Jul 28 - Sirach 40-42
Sirach
1A great occupation was created for all men, and a heavy yoke is upon the sons of Adam, from the day of their departure from their mother’s womb, even until the day of their burial into the mother of all2their thoughts, and the fears of their heart, their imagined expectations, and the day of their end3from him who sits upon a glorious throne, even to him who is humbled in earth and ashes4from him who wears hyacinth and bears a crown, even to him who is covered with rough linen: wrath, envy, tumult, restlessness, and the fear of death, continual anger and contention5And in the time of rest upon his bed, the sleep of the night changes his knowledge6There is little or no rest, and sleep is taken from him, as if on a day of keeping watch7He is disturbed by a vision of his heart, as if he had escaped in a day of warfare. In the time of his salvation, he rose up and wondered that there was no fear8This is so with all flesh, from man even to cattle, but upon sinners it is seven times as great9Add to this: death, bloodshed, contention, and the spear, oppression, famine, and affliction, and scourges10All these things have been created because of iniquity, and it is due to iniquity that the great flood was made11All things that are of the earth shall return to the earth, and all waters shall return to the sea12All bribery and iniquity will be wiped away, but faith shall stand forever13The substance of the unjust will dry up like a river, and will pass away with a noise like loud thunder in a rainstorm14When he opens his hands, he will rejoice. So will transgressors pass away at the consummation15The descendents of the impious will not produce many branches, for they may be compared to dirty roots at the edge of a rock16The weeds, which grow above every water and beside the banks of the river, will be uprooted before all the grass17Grace is like a paradise of blessings, and mercy continues for eternity18The life of a worker, when content with what is sufficient, will become sweet, and in it you will find a treasure19Sons, and the building of a city, will establish a name, but an immaculate wife will be ranked above these things20Wine and music rejoice the heart, but the love of wisdom is above them both21The flute and the psaltery make a sweet melody, but a pleasant word is above them both22Your eye desires elegance and beauty, but verdant fields are above these things23A friend and a companion meet one another in time, but above them both is a wife with her husband24Brothers are a help in time of tribulation, but mercy will liberate, more so than they will25Gold and silver provide a firm position for the feet, but well-spoken counsel is above them both26Ability and strength lift up the heart, but the fear of the Lord is above these things27There is no loss in the fear of the Lord, and it has no need to ask for assistance28The fear of the Lord is like a paradise of blessings, and they have covered it above all glory29Son, in your lifetime you should not be indigent, for it is better to die than to be destitute30The life of him who looks to another man’s table should not be thought of as a way of life. For he feeds his life with another man’s food31But a disciplined and well-taught man will take care of himself32Scarcity will seem sweet to the mouth of the imprudent, but a fire will burn in his belly
1O death, how bitter is the memory of you: to a man who has peace in his substance2to a quiet man, and to him whose ways are directed properly in all things, and who still has the strength to take nourishment3O death, your judgment is good to the indigent man, and to him whose strength has diminished4who is failing due to old age, and who is anxious about all things, and to the unbelieving man who has lost patience5Do not choose to dread the judgment of death. Remember the things that occurred before you, and the things that will occur after you. This judgment is from the Lord upon all flesh6And what will happen to you is well-pleasing to the Most High, whether in ten, or one hundred, or one thousand years7For death is no indictment of life8The sons of sinners, and those who pass their time in the manner of the houses of the impious, become sons of abominations9The inheritance of the sons of sinners will perish, and continual disgrace will be with their offspring10The sons of an impious father will complain, for they are in disgrace because of him11Woe to you, impious men, who have abandoned the law of the Most High Lord12And when you are born, you will be born into a curse; and when you die, your portion will be in a curse13All things that are from the earth shall return to the earth. Similarly, the impious will proceed from a curse unto perdition14The grieving of men is in their body, but the name of the impious will be wiped away15Have concern for your good name. For this will continue with you, more so than a thousand precious and great treasures16A good life has its number of days, but a good name will continue forever17Sons, practice discipline peacefully. For what use is there in either concealed wisdom, or undiscovered treasure18Better is the man who hides his foolishness than the man who hides his wisdom19Yet truly, have respect for these things which proceed from my mouth20For it is not good to observe every reverence. And all things do not please all persons in their beliefs21Have shame of these things: of fornication before father and mother, and of a lie before the first leader and the powerful22of a crime before a ruler or a judge, of iniquity before a congregation or a people23of injustice before a companion or a friend, and of the place in which you live24of theft, and of the truth before God, and of the covenant, of reclining to eat bread, and of deceitfulness in giving or receiving25of silence before those who greet you, of looking upon a woman of fornication, and of averting your face from a relative26You should not avert your face from your neighbor, nor should you take away a portion and not restore it27You should not stare at another man’s wife, and nor pursue his handmaid, nor approach her bed28Avoid reproachful speeches before friends, and when you give, you should not place blame
1You should not repeat a claim heard from the revealing of a hidden word. And then, truly, you will be without shame, and you will find favor in the sight of all men. You should not accept the reputation of someone, so that you would sin, nor should you be confounded in any of the following things2in the law of the Most High and his covenant, or by giving a judgment to justify the impious3in a word among companions and fellow travelers, or by distributing the inheritance of friends4in the fairness of scales and weights, or in acquiring much or little5by the corruption of buying and negotiating, or in the ample discipline of children, or in causing the side of a wicked servant to bleed6A seal is good over a wicked wife7Where there are many hands, seal and deliver all things by number and weight; and truly, give and receive everything in writing8You should not have shame in correcting the senseless, the foolish, and those youths who would judge their elders. And so shall you be well-instructed in all things and well-approved in the sight of all the living9The vigilance of a father for his daughter is hidden, and his concern for her takes away his sleep. For perhaps, in her adolescence, she might be brought into adulthood. Or when she lives with her husband, she might become hateful10In her virginity, she might be defiled, and then she may be found to be pregnant in her father’s house. Or perhaps, when she lives with her husband, she might stray, or at least become barren11Keep a close watch over a self-indulgent daughter. Otherwise, at some time, she might bring you into disgrace before your enemies, and into disrepute in the city, and into reproach among the people, and so she may confound you before the multitude of the people12She should not choose to gaze upon the beauty of every man, and she should not choose to spend her time in the midst of married women13For a moth goes forth from garments, and iniquity over a man goes forth from a woman14Yet iniquity over a man is better for her than if a married woman, seeking to benefit her, instead leads her into confusion and disgrace15And now, I will remember the works of the Lord, and I will announce what I have seen. The words of the Lord are in his works16The sun illuminates and considers all things, and its work shows the fullness of the glory of the Lord17Has not the Lord caused the holy ones to describe all his miracles, which the all-powerful Lord has firmly established in his glory18He has examined the abyss and the hearts of men. And he has considered their astuteness19For the Lord comprehends all knowledge, and he has gazed upon the signs of the times: announcing the things of the past, as well as the things of the future, and revealing the traces of hidden things20No thought passes by him unnoticed, and no word can conceal itself from him21He has adorned the magnificent works of his wisdom. He is before eternity and even unto eternity. And nothing can be added22and nothing can be taken away. And he has no need of any counselor23O how desirable are all his works! And all that we consider is but a spark24All these works exist, and they remain in the present age, and they all obey him in every purpose25All things are two-fold, one facing another, and he has not made anything to be lacking26He has confirmed each thing as good. And who would tire of beholding his glory