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