Chapter 27

27:9. If thou followest justice, thou shalt obtain her: and shalt put her on as a long robe of honour, and thou shalt dwell with her: and she shall protect thee for ever, and in the day of acknowledgment thou shalt find a strong foundation.

27:10. Birds resort unto their like: so truth will return to them that practise her.

27:11. The lion always lieth in wait for prey: so do sins for them that work iniquities.

27:12. A holy man continueth in wisdom as the sun: but a fool is changed as the moon.

27:13. In the midst of the unwise keep in the word till its time: but be continually among men that think.

27:14. The discourse of sinners is hateful, and their laughter is at the pleasures of sin.

27:15. The speech that sweareth much shall make the hair of the head stand upright: and its irreverence shall make one stop his ears.

27:16. In the quarrels of the road is the shedding of blood: and their cursing is a grievous hearing.

27:17. He that discloseth the secret of a friend loseth his credit, and shall never find a friend to his mind.

27:18. Love thy neighbour, and be joined to him with fidelity.

27:19. But if thou discover his secrets, follow no more after him.

27:20. For as a man that destroyeth his friend, so is he that destroyeth the friendship of his neighbour.

27:21. And as one that letteth a bird go out of his hand, so hast thou let thy neighbour go, and thou shalt not get him again.

27:22. Follow after him no more, for he is gone afar off, he is fled, as a roe escaped out of the snare because his soul is wounded.

27:23. Thou canst no more bind him up. And of a curse there is reconciliation:

And of a curse there is reconciliation. . .That is, it is easier to obtain a reconciliation after a curse, than after disclosing a secret.

27:24. But to disclose the secrets of a friend, leaveth no hope to an unhappy soul.

27:25. He that winketh with the eye forgeth wicked things, and no man will cast him off:

27:26. In the sight of thy eyes he will sweeten his mouth, and will admire thy words: but at the last he will writhe his mouth, and on thy words he will lay a stumblingblock.

27:27. I have hated many things but not like him, and the Lord will hate him.

27:28. If one cast a stone on high, it will fall upon his own head: and the deceitful stroke will wound the deceitful.

27:29. He that diggeth a pit, shall fall into it: and he that setteth a stone for his neighbour, shall stumble upon it: and he that layeth a snare for another, shall perish in it.

27:30. A mischievous counsel shall be rolled back upon the author, and he shall not know from whence it cometh to him.

27:31. Mockery and reproach are of the proud, and vengeance as a lion shall lie in wait for him.

27:32. They shall perish in a snare that are delighted with the fall of the just: and sorrow shall consume them before they die.

27:33. Anger and fury are both of them abominable, and the sinful man shall be subject to them.

Ecclesiasticus Chapter 28

Lessons against revenge and quarrels. The evils of the tongue.

28:1. He that seeketh to revenge himself, shall find vengeance from the Lord, and he will surely keep his sins in remembrance.

28:2. Forgive thy neighbour if he hath hurt thee: and then shall thy sins be forgiven to thee when thou prayest.

28:3. Man to man reserveth anger, and doth he seek remedy of God?

28:4. He hath no mercy on a man like himself, and doth he entreat for his own sins?

28:5. He that is but flesh, nourisheth anger, and doth he ask forgiveness of God? who shall obtain pardon for his sins?

28:6. Remember thy last things, and let enmity cease:

28:7. For corruption and death hang over in his commandments.

In his commandments. . .Supply the sentence out of the Greek thus: Remember corruption and death, and abide in the commandments.

28:8. Remember the fear of God, and be not angry with thy neighbour.

28:9. Remember the covenant of the most High, and overlook the ignorance of thy neighbour.

28:10. Refrain from strife, and thou shalt diminish thy sins.

28:11. For a passionate man kindleth strife, and a sinful man will trouble his friends, and bring in debate in the midst of them that are at peace.

28:12. For as the wood of the forest is, so the fire burneth, and as a man's strength is, so shall his anger be, and according to his riches he shall increase his anger.

28:13. A hasty contention kindleth a fire and a hasty quarrel sheddeth blood and a tongue that beareth witness bringeth death.

28:14. If thou blow the spark, it shall burn as a fire: and if thou spit upon it, it shall be quenched: both come out of the mouth.

28:15. The whisperer and the double tongue is accursed: for he hath troubled many that were at peace.

28:16. The tongue of a third person hath disquieted many, and scattered them from nation to nation.

28:17. It hath destroyed the strong cities of the rich, and hath overthrown the houses of great men.

28:18. It hath cut in pieces the forces of people, and undone strong nations.

28:19. The tongue of a third person hath cast out valiant women, and deprived them of their labours.

28:20. He that hearkeneth to it, shall never have rest, neither shall he have a friend in whom he may repose.

28:21. The stroke of a whip maketh a blue mark: but the stroke of the tongue will break the bones.

28:22. Many have fallen by the edge of the sword, but not so many as have perished by their own tongue.

28:23. Blessed is he that is defended from a wicked tongue, that hath not passed into the wrath thereof, and that hath not drawn the yoke thereof, and hath not been bound in its bands.

28:24. For its yoke is a yoke of iron: and its bands are bands of brass.

28:25. The death thereof is a most evil death: and hell is preferable to it.

28:26. Its continuance shall not be for a long time, but it shall possess the ways of the unjust: and the just shall not be burnt with its flame.

28:27. They that forsake God shall fall into it, and it shall burn in them, and shall not be quenched, and it shall be sent upon them as a lion, and as a leopard it shall tear them.

28:28. Hedge in thy ears with thorns, hear not a wicked tongue, and make doors and bars to thy mouth.

28:29. Melt down thy gold and silver, and make a balance for thy words, and a just bridle for thy mouth:

28:30. And take heed lest thou slip with thy tongue, and fall in the sight of thy enemies who lie in wait for thee, and thy fall be incurable unto death.

Ecclesiasticus Chapter 29

Of charity in lending money, and justice in repaying. Of alms, and of being surety.

29:1. He that sheweth mercy, lendeth to his neighbour: and he that is stronger in hand, keepeth the commandments.

And he that is stronger in hand. . .That is, he that is hearty and bountiful in lending to his neighbour in his necessity.

29:2. Lend to thy neighbour in the time of his need, and pay thou thy neighbour again in due time.

29:3. Keep thy word, and deal faithfully with him: and thou shalt always find that which is necessary for thee.

29:4. Many have looked upon a thing lent as a thing found, and have given trouble to them that helped them.

29:5. Till they receive, they kiss the hands of the lender, and in promises they humble their voice:

29:6. But when they should repay, they will ask time, and will return tedious and murmuring words, and will complain of the time:

29:7. And if he be able to pay, he will stand off, he will scarce pay one half, and will count it as if he had found it:

29:8. But if not, he will defraud him of his money, and he shall get him for an enemy without cause.

29:9. And he will pay him with reproaches and curses, and instead of honour and good turn will repay him injuries.

29:10. Many have refused to lend, not out of wickedness, but they were afraid to be defrauded without cause.

29:11. But yet towards the poor be thou more hearty, and delay not to shew him mercy.

29:12. Help the poor because of the commandment: and send him not away empty handed because of his poverty.

29:13. Lose thy money for thy brother and thy friend: and hide it not under a stone to be lost.

29:14. Place thy treasure in the commandments of the most High, and it shall bring thee more profit than gold.

29:15. Shut up alms in the heart of the poor, and it shall obtain help for thee against all evil.

29:16. Better than the shield of the mighty, and better than the spear:

29:17. It shall fight for thee against thy enemy.

29:18. A good man is surety for his neighbour: and he that hath lost shame, will leave him to himself.

29:19. Forget not the kindness of thy surety: for he hath given his life for thee.

29:20. The sinner and the unclean fleeth from his surety.

29:21. A sinner attributeth to himself the goods of his surety: and he that is of an unthankful mind will leave him that delivered him.

29:22. A man is surety for his neighbour: and when he hath lost all shame, he shall forsake him.

29:23. Evil suretyship hath undone many of good estate, and hath tossed them as a wave of the sea.

29:24. It hath made powerful men to go from place to place round about, and they have wandered in strange countries.

29:25. A sinner that transgresseth the commandment of the Lord, shall fall into an evil suretyship: and he that undertaketh many things, shall fall into judgment.

29:26. Recover thy neighbour according to thy power, and take heed to thyself that thou fall not.

29:27. The chief thing for man's life is water and bread, and clothing, and a house to cover shame.

29:28. Better is the poor man's fare under a roof of boards, than sumptuous cheer abroad in another man's house.

29:29. Be contented with little instead of much, and thou shalt not hear the reproach of going abroad.

29:30. It is a miserable life to go as a guest from house to house: for where a man is a stranger, he shall not deal confidently, nor open his mouth.

29:31. He shall entertain and feed, and give drink to the unthankful, and moreover he shall hear bitter words.

29:32. Go, stranger, and furnish the table, and give others to eat what thou hast in thy hand.

29:33. Give place to the honourable presence of my friends: for I want my house, my brother being to be lodged with me.

29:34. These things are grievous to a man of understanding: the upbraiding of houseroom, and the reproaching of the lender.

Ecclesiasticus Chapter 30

Of correction of children. Health is better than wealth. Excessive grief is hurtful.

30:1. He that loveth his son, frequently chastiseth him, that he may rejoice in his latter end, and not grope after the doors of his neighbours.

30:2. He that instructeth his son shall be praised in him, and shall glory in him in the midst of them of his household.

30:3. He that teacheth his son, maketh his enemy jealous, and in the midst of his friends he shall glory in him.

30:4. His father is dead, and he is as if he were not dead: for he hath left one behind him that is like himself.

30:5. While he lived he saw and rejoiced in him: and when he died he was not sorrowful, neither was he confounded before his enemies.

30:6. For he left behind him a defender of his house against his enemies, and one that will requite kindness to his friends.

30:7. For the souls of his sons he shall bind up his wounds, and at every cry his bowels shall be troubled.

30:8. A horse not broken becometh stubborn, and a child left to himself will become headstrong.

30:9. Give thy son his way, and he shall make thee afraid: play with him, and he shall make thee sorrowful.

30:10. Laugh not with him, lest thou have sorrow, and at the last thy teeth be set on edge.

30:11. Give him not liberty in his youth, and wink not at his devices.

30:12. Bow down his neck while he is young, and beat his sides while he is a child, lest he grow stubborn, and regard thee not, and so be a sorrow of heart to thee.

30:13. Instruct thy son, and labour about him, lest his lewd behaviour be an offence to thee.

30:14. Better is a poor man who is sound, and strong of constitution, than a rich man who is weak and afflicted with evils.

30:15. Health of the soul in holiness of justice, is better than all gold and silver: and a sound body, than immense revenues.

30:16. There is no riches above the riches of the health of the body: and there is no pleasure above the joy of the heart.

30:17. Better is death than a bitter life, and everlasting rest, than continual sickness.

30:18. Good things that are hidden in a mouth that is shut, are as messes of meat set about a grave.

30:19. What good shall an offering do to an idol? for it can neither eat, nor smell:

30:20. So is he that is persecuted by the Lord, bearing the reward of his iniquity:

30:21. He seeth with his eyes, and groaneth, as an eunuch embracing a virgin, and sighing.

30:22. Give not up thy soul to sadness, and afflict not thyself in thy own counsel.

30:23. The joyfulness of the heart, is the life of a man, and a never failing treasure of holiness: and the joy of a man is length of life.

30:24. Have pity on thy own soul, pleasing God, and contain thyself: gather up thy heart in his holiness: and drive away sadness far from thee.

30:25. For sadness hath killed many, and there is no profit in it.

30:26. Envy and anger shorten a man's days, and pensiveness will bring old age before the time.

30:27. A cheerful and good heart is always feasting: for his banquets are prepared with diligence.

Ecclesiasticus Chapter 31

Of the desire of riches, and of moderation in eating and drinking.

31:1. Watching for riches consumeth the flesh, and the thought thereof driveth away sleep.

31:2. The thinking beforehand turneth away the understanding, and a grievous sickness maketh the soul sober.

31:3. The rich man hath laboured in gathering riches together, and when he resteth he shall be filled with his goods.

31:4. The poor man hath laboured in his low way of life, and in the end he is still poor.

31:5. He that loveth gold, shall not be justified: and he that followeth after corruption, shall be filled with it.

31:6. Many have been brought to fall for gold, and the beauty thereof hath been their ruin.

31:7. Gold is a stumblingblock to them that sacrifice to it: woe to them that eagerly follow after it, and every fool shall perish by it.

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.