge in thy ears with thorns, hear not a wicked tongue,
and make doors and bars to thy mouth.
29 Melt down thy gold and silver, and make a balance for thy
words, and a just bridle for thy mouth:
30 And take heed lest thou slip with thy tongue, and fall in
the sight of thy enemies who lie in wait for thee, and thy
fall be incurable unto death.
The Book of Ecclesiasticus, Chapter 29
HE that sheweth mercy, lendeth to his neighbour: and he that
is stronger in hand, keepeth the commandments.
2 Lend to thy neighbour in the time of his need, and pay
thou thy neighbour again in due time.
3 Reap thy word, and deal faithfully with him: and thou
shalt always find that which is necessary for thee.
4 Many have looked upon a thing lent as a thing found, and
have given trouble to them that helped them.
5 Till they receive, they kiss the hands of the lender, and
in promises they humble their voice:
6 But when they should repay, they will ask time, and will
return tedious and murmuring words, and will complain of
the time:
7 And if he be able to pay, he will stand off, he will
scarce pay one half, and will count it as if he had found
it:
8 But if not, he will defraud him of his money, and he shall
get him for an enemy without cause:
9 And he will pay him with reproaches and curses, and
instead of honour and good turn will repay him injuries.
10 Many have refused to lend, not out of wickedness, but they
were afraid to be defrauded without cause.
11 But yet towards the poor be thou more hearty, and delay
not to shew him mercy.
12 Help the poor because of the commandment: and send him not
away empty handed because of his poverty.
13 Lose thy money for thy brother and thy friend: and hide it
not under a stone to be lost.
14 Place thy treasure in the commandments of the most High,
and it shall bring thee more profit than gold.
15 Shut up alms in the heart of the poor, and it shall obtain
help for thee against all evil.
16 Better than the shield of the mighty, and better than the
spear:
17 It shall fight for thee against thy enemy.
18 A good man is surety for his neighbour: and he that hath
lost shame, will leave him to himself.
19 Forget not the kindness of thy surety: for he hath given
his life for thee.
20 The sinner and the unclean fleeth from his surety.
21 A sinner attributeth to himself the goods of his surety:
and he that is of an unthankful mind will leave him that
delivered him.
22 A man is surety for his neighbour: and when he hath lost
all shame, he shall forsake him.
23 Evil suretyship hath undone many of good estate, and hath
tossed them as a wave of the sea.
24 It hath made powerful men to go from place to place round
about, and they have wandered in strange countries.
25 A sinner that transgresseth the commandment of the Lord,
shall fall into an evil suretyship: and he that
undertaketh many things, shall fall into judgment.
26 Recover thy neighbour according to thy power, and take
heed to thyself that thou fall not.
27 The chief thing for man's life is water and bread, and
clothing, and a house to cover shame.
28 Better is the poor man's fare under a roof of boards, than
sumptuous cheer abroad in another man's house.
29 Be contented with little instead of much, and thou shalt
not hear the reproach of going abroad.
30 It is a miserable life to go as a guest from house to
house: for where a man is a stranger, he shall not deal
confidently, nor open his mouth.
31 He shall entertain and feed, and give drink to the
unthankful, and moreover he shall hear bitter words.
32 Go, stranger, and furnish the table, and give others to
eat what thou hast in thy hand.
33 Give place to the honourable presence of my friends: for
I want my house, my brother being to be lodged with me.
34 These things are grievous to a man of understanding: the
upbraiding of houseroom, and the reproaching of the
lender.
The Book of Ecclesiasticus, Chapter 30
HE that loveth his son, frequently chastiseth him, that he may
rejoice in his latter end, and not grope after the doors of
his neighbours.
2 He that instructeth his son shall be praised in him, and
shall glory in him in the midst of them of his household.
3 He that teacheth his son, maketh his enemy jealous, and in
the midst of his friends he shall glory in him.
4 His father is dead, and he is as if 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, neither was he confounded
before his enemies.
6 For he left behind him a defender of his house against his
enemies, and one that will requite kindness to his
friends.
7 For the souls of his sons he shall bind up his wounds, and
at every cry his bowels shall be troubled.
8 A horse not broken becometh stubborn, and a child left to
himself will become headstrong.
9 Give thy son his way, and he shall make thee afraid: play
with him, and he shall make thee sorrowful.
10 Laugh not with him, lest thou have sorrow, and at the last
thy teeth be set on edge.
11 Give him not liberty in his youth, and wink not at his
devices.
12 Bow down his neck while he is young, and beat his sides
while he is a child, lest he grow stubborn, and regard
thee not, and so be a sorrow of heart to thee.
13 Instruct thy son, and labour about him, lest his lewd
behaviour be an offence to thee.
14 Better is a poor man who is sound, and strong of
constitution, than a rich man who is weak and afflicted
with evils.
15 Health of the soul in holiness of justice, is better then
all gold and silver: and a sound body, than immense
revenues.
16 There is no riches above the riches of the health of the
body: and there is no pleasure above the joy of the heart.
17 Better is death than a bitter life: and everlasting rest,
than continual sickness.
18 Good things that are hidden in a mouth that is shut, are
as masses of meat set about a grave.
19 What good shall an offering do to an idol? for it can
neither eat, nor smell:
20 So is he that is persecuted by the Lord, bearing the
reward of his iniquity:
21 He seeth with his eyes, and groaneth, as an eunuch
embracing a virgin, and sighing.
22 Give not up thy soul to sadness, and afflict not thyself
in thy own counsel.
23 The joyfulness of the heart, is the life of a man, and a
never failing treasure of holiness: and the joy of a man
is length of life.
24 Have pity on thy own soul, pleasing God, and contain
thyself: gather up thy heart in his holiness: and drive
away sadness far from thee.
25 For sadness hath killed many, and there is no profit in
it.
26 Envy and anger shorten a man's days, and pensiveness will
bring old age before the time.
27 A Cheerful and good heart is always feasting: for his
banquets are prepared with diligence.
The Book of Ecclesiasticus, Chapter 31
WATCHING for riches consumeth the flesh, and the thought
thereof driveth away sleep.
2 The thinking beforehand turneth away the understanding,
and a grievous sickness maketh the soul sober.
3 The rich man hath laboured in gathering riches together,
and when he resteth he shall be filled with his goods.
4 The poor man hath laboured in his low way of life, and in
the end he is still poor.
5 He that loveth gold, shall not be justified: and he that
followeth after corruption, shall be filled with it.
6 Many have been brought to fall for gold, and the beauty
thereof hath been their ruin.
7 Gold is a stumblingblock to them that sacrifice to it: woe
to them that eagerly follow after it, and every fool shall
perish by it.
8 Blessed is the rich man that is found without blemish: and
that hath not gone after gold, nor put his trust in money
nor in treasures.
9 Who is he, and we will praise him? for he hath done
wonderful things in his life.
10 Who hath been tried thereby, and made perfect, he shall
have glory everlasting. He that could have transgressed,
and hath not transgressed: and could do evil things, and
hath not done them:
11 Therefore are his goods established in the Lord, and all
the church of the saints shall declare his alms.
12 Art thou set at a great table? be not the first to open
thy mouth upon it.
13 Say not: There are many things which are upon it.
14 Remember that a wicked eye is evil.
15 What is created more wicked than an eye? therefore shall
it weep over all the face when it shall see.
16 Stretch not out thy hand first, lest being disgraced with
envy thou be put to confusion.
17 Be not hasty in a feast.
18 Judge of the disposition of thy neighbour by thyself.
19 Use as a frugal man the things that are set before thee:
lest if thou eatest much, thou be hated.
20 Leave off first, for manners' sake: and exceed not, lest
thou offend.
21 And if thou sittest among many, reach not thy hand out
first of all: and be not the first to ask for drink.
22 How sufficient is a little wine for a man well taught, and
in sleeping thou shalt not be uneasy with it, and thou
shalt feel no pain.
23 Watching, and choler, and gripes, are with an intemperate
man:
24 Sound and wholesome sleep with a moderate man: he shall
sleep till morning, and his soul shall be delighted with
him.
25 And if thou hast been forced to eat much, arise, go out,
and vomit: and it shall refresh thee, and thou shalt not
bring sickness upon thy body.
26 Hear me, my son, and despise me not: and in the end thou
shalt find my words.
27 In all thy works be quick, and no infirmity shall come to
thee.
28 The lips of many shall bless him that is liberal of his
bread, and the testimony of his truth is faithful.
29 Against him that is niggardly of his bread, the city will
murmur, and the testimony of his niggardliness is true.
30 Challenge not them that love wine: for wine hath destroyed
very many.
31 Fire trieth hard iron: so wine drunk to excess shall
rebuke the hearts of the proud.
32 Wine taken with sobriety is equal lire to men: if thou
drink it moderately, thou shalt be sober.
33 What is his life, who is diminished with wine?
34 What taketh away life? death.
35 Wine was created from the beginning to make men joyful,
and not to make them drunk.
36 Wine drunken with moderation is the joy of the soul and
the heart.
37 Sober drinking is health to soul and body.
38 Wine drunken with excess raiseth quarrels; and wrath, and
many ruins.
39 Wine drunken with excess is bitterness of the soul.
40 The heat of drunkenness is the stumblingblock of the fool,
lessening strength and causing wounds.
41 Rebuke not thy neighbour in a banquet of wine: and despise
him not in hip mirth.
42 Speak not to him words of reproach: and press him not in
demanding again.
The Book of Ecclesiasticus, Chapter 32
HAVE they made thee ruler? be not lifted up: be among them as
one of them.
2 Have care of them, and so sit down, and when thou hast
acquitted thyself of all thy charge, take thy place :
3 That thou mayst rejoice for them, and receive a crown as
an ornament of grace, and get the honour of the
contribution.
4 Speak, thou that art elder: for it becometh thee,
5 To speak the first word with care knowledge, and hinder
not music.
6 Where there is no hearing, pour out words, and be not
lifted up out season with thy wisdom.
7 A concert of music in a banquet wine is as a carbuncle set
in gold.
8 As a signet of an emerald in a work of gold: so is the
melody of music with pleasant and moderate wine.
9 Hear in silence, and for thy reverence good grace shall
come to thee.
10 Young man, scarcely speak in thy own cause.
11 If thou be asked twice, let thy answer be short.
12 In many things be as if thou wert ignorant, and hear in
silence and withal seeking.
13 In the company of great men bake not upon thee: and when
the ancients are present, speak not much.
14 Before a storm goeth lightning: and before shamefacedness
goeth favour: and for thy reverence good grace shall come
to thee.
15 And at the time of rising be not slack: but be first to
run home to thy house, and there withdraw thyself, and
there take thy pastime.
16 And do what thou hast a mind, but not in sin or proud
speech.
17 And for all these things bless the Lord, that made thee,
and that replenisheth thee with all his good things.
18 He that feareth the Lord, will receive his discipline: and
they that will seek him early, shall find a blessing.
19 He that seeketh the law, shall be filled with it: and he
that dealeth deceitfully, shall meet with a stumblingblock
therein.
20 They that fear the Lord, shall find just judgment, and
shall kindle justice as a light.
21 A sinful man will flee reproof, and will find an excuse
according to his will.
22 A man of counsel will not neglect understanding, a strange
and proud man will not dread fear:
23 Even after he hath done with fear without counsel, he
shall be controlled by the things of his own seeking.
24 My son, do thou nothing without counsel, and thou shalt
not repent when thou hast done.
25 Go not in the way of ruin, and thou shalt not stumble
against the stones; trust not thyself to a rugged may,
lest thou set a stumblingblock to thy soul.
26 And beware of thy own children, and take heed of them of
thy household.
27 In every work of thine regard thy soul in faith: for this
is the keeping of the commandments.
28 He that believeth God, taketh heed to the commandments:
and he that trusteth in him, shall fare never the worse.
The Book of Ecclesiasticus, Chapter 33
NO evils shall happen to him that feareth the Lord, but in
temptation God will keep him, and deliver him from evils.
2 A wise man hateth not the commandments and justices, and
he shall not be dashed in pieces as a ship in a storm.
3 A man of understanding is faithful to the law of God, and
the law is faithful to him.
4 He that cleareth up a question, shall prepare what to say,
and so having prayed he shall be heard, and shall keep
discipline, and then he shall answer.
5 The heart of a fool is as a wheel of a cart: and his
thoughts are like a rolling axletree.
6 A friend that is a mocker, is like a stallion horse: he
neigheth under every one that sitteth upon him.
7 Why doth one day excel another, and one light another, and
one year another year, when all come of the sun?
8 By the knowledge of the Lord they were distinguished, the
sun being made, and keeping his commandment.
9 And he ordered the seasons, and holidays of them, and in
them they celebrated festivals at an hour.
10 Some of them God made high and great days, and some of
them he put in the number of ordinary days. And all men
are from the ground, and out of the earth, from whence
Adam was created.
11 With much knowledge the Lord hath divided them and
diversified their ways.
12 Some of them hath he blessed, and exalted: and some of
them hath he sanctified, and set near himself: and some of
them hath he cursed and brought low, end turned them from
their station.
13 As the potter's clay is in his hand, to fashion and order
it:
14 All his ways are according to his ordering: so man is in
the hand of him that made him, and he will render to him
according to his judgment.
15 Good is set against evil, and life against death: so also
is the sinner against a just man. And so look upon all the
works of the most High. Two and two, and one against
another.
16 And I awaked last of all, and as one that gathereth after
the grapegatherers.
17 In the blessing of God I also have hoped: and as one that
gathereth grapes, have I filled the winepress.
18 See that I have not laboured for myself only, but for all
that seek discipline.
19 Hear me, ye great men, and all ye people, and hearken with
your ears, ye rulers of the church.
20 Give not to son or wife, brother or friend, power over
thee while thou livest; and give not thy estate to
another, lest then repent, and thou entreat for the same.
21 As long as thou livest, and hast breath in thee, let no
man change thee.
22 For it is better that thy children should ask of thee,
than that thou look toward the hands of thy children.
23 In all thy works keep the pre-eminence.
24 Let no stain sully thy glory. In the time when thou shalt
end the days of thy life, and in the time of thy decease,
distribute thy inheritance.
25 Fodder, and a wand, and a burden are for an ass: bread,
and correction, and work for a slave.
26 He worketh under correction, and seeketh to rest: let his
hands be idle, and he seeketh liberty.
27 The yoke and the thong bend a stiff neck, and continual
labours bow a slave.
28 Torture and fetters are for a malicious slave: send him to
work, that he be not idle:
29 For idleness hath taught much evil.
30 Set him to work: for so it is fit for him. And if he be
not obedient, bring him down with fetters, but be not
excessive towards any one: and do no grievous thing
without judgment.
31 If thou have a faithful servant, let him be to thee as thy
own soul: treat him as a brother: because in the blood of
thy soul thou hast gotten him.
32 If thou hurt him unjustly, he will run away:
33 And if he rise up and depart, thou knowest not whom to
ask, and in what way to seek him.
The Book of Ecclesiasticus, Chapter 34
THE hopes of a man that is void of understanding are vain and
deceitful: and dreams lift up fools.
2 The man that giveth heed to lying visions, is like to him
that catcheth at a shadow, and followeth after the wind.
3 The vision of dreams is the resemblance of one thing to
another: as when a man's likeness is before the face of a
man.
4 What can be made clean by the unclean? and what truth can
come from that which is false?
5 Deceitful divinations and lying omens and the dreams of
evildoers, are vanity:
6 And the heart fancieth as that of a woman in travail:
except it be a vision sent forth from the most High, set
no thy heart upon them.
7 For dreams have deceived many, and they have failed that
put their trust in them.
8 The word of the law shall be fulfilled without a lie, and
wisdom shall be made plain in the mouth of the faithful.
9 What doth he know, that hath not been tried? A man that
hath much experience, shall think of many things: and he
that hath learned many things, shall shew forth
understanding.
10 He that hath no experience, knoweth little: and he that
hath been experienced in many things, multiplieth
prudence.
11 He that hath not been tried, what manner of things doth he
know? he that hath been surprised, shall abound with
subtlety.
12 I have seen many things by travelling, and many customs of
things.
13 Sometimes I have been in danger of death for these things,
and I have been delivered by the grace of God.
14 The spirit of those that fear God; is sought after, and by
his regard shall be blessed.
15 For their hope is on him that saveth them, and the eyes of
God are upon them that love him.
16 He that feareth the Lord shall tremble at nothing, and
shall not be afraid for he is his hope.
17 The soul of him that feareth the Lord is blessed.
18 To whom doth he look, and who in his strength?
19 The eyes of the Lord are upon them that fear him, he is
their powerful protector, and strong stay, a defence from
the heat, and a cover from the sun at noon,
20 A preservation from stumbling, and a help from falling; he
raiseth up the soul, and enlighteneth the eyes, and giveth
health, and life, and blessing.
21 The offering of him that sacrificeth of a thing wrongfully
gotten, is stained, and the mockeries of the unjust are
not acceptable.
22 The Lord is only for them that wait upon him in the way of
truth and justice.
23 The most High approveth not the gifts of the wicked:
neither hath he respect to the oblations of the unjust,
nor will he be pacified for sine by the multitude of their
sacrifices.
24 He that offereth sacrifice of the goods of the poor, is as
one that sacrificeth the son in the presence of his
father.
25 The bread of the needy, is the life of the poor: he that
defraudeth them thereof, is a man of blood.
26 He that taketh away the bread gotten by sweat, is like him
that killeth his neighbour.
27 He that sheddeth blood, and he that defraudeth the
labourer of his hire, are brothers.
28 When one buildeth up, and another pulleth down: what
profit have they but the labour?
29 When one prayeth, and another curseth: whose voice will
God hear?
30 He that washeth himself after touching the dead, if he
toucheth him again, what doth his washing avail?
31 So a man that fasteth for his sins, and doth the same
again, what doth his humbling himself profit him? who will
hear his prayer?
The Book of Ecclesiasticus, Chapter 35
HE that keepeth the law, multiplieth offerings.
2 It is a wholesome sacrifice to take heed to the
commandments, and to depart from all iniquity. _J
3 And to depart from injustice, is to offer a propitiatory
sacrifice for injustices, and a begging of pardon for
sins.
4 He shall return thanks, that offereth fine flour: and he
that doth mercy, offereth sacrifice.
5 To depart from iniquity is that which pleaseth the Lord,
and to depart from injustice, is an entreaty for sins.
6 Thou shalt not appear empty in the sight of the Lord.
7 For all these things are to be done because of the
commandment of God.
8 The oblation of the just maketh the altar fat, and is an
odour of sweetness in the sight of the most High.
9 The sacrifice of the just is acceptable, and the Lord will
not forget the memorial thereof.
10 Give glory to God with a good heart: and diminish not the
firstfruits of thy hands.
11 In every gift shew a cheerful countenance, and sanctify
thy tithes with joy.
12 Give to the most High according to what he hath given to
thee, and with a good eye do according to the ability of
thy hands:
13 For the Lord maketh recompense, and will give thee seven
times as much.
14 Do not offer wicked gifts, for such he will not receive.
15 And look not upon an unjust sacrifice, for the Lord is
judge, and there is not with him respect of person.
16 The Lord will not accept any person against a poor man,
and he will hear the prayer of him that is wronged.
17 He will not despise the prayers of the fatherless; nor the
widow, when she poureth out her complaint.
18 Do not the widow's tears run down the cheek, and her cry
against him that causeth them to fall?
19 For from the cheek they go up even to heaven, and the Lord
that heareth will not be delighted with them.
20 He that adoreth God with joy, shall be accepted, and his
prayer shall approach even to the clouds.
21 The prayer of him that humbleth himself, shall pierce the
clouds: and till it come nigh he will not be comforted:
and he will not depart till the most High behold.
22 And the Lord will not be slack, but will judge for the
just, and will do judgment: and the Almighty will not have
patience with them, that he may crush their back:
23 And he will repay vengeance to the Gentiles, till he have
taken away the multitude of the proud, and broken the
sceptres of the unjust,
24 Till he have rendered to men according to their deeds: and
according to the works of Adam, and according to his
presumption,
25 Till he have judged the cause of his people, and he shall
delight the just with his mercy.
26 The mercy of God is beautiful in the time of affliction,
as a cloud of rain in the time of drought.
The Book of Ecclesiasticus, Chapter 36
HAVE mercy upon us, O God of all, and behold us, and shew us
the light of thy mercies:
2 And send thy fear upon the nations, that have not sought
after thee: that they may know that there is no God beside
thee, and that they may shew forth thy wonders.
3 Lift up thy hand over the strange nations, that they may
see thy power.
4 For as thou hast been sanctified in us in their sight, so
thou shalt be magnified among them in our presence,
5 That they may know thee, as we also have known thee, that
there is no God beside thee, O Lord.
6 Renew thy signs, and work new miracles.
7 Glorify thy hand, and thy right arm.
8 Raise up indignation, and pour out wrath.
9 Take away the adversary, and crush the enemy.
10 Hasten the time, and remember the end, that they may
declare thy wonderful works.
11 Let him that escapeth be consumed by the rage of the fire:
and let them perish that oppress thy people.
12 Crush the head of the princes of the enemies that say:
There is no other beside us.
13 Gather together all the tribes of Jacob: that they may
know that there is no God besides thee, and may declare
thy great works: and thou shalt inherit them as from the
beginning.
14 Have mercy on thy people, upon whom thy name is invoked:
and upon Israel, m whom thou hast raised up to be thy
firstborn.
15 Have mercy on Jerusalem, the city which thou hast
sanctified, the city of thy rest.
16 Fill Sion with thy unspeakable words, and thy people with
thy glory.
17 Give testimony to them that are thy creatures from the
beginning, and raise up the prophecies which the former
prophets spoke in thy name.
18 Reward them that patiently wait for thee, that thy
prophets may be found faithful: and hear the prayers of
thy servants,
19 According to the blessing of Aaron over thy people, and
direct us into the way of justice, and let all know that
dwell upon the earth, that thou art God the beholder of
all ages.
20 The belly will devour all meat, yet one is better than
another.
21 The palate tasteth venison and the wise heart false
speeches.
22 A perverse heart will cause grief, and a man of experience
will resist it.
23 A woman will receive every man: yet one daughter is better
than another.
24 The beauty of a woman cheereth the countenance of her
husband, and a man desireth nothing more.
25 If she have a tongue that can cure, and likewise mitigate
and shew mercy: her husband is not like other men.
26 He that possesseth a good wife, beginneth a possession:
she is a help like to himself, and a pillar of rest.
27 Where there is no hedge, the possession shall be spoiled:
and where there is no wife, he mourneth that is in want.
28 Who will trust him that hath no rest, and that lodgeth
wheresoever the night taketh him, as a robber well
appointed, that skippeth from city to city.
The Book of Ecclesiasticus, Chapter 37
EVERY friend will say: I also am his friend: but there is a
friend, that is only a friend in name. Is not this a grief
even to death?
2 But a companion and a friend shall be turned to an enemy.
3 O wicked presumption, whence camest thou to cover the
earth with thy malice, and deceitfulness?
4 There is a companion who rejoiceth with his friend in his
joys, but in the time of trouble, he will be against him.
5 There is a companion who condoleth with his friend for his
belly's sake, and he will take up a shield against enemy.
6 Forget not thy friend in thy mind, and be not unmindful of
him in thy riches.
7 Consult not with him that layeth a snare for thee, and
hide thy counsel from them that envy thee.
8 Every counsellor giveth out counsel, but there is one that
is a counsellor for himself.
9 Beware of a counsellor. And know before what need he hath:
for he will devise to his own mind:
10 Lest he thrust a stake into the ground, and say to thee:
11 Thy way is good; and then stand on the other side to see
what shall befall thee.
12 Treat not with a man without religion concerning holiness,
nor with an unjust man concerning justice, nor with a
woman touching her of whom she is jealous, nor with a
coward concerning war, nor with a merchant about traffic,
nor with a buyer of selling, nor with an envious man of
giving thanks,
13 Nor with the ungodly of piety, nor with the dishonest of
honesty, nor with the held labourer of every work
14 Nor with him that worketh by the year of the finishing of
the year, nor with an idle servant of much business: give
no heed to these in any matter of counsel.
15 But be continually with a holy man, whomsoever thou shalt
know to observe the fear of God,
16 Whose soul is according to thy own soul: and who, when
thou shalt stumble in the dark, will be sorry for thee.
17 And establish within thyself a heart of good counsel: for
there is no other thing of more worth to thee than it.
18 The soul of a holy man discovereth sometimes true things,
more than seven watchmen that sit in a high piece to
watch.
19 But above all these things pray to the most High, that he
may direct thy way in truth.
20 In all thy works let the true word go before thee, and
steady counsel before every action.
21 A wicked word shall change the beast: out of which four
manner of things arise, good and evil, life and death: and
the tongue is continually the ruler of them. There is a
man that is subtle and a teacher of many, and yet is
unprofitable to his own soul.
22 A skilful man hath taught many, and is sweet to his own
soul.
23 He that speaketh sophistically, is hateful: he shall be
destitute of every thing.
24 Grace is not given him from the Lord: for he is deprived
of all wisdom.
25 There is a wise man that is wise to his own soul: and the
fruit of his understanding is commendable.
26 A wise man instructeth his own people, and the fruits of
his understanding are faithful.
27 A wise man shall be filled with blessings, and they that
see shall praise him.
28 The life of a man is in the number of his days: but the
days of Israel are innumerable.
29 A wise man shall inherit honour among his people, and his
name shall live for ever.
30 My son, prove thy soul in thy life: and if it be wicked,
give it no power:
31 For all things are not expedient for all, and every kind
pleaseth not every soul.
32 Be not greedy in any feasting, and pour not out thyself
upon any meat:
33 For in many meats there will be sickness, and greediness
will turn to choler.
34 By surfeiting many have perished: but he that is
temperate, shall prolong life.
The Book of Ecclesiasticus, Chapter 38
HONOUR the physician for the need thou hast of him: for the
most High hath created him.
2 For all healing is from God, and he shall receive gifts of
the king.
3 The skill of the physician shall lift up his head, and in
the sight of great men he shall be praised.
4 The most High hath created medicines out of the earth, and
a wise man will not abhor them.
5 Was not bitter water made sweet with wood?
6 The virtue of these things is come to the knowledge of
men, and the meet High hath given knowledge to men, that
he may be honoured in his wonders.
7 By these he shall cure and shall allay their pains, and of
these the apothecary shall make sweet confections, and
shall make up ointments of health, and of his works there
shall be no end.
8 For the peace of God is over all the face of the earth.
9 My son, in thy sickness neglect not thyself, but pray to
the Lord, and he shall heal thee.
10 Turn away from sin and order thy hands aright, and cleanse
thy heart from all offence.
11 Give a sweet savour, and a memorial of fine flour, and
make a fat offering, and then give place to the physician.
12 For the Lord created him: and let him not depart from
thee, for his works are necessary.
13 For there is a time when thou must fall into their hands:
14 And they shall beseech the Lord, that he would prosper
what they give for ease and remedy, for their
conversation.
15 He that sinneth in the sight of his Maker, shall fall into
the hands of the physician.
16 My son, shed tears over the dead, and begin to lament as
if thou hadst suffered some great harm, and according to
judgment cover his body, and neglect not his burial.
17 And for fear of being ill spoken of weep bitterly for a,
day, and then comfort thyself in thy sadness.
18 And make mourning for him according to his merit for a
day, or two, for fear of detraction.
19 For of sadness cometh death, and it overwhelmeth the
strength, and the sorrow of the heart boweth down the
neck.
20 In withdrawing aside sorrow remaineth: and the substance
of the poor is according to his heart.
21 Give not up thy heart to sadness, but drive it from thee:
and remember the latter end.
22 Forget it not: for there is no returning, and thou shalt
do him no good, and shalt hurt thyself.
23 Remember my judgment: for also shall be so: yesterday for
me, and to day for thee.
24 When the dead is at rest, let his remembrance rest, and
comfort him in the departing of his spirit.
25 The wisdom of a scribe cometh by his time of leisure: and
he that is less in action, shall receive wisdom.
26 With what wisdom shall he be furnished that holdeth the
plough, and that glorieth in the goad, that driveth the
oxen therewith, and is occupied in their labours, and his
whole talk is about the offspring of bulls?
27 He shall give his mind to turn up furrows, and his care is
to give the kine fodder.
28 So every craftsman and workmaster that laboureth night and
day, he who maketh graven seals, and by his continual
diligence varieth the figure: he shall give his mind to
the resemblance of the picture, and by his watching shall
finish the work.
29 So doth the smith 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.
30 The noise of the hammer is always in his ears, and his eye
is upon the pat tern of the vessel he maketh.
31 He setteth his mind to finish his work, and his watching
to polish them, to perfection.
32 So doth the potter sitting at his work, turning the wheel
about with his feet, who is always carefully set to his
work, and maketh all his work by number:
33 He fashioneth the clay with his arm, and boweth down his
strength before his feet:
34 He shall give his mind to finish the glazing, and his
watching to make clean the furnace.
35 All these trust to their hands, and every one is wise in
his own art.
36 Without these a city is not built.
37 And they shall not dwell, nor walk about therein, and they
shall not go up into the assembly.
38 Upon the judges' seat they shall not sit, and the
ordinance of judgment they shall not understand, neither
shall they declare discipline and judgment, and they shall
not be found where parables are spoken:
39 But they shall strengthen the state of the world, and
their prayer shall be in the work of their craft, applying
their soul, and searching in the law of the most High.
The Book of Ecclesiasticus, Chapter 39
THE wise men will seek out the wisdom of all the ancients, and
will be occupied in the prophets.
2 He will keep the sayings of renowned men, and will enter
withal into the subtilties of parables.
3 He will search out the hidden meanings of proverbs, and
will be conversant in the secrets of parables.
4 He shall serve among great men, and: appear before the
governor.
5 He shall pass into strange countries: for he shall try
good and evil among men.
6 He will give his heart to resort early to the Lord that
made him, and he will pray in the sight of the most High.
7 He will open his mouth in prayer, and will make
supplication for his sins.
8 For if it shall please the great Lord, he will fill him
with the spirit of understanding:
9 And he will pour forth the words of his wisdom as showers,
and in his prayer he will confess to the Lord.
10 And he shall direct his counsel, and his knowledge, and in
his secrets shall he meditate.
11 He shall shew forth the discipline he hath learned, and
shall glory in the law of the covenant of the Lord.
12 Many shall praise his wisdom, and it shall never be
forgotten.
13 The memory of him shall not depart away, and his name
shall be in request from generation to generation.
14 Nations shall declare his wisdom, and the church shall
shew forth his praise.
15 If he continue, he shall leave a name above a thousand:
and if he rest, it shall be to his advantage.
16 I will yet meditate that I may declare: for I am filled as
with a holy transport.
17 By a voice he saith: Hear me, ye divine offspring, and bud
forth as the rose planted by the brooks of waters.
18 Give ye a sweet odour as frankincense.
19 Send forth flowers, as the lily, and yield a smell, and
bring forth leaves in grace, and praise with canticles,
and bless the Lord in his works.
20 Magnify his name, and give glory to him with the voice of
your lips, and with the canticles of your mouths, and with
harps, and in praising him, you shall say in this manner:
21 All the works of the Lord are exceeding good.
22 At his word the waters stood as a heap: and at the words
of his mouth the receptacles of waters:
23 For at his commandment favour is shewn, and there is no
diminishing of his salvation.
24 The works of all flesh are before him, and there is
nothing hid from his eyes.
25 He seeth from eternity to eternity, and there is nothing
wonderful before him.
26 There is no saying: What is this, or what is that? for all
things shall be sought in their time.
27 His blessing hath overflowed like a river.
28 And as a flood hath watered the earth; so shall his wrath
inherit the nations, that have not sought after him:
29 Even as he turned the waters into a dry land, and the
earth was made dry: and his ways were made plain for their
journey: so to sinners they are stumblingblocks in his
wrath.
30 Good things were created for the good from the beginning,
so for the wicked, good and evil things.
31 The principal things necessary for the life of men, are
water, fire, and iron, salt, milk, and bread of flour, and
honey, and the cluster of the grape, and oil, and
clothing.
32 All these things shall be for good to the holy, so to the
sinners and the ungodly they shall be turned into evil.
33 There are spirits that are created for vengeance, and in
their fury they lay on grievous torments.
34 In the time of destruction they shall pour out their
force: and they shall appease the wrath of him that made
them.
35 Fire, hail, famine, and death, all these were created for
vengeance.
36 The teeth of beasts, and scorpions, and serpents, and the
sword taking vengeance upon the ungodly unto destruction.
37 In his commandments they shall feast, and they shall be
ready upon earth when need is, and when their time is come
they shall not transgress his word.
38 Therefore from the beginning I was resolved, and I have
meditated, and thought on these things and left them in
writing.
39 All the works of the Lord are good, and he will furnish
every work in due time.
40 It is not to be said: This is worse than that: for all
shall be well approved in their time.
41 Now therefore with the whole heart and mouth praise ye
him, and bless the name of the Lord.
The Book of Ecclesiasticus, Chapter 40
GREAT labour is created for all men, and a heavy yoke is upon
the children of Adam, from the day of their coming out of
their mother's womb, until the day of their burial into the
mother of all.
2 Their thoughts, and fears of the heart, their imagination
of things to come, and the day of their end:
3 From him that sitteth on a glorious throne, unto him that
is humbled in earth and ashes:
4 From him that weareth purple, and beareth the crown, even
to him that is covered with rough linen: wrath, envy,
trouble, unquietness, and the fear of death, continual
anger, and strife,
5 And in the time of rest upon his bed, the sleep of the
night changeth his knowledge.
6 A little and as nothing is his rest, and afterward in
sleep, as in the day of keeping watch.
7 He is troubled in the vision of his heart, as if he had
escaped in the day of battle. In the time of his safety he
rose up, and wondereth that there is no fear:
8 Such things happen to all flesh, from man even to beast,
and upon sinners are sevenfold mere.
9 Moreover, death, and bloodshed, strife, and sword,
oppressions, famine, and affliction, and scourges:
10 All these things are created for the wicked, and for their
sakes came the flood.
11 All things that are of the earth, shall return to the
earth again, and all waters shall return to the sea.
12 All bribery, and injustice shall blotted out, and fidelity
shall stand for ever.
13 The riches of the unjust shall be dried up like a river,
and shall pass sway a noise like a great thunder in rain.
14 While he openeth his hands he shall rejoice: but
transgressors shall pine away in the end.
15 The offspring of the ungodly shall not bring forth many
branches, and make a noise as unclean roots upon the top
of a rock.
16 The weed growing over every water, and at the bank of the
river, shall be pulled up before all grass.
17 Grace is like a paradise in blessings, and mercy remaineth
for ever.
18 The life of a labourer that is content with what he hath,
shall be sweet, and in it thou shalt find a treasure.
19 Children, and the building of a city shall establish a
name, but a blameless wife shall be counted above them
both.
20 Wine and music rejoice the heart, but the love of wisdom
is above them both.
21 The flute and the psaltery make a sweet melody, but a
pleasant tongue is above them both.
22 Thy eye desireth favour and beauty, but more than these
green sown fields.
23 A friend and companion meeting together in season, but
above them both is a wife with her husband.
24 Brethren are a help in the time of trouble, but mercy
shall deliver more than they.
25 Gold and silver make the feet stand sure: but wise counsel
is above them both.
26 Riches and strength lift up the heart: but above these is
the fear of the Lord.
27 There is no want in the fear of the Lord, and it needeth
not to seek for help.
28 The fear of the Lord is like a paradise of blessing, and
they have covered it above all glory.
29 My son, in thy lifetime be not indigent: for it is better
to die than to want.
30 The life of him that looketh toward another man's table is
not to be counted a life: for he feedeth his soul with
another man's meat.
31 But a man, well instructed and taught, will look to
himself.
32 Begging will be sweet in the mouth of the unwise, but in
his belly there shall burn a fire.
The Book of Ecclesiasticus, Chapter 41
O DEATH, how bitter is the remembrance of thee to a man that
hath peace in his possessions!
2 To a man that is at rest, and whose ways are prosperous in
all things, and that is yet able to take meat!
3 O death, thy sentence is welcome to the man that is in
need, and to him whose strength faileth:
4 Who is in a decrepit age, and that is in care about all
things, and to the distrustful that loseth patience!
5 Fear not the sentence of death. Remember what things have
been before thee, and what shall come after thee: this
sentence is from the Lord upon all flesh.
6 And what shall come upon thee by the good pleasure of the
most High? whether ten, or a hundred, or a thousand years.
7 For among the dead there is no accusing of life.
8 The children of sinners become children of abominations,
and they that converse near the houses of the ungodly.
9 The inheritance of the children of sinners shall perish,
and with their posterity shall be a perpetual reproach.
10 The children will complain of an ungodly father, because
for his sake they are in reproach.
11 Woe to you, ungodly men, who have forsaken the law of the
most high Lord.
12 And if you be born, you shall be born in malediction: and
if you die, in malediction shall be your portion.
13 All things that are of the earth, shall return into the
earth: so the ungodly shall from malediction to
destruction.
14 The mourning of men is about their body, but the name of
the ungodly shall be blotted out.
15 Take care of a good name: for this shall continue with
thee, more than a thousand treasures precious and great.
16 A good life hath its number of days: but a good name shall
continue for ever.
17 My children, keep discipline in peace: for wisdom that is
hid, and a treasure that is not seen, what profit is there
in them both?
18 Better is the man that hideth his folly, then the man that
hideth his wisdom.
19 Wherefore have a shame of these things I am now going to
speak of.
20 For it is not good to keep all shamefacedness: and all
things do not please all men in opinion.
21 Be ashamed of fornication before father and mother: and of
a lie before a governor and a man in power:
22 Of an offence before a prince, and a judge: of iniquity
before a congregation and a people:
23 Of injustice before a companion and friend: and in regard
to the place where thou dwellest,
24 Of theft, and of the truth of God, and the covenant: of
leaning with thy elbow over meat, and of deceit in giving
and taking:
25 Of silence before them that salute thee: of looking upon
a harlot: and of turning away thy face from thy kinsman.
26 Turn not sway thy face from thy neighbour, and of taking
away a portion and not restoring.
27 Gaze not upon another man's wife, and be not inquisitive
after his handmaid, and approach not her bed.
28 Be ashamed of upbraiding speeches before friends: and
after thou hast given, upbraid not.
The Book of Ecclesiasticus, Chapter 42
REPEAT not the word which thou hast heard, and disclose not
the thing that is secret; so shalt thou be truly without
confusion, and shah find favour before all men: be not ashamed
of any of these things, and accept no person to sin thereby:
2 Of the law of the most High, and of his covenant, and of
judgment to justify the ungodly:
3 Of the affair of companions and travellers, and of the
gift of the inheritance of friends:
4 Of exactness of balance and weights, of getting much or
little:
5 Of the corruption of buying, and of merchants, and of much
correction of children, and to make the side of a wicked
slave to bleed.
6 Sure keeping is good over a wicked wife.
7 Where there are many hands, shut up, and 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
aged, that are judged I by young men: and thou shalt be
well instructed in all things, and well approved in the
sight of all men living.
9 The father waketh for the daughter when no man knoweth,
and the care for her taketh away his sleep, when she is
young, lest she pass away the flower of her age, and when
she is married, lest she should be hateful:
10 In her virginity, lest she should be corrupted, and be
found with child in her father's house: and having a
husband, lest she should misbehave herself, or at the
least become barren.
11 Keep a sure watch over a shameless daughter: lest at any
time she make thee become a laughingstock to thy enemies,
and a byword in the city, and a reproach among the people,
and she make thee ashamed before all the multitude.
12 Behold not everybody's beauty: and tarry not among women.
13 For from garments cometh a moth, end from a woman the
iniquity of a man.
14 For better is the iniquity of a man, than a woman doing a
good turn, and a woman bringing shame and reproach.
15 I will now remember the works of the Lord, and I will
declare the things I have seen. By the words of the Lord
are his works.
16 The sun giving light hath looked upon all things, and full
of the glory of the Lord is his work.
17 Hath not the Lord made the saints to declare all his
wonderful works, which the Lord Almighty hath firmly
settled to be established for his glory?
18 He hath searched out the deep, and the heart of men: and
considered their crafty devices.
19 For the Lord knoweth all knowledge, and hath beheld the
signs of the world, he declareth the things that are past,
and the things that are to come, and revealeth the traces
of hidden things.
20 No thought escapeth him, and no word can hide itself from
him.
21 He hath beautified the glorious works of his wisdom: and
he Is from eternity to eternity, and to him nothing may be
added,
22 Nor can he be diminished, and he hath no need of any
counsellor.
23 O how desirable are all his works, and what we can know is
but as a spark!
24 All these things live, and remain for ever, and for every
use all things obey him.
25 All things are double, one against another, and he hath
made nothing defective.
26 He hath established the good things of every one. And who
shall be filled with beholding his glory?
The Book of Ecclesiasticus, Chapter 43
THE firmament on high is his beauty, the beauty of heaven with
its glorious shew.
2 The sun when he appeareth shewing forth at his rising, an
admirable instrument, the work of the most High.
3 At noon he burneth the earth, and who can abide his
burning heat? As one keeping a furnace in the works of
heat:
4 The sun three times as much, burneth the mountains,
breathing out fiery vapours, and shining with his beams,
he blindeth the eyes.
5 Great is the Lord that made him, and at his words he hath
hastened his course.
6 And the moon in all in her season, is for a declaration of
times and a sign of the world.
7 From the moon is the sign of the festival day, a light
that decreaseth in her perfection.
8 The month is called after her name, increasing wonderfully
in her perfection
9 Being an instrument of the armies on high, shining
gloriously in the Armament of heaven.
10 The glory of the stars is the beauty of heaven; the Lord
enlighteneth the world on high.
11 By the words of the holy one they shall stand in judgment,
and shall never fail in their watches.
12 Look upon the rainbow, and bless him that made it: it is
very beautiful in its brightness.
13 It encompasseth the heaven about with the circle of its
glory, the hands of the most High have displayed it.
14 By his commandment he maketh the snow to fall apace, and
sendeth forth swiftly the lightnings of his judgment.
15 Through this are the treasures opened, and the clouds fly
out like birds.
16 By his greatness he hath fixed the clouds, and the
hailstones are broken.
17 At his sight shall the mountains be shaken, and at his
will the south wind shall blow.
18 The noise of his thunder shall strike the earth, so doth
the northern storm, and the whirlwind:
19 And as the birds lighting upon the earth, he scattereth
snow, and the falling thereof, is as the coming down of
locusts.
20 The eye admireth at the beauty of the whiteness thereof,
and the heart is astonished at the shower thereof.
21 He shall pour frost as salt upon the earth: and when it
freezeth, it shall become like the tops of thistles.
22 The cold north wind bloweth, and the water is congealed
into crystal; upon every gathering together of waters it
shall rest, and shall clothe the waters as a breastplate.
23 And it shall devour the mountains, and burn the
wilderness, and consume all that is green as with fire.
24 A present remedy of all is the speedy coming of a cloud,
and a dew that meeteth it, by the heat that cometh, shall
overpower it.
25 At his word the wind is still, and with his thought he
appeaseth the deep, and the Lord hath planted islands
therein.
26 Let them that sail on the sea, tell the dangers thereof:
and when we hear with our ears, we shall admire.
27 There are great and wonderful works: a variety of beasts,
and of all living things, and the monstrous creatures of
whales.
28 Through him is established the end of their journey, and
by his word all things are regulated.
29 We shall say much, and yet shall want words: but the sum
of our words is, He is all.
30 What shall we be able to do to glorify him? for the
Almighty himself is above all his works.
31 The Lord is terrible, and exceeding great, and his power
is admirable.
32 Glorify the Lord as much as ever you can, for he will yet
far exceed, and his magnificence is wonderful.
33 Blessing the Lord, exalt him as much as you can: for he is
above all praise.
34 When you exalt him put forth all your strength, and be not
weary: for you can never go far enough.
35 Who shall see him, and declare him? and who shall magnify
him as he is from the beginning?
36 There are many things hidden from us that are greater than
these: for we have seen but a few of his works.
37 But the Lord hath made all things, and to the godly he
hath given wisdom.
The Book of Ecclesiasticus, Chapter 44
LET us now praise men of renown, and our fathers in their
generation.
2 The Lord hath wrought great glory through his magnificence
from the beginning.
3 Such as have borne rule in their dominions, men of great
power, and endued with their wisdom, shewing forth in the
prophets the dignity of prophets,
4 And ruling over the present people, and by the strength of
wisdom instructing the people in most holy words.
5 Such as by their skill sought out musical tunes, and
published canticles of the scriptures.
6 Rich men in virtue, studying beautifulness: living at
peace in their houses.
7 All these have gained glory in their generations, and were
praised in their days.
8 They that were born of them have left a name behind them,
that their praises might be related:
9 And there are some, of whom there is no memorial: who are
perished, as if they had never been: and are become as if
they had never been born, and their children with them.
10 But these were men of mercy, whose godly deeds have not
failed:
11 Good things continue with their seed,
12 Their posterity are a holy inheritance, and their seed
hath stood in the covenants.
13 And their children for their sakes remain for ever: their
seed and their glory shall not be forsaken.
14 Their bodies are buried in peace, and their name liveth
unto generation and generation.
15 Let the people shew forth their wisdom, and the church
declare their praise.
16 Henoch pleased God, and was translated into paradise, that
he may give repentance to the nations.
17 Noe was found perfect, just, and in the time of wrath he
was made a reconciliation.
18 Therefore was there a remnant left to the earth, when the
flood came.
19 The covenants of the world were made with him, that all
flesh should no more be destroyed with the hood.
20 Abraham was the great father of a multitude of nations,
and there was not found the like to him in glory, who kept
the law of the most High, and was in covenant with him.
21 In his flesh he established the covenant, and in
temptation he was found faithful.
22 Therefore by an oath he gave him glory in his posterity,
that he should increase as the dust of the earth,
23 And that he would exalt his seed as the stars, and they
should inherit from sea to sea, and from the river to the
ends of the earth.
24 And he did in like manner with Isaac for the sake of
Abraham his father.
25 The Lord gave him the blessing of all nations, and
confirmed his covenant upon the head of Jacob.
26 He acknowledged him in his blessings, and gave him an
inheritance, and divided him his portion in twelve tribes.
27 And he preserved for him men of mercy, that found grace in
the eyes of all flesh.
The Book of Ecclesiasticus, Chapter 45
MOSES was beloved of God, and men: whose memory is in
benediction.
2 He made him like the saints in glory, and magnified him in
the fear of his enemies, and with his words he made
prodigies to cease.
3 He glorified him in the sight of kings, and gave him
commandments in the sight of his people, and shewed him
his glory.
4 He sanctified him in his faith, and meekness, and chose
him out of all flesh.
5 For he heard him, and his voice, and brought him into a
cloud.
6 And he gave him commandments before his face, and a law of
life and instruction, that he might teach Jacob his
covenant, and Israel his judgments.
7 He exalted Aaron his brother, and like to himself of the
tribe of Levi:
8 He made an everlasting covenant with him, and gave him the
priesthood of the nation, and made him blessed in glory,
9 And he girded him about with a glorious girdle, and
clothed him with a robe of glory, and crowned him with
majestic attire.
10 He put upon him a garment to the feet, and breeches, and
as ephod, and he compassed him with many little bells of
gold all round about,
11 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.
12 He gave him a holy robe of gold, and blue, and purple, a
woven work of a wise man, endued with judgment and truth:
13 Of twisted scarlet the work of an artist, with precious
stones cut and set in gold, and graven by the work of a
lapidary for a memorial, according to the number of the
tribes of Israel.
14 And a crown of gold upon his mitre wherein was engraved
Holiness, an ornament of honour: a work of power, and
delightful to the eyes for its beauty.
15 Before him there were none so beautiful, even from the
beginning.
16 No stranger was ever clothed with them, but only his
children alone, and his grandchildren for ever.
17 His sacrifices were consumed with fire every day.
18 Moses filled his hands and anointed him with holy oil.
19 This was made to him for an everlasting testament, and to
his seed as the days of heaven, to execute the office of
the priesthood, and to have praise, and to glorify his
people in his name.
20 He chose him out of all men living, to offer sacrifice to
God, incense, and a good savour, for a memorial to make
reconciliation for his people:
21 And he gave him power in his commandments, in the
covenants of his judgments, that he should teach Jacob his
testimonies, and give light to Israel in his law.
22 And strangers stood up against him, and through envy the
men that were with Dathan and Abiron, compassed him about
in the wilderness, and the congregation of Core in their
wrath.
23 The Lord God saw and it pleased him not, and they were
consumed in his wrathful indignation.
24 He wrought wonders upon them, and consumed them with a
flame of fire.
25 And he added glory to Aaron, and gave him an inheritance,
and divided unto him the firstfruits of the increase of
the earth.
26 He prepared them bread in the first place unto fulness:
for the sacrifices also of the Lord they shall eat, which
he gave to him, and to his seed.
27 But he shall not inherit among the people in the land, and
he hath no portion among the people: for he himself is his
portion and inheritance.
28 Phinees the son of Eleazar is the third in glory, by
imitating him in the fear of the Lord:
29 And he stood up in the shameful fall of the people: in the
goodness and readiness of his soul he appeased God for
Israel.
30 Therefore he made to him a covenant of peace, to be the
prince of the sanctuary, and of his people, that the
dignity of priesthood should be to him and to his seed for
ever.
31 And a covenant to David the king, the son of Jesse of the
tribe of Juda, an inheritance to him and to his seed, that
he might give wisdom into our heart to judge his people in
justice, that their good things might not be abolished,
and he made their glory in their nation everlasting.
The Book of Ecclesiasticus, Chapter 46
VALIANT in war was Jesus the son of Nave, who was successor of
Moses among the prophets, who was great according to his name,
2 Very great for the saving the elect of God, to overthrow
the enemies that rose up against them, that he might get
the inheritance for Israel.
3 How great glory did he gain when he lifted up his hands,
and stretched out swords against the cities?
4 Who before him hath so resisted? for the Lord himself
brought the enemies.
5 Was not the sun stopped in his anger, and one day made as
two?
6 He called upon the most high Sovereign when the enemies
assaulted him on every side, and the great and holy God
heard him by hailstones of exceeding great force.
7 He made a violent assault against the nation of his
enemies, and in the descent he destroyed the adversaries.
8 That the nations might know his power, that it is not easy
to fight against God. And he followed the mighty one:
9 And in the days of Moses he did a work of mercy, he and
Caleb the son of Jephone, in standing against the enemy,
and withholding the people from sins, and appeasing the
wicked murmuring.
10 And they two being appointed, were delivered out of the
danger from among the number of six hundred thousand men
on foot, to bring them into their inheritance, into the
land that floweth with milk and honey.
11 And the Lord gave strength also to Caleb, and his strength
continued even to his old age, so that he went up to the
high places of the land, and his seed obtained it for an
inheritance:
12 That all the children of Israel might see, that it is good
to obey the holy God.
13 Then all the judges, every one by name, whose heart was
not corrupted: who turned not away from the Lord,
14 That their memory might be blessed, and their bones spring
up out of their place,
15 And their name continue for ever, the glory of the holy
men remaining unto their children.
16 Samuel the prophet of the Lord, the beloved of the Lord
his God, established a new government, and anointed
princes over his people.
17 By the law of the Lord he judged the congregation, and the
God of Jacob beheld, and by his fidelity he was proved a
prophet.
18 And he was known to be faithful in his words, because he
saw the God of light:
19 And called upon the name of the Lord Almighty, in fighting
against the enemies who beset him on every side, when he
offered a lamb without blemish.
20 And the Lord thundered from heaven, and with a great noise
made his voice to be heard.
21 And he crushed the princes of the Tyrians, and all the
lords of the Philistines:
22 And before the time of the end of his life in the world,
he protested before the Lord, and his anointed: money, or
any thing else, even to a shoe, he had not taken of any
man, and no mall did accuse him.
23 And after this he slept, and he made known to the king,
and shewed him the end of his life, and he lifted up his
voice from the earth in prophecy to blot out the
wickedness of the nation.
The Book of Ecclesiasticus, Chapter 47
THEN Nathan the prophet arose in the days of David.
2 And as the fat taken away from the flesh, so was David
chosen from among the children of Israel.
3 He played with lions as with lambs: and with bears he did
in like manner as with the lambs of the flock, in his
youth.
4 Did not he kill the giant, and take away reproach from his
people?
5 In lifting up his hand, with the stone in the sling he
beat down the boasting of Goliath:
6 For he called upoI
1 the Lord the Almighty, and he gave strength in his right
hand, to take away the mighty warrior, and to set up the
horn of his nation.
7 So in ten thousand did he glorify him, and praised him in
the blessings of the Lord, in offering to him a crown of
glory:
8 For he destroyed the enemies on every side, and extirpated
the Philistines the adversaries unto this day: he broke
their horn for ever.
9 In all his works he gave thanks to the holy one, and to
the most High, with words of glory.
10 With his whole heart he praised the Lord, and loved God
that made him: and he gave him power against his enemies:
11 And he set singers before the altar, and by their voices
he made sweet melody.
12 And to the festivals he added beauty, and set in order the
solemn times even to the end of his life, that they should
praise the holy name of the Lord, and magnify the holiness
of God in the morning.
13 The Lord took away his sine, and exalted his horn for
ever: and he gave him a covenant of the kingdom, and a
throne of glory in Israel.
14 After him arose up a wise son, and for his sake he cast
down all the power of the enemies.
15 Solomon reigned in days of peace, and God brought all his
enemies under him, that he might build a house in his
name, and prepare a sanctuary for ever: O how wise wast
thou in thy youth!
16 And thou wast filled as a river with wisdom, and thy soul
covered the earth.
17 And thou didst multiply riddles in parables: thy name went
abroad to the islands far off, and thou wast beloved in
thy peace.
18 The countries wondered at thee for thy canticles, and
proverbs, and parables, and interpretations,
19 And at the name of the Lord God, whose surname is, God of
Israel.
20 Thou didst gather gold as copper, and didst multiply
silver as lead,
21 And thou didst bow thyself to women: and by thy body thou
wast brought under subjection.
22 Thou hast stained thy glory, and defiled thy seed so as to
bring wrath upon thy children, and to have thy folly
kindled,
23 That thou shouldst make the kingdom to be divided, and out
of Ephraim a rebellious kingdom to rule.
24 But God will not leave off his mercy, and he will not
destroy, nor abolish his own works, neither will he out up
by the roots the offspring of his elect: and he will not
utterly take away the seed of him that loveth the Lord.
25 Wherefore he gave a remnant to Jacob, and to David of the
same stock.
26 And Solomon had an end with his fathers.
27 And he left behind him of his seed, the folly of the
nation,
28 Even Roboam that had little wisdom, who turned away the
people through his counsel:
29 And Jeroboam the son of Nabat, who caused Israel to sin,
and shewed Ephraim the way of sin, and their sins were
multiplied exceedingly.
30 They removed them far away from their land.
31 And they sought out all iniquities, till vengeance came
upon them, and put an end to all their sine.
The Book of Ecclesiasticus, Chapter 48
AND Elias the prophet stood up, as a fire, and his word burnt
like a torch.
2 He brought a famine upon them, and they that provoked him
in their envy, were reduced to a small number, for they
could not endure the commandments of the Lord.
3 By the word of the Lord he shut up the heaven, and he
brought down fire from heaven thrice.
4 Thus was Elias magnified in his wondrous works. And who
can glory like to thee?
5 Who raisedst up a dead man from below, from the lot of
death, by the word of the Lord God.
6 Who broughtest down kings to destruction, and brokest
easily their power in pieces, and the glorious from their
bed.
7 Who heardest judgment in Sina, and in Horeb the judgments
of vengeance.
8 Who anointedst kings to penance, and madest prophets
successors after thee.
9 Who wast taken up in a whirlwind of fire, in a chariot of
fiery horses.
10 Who art registered in the judgments of times to appease
the wrath of the Lord, to reconcile the heart of the
father to the son, and to restore the tribes of Jacob.
11 Blessed are they that saw thee, and were honoured with thy
friendship.
12 For we live only in our life, but after death our name
shall not be such.
13 Elias was indeed covered with the whirlwind, and his
spirit was filled up in Eliseus: in his days he feared not
the prince, and no man was more powerful than he.
14 No word could overcome him, and after death his body
prophesied.
15 In his life he did great wonders, and is death he wrought
miracles.
16 For all this the people repented not, neither did they
depart from their sins till they were cast out of their
land, and were scattered through all the earth.
17 And there was left but a small people, and a prince in the
house of David.
18 Some of these did that which pleased God: but others
committed many sine.
19 Ezechias fortified his city, and brought in water into the
midst thereof, and he digged a rock with iron, and made a
well for water.
20 In his days Sennacherib came up, and sent Rabsaces, and
lifted up his hand against them, and he stretched out his
hand against Sion, and became proud through his power.
21 Then their hearts and hands trembled, and they were in
pain as women in travail.
22 And they called upon the Lord who is merciful, and
spreading their hands, they lifted them up to heaven: and
the holy Lord God quickly heard their voice.
23 He was not mindful of their sins, neither did he deliver
them up to their enemies, but he purified them by the hand
of Isaias, the holy prophet.
24 He overthrew the army of the Assyrians, and the angel of
the Lord destroyed them.
25 For Ezechias did that which pleased God, and walked
valiantly in the way of David his father, which Isaias,
the great prophet, and faithful in the sight of God, had
commanded him.
26 In his days the sun went backward, and he lengthened the
king's life.
27 With a great spirit he saw the things that are to come to
pass at last, and comforted the mourners in Sion.
28 He shewed what should come to pass for ever, and secret
things before they came.
The Book of Ecclesiasticus, Chapter 49
THE memory of Josias is like the composition of a sweet smell
made by the art of a perfumer:
2 His remembrance shall be sweet as honey in every mouth,
and as music at a banquet of wine.
3 He was directed by God unto the repentance of the nation,
and he took away the abominations of wickedness.
4 And he directed his heart towards the Lord, and in the
days of sinners he strengthened godliness.
5 Except David, and Ezechias, and Josias, all committed sin.
6 For the kings of Juda forsook the law of the most High,
and despised the fear of God.
7 So they gave their kingdom to others, and their glory to
a strange nation.
8 They burnt the chosen city of holiness, and made the
streets thereof desolate according to the prediction of
Jeremias.
9 For they treated him evil, who was consecrated a prophet
from his mother's womb, to overthrow, and pluck up, and
destroy, and to build again, and renew.
10 It was Ezechiel that saw the glorious vision, which was
shewn him upon the chariot of cherubims.
11 For he made mention of the enemies under the figure of
rain, and of doing good to them that shewed right ways.
12 And may the bones of the twelve prophets spring up out of
their place: for they strengthened Jacob, and re- deemed
themselves by strong faith.
13 How shall we magnify Zorobabel? for he was as a signet on
the right hand;
14 In like manner Jesus the son of Josedec? who in their days
built the house, and set up a holy temple to the Lord,
prepared for everlasting glory.
15 And let Nehemias be a long time remembered, who raised up
for us our walls that were cast down, and set up the gates
and the bars, who rebuilt our houses.
16 No man was born upon earth like Henoch: for he also was
taken up from the earth.
17 Nor as Joseph, who was a man born prince of his brethren,
the support of his family, the ruler of his brethren, the
stay of the people:
18 And his bones were visited, and after death they
prophesied.
19 Seth and Sem obtained glory among men: and above every
soul Adam in the beginning.
The Book of Ecclesiasticus, Chapter 50
SIMON the high priest, the son of Onias, who in his life
propped up the house, and in his days fortified the temple.
2 By him also the height of the temple was founded, the
double building and the high walls of the temple.
3 In his days the wells of water flowed out, and they were
filled as the sea above measure.
4 He took care of his nation, and delivered it from
destruction.
5 He prevailed to enlarge the city, and obtained glory in
his conversation with the people: and enlarged the
entrance of the house and the court.
6 He shone in his days as the morning star in the midst of
a cloud, and as the moon at the full.
7 And as the sun when it shineth, so did he shine in the
temple of God.
8 And as the rainbow giving light in the bright clouds, and
as the flower of roses in the days of the spring, and as
the lilies that are on the brink of the water, and as the
sweet smelling frankincense in the time of summer.
9 As a bright Are, and frankincense burning in the fire.
10 As a massy vessel of gold, adorned with every precious
stone.
11 As an olive tree budding forth, and a cypress tree rearing
itself on high, when he put on the robe of glory, and was
clothed with the perfection of power.
12 When he went up to the holy altar, he honoured the vesture
of holiness.
13 And when he took the portions out of the hands of the
priests, he himself stood by the altar. And about him was
the ring of his brethren: and as the cedar planted in
mount Libanus,
14 And as branches of palm trees, they stood round about him,
and all the sons of Aaron in their glory.
15 And the oblation of the Lord was in their hands, before
all the congregation of Israel: and finishing his service,
on the altar, to honour the offering of the most high
Ring,
16 He stretched forth his hand to make a libation, and
offered of the blood of the grape.
17 He poured out at the foot of the altar a divine odour to
the most high Prince.
18 Then the sons of Aaron shouted, they sounded with beaten
trumpets, and made a great noise to be heard for a
remembrance before God.
19 Then all the people together made haste, and fell down to
the earth upon their faces, to adore the Lord their God,
and to pray to the Almighty God the most High.
20 And the singers lifted up their voices. and in the great
house the sound of sweet melody was increased.
21 And the people in prayer besought the Lord the most High,
until the worship of the Lord was perfected, and they had
finished their office.
22 Then coming down, he lifted up his hands over all the
congregation of the children of Israel, to give glory to
God with his lips, and to glory in his name:
23 And he repeated his prayer, willing to shew the power of
God.
24 And now pray ye to the God of all, who hath done great
things in all the earth, who hath increased our days from
our mother's womb, and hath done with us according to his
mercy.
25 May he grant us joyfulness of heart, and that there be
peace in our days in Israel for ever:
26 That Israel may believe that the mercy of God is with us,
to deliver us in his days.
27 There are two nations which my soul abhorreth: and the
third is no nation, which I hate:
28 They that sit on mount Seir, and the Philistines, and the
foolish people that dwell in Sichem.
29 Jesus the son of Sirach, of Jerusalem, hath written in
this book the doctrine of wisdom and instruction, who
renewed wisdom from his heart.
30 Blessed is he that is conversant in these good things: and
he that layeth them up in his heart, shall be wise always.
31 For if he do them, he shall be strong to do all things:
because the light of God guideth his steps.
The Book of Ecclesiasticus, Chapter 51
A PRAYER of Jesus the son of Sirach. I will give glory to
thee, O Lord, O King, and I will praise thee, O God my
Saviour.
2 I will give glory to thy name: for thou best been a helper
and protector to me.
3 And hast preserved my body from destruction, from the
snare of an unjust tongue, and from the lips of them that
forge lies, and in the sight of them that stood by, thou
hast been my helper.
4 And thou hast delivered me, according to the multitude of
the mercy of thy name, from them that did roar, prepared
to devour.
5 Out of the hands of them that sought my life, and from the
gates of afflictions, which compassed me about:
6 From the oppression of the flame which surrounded me, and
in the midst of the fire I was not burnt.
7 From the depth of the belly of hell, and from an unclean
tongue, and from lying words, from an unjust king, and
from a slanderous tongue:
8 My soul shall praise the Lord even to death.
9 And my life was drawing near to hell beneath.
10 They compassed me on every side, and there was no one that
would help me. I looked for the succour of men, and there
was none.
11 I remembered thy mercy, O Lord, and thy works, which are
from the beginning of the world.
12 How thou deliverest them that wait for thee, O Lord, and
savest them out of the hands of the nations.
13 Thou hast exalted my dwelling place upon the earth and I
have prayed for death to pass away.
14 I called upon the Lord, the father of my Lord, that he
would not leave me in the day of my trouble, and in the
time of the proud without help.
15 I will praise thy name continually, and will praise it
with thanksgiving, and my prayer was heard.
16 And thou hast saved me from destruction, and hast
delivered me from the evil time.
17 Therefore I will give thanks, and praise thee, and bless
the name of the Lord.
18 When I was yet young, before I wandered about, I sought
for wisdom openly in my prayer.
19 I prayed for her before the temple, and unto the very end
I will seek after her, and she flourished as a grape soon
ripe.
20 My heart delighted in her, my foot walked in the right
way, from my youth up I sought after her.
21 I bowed down my ear a little, and received her.
22 I found much wisdom in myself, and I profited much
therein.
23 To him that giveth me wisdom, will I give glory.
24 For I have determined to follow her: I have had a zeal for
good, and shall not be confounded.
25 My soul hath wrestled for her, and in doing it I have been
confirmed.
26 I stretched forth my hands on high, and I bewailed my
ignorance of her.
27 I directed my soul to her, and in knowledge I found her.
28 I possessed my heart with her from the beginning:
therefore I shall not be forsaken.
29 My entrails were troubled in seeking her: therefore shall
I possess a good possession.
30 The Lord hath given me a tongue for my reward: and with it
I will praise him.
31 Draw near to me, ye unlearned, and gather yourselves
together into the house of discipline.
32 Why are ye slow? and what do you say of these things? your
souls are exceeding thirsty.
33 I have opened my mouth, and have spoken: buy her for
yourselves without silver,
34 And submit your neck to the yoke, and let your soul
receive discipline: for she is near at hand to be found.
35 Behold with your eyes how I have laboured a little, and
have found much rest to myself.
36 Receive ye discipline as a great sum of money, and possess
abundance of gold by her.
37 Let your soul rejoice in his mercy, and you shall not be
confounded in his praise.
38 Work your work before the time, and he will give you your
reward in his time.
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