Chapter 124

31:8. Blessed is the rich man that is found without blemish: and that hath not gone after gold, nor put his trust in money nor in treasures.

31:9. Who is he, and we will praise him? for he hath done wonderful things in his life.

31:10. Who hath been tried thereby, and made perfect, he shall have glory everlasting. He that could have transgressed, and hath not transgressed: and could do evil things, and hath not done them:

31:11. Therefore are his goods established in the Lord, and all the church of the saints shall declare his alms.

31:12. Art thou set at a great table? be not the first to open thy mouth upon it.

31:13. Say not: There are many things which are upon it.

31:14. Remember that a wicked eye is evil.

31:15. What is created more wicked than an eye? therefore shall it weep over all the face when it shall see.

31:16. Stretch not out thy hand first, lest being disgraced with envy thou be put to confusion.

31:17. Be not hasty in a feast.

31:18. Judge of the disposition of thy neighbour by thyself.

31:19. Use as a frugal man the things that are set before thee: lest if thou eatest much, thou be hated.

31:20. Leave off first, for manners' sake: and exceed not, lest thou offend.

31:21. And if thou sittest among many, reach not thy hand out first of all, and be not the first to ask for drink.

31:22. How sufficient is a little wine for a man well taught, and in sleeping thou shalt not be uneasy with it, and thou shalt feel no pain.

31:23. Watching, and choler, and gripes, are with an intemperate man:

31:24. Sound and wholesome sleep with a moderate man: he shall sleep till morning, and his soul shall be delighted with him.

31:25. And if thou hast been forced to eat much, arise, go out, and vomit: and it shall refresh thee, and thou shalt not bring sickness upon thy body.

31:26. Hear me, my son, and despise me not: and in the end thou shalt find my words.

31:27. In all thy works be quick, and no infirmity shall come to thee.

31:28. The lips of many shall bless him that is liberal of his bread, and the testimony of his truth is faithful.

31:29. Against him that is niggardly of his bread, the city will murmur, and the testimony of his niggardliness is true.

31:30. Challenge not them that love wine: for wine hath destroyed very many.

31:31. Fire trieth hard iron: so wine drunk to excess shall rebuke the hearts of the proud.

31:32. Wine taken with sobriety is equal life to men: if thou drink it moderately, thou shalt be sober.

31:33. What is his life, who is diminished with wine?

31:34. What taketh away life? death.

31:35. Wine was created from the beginning to make men joyful, and not to make them drunk.

31:36. Wine drunken with moderation is the joy of the soul and the heart.

31:37. Sober drinking is health to soul and body.

31:38. Wine drunken with excess raiseth quarrels, and wrath, and many ruins.

31:39. Wine drunken with excess is bitterness of the soul.

31:40. The heat of drunkenness is the stumblingblock of the fool, lessening strength and causing wounds.

31:41. Rebuke not thy neighbour in a banquet of wine: and despise him not in his mirth.

31:42. Speak not to him words of reproach: and press him not in demanding again.

Ecclesiasticus Chapter 32

Lessons for superiors and inferiors. Advantages of fearing God, and doing nothing without counsel.

32:1. Have they made thee ruler? be not lifted up: be among them as one of them.

32:2. Have care of them, and so sit down, and when thou hast acquitted thyself of all thy charge, take thy place:

32:3. That thou mayst rejoice for them, and receive a crown as an ornament of grace, and get the honour of the contribution.

32:4. Speak, thou that art elder: for it becometh thee,

32:5. To speak the first word with careful knowledge, and hinder not music.

32:6. Where there is no hearing, pour not out words, and be not lifted up out of season with thy wisdom.

32:7. A concert of music in a banquet of wine is as a carbuncle set in gold.

32:8. As a signet of an emerald in a work of gold: so is the melody of music with pleasant and moderate wine.

32:9. Hear in silence, and for thy reverence good grace shall come to thee.

32:10. Young man, scarcely speak in thy own cause.

32:11. If thou be asked twice, let thy answer be short.

32:12. In many things be as if thou wert ignorant, and hear in silence and withal seeking.

32:13. In the company of great men take not upon thee: and when the ancients are present, speak not much.

32:14. Before a storm goeth lightning: and before shamefacedness goeth favour: and for thy reverence good grace shall come to thee.

32:15. And at the time of rising be not slack: but be first to run home to thy house, and there withdraw thyself, and there take thy pastime.

32:16. And do what thou hast a mind, but not in sin or proud speech.

32:17. And for all these things bless the Lord, that made thee, and that replenisheth thee with all his good things.

32:18. He that feareth the Lord, will receive his discipline: and they that will seek him early, shall find a blessing.

32:19. He that seeketh the law, shall be filled with it: and he that dealeth deceitfully, shall meet with a stumblingblock therein.

32:20. They that fear the Lord, shall find just judgment, and shall kindle justice as a light.

32:21. A sinful man will flee reproof, and will find an excuse according to his will.

32:22. A man of counsel will not neglect understanding, a strange and proud man will not dread fear:

32:23. Even after he hath done with fear without counsel, he shall be controlled by the things of his own seeking.

32:24. My son, do thou nothing without counsel, and thou shalt not repent when thou hast done.

32:25. Go not in the way of ruin, and thou shalt not stumble against the stones: trust not thyself to a rugged way, lest thou set a stumblingblock to thy soul.

32:26. And beware of thy own children, and take heed of them of thy household.

32:27. In every work of thine regard thy soul in faith: for this is the keeping of the commandments.

In faith... That is, follow sincerely thy soul in her faith and conscience.

32:28. He that believeth God, taketh heed to the commandments: and he that trusteth in him, shall fare never the worse.

Ecclesiasticus Chapter 33

The fear of God is the best security. Times and men are in the hands of God. Take care of thyself as long as thou livest, and look to thy servants.

33:1. No evils shall happen to him that feareth the Lord, but in temptation God will keep him and deliver him from evils.

33:2. A wise man hateth not the commandments and justices, and he shall not be dashed in pieces as a ship in a storm.

33:3. A man of understanding is faithful to the law of God, and the law is faithful to him.

33:4. He that cleareth up a question, shall prepare what to say, and so having prayed he shall be heard, and shall keep discipline, and then he shall answer.

33:5. The heart of a fool is as a wheel of a cart: and his thoughts are like a rolling axletree.

33:6. A friend that is a mocker, is like a stallion horse: he neigheth under every one that sitteth upon him.

33:7. Why doth one day excel another, and one light another, and one year another year, when all come of the sun?

33:8. By the knowledge of the Lord they were distinguished, the sun being made, and keeping his commandment.

33:9. And he ordered the seasons, and holidays of them, and in them they celebrated festivals at an hour.

33:10. Some of them God made high and great days, and some of them he put in the number of ordinary days. And all men are from the ground, and out of the earth, from whence Adam was created.

33:11. With much knowledge the Lord hath divided them and diversified their ways.

33:12. Some of them hath he blessed, and exalted: and some of them hath he sanctified, and set near himself: and some of them hath he cursed and brought low, and turned them from their station.

33:13. As the potter's clay is in his hand, to fashion and order it:

33:14. All his ways are according to his ordering: so man is in the hand of him that made him, and he will render to him according to his judgment.

33:15. Good is set against evil, and life against death: so also is the sinner against a just man. And so look upon all the works of the most High. Two and two, and one against another.

33:16. And I awaked last of all, and as one that gathereth after the grapegatherers.

33:17. In the blessing of God I also have hoped: and as one that gathereth grapes, have I filled the winepress.

33:18. See that I have not laboured for myself only, but for all that seek discipline.

33:19. Hear me, ye great men, and all ye people, and hearken with your ears, ye rulers of the church.

33:20. Give not to son or wife, brother or friend, power over thee while thou livest; and give not thy estate to another, lest thou repent, and thou entreat for the same.

33:21. As long as thou livest, and hast breath in thee, let no man change thee.

Change thee... That is, so as to have this power over thee.

33:22. For it is better that thy children should ask of thee, than that thou look toward the hands of thy children.

33:23. In all thy works keep the pre-eminence.

The pre-eminence... That is, be master in thy own house, and part not with thy authority.

33:24. Let no stain sully thy glory. In the time when thou shalt end the days of thy life, and in the time of thy decease, distribute thy inheritance.

33:25. Fodder, and a wand, and a burden are for an ass: bread, and correction, and work for a slave.

33:26. He worketh under correction, and seeketh to rest: let his hands be idle, and he seeketh liberty.

33:27. The yoke and the thong bend a stiff neck, and continual labours bow a slave.

33:28. Torture and fetters are for a malicious slave: send him to work, that he be not idle:

33:29. For idleness hath taught much evil.

33:30. Set him to work: for so it is fit for him. And if he be not obedient, bring him down with fetters, but be not excessive towards any one, and do no grievous thing without judgment.

33:31. If thou have a faithful servant, let him be to thee as thy own soul: treat him as a brother: because in the blood of thy soul thou hast gotten him.

33:32. If thou hurt him unjustly, he will run away:

33:33. And if he rise up and depart, thou knowest not whom to ask, and in what way to seek him.

Ecclesiasticus Chapter 34

The vanity of dreams. The advantage of experience, and of the fear of God.

34:1. The hopes of a man that is void of understanding are vain and deceitful: and dreams lift up fools.

34:2. The man that giveth heed to lying visions, is like to him that catcheth at a shadow, and followeth after the wind.

34:3. The vision of dreams is the resemblance of one thing to another: as when a man's likeness is before the face of a man.

34:4. What can be made clean by the unclean? and what truth can come from that which is false?

34:5. Deceitful divinations and lying omens and the dreams of evildoers, are vanity:

34:6. And the heart fancieth as that of a woman in travail: except it be a vision sent forth from the most High, set not thy heart upon them.

34:7. For dreams have deceived many, and they have failed that put their trust in them.

34:8. The word of the law shall be fulfilled without a lie, and wisdom shall be made plain in the mouth of the faithful.

34:9. What doth he know, that hath not been tried? A man that hath much experience, shall think of many things: and he that hath learned many things, shall shew forth understanding.

34:10. He that hath no experience, knoweth little: and he that hath been experienced in many things, multiplieth prudence.

34:11. He that hath not been tried, what manner of things doth he know? he that hath been surprised, shall abound with subtlety.

34:12. I have seen many things by travelling, and many customs of things.

34:13. Sometimes I have been in danger of death for these things, and I have been delivered by the grace of God.

34:14. The spirit of those that fear God, is sought after, and by his regard shall be blessed.

34:15. For their hope is on him that saveth them, and the eyes of God are upon them that love him.

34:16. He that feareth the Lord shall tremble at nothing, and shall not be afraid: for he is his hope.

34:17. The soul of him that feareth the Lord is blessed.

34:18. To whom doth he look, and who is his strength?

34:19. The eyes of the Lord are upon them that fear him, he is their powerful protector, and strong stay, a defence from the heat, and a cover from the sun at noon,

34:20. A preservation from stumbling, and a help from falling: he raiseth up the soul, and enlighteneth the eyes, and giveth health, and life, and blessing.

34:21. The offering of him that sacrificeth of a thing wrongfully gotten, is stained, and the mockeries of the unjust are not acceptable.

34:22. The Lord is only for them that wait upon him in the way of truth and justice.

34:23. The most High approveth not the gifts of the wicked: neither hath he respect to the oblations of the unjust, nor will he be pacified for sins by the multitude of their sacrifices.

34:24. He that offereth sacrifice of the goods of the poor, is as one that sacrificeth the son in the presence of his father.

34:25. The bread of the needy, is the life of the poor: he that defraudeth them thereof, is a man of blood.

34:26. He that taketh away the bread gotten by sweat, is like him that killeth his neighbour.

34:27. He that sheddeth blood, and he that defraudeth the laborer of his hire, are brothers.

34:28. When one buildeth up, and another pulleth down: what profit have they but the labour?

34:29. When one prayeth, and another curseth: whose voice will God hear?

34:30. He that washeth himself after touching the dead, if he toucheth him again, what doth his washing avail?

34:31. So a man that fasteth for his sins, and doth the same again, what doth his humbling himself profit him? who will hear his prayer?

Ecclesiasticus Chapter 35

What sacrifices are pleasing to God.

35:1. He that keepeth the law, multiplieth offerings.

35:2. It is a wholesome sacrifice to take heed to the commandments, and to depart from all iniquity.

35:3. And to depart from injustice, is to offer a propitiatory sacrifice for injustices, and a begging of pardon for sins.

35:4. He shall return thanks, that offereth fine flour: and he that doth mercy, offereth sacrifice.

35:5. To depart from iniquity is that which pleaseth the Lord, and to depart from injustice, is an entreaty for sins.

35:6. Thou shalt not appear empty in the sight of the Lord.

35:7. For all these things are to be done because of the commandment of God.

35:8. The oblation of the just maketh the altar fat, and is an odour of sweetness in the sight of the most High.

35:9. The sacrifice of the just is acceptable, and the Lord will not forget the memorial thereof.

35:10. Give glory to God with a good heart: and diminish not the firstfruits of thy hands.

35:11. In every gift shew a cheerful countenance, and sanctify thy tithes with joy.

35:12. Give to the most High according to what he hath given to thee, and with a good eye do according to the ability of thy hands:

35:13. For the Lord maketh recompense, and will give thee seven times as much.

35:14. Do not offer wicked gifts, for such he will not receive.

35:15. And look not upon an unjust sacrifice, for the Lord is judge, and there is not with him respect of person.

35:16. The Lord will not accept any person against a poor man, and he will hear the prayer of him that is wronged.

35:17. He will not despise the prayers of the fatherless: nor the widow, when she poureth out her complaint.

35:18. Do not the widow's tears run down the cheek, and her cry against him that causeth them to fall?

35:19. For from the cheek they go up even to heaven, and the Lord that heareth will not be delighted with them.

35:20. He that adoreth God with joy, shall be accepted, and his prayer shall approach even to the clouds.

35:21. The prayer of him that humbleth himself, shall pierce the clouds: and till it come nigh he will not be comforted: and he will not depart till the most High behold.

35:22. And the Lord will not be slack, but will judge for the just, and will do judgment: and the Almighty will not have patience with them, that he may crush their back:

35:23. And he will repay vengeance to the Gentiles, till he have taken away the multitude of the proud, and broken the sceptres of the unjust,

35:24. Till he have rendered to men according to their deeds: and according to the works of Adam, and according to his presumption,

35:25. Till he have judged the cause of his people, and he shall delight the just with his mercy.

35:26. The mercy of God is beautiful in the time of affliction, as a cloud of rain in the time of drought.

Ecclesiasticus Chapter 36

A prayer for the church of God. Of a good heart, and a good wife.

36:1. Have mercy upon us, O God of all, and behold us, and shew us the light of thy mercies:

36:2. And send thy fear upon the nations, that have not sought after thee: that they may know that there is no God beside thee, and that they may shew forth thy wonders.

36:3. Lift up thy hand over the strange nations, that they may see thy power.

36:4. For as thou hast been sanctified in us in their sight, so thou shalt be magnified among them in our presence,

36:5. That they may know thee, as we also have known thee, that there is no God beside thee, O Lord.

36:6. Renew thy signs, and work new miracles.

36:7. Glorify thy hand, and thy right arm.

36:8. Raise up indignation, and pour out wrath.

36:9. Take away the adversary, and crush the enemy.

36:10. Hasten the time, and remember the end, that they may declare thy wonderful works.

36:11. Let him that escapeth be consumed by the rage of the fire: and let them perish that oppress thy people.

36:12. Crush the head of the princes of the enemies that say: There is no other beside us.

36:13. Gather together all the tribes of Jacob: that they may know that there no God besides thee, and may declare thy great works: and thou shalt inherit them as from the beginning.

36:14. Have mercy on thy people, upon whom thy name is invoked: and upon Israel, whom thou hast raised up to be thy firstborn.

36:15. Have mercy on Jerusalem, the city which thou hast sanctified, the city of thy rest.

36:16. Fill Sion with thy unspeakable words, and thy people with thy glory.

36:17. Give testimony to them that are thy creatures from the beginning, and raise up the prophecies which the former prophets spoke in thy name.

36:18. Reward them that patiently wait for thee, that thy prophets may be found faithful: and hear the prayers of thy servants,

36:19. According to the blessing of Aaron over thy people, and direct us into the way of justice, and let all know that dwell upon the earth, that thou art God the beholder of all ages.

36:20. The belly will devour all meat, yet one is better than another.

36:21. The palate tasteth venison and the wise heart false speeches.

36:22. A perverse heart will cause grief, and a man of experience will resist it.

36:23. A woman will receive every man: yet one daughter is better than another.

A woman will receive every man... That is, any man that her parents propose to her to marry, though she does not like him, but marries in obedience to her parents, who make the choice for her.

36:24. The beauty of a woman cheereth the countenance of her husband, and a man desireth nothing more.

36:25. If she have a tongue that can cure, and likewise mitigate and shew mercy: her husband is not like other men.

36:26. He that possesseth a good wife, beginneth a possession: she is a help like to himself, and a pillar of rest.

36:27. Where there is no hedge, the possession shall be spoiled: and where there is no wife, he mourneth that is in want.

36:28. Who will trust him that hath no rest, and that lodgeth wheresoever the night taketh him, as a robber well appointed, that skippeth from city to city.

Ecclesiasticus Chapter 37

Of the choice of friends and counsellors.

37:1. Every friend will say: I also am his friend: but there is a friend, that is only a friend in name. Is not this a grief even to death?

37:2. But a companion and a friend shall be turned to an enemy.

37:3. O wicked presumption, whence camest thou to cover the earth with thy malice, and deceitfulness?

37:4. There is a companion who rejoiceth with his friend in his joys, but in the time of trouble, he will be against him.

37:5. There is a companion who condoleth with his friend for his belly's sake, and he will take up a shield against the enemy.

37:6. Forget not thy friend in thy mind, and be not unmindful of him in thy riches.

37:7. Consult not with him that layeth a snare for thee, and hide thy counsel from them that envy thee.

37:8. Every counsellor giveth out counsel, but there is one that is a counsellor for himself.

37:9. Beware of a counsellor. And know before what need he hath: for he will devise to his own mind:

37:10. Lest he thrust a stake into the ground, and say to thee:

37:11. Thy way is good; and then stand on the other side to see what shall befall thee.

37:12. Treat not with a man without religion concerning holiness, nor with an unjust man concerning justice, nor with a woman touching her of whom she is jealous, nor with a coward concerning war, nor with a merchant about traffic, nor with a buyer of selling, nor with an envious man of giving thanks,

37:13. Nor with the ungodly of piety, nor with the dishonest of honesty, nor with the field laborer of every work,

37:14. Nor with him that worketh by the year of the finishing of the year, nor with an idle servant of much business: give no heed to these in any matter of counsel.

37:15. But be continually with a holy man, whomsoever thou shalt know to observe the fear of God,

37:16. Whose soul is according to thy own soul: and who, when thou shalt stumble in the dark, will be sorry for thee.

37:17. And establish within thyself a heart of good counsel: for there is no other thing of more worth to thee than it.

37:18. The soul of a holy man discovereth sometimes true things, more than seven watchmen that sit in a high place to watch.

37:19. But above all these things pray to the most High, that he may direct thy way in truth.

37:20. In all thy works let the true word go before thee, and steady counsel before every action.

37:21. A wicked word shall change the heart: out of which four manner of things arise, good and evil, life and death: and the tongue is continually the ruler of them. There is a man that is subtle and a teacher of many, and yet is unprofitable to his own soul.

37:22. A skilful man hath taught many, and is sweet to his own soul.

37:23. He that speaketh sophistically, is hateful: he shall be destitute of every thing.

37:24. Grace is not given him from the Lord: for he is deprived of all wisdom.

37:25. There is a wise man that is wise to his own soul: and the fruit of his understanding is commendable.

37:26. A wise man instructeth his own people, and the fruits of his understanding are faithful.

37:27. A wise man shall be filled with blessings, and they that see shall praise him.

37:28. The life of a man is in the number of his days: but the days of Israel are innumerable.

37:29. A wise man shall inherit honour among his people, and his name shall live for ever.

37:30. My son, prove thy soul in thy life: and if it be wicked, give it no power:

37:31. For all things are not expedient for all, and every kind pleaseth not every soul.

37:32. Be not greedy in any feasting, and pour not out thyself upon any meat:

37:33. For in many meats there will be sickness, and greediness will turn to choler.

37:34. By surfeiting many have perished, but he that is temperate, shall prolong life.

Ecclesiasticus Chapter 38