Jul 20 - Sirach 22-23
Sirach
1The lazy man is pelted with a dirty stone, and all will speak about his rejection2The lazy man is pelted with the dung of oxen, and all who touch him will brush off their hands3An undisciplined son is the shame of his father, but an undisciplined daughter will be to his degradation4A prudent daughter brings an inheritance to her husband. But she who causes shame will be a disgrace to him who conceived her5She who is bold shames her father and her husband, and she will not be less offensive to the impious. For she will be held in dishonor by both6An untimely explanation is like music in a time of mourning. But the sharp correction and doctrine of wisdom are ever timely7Whoever teaches the foolish is like someone who glues together a broken pot8Whoever explains a word to one who is not listening is like someone who suddenly awakens a sleeping person from a deep sleep9Whoever explains wisdom to the senseless is like one speaking to a sleeping person. And at the end of the explanation, he says: "Who is this?10Weep over the dead, for his light has failed. And weep over the foolish, for his understanding has failed11Weep only a little over the dead, for he is at rest12But the wicked life of a wicked fool is worse than death13The mourning for the dead is seven days; but for the foolish and the impious, it is all the days of their life14You should not talk at length with the foolish, and you should not go with the senseless15Keep yourself from him, so that you may not have problems, and so that you will not be polluted by his sin16Turn away from him, and you will find rest, and you will not be discouraged by his foolishness17What is heavier than lead? And what else can he be called but foolish18Sand, and salt, and an iron weight are each easier to bear than an imprudent man, who is both foolish and impious19A bundle of wood strapped together in the foundation of a building will not be loosened. And similar is the heart that has been strengthened by thoughtful counsel20The thoughts of one who is understanding will not be corrupted by fear in any situation21Just as chaff in a high place, or a wall made of mortar without stones set within, will not continue against the face of the wind22so also a timid heart, and the thoughts of the senseless, will not withstand the forcefulness of fear23Despite a cowardly heart, the thoughts of the foolish will not fear any situation; yet neither will one who continues always in the precepts of God24He who jabs an eye produces tears. And he who jabs the heart produces understanding25He who throws a stone at birds will drive them away. So also, he who accuses his friend dissolves the friendship26But if you have drawn a sword against a friend, you should not despair; for there may be a way back.27If you have opened a harsh mouth against a friend, you should not fear; for there may be a reconciliation. However, if there are accusations, or abuse, or arrogance, or the revealing of secrets, or a wound from deceitfulness, in all these cases, a friend will flee away28Hold to faithfulness with a friend in his poverty, so that you may also rejoice in his prosperity29In the time of his tribulation, remain faithful to him, so that you may also be an heir with him in his inheritance30Just as the steam from an oven, or the smoke from a fire, rises up before a flame, so also do curses and insults and threats rise up before bloodshed31I shall not be ashamed to greet a friend, nor shall I hide myself from his face. And if misfortunes befall me because of him, I will endure32Anyone who hears of this will be wary around him33Who will provide a keeper for my mouth, and a reliable seal over my lips, so that I may not fall because of them, and so that my tongue does not destroy me
1Lord, Father and Ruler of my life: may you not abandon me to their counsel, nor permit me to fall by them2They would impose scourges over my thoughts and over the discipline of wisdom in my heart. And they would not spare me from their ignorances, nor would they allow their own offenses to become apparent3And they intend that my ignorances would increase, and my offenses be multiplied, and my sins abound. And so I would fall in the sight of my adversaries, and be rejoiced over by my enemy4Lord, Father and God of my life: may you not abandon me to their plans5Do not leave me with the haughtiness of my eyes. And avert all desire from me6Take the desire of the body from me, and do not allow sexual desire to take hold of me, and do not permit an irreverent and senseless mind within me7O sons: listen to the doctrine of my mouth. For those who observe it will not perish by the lips, nor be scandalized into wicked works8A sinner is held by his own emptiness. And the arrogant and those who speak evil will be scandalized by these things9Do not allow your mouth to become accustomed to swearing oaths. For in this, there are many pitfalls10Truly, do not allow the naming of God to be continually in your mouth, and do not treat as if common the names of the holy ones. For you will not escape punishment by them11Just as a servant, continually interrogated, will not be without a bruise, so everyone who swears oaths and takes God’s name will not be entirely free from sin12A man who swears many oaths will be filled with iniquity, and scourges will not depart from his house13And if he fails to fulfill it, his offense will be over him, and if he pretends he fulfilled it, he offends doubly14And if he swears an oath insincerely, he will not be justified. For his house will be filled with retribution for him15There is yet another kind of talk which faces death; let it not be found in the inheritance of Jacob16For all these things will be taken away from the merciful, and they shall not wallow in offenses17Do not allow your mouth to become accustomed to undisciplined speech. For in this, there is the sin of words18When you sit in the midst of great men, remember your father and mother19Otherwise, God may forget you, when you are in their sight, and then you would be repeatedly ridiculed and would suffer disgrace, and you might wish that you had never been born, and you might curse the day of your nativity20The man who is accustomed to disgraceful words will not accept instruction, all the days of his life21Two kinds of persons abound in sins, and a third adds wrath and perdition22A desirous soul is like a burning fire, it will not be quenched, until it devours something23And a man who is wicked in the desires of his flesh will not desist until he has kindled a fire24To a man of fornication, all bread is sweet; he will not tire of transgression, to the very end25Every man who transgresses his own bed has contempt for his own soul. And so he says: "Who can see me26Darkness surrounds me, and the walls enclose me, and no one catches sight of me. Whom should I fear? The Most High will not remember my offenses.27And he does not understand that God’s eye sees all things. For fear within a man such as this drives away from him both the fear of God and the eyes of those men who fear God28And he does not acknowledge that the eyes of the Lord are much brighter than the sun, keeping watch over all the ways of men, even to the depths of the abyss, and gazing into the hearts of men, even to the most hidden parts29For all things, before they were created, were known to the Lord God. And even after their completion, he beholds all things30This man will be punished in the streets of the city, and he will be chased like a young horse. And in a place that he does not suspect, he will be captured31And because he did not understand the fear of the Lord, he will be in disgrace before all men,32as will be every woman, too, who abandons her husband and establishes an inheritance by marriage to another man33For first, she was unbelieving of the law of the Most High. Second, she offended against her husband. Third, she fornicated by adultery, and so established her children by another man34This woman will be led into the assembly, and she will be stared at by her children35Her children will not take root, and her branches will not produce fruit36She will leave behind her memory as a curse, and her infamy will not be wiped away37And those who are left behind will acknowledge that there is nothing better than the fear of God, and that there is nothing sweeter than to have respect for the commandments of the Lord38It is a great glory to follow the Lord. For length of days will be received from him