Chapter 28

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

Of physicians and medicines: what is to be done in sickness, and how we are to mourn for the dead. Of the employments of labourers and artificers.

38:1. Honour the physician for the need thou hast of him: for the most High hath created him.

38:2. For all healing is from God, and he shall receive gifts of the king.

38:3. The skill of the physician shall lift up his head, and in the sight of great men he shall be praised.

38:4. The most High hath created medicines out of the earth, and a wise man will not abhor them.

38:5. Was not bitter water made sweet with wood?

38:6. The virtue of these things is come to the knowledge of men, and the most High hath given knowledge to men, that he may be honoured in his wonders.

38:7. By these he shall cure and shall allay their pains, and of these the apothecary shall make sweet confections, and shall make up ointments of health, and of his works there shall be no end.

38:8. For the peace of God is over all the face of the earth.

38:9. My son, in thy sickness neglect not thyself, but pray to the Lord, and he shall heal thee.

38:10. Turn away from sin and order thy hands aright, and cleanse thy heart from all offence.

38:11. Give a sweet savour, and a memorial of fine flour, and make a fat offering, and then give place to the physician.

38:12. For the Lord created him: and let him not depart from thee, for his works are necessary.

38:13. For there is a time when thou must fall into their hands:

38:14. And they shall beseech the Lord, that he would prosper what they give for ease and remedy, for their conversation.

38:15. He that sinneth in the sight of his Maker, shall fall into the hands of the physician.

38:16. My son, shed tears over the dead, and begin to lament as if thou hadst suffered some great harm, and according to judgment cover his body, and neglect not his burial.

38:17. And for fear of being ill spoken of weep bitterly for a day, and then comfort thyself in thy sadness.

38:18. And make mourning for him according to his merit for a day, or two, for fear of detraction.

38:19. For of sadness cometh death, and it overwhelmeth the strength, and the sorrow of the heart boweth down the neck.

38:20. In withdrawing aside sorrow remaineth: and the substance of the poor is according to his heart.

38:21. Give not up thy heart to sadness, but drive it from thee: and remember the latter end.

38:22. Forget it not: for there is no returning, and thou shalt do him no good, and shalt hurt thyself.

38:23. Remember my judgment: for thine also shall be so: yesterday for me, and to day for thee.

38:24. When the dead is at rest, let his remembrance rest, and comfort him in the departing of his spirit.

38:25. The wisdom of a scribe cometh by his time of leisure: and he that is less in action, shall receive wisdom.

A scribe. . .That is, a doctor of the law, or, a learned man.

38:26. With what wisdom shall he be furnished that holdeth the plough, and that glorieth in the goad, that driveth the oxen therewith, and is occupied in their labours, and his whole talk is about the offspring of bulls?

38:27. He shall give his mind to turn up furrows, and his care is to give the kine fodder.

38:28. So every craftsman and workmaster that laboureth night and day, he who maketh graven seals, and by his continual diligence varieth the figure: he shall give his mind to the resemblance of the picture, and by his watching shall finish the work.

38:29. So doth the smith sitting by the anvil and considering the iron work. The vapour of the fire wasteth his flesh, and he fighteth with the heat of the furnace.

38:30. The noise of the hammer is always in his ears, and his eye is upon the pattern of the vessel he maketh.

38:31. He setteth his mind to finish his work, and his watching to polish them to perfection.

38:32. So doth the potter sitting at his work, turning the wheel about with his feet, who is always carefully set to his work, and maketh all his work by number:

38:33. He fashioneth the clay with his arm, and boweth down his strength before his feet:

38:34. He shall give his mind to finish the glazing, and his watching to make clean the furnace.

38:35. All these trust to their hands, and every one is wise in his own art.

38:36. Without these a city is not built.

38:37. And they shall not dwell, nor walk about therein, and they shall not go up into the assembly.

38:38. Upon the judges' seat they shall not sit, and the ordinance of judgment they shall not understand, neither shall they declare discipline and judgment, and they shall not be found where parables are spoken:

38:39. But they shall strengthen the state of the world, and their prayer shall be in the work of their craft, applying their soul, and searching in the law of the most High.

Ecclesiasticus Chapter 39

The exercises of the wise man. The Lord is to be glorified for his works.

39:1. The wise man will seek out the wisdom of all the ancients, and will be occupied in the prophets.

39:2. He will keep the sayings of renowned men, and will enter withal into the subtilties of parables.

39:3. He will search out the hidden meanings of proverbs, and will be conversant in the secrets of parables.

39:4. He shall serve among great men, and appear before the governor.

39:5. He shall pass into strange countries: for he shall try good and evil among men.

39:6. He will give his heart to resort early to the Lord that made him, and he will pray in the sight of the most High.

39:7. He will open his mouth in prayer, and will make supplication for his sins.

39:8. For if it shall please the great Lord, he will fill him with the spirit of understanding:

39:9. And he will pour forth the words of his wisdom as showers, and in his prayer he will confess to the Lord.

39:10. And he shall direct his counsel, and his knowledge, and in his secrets shall he meditate.

39:11. He shall shew forth the discipline he hath learned, and shall glory in the law of the covenant of the Lord.

39:12. Many shall praise his wisdom, and it shall never be forgotten.

39:13. The memory of him shall not depart away, and his name shall be in request from generation to generation.

39:14. Nations shall declare his wisdom, and the church shall shew forth his praise.

39:15. If he continue, he shall leave a name above a thousand: and if he rest, it shall be to his advantage.

39:16. I will yet meditate that I may declare: for I am filled as with a holy transport.

39:17. By a voice he saith: Hear me, ye divine offspring, and bud forth as the rose planted by the brooks of waters.

Ye divine offspring. . .He speaks to the children of Israel, the people of God: whom he exhorts to bud forth and flourish with virtue.

39:18. Give ye a sweet odour as frankincense.

39:19. Send forth flowers, as the lily, and yield a smell, and bring forth leaves in grace, and praise with canticles, and bless the Lord in his works.

39:20. Magnify his name, and give glory to him with the voice of your lips, and with the canticles of your mouths, and with harps, and in praising him, you shall say in this manner:

39:21. All the works of the Lord are exceeding good.

39:22. At his word the waters stood as a heap: and at the words of his mouth the receptacles of waters:

39:23. For at his commandment favour is shewn, and there is no diminishing of his salvation.

39:24. The works of all flesh are before him, and there is nothing hid from his eyes.

39:25. He seeth from eternity to eternity, and there is nothing wonderful before him.

39:26. There is no saying: What is this, or what is that? for all things shall be sought in their time.

39:27. His blessing hath overflowed like a river.

39:28. And as a flood hath watered the earth; so shall his wrath inherit the nations, that have not sought after him.

39:29. Even as he turned the waters into a dry land, and the earth was made dry: and his ways were made plain for their journey: so to sinners they are stumblingblocks in his wrath.

39:30. Good things were created for the good from the beginning, so for the wicked, good and evil things.

39:31. The principal things necessary for the life of men, are water, fire, and iron, salt, milk, and bread of flour, and honey, and the cluster of the grape, and oil, and clothing.

39:32. All these things shall be for good to the holy, so to the sinners and the ungodly they shall be turned into evil.

39:33. There are spirits that are created for vengeance, and in their fury they lay on grievous torments.

39:34. In the time of destruction they shall pour out their force: and they shall appease the wrath of him that made them.

39:35. Fire, hail, famine, and death, all these were created for vengeance.

39:36. The teeth of beasts, and scorpions, and serpents, and the sword taking vengeance upon the ungodly unto destruction.

39:37. In his commandments they shall feast, and they shall be ready upon earth when need is, and when their time is come they shall not transgress his word.

39:38. Therefore from the beginning I was resolved, and I have meditated, and thought on these things and left them in writing,

39:39. All the works of the Lord are good, and he will furnish every work in due time.

39:40. It is not to be said: This is worse than that: for all shall be well approved in their time.

39:41. Now therefore with the whole heart and mouth praise ye him, and bless the name of the Lord.

Ecclesiasticus Chapter 40

The miseries of the life of man are relieved by the grace of God and his fear.