The Holy Bible

Part 38 out of 74



thee not.

12:18. But thou being master of power, judgest with tranquillity, and
with great favour disposest of us: for thy power is at hand when thou
wilt.

12:19. But thou hast taught thy people by such works, that they must be
just and humane, and hast made thy children to be of a good hope:
because in judging, thou givest place for repentance for sins.

12:20. For if thou didst punish the enemies of thy servants, and that
deserved to die, with so great deliberation, giving them time and place
whereby they might be changed from their wickedness:

12:21. With what circumspection hast thou judged thy own children, to
whose parents thou hast sworn, and made covenants of good promises?

12:22. Therefore whereas thou chastisest us, thou scourgest our enemies
very many ways, to the end that when we judge we may think on thy
goodness: and when we are judged, we may hope for thy mercy.

12:23. Wherefore thou hast also greatly tormented them, who, in their
life, have lived foolishly and unjustly, by the same things which they
worshipped.

12:24. For they went astray for a long time in the ways of error,
holding those things for gods which are the most worthless among
beasts, living after the manner of children without understanding.

12:25. Therefore thou hast sent a judgment upon them, as senseless
children, to mock them.

12:26. But they that were not amended by mockeries and reprehensions,
experienced the worthy judgment of God.

12:27. For seeing, with indignation, that they suffered by those very
things which they took for gods, when they were destroyed by the same,
they acknowledged him the true God, whom in time past they denied that
they knew: for which cause the end also of their condemnation came upon
them.



Wisdom Chapter 13


Idolaters are inexcusable: and those most of all that worship for gods
the works of the hands of men.

13:1. But all men are vain, in whom there is not the knowledge of God:
and who by these good things that are seen, could not understand him
that is, neither by attending to the works have acknowledged who was
the workman:

13:2. But have imagined either the fire, or the wind, or the swift air,
or the circle of the stars, or the great water, or the sun and moon, to
be the gods that rule the world.

13:3. With whose beauty, if they, being delighted, took them to be
gods: let them know how much the Lord of them is more beautiful than
they: for the first author of beauty made all those things.

13:4. Or if they admired their power, and their effects, let them
understand by them, that he that made them, is mightier than they:

13:5. For by the greatness of the beauty, and of the creature, the
creator of them may be seen, so as to be known thereby.

13:6. But yet as to these they are less to be blamed. For they perhaps
err, seeking God, and desirous to find him.

13:7. For being conversant among his works, they search: and they are
persuaded that the things are good which are seen.

13:8. But then again they are not to be pardoned.

13:9. For if they were able to know so much as to make a judgment of
the world: how did they not more easily find out the Lord thereof?

13:10. But unhappy are they, and their hope is among the dead, who have
called gods the works of the hand of men, gold and silver, the
inventions of art, and the resemblances of beasts, or an unprofitable
stone the work of an ancient hand.

13:11. Or if an artist, a carpenter, hath cut down a tree proper for
his use in the wood, and skilfully taken off all the bark thereof, and
with his art, diligently formeth a vessel profitable for the common
uses of life,

13:12. And useth the chips of his work to dress his meat:

13:13. And taking what was left thereof, which is good for nothing,
being a crooked piece of wood, and full of knots, carveth it diligently
when he hath nothing else to do, and by the skill of his art fashioneth
it, and maketh it like the image of a man:

13:14. Or the resemblance of some beast, laying it over with vermilion,
and painting it red, and covering every spot that is in it:

13:15. And maketh a convenient dwelling place for it, and setting it in
a wall, and fastening it with iron,

13:16. Providing for it, lest it should fall, knowing that it is unable
to help itself: for it is an image, and hath need of help.

13:17. And then maketh prayer to it, enquiring concerning his
substance, and his children, or his marriage. And he is not ashamed to
speak to that which hath no life:

13:18. And for health he maketh supplication to the weak, and for life
prayeth to that which is dead, and for help calleth upon that which is
unprofitable:

13:19. And for a good journey he petitioneth him that cannot walk: and
for getting, and for working, and for the event of all things he asketh
him that is unable to do any thing.



Wisdom Chapter 14


The beginning of worshipping idols: and the effects thereof.

14:1. Again, another designing to sail, and beginning to make his
voyage through the raging waves, calleth upon a piece of wood more
frail than the wood that carrieth him.

14:2. For this the desire of gain devised, and the workman built it by
his skill.

14:3. But thy providence, O Father, governeth it: for thou hast made a
way even in the sea, and a most sure path among the waves,

14:4. Shewing that thou art able to save out of all things, yea, though
a man went to sea without art.

14:5. But that the works of thy wisdom might not be idle: therefore men
also trust their lives even to a little wood, and passing over the sea
by ship, are saved.

14:6. And from the beginning also, when the proud giants perished, the
hope of the world fleeing to a vessel, which was governed by thy hand,
left to the world seed of generation.

14:7. For blessed is the wood, by which justice cometh

14:8. But the idol that is made by hands, is cursed, as well it, as he
that made it: he because he made it; and it because being frail it is
called a god.

14:9. But to God the wicked and his wickedness are hateful alike.

14:10. For that which is made, together with him that made it, shall
suffer torments.

14:11. Therefore there shall be no respect had even to the idols of the
Gentiles: because the creatures of God are turned to an abomination,
and a temptation to the souls of men, and a snare to the feet of the
unwise.

14:12. For the beginning of fornication is the devising of idols: and
the invention of them is the corruption of life.

14:13. For neither were they from the beginning, neither shall they be
for ever.

14:14. For by the vanity of men they came into the world: and therefore
they shall be found to come shortly to an end.

14:15. For a father being afflicted with bitter grief, made to himself
the image of his son, who was quickly taken away: and him who then had
died as a man, he began now to worship as a god, and appointed him
rites and sacrifices among his servants.

14:16. Then, in process of time, wicked custom prevailing, this error
was kept as a law, and statues were worshipped by the commandment of
tyrants.

14:17. And those whom men could not honour in presence, because they
dwelt far off, they brought their resemblance from afar, and made an
express image of the king, whom they had a mind to honour: that by this
their diligence, they might honour as present, him that was absent.

14:18. And to the worshipping of these, the singular diligence also of
the artificer helped to set forward the ignorant.

14:19. For he being willing to please him that employed him, laboured
with all his art to make the resemblance in the best manner.

14:20. And the multitude of men, carried away by the beauty of the
work, took him now for a god, that little before was but honoured as a
man.

14:21. And this was the occasion of deceiving human life: for men
serving either their affection, or their kings, gave the incommunicable
name to stones and wood.

14:22. And it was not enough for them to err about the knowledge of
God, but whereas they lived in a great war of ignorance, they call so
many and so great evils peace.

14:23. For either they sacrifice their own children, or use hidden
sacrifices, or keep watches full of madness,

14:24. So that now they neither keep life, nor marriage undefiled, but
one killeth another through envy, or grieveth him by adultery:

14:25. And all things are mingled together, blood, murder, theft, and
dissimulation, corruption and unfaithfulness, tumults and perjury,
disquieting of the good,

14:26. Forgetfulness of God, defiling of souls, changing of nature,
disorder in marriage, and the irregularity of adultery and uncleanness.

14:27. For the worship of abominable idols is the cause, and the
beginning and end of all evil.

14:28. For either they are mad when they are merry: or they prophesy
lies, or they live unjustly, or easily forswear themselves.

14:29. For whilst they trust in idols, which are without life, though
they swear amiss, they look not to be hurt.

14:30. But for both these things they shall be justly punished, because
they have thought not well of God, giving heed to idols, and have sworn
unjustly, in guile despising justice.

14:31. For it is not the power of them, by whom they swear, but the
just vengeance of sinners always punisheth the transgression of the
unjust.



Wisdom Chapter 15


The servants of God praise him who hath delivered them from idolatry;
condemning both the makers and the worshippers of idols.

15:1. But thou, our God, art gracious and true, patient, and ordering
all things in mercy.

15:2. For if we sin, we are thine, knowing thy greatness: and if we sin
not, we know that we are counted with thee.

15:3. For to know thee is perfect justice: and to know thy justice, and
thy power, is the root of immortality.

15:4. For the invention of mischievous men hath not deceived us, nor
the shadow of a picture, a fruitless labour, a graven figure with
divers colours,

15:5. The sight whereof enticeth the fool to lust after it, and he
loveth the lifeless figure of a dead image.

15:6. The lovers of evil things deserve to have no better things to
trust in, both they that make them, and they that love them, and they
that worship them.

15:7. The potter also tempering soft earth, with labour fashioneth
every vessel for our service, and of the same clay he maketh both
vessels that are for clean uses, and likewise such as serve to the
contrary: but what is the use of these vessels, the potter is the
judge.

15:8. And of the same clay by a vain labour he maketh a god: he who a
little before was made of earth himself, and a little after returneth
to the same out of which he was taken, when his life, which was lent
him, shall be called for again.

15:9. But his care is, not that he shall labour, nor that his life is
short, but he striveth with the goldsmiths and silversmiths: and he
endeavoureth to do like the workers in brass, and counteth it a glory
to make vain things.

15:10. For his heart is ashes, and his hope vain earth and his life
more base than clay:

15:11. Forasmuch as he knew not his maker, and him that inspired into
him the soul that worketh, and that breathed into him a living spirit.

15:12. Yea, and they have counted our life a pastime and the business
of life to be gain, and that we must be getting every way, even out of
evil.

15:13. For that man knoweth that he offendeth above all others, who of
earthly matter maketh brittle vessels, and graven gods.

15:14. But all the enemies of thy people that hold them in subjection,
are foolish, and unhappy, and proud beyond measure:

15:15. For they have esteemed all the idols of the heathens for gods,
which neither have the use of eyes to see, nor noses to draw breath,
nor ears to hear, nor fingers of hands to handle, and as for their
feet, they are slow to walk.

15:16. For man made them: and he that borroweth his own breath,
fashioned them. For no man can make a god like to himself.

15:17. For being mortal himself, he formeth a dead thing with his
wicked hands. For he is better than they whom he worshippeth, because
he indeed hath lived, though he were mortal, but they never.

15:18. Moreover, they worship also the vilest creatures: but things
without sense, compared to these, are worse than they.

15:19. Yea, neither by sight can any man see good of these beasts. But
they have fled from the praise of God, and from his blessing.



Wisdom Chapter 16


God's different dealings with the Egyptians and with his own people.

16:1. For these things, and by the like things to these, they were
worthily punished, and were destroyed by a multitude of beasts.

16:2. Instead of which punishment, dealing well with thy people, thou
gavest them their desire of delicious food, of a new taste, preparing
for them quails for their meat:

16:3. To the end, that they indeed desiring food, by means of those
things that were shewn and sent among them, might loath even that which
was necessary to satisfy their desire. But these, after suffering want
for a short time, tasted a new meat.

They indeed desiring food, etc. . .He means the Egyptians; who were
restrained even from that food which was necessary, by the frogs and
the flies that were sent amongst them, and spoiled all their
meats.--Ibid. But these. . .Viz., the Israelites.

16:4. For it was requisite that inevitable destruction should come upon
them that exercised tyranny: but to these it should only be shewn how
their enemies were destroyed.

16:5. For when the fierce rage of beasts came upon these, they were
destroyed by the bitings of crooked serpents.

16:6. But thy wrath endured not for ever, but they were troubled for a
short time for their correction, having a sign of salvation, to put
them in remembrance of the commandment of thy law.

Sign of salvation. . .The brazen serpent, an emblem of Christ our
Saviour.

16:7. For he that turned to it, was not healed by that which he saw,
but by thee, the Saviour of all.

16:8. And in this thou didst shew to our enemies, that thou art he who
deliverest from all evil.

16:9. For the bitings of locusts, and of flies, killed them, and there
was found no remedy for their life: because they were worthy to be
destroyed by such things.

16:10. But not even the teeth of venomous serpents overcame thy
children: for thy mercy came and healed them.

16:11. For they were examined for the remembrance of thy words, and
were quickly healed, lest falling into deep forgetfulness, they might
not be able to use thy help.

16:12. For it was neither herb, nor mollifying plaster, that healed
them, but thy word, O Lord, which healeth all things.

16:13. For it is thou, O Lord, that hast power of life and death, and
leadest down to the gates of death, and bringest back again:

16:14. A man indeed killeth through malice, and when the spirit is gone
forth, it shall not return, neither shall he call back the soul that is
received:

16:15. But it is impossible to escape thy hand:

16:16. For the wicked that denied to know thee, were scourged by the
strength of thy arm, being persecuted by strange waters, and hail, and
rain, and consumed by fire.

16:17. And which was wonderful, in water, which extinguisheth all
things, the fire had more force: for the world fighteth for the just.

The fire had more force. . .Viz., when the fire and hail mingled
together laid waste the land of Egypt. Ex. 9.

16:18. For at one time the fire was mitigated, that the beasts which
were sent against the wicked might not be burnt, but that they might
see, and perceive that they were persecuted by the judgment of God.

16:19. And at another time the fire, above its own power, burnt in the
midst of water, to destroy the fruits of a wicked land.

16:20. Instead of which things, thou didst feed thy people with the
food of angels, and gavest them bread from heaven, prepared without
labour; having in it all that is delicious, and the sweetness of every
taste.

16:21. For thy sustenance shewed thy sweetness to thy children, and
serving every man's will, it was turned to what every man liked.

16:22. But snow and ice endured the force of fire, and melted not: that
they might know that the fire, burning in the hail, and flashing in the
rain, destroyed the fruits of the enemies.

16:23. But this same again, that the just might be nourished, did even
forget its own strength.

16:24. For the creature serving thee, the Creator, is made fierce
against the unjust for their punishment: and abateth its strength for
the benefit of them that trust in thee.

16:25. Therefore even then it was transformed into all things, and was
obedient to thy grace, that nourisheth all, according to the will of
them that desired it of thee:

16:26. That thy children, O Lord, whom thou lovedst, might know that it
is not the growing of fruits that nourisheth men, but thy word
preserveth them that believe in thee.

16:27. For that which could not be destroyed by fire, being warmed with
a little sunbeam, presently melted away:

16:28. That it might be known to all, that we ought to prevent the sun
to bless thee, and adore thee at the dawning of the light.

16:29. For the hope of the unthankful shall melt away as the winter's
ice, and shall run off as unprofitable water.



Wisdom Chapter 17


The Egyptian darkness.

17:1. For thy judgments, O Lord, are great, and thy words cannot be
expressed: therefore undisciplined souls have erred.

17:2. For while the wicked thought to be able to have dominion over the
holy nation, they themselves being fettered with the bonds of darkness,
and a long night, shut up in their houses, lay there exiled from the
eternal providence.

17:3. And while they thought to lie hid in their obscure sins, they
were scattered under a dark veil of forgetfullness, being horribly
afraid, and troubled with exceeding great astonishment.

17:4. For neither did the den that held them, keep them from fear: for
noises coming down troubled them, and sad visions appearing to them,
affrighted them.

17:5. And no power of fire could give them light, neither could the
bright flames of the stars enlighten that horrible night.

17:6. But there appeared to them a sudden fire, very dreadful: and
being struck with the fear of that face, which was not seen, they
thought the things which they saw to be worse:

17:7. And the delusions of their magic art were put down, and their
boasting of wisdom was reproachfully rebuked.

17:8. For they who promised to drive away fears and troubles from a
sick soul, were sick themselves of a fear worthy to be laughed at.

17:9. For though no terrible thing disturbed them: yet being scared
with the passing by of beasts, and hissing of serpents, they died for
fear and denying that they saw the air, which could by no means be
avoided.

17:10. For whereas wickedness is fearful, it beareth witness of its
condemnation: for a troubled conscience always forecasteth grievous
things.

17:11. For fear is nothing else but a yielding up of the succours from
thought.

17:12. And while there is less expectation from within, the greater
doth it count the ignorance of that cause which bringeth the torment.

17:13. But they that during that night, in which nothing could be done,
and which came upon them from the lowest and deepest hell, slept the
same sleep,

17:14. Were sometimes molested with the fear of monsters, sometimes
fainted away, their soul failing them: for a sudden and unlooked for
fear was come upon them.

17:15. Moreover, if any of them had fallen down, he was kept shut up in
prison without irons.

17:16. For if any one were a husbandman, or a shepherd, or a labourer
in the field, and was suddenly overtaken, he endured a necessity from
which he could not fly.

17:17. For they were all bound together with one chain of darkness.
Whether it were a whistling wind, or the melodious voice of birds,
among the spreading branches of trees, or a fall of water running down
with violence,

17:18. Or the mighty noise of stones tumbling down, or the running that
could not be seen of beasts playing together, or the roaring voice of
wild beasts, or a rebounding echo from the highest mountains: these
things made them to swoon for fear.

17:19. For the whole world was enlightened, with a clear light, and
none were hindered in their labours.

17:20. But over them only was spread a heavy night, an image of that
darkness which was to come upon them. But they were to themselves more
grievous than the darkness.



Wisdom Chapter 18


The slaughter of the firstborn in Egypt: the efficacy of Aaron's
intercession, in the sedition on occasion of Core.

18:1. But thy saints had a very great light, and they heard their voice
indeed, but did not see their shape. And because they also did not
suffer the same things, they glorified thee:

18:2. And they that before had been wronged, gave thanks, because they
were not hurt now: and asked this gift, that there might be a
difference.

18:3. Therefore they received a burning pillar of fire for a guide of
the way which they knew not, and thou gavest them a harmless sun of a
good entertainment.

A harmless sun. . .A light that should not hurt or molest them; but that
should be an agreeable guest to them.

18:4. The others indeed were worthy to be deprived of light, and
imprisoned in darkness, who kept thy children shut up, by whom the pure
light of the law was to be given to the world.

18:5. And whereas they thought to kill the babes of the just: one child
being cast forth, and saved to reprove them, thou tookest away a
multitude of their children, and destroyedst them altogether in a
mighty water.

One child. . .Viz., Moses.

18:6. For that night was known before by our fathers, that assuredly
knowing what oaths they had trusted to, they might be of better
courage.

18:7. So thy people received the salvation of the just, and destruction
of the unjust.

18:8. For as thou didst punish the adversaries so thou didst also
encourage and glorify us.

18:9. For the just children of good men were offering sacrifice
secretly, and they unanimously ordered a law of justice: that the just
should receive both good and evil alike, singing now the praises of the
fathers.

Of good men. . .Viz., of the patriarchs. Their children, the Israelites,
offered in private the sacrifice of the paschal lamb; and were
regulating what they were to do in their journey, when that last and
most dreadful plague was coming upon their enemies.

18:10. But on the other side there sounded an ill according cry of the
enemies, and a lamentable mourning was heard for the children that were
bewailed.

18:11. And the servant suffered the same punishment as the master, and
a common man suffered in like manner as the king.

18:12. So all alike had innumerable dead, with one kind of death.
Neither were the living sufficient to bury them: for in one moment the
noblest offspring of them was destroyed.

The noblest offspring. . .That is, the firstborn.

18:13. For whereas they would not believe any thing before by reason of
the enchantments, then first upon the destruction of the firstborn,
they acknowledged the people to be of God.

18:14. For while all things were in quiet silence, and the night was in
the midst of her course,

18:15. Thy Almighty word leaped down from heaven from thy royal throne,
as a fierce conqueror into the midst of the land of destruction,

18:16. With a sharp sword carrying thy unfeigned commandment, and he
stood and filled all things with death, and standing on the earth,
reached even to heaven.

18:17. Then suddenly visions of evil dreams troubled them, and fears
unlooked for came upon them.

18:18. And one thrown here, another there, half dead, shewed the cause
of his death.

18:19. For the visions that troubled them foreshewed these things, lest
they should perish, and not know why they suffered these evils.

18:20. But the just also were afterwards touched by an assault of
death, and there was a disturbance of the multitude in the wilderness:
but thy wrath did not long continue;

18:21. For a blameless man made haste to pry for the people, bringing
forth the shield of his ministry, prayer, and by incense making
supplication, withstood the wrath, and put an end to the calamity,
shewing that he was thy servant.

18:22. And he overcame the disturbance, not by strength of body nor
with force of arms, but with a word he subdued him that punished them,
alleging the oath and covenant made with the fathers.

18:23. For when they were now fallen down dead by heaps one upon
another, he stood between and stayed the assault, and cut off the way
to the living.

18:24. For in the priestly robe which he wore, was the whole world: and
in the four rows of the stones, the glory of the fathers was graven,
and thy majesty was written upon the diadem of his head.

18:26. And to these the destroyer gave place, and was afraid of them:
for the proof only of wrath was enough.



Wisdom Chapter 19


Why God shewed no mercy to the Egyptians. His favour to the Israelites.
All creatures obey God's orders for the service of the good, and the
punishment of the wicked.

19:1. But as to the wicked, even to the end there came upon them wrath
without mercy. For he knew before also what they would do:

19:2. For when they had given them leave to depart and had sent them
away with great care, they repented and pursued after them.

19:3. For whilst they were yet mourning, and lamenting at the graves of
the dead, they took up another foolish device: and pursued them as
fugitives whom they had pressed to be gone:

19:4. For a necessity, of which they were worthy, brought them to this
end: and they lost the remembrance of those things which had happened,
that their punishment might fill up what was wanting to their torments:

19:5. And that thy people might wonderfully pass through, but they
might find a new death.

19:6. For every creature, according to its kind was fashioned again as
from the beginning, obeying thy commandments, that thy children might
be kept without hurt.

19:7. For a cloud overshadowed their camps and where water was before,
dry land appeared, and in the Red Sea a way without hindrance, and out
of the great deep a springing field:

19:8. Through which all the nation passed which was protected with thy
hand, seeing thy miracles and wonders.

19:9. For they fed on their food like horses, and they skipped like
lambs, praising thee, O Lord, who hadst delivered them.

19:10. For they were yet mindful of those things which had been done in
the time of their sojourning, how the ground brought forth flies
instead of cattle, and how the river cast up a multitude of frogs
instead of fishes.

19:11. And at length they saw a new generation of birds, when being led
by their appetite, they asked for delicate meats.

19:12. For to satisfy their desire, the quail came up to them from the
sea: and punishments came upon the sinners, not without foregoing signs
by the force of thunders: for they suffered justly according to their
own wickedness.

19:13. For they exercised a more detestable inhospitality than any:
others indeed received not strangers unknown to them, but these brought
their guests into bondage that had deserved well of them.

19:14. And not only so, but in another respect also they were worse:
for the others against their will received the strangers.

19:15. But these grievously afflicted them whom they had received with
joy, and who lived under the same laws.

19:16. But they were struck with blindness: as those others were at the
doors of the just man, when they were covered with sudden darkness, and
every one sought the passage of his own door.

19:17. For while the elements are changed in themselves, as in an
instrument the sound of the quality is changed, yet all keep their
sound: which may clearly be perceived by the very sight.

Elements are changed, etc. . .The meaning is, that whatever changes God
wrought in the elements by miracles in favour of his people, they still
kept their harmony by obeying his will.

19:18. For the things of the land were turned into things of the water:
and the things that before swam in the water passed upon the land.

19:19. The fire had power in water above its own virtue, and the water
forgot its quenching nature.

19:20. On the other side, the flames wasted not the flesh of
corruptible animals walking therein, neither did they melt that good
food, which was apt to melt as ice. For in all things thou didst
magnify thy people, O Lord, and didst honour them, and didst not
despise them, but didst assist them at all times, and in every place.

That good food. . .The manna.




ECCLESIASTICUS



This Book is so called from a Greek word that signifies a preacher:
because, like an excellent preacher, it gives admirable lessons of all
virtues. The author was Jesus the son of Sirach of Jerusalem, who
flourished about two hundred years before Christ. As it was written
after the time of Esdras, it is not in the Jewish canon; but is
received as canonical and divine by the Catholic Church, instructed by
apostolical tradition, and directed by the spirit of God. It was first
written in the Hebrew, but afterwards translated into Greek, by another
Jesus, the grandson of the author, whose prologue to this book is the
following:



THE PROLOGUE.


The knowledge of many and great things hath been shewn us by the law,
and the prophets, and others that have followed them: for which things
Israel is to be commended for doctrine and wisdom, because not only
they that speak must needs be skilful, but strangers also, both
speaking and writing, may by their means become most learned. My
grandfather Jesus, after he had much given himself to a diligent
reading of the law, and the prophets, and other books, that were
delivered to us from our fathers, had a mind also to write something
himself, pertaining to doctrine and wisdom; that such as are desirous
to learn, and are made knowing in these things, may be more and more
attentive in mind, and be strengthened to live according to the law. I
entreat you therefore to come with benevolence, and to read with
attention, and to pardon us for those things wherein we may seem, while
we follow the image of wisdom, to come short in the composition of
words; for the Hebrew words have not the same force in them when
translated into another tongue. And not only these, but the law also
itself, and the prophets, and the rest of the books, have no small
difference, when they are spoken in their own language. For in the
eight and thirtieth year coming into Egypt, when Ptolemy Evergetes was
king, and continuing there a long time, I found there books left, of no
small nor contemptible learning. Therefore I thought it good, and
necessary for me to bestow some diligence and labour to interpret this
book; and with much watching and study in some space of time, I brought
the book to an end, and set it forth for the service of them that are
willing to apply their mind, and to learn how they ought to conduct
themselves, who purpose to lead their life according to the law of the
Lord.



Ecclesiasticus Chapter 1


All wisdom is from God, and is given to them that fear and love God.

1:1. All wisdom is from the Lord God, and hath been always with him,
and is before all time.

1:2. Who hath numbered the sand of the sea, and the drops of rain, and
the days of the world? Who hath measured the height of heaven, and the
breadth of the earth, and the depth of the abyss?

1:3. Who hath searched out the wisdom of God that goeth before all
things?

1:4. Wisdom hath been created before all things, and the understanding
of prudence from everlasting.

1:5. The word of God on high is the fountain of wisdom, and her ways
are everlasting commandments.

1:6. To whom hath the root of wisdom been revealed, and who hath known
her wise counsels?

1:7. To whom hath the discipline of wisdom been revealed and made
manifest? and who hath understood the multiplicity of her steps?

1:8. There is one most high Creator Almighty, and a powerful king, and
greatly to be feared, who sitteth upon his throne, and is the God of
dominion.

1:9. He created her in the Holy Ghost, and saw her, and numbered her,
and measured her.

1:10. And he poured her out upon all his works, and upon all flesh
according to his gift, and hath given her to them that love him.

1:11. The fear of the Lord is honour, and glory, and gladness, and a
crown of joy.

1:12. The fear of the Lord shall delight the heart, and shall give joy,
and gladness, and length of days.

1:13. With him that feareth the Lord, it shall go well in the latter
end, and in the day of his death he shall be blessed.

1:14. The love of God is honourable wisdom.

1:15. And they to whom she shall shew herself love her by the sight,
and by the knowledge of her great works.

1:16. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and was created
with the faithful in the womb, it walketh with chosen women, and is
known with the just and faithful.

1:17. The fear of the Lord is the religiousness of knowledge.

1:18. Religiousness shall keep and justify the heart, it shall give joy
and gladness.

1:19. It shall go well with him that feareth the Lord, and in the days
of his end he shall be blessed.

1:20. To fear God is the fulness of wisdom, and fulness is from the
fruits thereof.

1:21. She shall fill all her house with her increase, and the
storehouses with her treasures.

1:22. The fear of the Lord is a crown of wisdom, filling up peace and
the fruit of salvation:

1:23. And it hath seen, and numbered her: but both are the gifts of
God.

1:24. Wisdom shall distribute knowledge, and understanding of prudence:
and exalteth the glory of them that hold her.

1:25. The root of wisdom is to fear the Lord: and the branches thereof
are long-lived.

1:26. In the treasures of wisdom is understanding, and religiousness of
knowledge: but to sinners wisdom is an abomination.

1:27. The fear of the Lord driveth out sin:

1:28. For he that is without fear, cannot be justified: for the wrath
of his high spirits is his ruin.

1:29. A patient man shall bear for a time, and afterwards joy shall be
restored to him.

1:30. A good understanding will hide his words for a time, and the lips
of many shall declare his wisdom.

1:31. In the treasures of wisdom is the signification of discipline:

1:32. But the worship of God is an abomination to a sinner.

1:33. Son, if thou desire wisdom, keep justice, and God will give her
to thee.

1:34. For the fear of the Lord is wisdom and discipline: and that which
is agreeable to him,

1:35. Is faith, and meekness: and he will fill up his treasures.

1:36. Be not incredulous to the fear of the Lord: and come not to him
with a double heart.

1:37. Be not a hypocrite in the sight of men, and let not thy lips be a
stumblingblock to thee.

1:38. Watch over them, lest thou fall, and bring dishonour upon thy
soul,

1:39. And God discover thy secrets, and cast thee down in the midst of
the congregation.

1:40. Because thou camest to the Lord wickedly, and thy heart is full
of guile and deceit.



Ecclesiasticus Chapter 2


God's servants must look for temptations: and must arm themselves with
patience and confidence in God.

2:1. Son, when thou comest to the service of God, stand in justice and
in fear, and prepare thy soul for temptation.

2:2. Humble thy heart, and endure: incline thy ear, and receive the
words of understanding: and make not haste in the time of clouds.

2:3. Wait on God with patience: join thyself to God, and endure, that
thy life may be increased in the latter end.

2:4. Take all that shall be brought upon thee: and in thy sorrow
endure, and in thy humiliation keep patience.

2:5. For gold and silver are tried in the fire, but acceptable men in
the furnace of humiliation.

2:6. Believe God, and he will recover thee: and direct thy way, and
trust in him. Keep his fear, and grow old therein.

2:7. Ye that fear the Lord, wait for his mercy: and go not aside from
him lest ye fall.

2:8. Ye that fear the Lord, believe him: and your reward shall not be
made void.

2:9. Ye that fear the Lord hope in him, and mercy shall come to you for
your delight.

2:10. Ye that fear the Lord, love him, and your hearts shall be
enlightened.

2:11. My children behold the generations of men: and know ye that no
one hath hoped in the Lord, and hath been confounded.

2:12. For who hath continued in his commandment, and hath been
forsaken? or who hath called upon him, and he despised him?

2:13. For God is compassionate and merciful, and will forgive sins in
the day of tribulation: and he is a protector to all that seek him in
truth.

2:14. Woe to them that are of a double heart and to wicked lips, and to
the hands that do evil, and to the sinner that goeth on the earth two
ways.

2:15. Woe to them that are fainthearted, who believe not God: and
therefore they shall not be protected by him.

2:16. Woe to them that have lost patience, and that have forsaken the
right ways, and have gone aside into crooked ways.

2:17. And what will they do, when the Lord shall begin to examine?

2:18. They that fear the Lord, will not be incredulous to his word: and
they that love him, will keep his way.

2:19. They that fear the Lord, will seek after the things that are well
pleasing to him: and they that love him, shall be filled with his law.

2:20. They that fear the Lord, will prepare their hearts, and in his
sight will sanctify their souls,

2:21. They that fear the Lord, keep his commandments, and will have
patience even until his visitation,

2:22. Saying: If we do not penance, we shall fall into the hands of the
Lord, and not into the hands of men.

2:23. For according to his greatness, so also is his mercy with him.



Ecclesiasticus Chapter 3


Lessons concerning the honour of parents, and humility, and avoiding
curiosity.

3:1. The sons of wisdom are the church of the just: and their
generation, obedience and love.

3:2. Children, hear the judgment of your father, and so do that you may
be saved.

3:3. For God hath made the father honourable to the children: and
seeking the judgment of the mothers, hath confirmed it upon the
children.

3:4. He that loveth God, shall obtain pardon for his sins by prayer,
and shall refrain himself from them, and shall be heard in the prayer
of days.

3:5. And he that honoureth his mother is as one that layeth up a
treasure.

3:6. He that honoureth his father shall have joy in his own children,
and in the day of his prayer he shall be heard.

3:7. He that honoureth his father shall enjoy a long life: and he that
obeyeth the father, shall be a comfort to his mother.

3:8. He that feareth the Lord, honoureth his parents, and will serve
them as his masters that brought him into the world.

3:9. Honour thy father, in work and word, and all patience,

3:10. That a blessing may come upon thee from him, and his blessing may
remain in the latter end.

3:11. The father's blessing establisheth the houses of the children:
but the mother's curse rooteth up the foundation.

3:12. Glory not in the dishonour of thy father: for his shame is no
glory to thee.

3:13. For the glory of a man is from the honour of his father, and a
father without honour is the disgrace of the son.

3:14. Son, support the old age of thy father, and grieve him not in his
life;

3:15. And if his understanding fail, have patience with him, and
despise him not when thou art in thy strength: for the relieving of the
father shall not be forgotten.

3:16. For good shall be repaid to thee for the sin of thy mother.

3:17. And in justice thou shalt be built up, and in the day of
affliction thou shalt be remembered: and thy sins shall melt away as
the ice in the fair warm weather.

3:18. Of what an evil fame is he that forsaketh his father: and he is
cursed of God that angereth his mother.

3:19. My son, do thy works in meekness, and thou shalt be beloved above
the glory of men.

3:20. The greater thou art, the more humble thyself in all things, and
thou shalt find grace before God:

3:21. For great is the power of God alone, and he is honoured by the
humble.

3:22. Seek not the things that are too high for thee, and search not
into things above thy ability: but the things that God hath commanded
thee, think on them always, and in many of his works be not curious.

3:23. For it is not necessary for thee to see with thy eyes those
things that are hid.

3:24. In unnecessary matters be not over curious, and in many of his
works thou shalt not be inquisitive.

3:25. For many things are shewn to thee above the understanding of men.

3:26. And the suspicion of them hath deceived many, and hath detained
their minds in vanity.

3:27. A hard heart shall fear evil at the last: and he that loveth
danger shall perish in it.

3:28. A heart that goeth two ways shall not have success, and the
perverse of heart shall be scandalized therein.

3:29. A wicked heart shall be laden with sorrows, and the sinner will
add sin to sin.

3:30. The congregation of the proud shall not be healed: for the plant
of wickedness shall take root in them, and it shall not be perceived.

3:31. The heart of the wise is understood in wisdom, and a good ear
will hear wisdom with all desire.

3:32. A wise heart, and which hath understanding, will abstain from
sins, and in the works of justice shall have success.

3:33. Water quencheth a flaming fire, and alms resisteth sins:

3:34. And God provideth for him that sheweth favour: he remembereth him
afterwards, and in the time of his fall he shall find a sure stay.



Ecclesiasticus Chapter 4


An exhortation to works of mercy, and to the love of wisdom.

4:1. Son, defraud not the poor of alms, and turn not away thy eyes from
the poor.

4:2. Despise not the hungry soul: and provoke not the poor in his want.

4:3. Afflict not the heart of the needy, and defer not to gibe to him
that is in distress.

4:4. Reject not the petition of the afflicted: and turn not away thy
face from the needy.

4:5. Turn not away thy eyes from the poor for fear of anger: and leave
not to them that ask of thee to curse thee behind thy back.

4:6. For the prayer of him that curseth thee in the bitterness of his
soul, shall be heard, for he that made him will hear him.

4:7. Make thyself affable to the congregation of the poor, and humble
thy soul to the ancient, and bow thy head to a great man.

4:8. Bow down thy ear cheerfully to the poor, and pay what thou owest,
and answer him peaceable words with mildness.

4:9. Deliver him that suffereth wrong out of the hand of the proud: and
be not fainthearted in thy soul.

4:10. In judging be merciful to the fatherless as a father, and as a
husband to their mother.

4:11. And thou shalt be as the obedient son of the most High, and he
will have mercy on thee more than a mother.

4:12. Wisdom inspireth life into her children, and protecteth them that
seek after her, and will go before them in the way of justice.

4:13. And he that loveth her, loveth life: and they that watch for her,
shall embrace her sweetness.

4:14. They that hold her fast, shall inherit life: and whithersoever
she entereth, God will give a blessing.

4:15. They that serve her, shall be servants to the holy one: and God
loveth them that love her.

4:16. He that hearkeneth to her, shall judge nations: and he that
looketh upon her, shall remain secure.

4:17. If he trust to her, he shall inherit her, and his generation
shall be in assurance.

4:18. For she walketh with him in temptation, and at the first she
chooseth him.

In temptation, etc. . .The meaning is, that before wisdom will choose
any for her favourite, she will try them by leading them through
contradictions, afflictions, and temptations, the usual noviceship of
the children of God.

4:19. She will bring upon him fear and dread and trial: and she will
scourge him with the affliction of her discipline, till she try him by
her laws, and trust his soul.

4:20. Then she will strengthen him, and make a straight way to him, and
give him joy,

4:21. And will disclose her secrets to him, and will heap upon him
treasures of knowledge and understanding of justice.

4:22. But if he go astray, she will forsake him, and deliver him into
the hands of his enemy.

4:23. Son, observe the time, and fly from evil.

4:24. For thy soul be not ashamed to say the truth.

4:25. For there is a shame that bringeth sin, and there is a shame that
bringeth glory and grace.

4:26. Accept no person against thy own person, nor against thy soul a
lie.

4:27. Reverence not thy neighbour in his fall:

4:28. And refrain not to speak in the time of salvation. Hide not thy
wisdom in her beauty.

4:29. For by the tongue wisdom is discerned: and understanding, and
knowledge, and learning by the word of the wise, and steadfastness in
the works of justice.

4:30. In nowise speak against the truth, but be ashamed of the lie of
thy ignorance.

4:31. Be not ashamed to confess thy sins, but submit not thyself to
every man for sin.

4:32. Resist not against the face of the mighty, and do not strive
against the stream of the river.

4:33. Strive for justice for thy soul, and even unto death fight for
justice, and God will overthrow thy enemies for thee.

4:34. Be not hasty in thy tongue: and slack and remiss in thy works.

4:35. Be not as a lion in thy house, terrifying them of thy household,
and oppressing them that are under thee.

4:36. Let not thy hand be stretched out to receive, and shut when thou
shouldst give.



Ecclesiasticus Chapter 5


We must not presume of our wealth or strength: nor of the mercy of God,
to go on in sin: we must be steadfast in virtue and truth.

5:1. Set not thy heart upon unjust possessions, and say not: I have
enough to live on: for it shall be of no service in the time of
vengeance and darkness.

5:2. Follow not in thy strength the desires of thy heart:

5:3. And say not: How mighty am I? and who shall bring me under for my
deeds? for God will surely take revenge.

5:4. Say not: I have sinned, and what harm hath befallen me? for the
most High is a patient rewarder.

5:5. Be not without fear about sin forgiven, and add not sin upon sin:

5:6. And say not: The mercy of the Lord is great, he will have mercy on
the multitude of my sins.

5:7. For mercy and wrath quickly come from him, and his wrath looketh
upon sinners.

5:8. Delay not to be converted to the Lord, and defer it not from day
to day.

5:9. For his wrath shall come on a sudden, and in the time of vengeance
he will destroy thee.

5:10. Be not anxious for goods unjustly gotten: for they shall not
profit thee in the day of calamity and revenge.

5:11. Winnow not with every wind, and go not into every way: for so is
every sinner proved by a double tongue.

5:12. Be steadfast in the way of the Lord, and in the truth of thy
judgment, and in knowledge, and let the word of peace and justice keep
with thee.

5:13. Be meek to hear the word, that thou mayst understand: and return
a true answer with wisdom.

5:14. If thou have understanding, answer thy neighbour: but if not, let
thy hand be upon thy mouth, lest thou be surprised in an unskilful
word, and be confounded.

5:15. Honour and glory is in the word of the wise, but the tongue of
the fool is his ruin.

5:16. Be not called a whisperer, and be not taken in thy tongue, and
confounded.

5:17. For confusion and repentance is upon a thief, and an evil mark of
disgrace upon the double tongued, but to the whisperer hatred, and
enmity, and reproach.

5:18. Justify alike the small and the great.



Ecclesiasticus Chapter 6


Of true and false friends: and of the of the fruits of wisdom.

6:1. Instead of a friend become not an enemy to thy neighbour: for an
evil man shall inherit reproach and shame, so shall every sinner that
is envious and double tongued.

6:2. Extol not thyself in the thoughts of thy soul like a bull: lest
thy strength be quashed by folly,

6:3. And it eat up thy leaves, and destroy thy fruit, and thou be left
as a dry tree in the wilderness.

6:4. For a wicked soul shall destroy him that hath it, and maketh him
to be a joy to his enemies, and shall lead him into the lot of the
wicked.

6:5. A sweet word multiplieth friends, and appeaseth enemies, and a
gracious tongue in a good man aboundeth.

6:6. Be in peace with many, but let one of a thousand be thy
counsellor.

6:7. If thou wouldst get a friend, try him before thou takest him, and
do not credit him easily.

6:8. For there is a friend for his own occasion, and he will not abide
in the day of thy trouble.

6:9. And there is a friend that turneth to enmity; and there is a
friend that will disclose hatred and strife and reproaches.

6:10. And there is a friend a companion at the table, and he will not
abide in the day of distress.

6:11. A friend if he continue steadfast, shall be to thee as thyself,
and shall act with confidence among them of thy household.

6:12. If he humble himself before thee, and hide himself from thy face,
thou shalt have unanimous friendship for good.

6:13. Separate thyself from thy enemies, and take heed of thy friends.

6:14. A faithful friend is a strong defence: and he that hath found
him, hath found a treasure.

6:15. Nothing can be compared to a faithful friend, and no weight of
gold and silver is able to countervail the goodness of his fidelity.

6:16. A faithful friend is the medicine of life and immortality: and
they that fear the Lord, shall find him.

6:17. He that feareth God, shall likewise have good friendship: because
according to him shall his friend be.

6:18. My son, from thy youth up receive instruction, and even to thy
grey hairs thou shalt find wisdom.

6:19. Come to her as one that plougheth, and soweth, and wait for her
good fruits:

6:20. For in working about her thou shalt labour a little, and shalt
quickly eat of her fruits.

6:21. How very unpleasant is wisdom to the unlearned, and the unwise
will not continue with her.

6:22. She shall be to them as a mighty stone of trial, and they will
cast her from them before it be long.

6:23. For the wisdom of doctrine is according to her name, and she is
not manifest unto many, but with them to whom she is known, she
continueth even to the sight of God.

6:24. Give ear, my son, and take wise counsel, and cast not away my
advice.

6:25. Put thy feet into her fetters, and thy neck into her chains:

6:26. Bow down thy shoulder, and bear her, and be not grieved with her
bands.

6:27. Come to her with all thy mind, and keep her ways with all thy
power.

6:28. Search for her, and she shall be made known to thee, and when
thou hast gotten her, let her not go:

6:29. For in the latter end thou shalt find rest in her, and she shall
be turned to thy joy.

6:30. Then shall her fetters be a strong defence for thee, and a firm
foundation, and her chain a robe of glory:

6:31. For in her is the beauty of life, and her bands are a healthful
binding.

6:32. Thou shalt put her on as a robe of glory, and thou shalt set her
upon thee as a crown of joy.

6:33. My son, if thou wilt attend to me, thou shalt learn: and if thou
wilt apply thy mind, thou shalt be wise.

6:34. If thou wilt incline thy ear, thou shalt receive instruction: and
if thou love to hear, thou shalt be wise.

6:35. Stand in the multitude of ancients that are wise, and join
thyself from thy heart to their wisdom, that thou mayst hear every
discourse of God, and the sayings of praise may not escape thee.

6:36. And if thou see a man of understanding, go to him early in the
morning, and let thy foot wear the steps of his doors.

6:37. Let thy thoughts be upon the precepts of God, and meditate
continually on his commandments: and he will give thee a heart, and the
desire of wisdom shall be given to thee.



Ecclesiasticus Chapter 7


Religious and moral duties.

7:1. Do no evils, and no evils shall lay hold of thee.

7:2. Depart from the unjust, and evils shall depart from thee.

7:3. My son, sow not evils in the furrows of injustice, and thou shalt
not reap them sevenfold.

7:4. Seek not of the Lord a preeminence, nor of the king the seat of
honour.

7:5. Justify not thyself before God, for he knoweth the heart: and
desire not to appear wise before the king.

7:6. Seek not to be made a judge, unless thou have strength enough to
extirpate iniquities: lest thou fear the person of the powerful, and
lay a stumblingblock for thy integrity.

7:7. Offend not against the multitude of a city, neither cast thyself
in upon the people,

7:8. Nor bind sin to sin: for even in one thou shalt not be unpunished.

7:9. Be not fainthearted in thy mind:

7:10. Neglect not to pray, and to give alms.

7:11. Say not: God will have respect to the multitude of my gifts, and
when I offer to the most high God, he will accept my offerings.

7:12. Laugh no man to scorn in the bitterness of his soul: for there is
one that humbleth and exalteth, God who seeth all.

7:13. Devise not a lie against thy brother: neither do the like against
thy friend.

7:14. Be not willing to make any manner of lie: for the custom thereof
is not good.

7:15. Be not full of words in a multitude of ancients, and repeat not
the word in thy prayer.

Repeat not, etc. . .Make not much babbling by repetition of words: but
aim more at fervour of heart.

7:16. Hate not laborious works, nor husbandry ordained by the most
High.

7:17. Number not thyself among the multitude of the disorderly.

7:18. Remember wrath, for it will not tarry long.

7:19. Humble thy spirit very much: for the vengeance on the flesh of
the ungodly is fire and worms.

7:20. Do not transgress against thy friend deferring money, nor despise
thy dear brother for the sake of gold.

7:21. Depart not from a wise and good wife, whom thou hast gotten in
the fear of the Lord: for the grace of her modesty is above gold.

7:22. Hurt not the servant that worketh faithfully, nor the hired man
that giveth thee his life.

7:23. Let a wise servant be dear to thee as thy own soul, defraud him
not of liberty, nor leave him needy.

7:24. Hast thou cattle? have an eye to them: and if they be for thy
profit, keep them with thee.

7:25. Hast thou children? instruct them, and bow down their neck from
their childhood.

7:26. Hast thou daughters? have a care of their body, and shew not thy
countenance gay towards them.

7:27. Marry thy daughter well, and thou shalt do a great work, and give
her to a wise man.

7:28. If thou hast a wife according to thy soul, cast her not off: and
to her that is hateful, trust not thyself. With thy whole heart,

7:29. Honour thy father, and forget not the groanings of thy mother:

7:30. Remember that thou hadst not been born but through them: and make
a return to them as they have done for thee.

7:31. With all thy soul fear the Lord, and reverence his priests.

7:32. With all thy strength love him that made thee: and forsake not
his ministers.

7:33. Honour God with all thy soul and give honour to the priests, and
purify thyself with thy arms.

Thy arms. . .That is, with all thy power: or else by arms (brachiis) are
here signified the right shoulders of the victims, which by the law
fell to the priests. See ver. 35.

7:34. Give them their portion, as it is commanded thee, of the
firstfruits and of purifications: and for thy negligences purify
thyself with a few.

7:35. Offer to the Lord the gift of thy shoulders, and the sacrifice of
sanctification, and the firstfruits of the holy things:

7:36. And stretch out thy hand to the poor, that thy expiation and thy
blessing may be perfected.

7:37. A gift hath grace in the sight of all the living, and restrain
not grace from the dead.

And restrain not grace from the dead. . .That is, withhold not from them
the benefit of alms, prayers, and sacrifices. Such was the doctrine and
practice of the church of God even in the time of the Old Testament.
And the same has always been continued from the days of the apostles in
the church of the New Testament.

7:38. Be not wanting in comforting them that weep, and walk with them
that mourn.

7:39. Be not slow to visit the sick: for by these things thou shalt be
confirmed in love.

7:40. In all thy works remember thy last end, and thou shalt never sin.



Ecclesiasticus Chapter 8


Other lessons of wisdom and virtue.

8:1. Strive not with a powerful man, lest thou fall into his hands.

8:2. Contend not with a rich man, lest he bring an action against thee.

8:3. For gold and silver hath destroyed many, and hath reached even to
the heart of kings, and perverted them.

8:4. Strive not with a man that is full of tongue, and heap not wood
upon his fire.

8:5. Communicate not with an ignorant man, lest he speak ill of thy
family.

8:6. Despise not a man that turneth away from sin, nor reproach him
therewith: remember that we are all worthy of reproof.

8:7. Despise not a man in his old age; for we also shall become old.

8:8. Rejoice not at the death of thy enemy; knowing that we all die,
and are not willing that others should rejoice at our death.

8:9. Despise not the discourse of them that are ancient and wise, but
acquaint thyself with their proverbs.

8:10. For of them thou shalt learn wisdom, and instruction of
understanding, and to serve great men without blame.

8:11. Let not the discourse of the ancients escape thee, for they have
learned of their fathers:

8:12. For of them thou shalt learn understanding, and to give an answer
in time of need.

8:13. Kindle not the coals of sinners by rebuking them, lest thou be
burnt with the flame of the fire of their sins.

8:14. Stand not against the face of an injurious person, lest he sit as
a spy to entrap thee in thy words.

8:15. Lend not to a man that is mightier than thyself: and if thou
lendest, count it as lost.

8:16. Be not surety above thy power: and if thou be surety, think as if
thou wert to pay it.

8:17. Judge not against a judge: for he judgeth according to that which
is just.

8:18. Go not on the way with a bold man, lest he burden thee with his
evils: for he goeth according to his own will, and thou shalt perish
together with his folly.

8:19. Quarrel not with a passionate man, and go not into the desert
with a bold man: for blood is as nothing in his sight, and where there
is no help he will overthrow thee.

8:20. Advise not with fools, for they cannot love but such things as
please them.

8:21. Before a stranger do no matter of counsel: for thou knowest not
what he will bring forth.

8:22. Open not thy heart to every man: lest he repay thee with an evil
turn, and speak reproachfully to thee.



Ecclesiasticus Chapter 9


Cautions with regard to women, and dangerous conversations.

9:1. Be not jealous over the wife of thy bosom, lest she shew in thy
regard the malice of a wicked lesson.

9:2. Give not the power of thy soul to a woman, lest she enter upon thy
strength, and thou be confounded.

9:3. Look not upon a woman that hath a mind for many: lest thou fall
into her snares.

9:4. Use not much the company of her that is a dancer, and hearken not
to her, lest thou perish by the force of her charms.

9:5. Gaze not upon a maiden, lest her beauty be a stumblingblock to
thee.

9:6. Give not thy soul to harlots in any point: lest thou destroy
thyself and thy inheritance.

9:7. Look not round about thee in the ways of the city, nor wander up
and down in the streets thereof.

9:8. Turn away thy face from a woman dressed up, and gaze not about
upon another's beauty.

9:9. For many have perished by the beauty of a woman, and hereby lust
is enkindled as a fire.

9:10. Every woman that is a harlot, shall be trodden upon as dung in
the way.

9:11. Many by admiring the beauty of another man's wife, have become
reprobate, for her conversation burneth as fire.

9:12. Sit not at all with another man's wife, nor repose upon the bed
with her:

9:13. And strive not with her over wine, lest thy heart decline towards
her and by thy blood thou fall into destruction.

9:14. Forsake not an old friend, for the new will not be like to him.

9:15. A new friend is as new wine: it shall grow old, and thou shalt
drink it with pleasure.

9:16. Envy not the glory and riches of a sinner: for thou knowest not
what his ruin shall be.

9:17. Be not pleased with the wrong done by the unjust, knowing that
even to hell the wicked shall not please.

9:18. Keep thee far from the man that hath power to kill, so thou shalt
not suspect the fear of death.

9:19. And if thou come to him, commit no fault, lest he take away thy
life.

9:20. Know it to be a communication with death: for thou art going in
the midst of snares, and walking upon the arms of them that are
grieved.

9:21. According to thy power beware of thy neighbour, and treat with
the wise and prudent.

9:22. Let just men be thy guests, and let thy glory be in the fear of
God.

9:23. And let the thought of God be in thy mind, and all thy discourse
on the commandments of the Highest.

9:24. Works shall be praised for the hand of the artificers, and the
prince of the people for the wisdom of his speech, but the word of the
ancients for the sense.

9:25. A man full of tongue is terrible in his city, and he that is rash
in his word shall be hateful.



Ecclesiasticus Chapter 10


The virtues and vices of men in power: the great evil of pride.

10:1. A wise judge shall judge his people, and the government of a
prudent man shall be steady.

Judge his people. . .In the Greek it is, instruct his people.

10:2. As the judge of the people is himself, so also are his ministers:
and what manner of man the ruler of a city is, such also are they that
dwell therein.

10:3. An unwise king shall be the ruin of his people: and cities shall
be inhabited through the prudence of the rulers.

10:4. The power of the earth is in the hand of God, and in his time he
will raise up a profitable ruler over it.

10:5. The prosperity of man is in the hand of God, and upon the person
of the scribe he shall lay his honour.

The scribe. . .That is, the man that is wise and learned in the law.

10:6. Remember not any injury done thee by thy neighbour, and do thou
nothing by deeds of injury.

10:7. Pride is hateful before God and men: and all iniquity of nations
is execrable.

10:8. A kingdom is translated from one people to another, because of
injustices, and wrongs, and injuries, and divers deceits.

10:9. But nothing is more wicked than the covetous man. Why is earth,
and ashes proud?

10:10. There is not a more wicked thing than to love money: for such a
one setteth even his own soul to sale: because while he liveth he hath
cast away his bowels.

10:11. All power is of short life. A long sickness is troublesome to
the physician.

10:12. The physician cutteth off a short sickness: so also a king is to
day, and to morrow he shall die.

10:13. For when a man shall die, he shall inherit serpents, and beasts,
and worms.

10:14. The beginning of the pride of man, is to fall off from God:

10:15. Because his heart is departed from him that made him: for pride
is the beginning of all sin: he that holdeth it, shall be filled with
maledictions, and it shall ruin him in the end.

10:16. Therefore hath the Lord disgraced the assemblies of the wicked,
and hath utterly destroyed them.

10:17. God hath overturned the thrones of proud princes, and hath set
up the meek in their stead.

10:18. God hath made the roots of proud nations to wither, and hath
planted the humble of these nations.

10:19. The Lord hath overthrown the lands of the Gentiles, and hath
destroyed them even to the foundation.

10:20. He hath made some of them to wither away, and hath destroyed
them, and hath made the memory of them to cease from the earth.

10:21. God hath abolished the memory of the proud, and hath preserved
the memory of them that are humble in mind.

10:22. Pride was not made for men: nor wrath for the race of women.

10:23. That seed of men shall be honoured, which feareth God: but that
seed shall be dishonoured, which transgresseth the commandments of the
Lord.

10:24. In the midst of brethren their chief is honourable: so shall
they that fear the Lord, be in his eyes.

10:25. The fear of God is the glory of the rich, and of the honourable,
and of the poor.

10:26. Despise not a just man that is poor, and do not magnify a sinful
man that is rich.

10:27. The great man, and the judge, and the mighty is in honour: and
there is none greater than he that feareth God.

10:28. They that are free shall serve a servant that is wise: and a man
that is prudent and well instructed will not murmur when he is
reproved; and he that is ignorant, shall not be honoured.

10:29. Extol not thyself in doing thy work, and linger not in the time
of distress;

10:30. Better is he that laboureth, and aboundeth in all things, than
he that boasteth himself and wanteth bread.

10:31. My son, keep thy soul in meekness, and give it honour according
to its desert.

10:32. Who will justify him that sinneth against his own soul? and who
will honour him that dishonoureth his own soul?

10:33. The poor man is glorified by his discipline and fear, and there
is a man that is honoured for his wealth.

10:34. But he that is glorified in poverty, how much more in wealth?
and he that is glorified in wealth, let him fear poverty.



Ecclesiasticus Chapter 11


Lessons of humility and moderation in all things.

11:1. The wisdom of the humble shall exalt his head, and shall make him
sit in the midst of great men.

11:2. Praise not a man for his beauty, neither despise a man for his
look.

11:3. The bee is small among flying things but her fruit hath the
chiefest sweetness.

11:4. Glory not in apparel at any time, and be not exalted in the day
of thy honour: for the works of the Highest only are wonderful, and his
works are glorious, and secret, and hidden.

11:5. Many tyrants have sat on the throne, and he whom no man would
think on, hath worn the crown.

11:6. Many mighty men have been greatly brought down, and the glorious
have been delivered into the hand of others.

11:7. Before thou inquire, blame no man: and when thou hast inquired,
reprove justly.

11:8. Before thou hear, answer not a word: and interrupt not others in
the midst of their discourse.

11:9. Strive not in a matter which doth not concern thee, and sit not
in judgment with sinners.

11:10. My son, meddle not with many matters: and if thou be rich, thou
shalt not be free from sin: for if thou pursue after thou shalt not
overtake; and if thou run before thou shalt not escape.

11:11. There is an ungodly man that laboureth, and maketh haste, and is
in sorrow, and is so much the more in want.

11:12. Again, there is an inactive man that wanteth help, is very weak
in ability, and full of poverty:

11:13. Yet the eye of God hath looked upon him for good, and hath
lifted him up from his low estate, and hath exalted his head: and many
have wondered at him, and have glorified God.

11:14. Good things and evil, life and death, poverty and riches, are
from God.

11:15. Wisdom and discipline, and the knowledge of the law are with
God. Love and the ways of good things are with him.

11:16. Error and darkness are created with sinners: and they that glory
in evil things, grow old in evil.

11:17. The gift of God abideth with the just, and his advancement shall
have success for ever.

11:18. There is one that is enriched by living sparingly, and this is
the portion of his reward.

11:19. In that he saith: I have found me rest, and now I will eat of my
goods alone:

11:20. And he knoweth not what time shall pass, and that death
approacheth, and that he must leave all to others, and shall die.

11:21. Be steadfast in thy covenant, and be conversant therein, and
grow old in the work of thy commandments.

11:22. Abide not in the works of sinners. But trust in God, and stay in
thy place,

11:23. For it is easy in the eyes of God on a sudden to make the poor
man rich.

11:24. The blessing of God maketh haste to reward the just, and in a
swift hour his blessing beareth fruit.

11:25. Say not: What need I, and what good shall I have by this?

11:26. Say not: I am sufficient for myself: and what shall I be made
worse by this?

11:27. In the day of good things be not unmindful of evils: and in the
day of evils be not unmindful of good things:

11:28. For it is easy before God in the day of death to reward every
one according to his ways.

11:29. The affliction of an hour maketh one forget great delights, and
in the end of a man is the disclosing of his works.

11:30. Praise not any man before death, for a man is known by his
children.

11:31. Bring not every man into thy house: for many are the snares of
the deceitful.

11:32. For as corrupted bowels send forth stinking breath, and as the
partridge is brought into the cage, and as the roe into the snare: so
also is the heart of the proud, and as a spy that looketh on the fall
of his neighbour.

11:33. For he lieth in wait and turneth good into evil, and on the
elect he will lay a blot.

11:34. Of one spark cometh a great fire, and of one deceitful man much
blood: and a sinful man lieth in wait for blood.

11:35. Take heed to thyself of a mischievous man, for he worketh evils:
lest he bring upon thee reproach for ever.

11:36. Receive a stranger in, and he shall overthrow thee with a
whirlwind, and shall turn thee out of thy own.



Ecclesiasticus Chapter 12


We are to be liberal to the just: and not to trust the wicked.

12:1. If thou do good, know to whom thou dost it, and there shall be
much thanks for thy good deeds.

12:2. Do good to the just, and thou shalt find great recompense: and if
not of him, assuredly of the Lord.

12:3. For there is no good for him that is always occupied in evil, and
that giveth no alms: for the Highest hateth sinners, and hath mercy on
the penitent.

12:4. Give to the merciful and uphold not the sinner: God will repay
vengeance to the ungodly and to sinners, and keep them against the day
of vengeance.

12:5. Give to the good, and receive not a sinner.

12:6. Do good to the humble, and give not to the ungodly: hold back thy
bread, and give it not to him, lest thereby he overmaster thee.

12:7. For thou shalt receive twice as much evil for all the good thou
shalt have done to him: for the Highest also hateth sinners, and will
repay vengeance to the ungodly.

12:8. A friend shall not be known in prosperity, and an enemy shall not
be hidden in adversity.

12:9. In the prosperity of a man, his enemies are grieved: and a friend
is known in his adversity.

12:10. Never trust thy enemy for as a brass pot his wickedness rusteth:

12:11. Though he humble himself and go crouching, yet take good heed
and beware of him.

12:12. Set him not by thee, neither let him sit on thy right hand, lest
he turn into thy place, and seek to take thy seat and at the last thou
acknowledge my words, and be pricked with my sayings.

12:13. Who will pity an enchanter struck by a serpent, or any that come
near wild beasts? so is it with him that keepeth company with a wicked
man, and is involved in his sins.

12:14. For an hour he will abide with thee: but if thou begin to
decline, he will not endure it.

12:15. An enemy speaketh sweetly with his lips, but in his heart he
lieth in wait, to throw thee into a pit.

12:16. An enemy weepeth with his eyes: but if he find an opportunity he
will not be satisfied with blood:

12:17. And if evils come upon thee, thou shalt find him there first.

12:18. An enemy hath tears in his eyes, and while he pretendeth to help
thee, will undermine thy feet.

12:19. He will shake his head, and clap his hands, and whisper much,
and change his countenance.



Ecclesiasticus Chapter 13


Cautions in the choice of company.

13:1. He that toucheth pitch, shall be defiled with it: and he that
hath fellowship with the proud, shall put on pride.

13:2. He shall take a burden upon him that hath fellowship with one
more honourable than himself. And have no fellowship with one that is
richer than thyself.

13:3. What agreement shall the earthen pot have with the kettle? for if
they knock one against the other, it shall be broken.

13:4. The rich man hath done wrong, and yet he will fume: but the poor
is wronged and must hold his peace.

13:5. If thou give, he will make use of thee: and if thou have nothing,
he will forsake thee.

13:6. If thou have any thing, he will live with thee, and will make
thee bare, and he will not be sorry for thee.

13:7. If he have need of thee he will deceive thee, and smiling upon
thee will put thee in hope; he will speak thee fair, and will say: What
wantest thou?

13:8. And he will shame thee by his meats, till he have drawn thee dry
twice or thrice, and at last he will laugh at thee: and afterward when


 


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