Jul 18 - Sirach 16-18
Sirach
1You should not rejoice in impious children, if they are successful; nor should you take delight in them, if the fear of God is not in them2You should not approve of their life, nor should you look with favor on their labors3For one child who fears God is better than one thousand impious children4And it is better to die without children, than to leave behind impious children5By means of one person with understanding, a country will be inhabited. The tribe of the impious will become desolate6Many such things my eyes have seen, and greater things than these my ear has heard7In the synagogue of sinners, a fire will blaze forth; and amid an unbelieving people, wrath will flare up8The giants of antiquity did not obtain pardon for their sins; they were destroyed by trusting in their own abilities9And he did not spare the place of Lot’s sojourn, and he abhorred them because of the arrogance of their words10He did not take pity on them, destroying an entire people, who even extolled themselves concerning their sins11And this was so with six hundred thousand men, who were gathered together in the hardness of their hearts. And if even a single obstinate person had escaped unpunished, it would be a wonder12For mercy and wrath are with him. He is powerful in forgiveness, and he pours forth wrath13As is his mercy, so also is his correction; he judges a man according to his works14The sinner, in his violations, will not escape; but the patience of the One who shows mercy will not be diminished15Every mercy will make a place for each man, according to the merit of his works, and according to the understanding of his sojourn16You should not say: "I am hidden from God," or, "Who, from on high, will take note of me?17or, "Among a great number of people, I will not be noticed. For what is my soul amid such an immense creation?18Behold: the heavens, and the heaven of the heavens, the abyss, and the entire earth, and the things that are within these, will be shaken by his gaze19together with mountains and hills, and the foundations of the earth. When God casts his gaze upon them, they will be struck with trembling20And concerning all these things, the heart is without understanding; but every heart is understood by him21And who will understand his ways, or the tempest, which no eye of man will see22For many of his works are concealed. But who will announce the works of his justice? Or who will endure them? For the testament is far from some persons, and the examination of each thing is in its end23Whoever diminishes the heart, thinks empty thoughts. For the imprudent and erring man thinks up foolishness24Listen to me, son, and learn the discipline of understanding, and attend to my words in your heart25And I will speak with equity about discipline, and I will strive to announce wisdom. So attend to my words in your heart, and I will speak with equity of spirit, about the virtues that God has set within his works from the beginning, and I will announce his knowledge in truth26With the judgment of God, his works have been done from the beginning; and from their institution, he himself distinguished their parts and set their beginnings, in their kinds27He has beautified their works unto eternity. They have neither hungered, nor labored, and they have not ceased from their works28Neither will any one of them cause anguish to his neighbor, forever29You should not be incredulous at his word30Afterward, God looked with favor upon the earth, and he filled it with his goodness31The soul of every living thing brought word from before his face, and their return again is to him
1God created man from the earth, and he made him according to his own image2And he returned him again to it, and he clothed him with virtue according to himself3He gave him the number and time of his days, and he gave him authority over all the things that are upon the earth4He placed the fear of him over all flesh, and he had dominion over wild beasts and flying things5He created from him a helper, similar to himself. He gave them counsel, and language, and sight, and hearing, and a heart, in order to think. And he filled them with the discipline of understanding6He created within them the knowledge of the spirit. He filled their heart with understanding, and he showed them both good and evil7He set his eye upon their hearts, to reveal to them the greatness of his works8so that they might highly praise the name of sanctification, and give glory to his wonders, so that they might declare the greatness of his works9In addition, he gave them discipline and the law of life, as their inheritance10He established an eternal covenant with them, and he revealed to them his justice and judgments11And their eye saw the greatness of his honor, and their ears heard the honor of his voice, and he said to them: "Beware of all iniquity.12And he commanded each one concerning his neighbor13Their ways are always in his sight; they are not hidden from his eyes14Over each and every people, he has appointed a ruler15And Israel was made to be the manifest portion of God16And in the sight of God, all their works are like the sun. And his eyes, without ceasing, inspect their ways17The covenants are not hidden by their iniquity, and all their iniquities are in the sight of God18The almsgiving of a man is like a seal upon him, which will guard the grace of a man like the pupil of an eye19And afterward, it will rise up and repay them their reward, each one upon his head, and it will return to the hidden places of the earth20Now, to the repentant, he has given the way of justice, and he has strengthened those lacking in patience, and he has fastened them to a destiny of truth21Convert to the Lord, and relinquish your sins22Make supplication before the face of the Lord, and diminish your offenses23Return to the Lord, and turn away from your injustice, and have immense hatred for abomination24And acknowledge the justices and judgments of God, and stand firm in the circumstances set before you and in prayer to the most high God25Go to the side of the holy generation, to those who live in order to give praise to God26You should not linger in the error of the impious; confess before death. Confession perishes from the dead as if it were nothing27Confess while living; you should give thanks while you are still alive and healthy. And you should praise God and glory in his compassion28How great is the mercy of the Lord, and his forgiveness, for those who convert to him29For not all things can be in men, because the son of man is not immortal, and because they are pleased by the emptiness of malice30What is brighter than the sun? Yet this will fail. Or what is more wicked than that which flesh and blood has invented? And this will be reproved31He beholds the power of the heights of heaven. And all men are earth and ashes
1The One who dwells in eternity created all things together. God alone will be justified, and he remains an invincible King for eternity2Who is able to declare his works3For who can examine his greatness4And who will announce the power of his magnitude? Or who would be able to describe his mercy5There is no diminishing, and no increasing, and there is no discovering, the greatness of God6When man has reached the end, then he will begin. And when he ceases, he will be in need7What is man, and what is his grace? And what is his good, or what is his evil8The number of the days of men are as many as one hundred years. Like a drop of water in the ocean, so they are considered to be. And like a grain of sand on the shore, so do these few years compare to the days of all time9For this reason, God is patient with them, and he pours forth his mercy upon them10He has seen that the presumption of their heart is evil, and he knows that their rebelliousness is wicked11Therefore, he has bestowed his forgiveness on them, and he has revealed to them the way of equity12The compassion of man is toward those closest to him. But the mercy of God is upon all flesh13He is merciful, and he teaches and corrects, like a shepherd with his flock14He takes pity on those who accept the doctrine of compassion, and he applies his judgments promptly15Son, in your good works, you should not complain, and in giving anything, you should not cause grief with evil words16Is heat not refreshed by the dew? So also is a good word better than a gift17Behold, is a word not greater than a gift? But both are with a justified man18The foolish place blame sharply. And a gift from the undisciplined causes the eyes to fail19Before you judge, put justice in order within yourself, and before you speak, learn20Before you become sick, obtain medicine. And before you judge, examine yourself. And then you will find forgiveness in the sight of God21Before you become weak, humble yourself; and in a time of infirmity, show your way of life22Let nothing impede you from praying always. And then you will not dread to be justified, even unto death. For the reward of God dwells in eternity23Before you pray, prepare your soul. And do not choose to be like a man who tempts God24Remember the wrath that will be on the day of consummation, and remember the time of retribution, when he will turn away his face25Remember poverty in a time of abundance, and remember the deficiency of poverty in a day of riches26From morning until evening, the time will be changed, and all these are swift in the eyes of God27A wise man will be cautious in all things, and during a time of many offenses, he will be attentive against inaction28Anyone who is astute recognizes wisdom, and he will acknowledge anyone who finds it29Those who show understanding with words also have acted wisely themselves, and they have understood truth and justice, and they have fulfilled proverbs and judgments30You should not go after your desires; instead, turn away from your own will31If you offer your desires to your soul, this will cause you to become a joy to your enemies32Take no delight in disorderly gatherings, whether large or small. For their commission of offenses is unceasing33You should not be reduced by the contention of borrowing, even if there is nothing in your purse. For you would be contending against your own life