{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/apo/sir.htm","path":"chr/apo/sir.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/apo/sir.htm","text":"Sir 1\nAll wisdom cometh from the Lord, and is with him for ever.\n2\nWho can number the sand of the sea, and the drops of rain,\nand the days of eternity?\n3\nWho can find out the height of heaven, and the breadth of the\nearth, and the deep, and wisdom?\n4\nWisdom hath been created before all things, and the\nunderstanding of prudence from everlasting.\n5\nThe word of God most high is the fountain of wisdom; and her\nways are everlasting commandments.\n6\nTo whom hath the root of wisdom been revealed? or who hath\nknown her wise counsels?\n7\n[Unto whom hath the knowledge of wisdom been made manifest?\nand who hath understood her great experience?]\n8\nThere is one wise and greatly to be feared, the Lord sitting\nupon his throne.\n9\nHe created her, and saw her, and numbered her, and poured her\nout upon all his works.\n10\nShe is with all flesh according to his gift, and he hath\ngiven her to them that love him.\n11\nThe fear of the Lord is honour, and glory, and gladness, and\na crown of rejoicing.\n12\nThe fear of the Lord maketh a merry heart, and giveth joy,\nand gladness, and a long life.\n13\nWhoso feareth the Lord, it shall go well with him at the\nlast, and he shall find favour in the day of his death.\n14\nTo fear the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and it was\ncreated with the faithful in the womb.\n15\nShe hath built an everlasting foundation with men, and she\nshall continue with their seed.\n16\nTo fear the Lord is fulness of wisdom, and filleth men with\nher fruits.\n17\nShe filleth all their house with things desirable, and the\ngarners with her increase.\n18\nThe fear of the Lord is a crown of wisdom, making peace and\nperfect health to flourish; both which are the gifts of God: and\nit enlargeth their rejoicing that love him.\n19\nWisdom raineth down skill and knowledge of understanding\nstanding, and exalteth them to honour that hold her fast.\n20\nThe root of wisdom is to fear the Lord, and the branches\nthereof are long life.\n21\nThe fear of the Lord driveth away sins: and where it is\npresent, it turneth away wrath.\n22\nA furious man cannot be justified; for the sway of his fury\nshall be his destruction.\n23\nA patient man will tear for a time, and afterward joy shall\nspring up unto him.\n24\nHe will hide his words for a time, and the lips of many shall\ndeclare his wisdom.\n25\nThe parables of knowledge are in the treasures of wisdom: but\ngodliness is an abomination to a sinner.\n26\nIf thou desire wisdom, keep the commandments, and the Lord\nshall give her unto thee.\n27\nFor the fear of the Lord is wisdom and instruction: and faith\nand meekness are his delight.\n28\nDistrust not the fear of the Lord when thou art poor: and\ncome not unto him with a double heart.\n29\nBe not an hypocrite in the sight of men, and take good heed\nwhat thou speakest.\n30\nExalt not thyself, lest thou fall, and bring dishonour upon\nthy soul, and so God discover thy secrets, and cast thee down in\nthe midst of the congregation, because thou camest not in truth\nto the fear of the Lord, but thy heart is full of deceit.\nSir 2\nMy son, if thou come to serve the Lord, prepare thy soul for\ntemptation.\n2\nSet thy heart aright, and constantly endure, and make not\nhaste in time of trouble.\n3\nCleave unto him, and depart not away, that thou mayest be\nincreased at thy last end.\n4\nWhatsoever is brought upon thee take cheerfully, and be\npatient when thou art changed to a low estate.\n5\nFor gold is tried in the fire, and acceptable men in the\nfurnace of adversity.\n6\nBelieve in him, and he will help thee; order thy way aright,\nand trust in him.\n7\nYe that fear the Lord, wait for his mercy; and go not aside,\nlest ye fall.\n8\nYe that fear the Lord, believe him; and your reward shall not\nfail.\n9\nYe that fear the Lord, hope for good, and for everlasting joy\nand mercy.\n10\nLook at the generations of old, and see; did ever any trust\nin the Lord, and was confounded? or did any abide in his fear,\nand was forsaken? or whom did he ever despise, that called upon\nhim?\n11\nFor the Lord is full of compassion and mercy, longsuffering,\nand very pitiful, and forgiveth sins, and saveth in time of\naffliction.\n12\nWoe be to fearful hearts, and faint hands, and the sinner\nthat goeth two ways!\n13\nWoe unto him that is fainthearted! for he believeth not;\ntherefore shall he not be defended.\n14\nWoe unto you that have lost patience! and what will ye do\nwhen the Lord shall visit you?\n15\nThey that fear the Lord will not disobey his Word; and they\nthat love him will keep his ways.\n16\nThey that fear the Lord will seek that which is well,\npleasing unto him; and they that love him shall be filled with\nthe law.\n17\nThey that fear the Lord will prepare their hearts, and humble\ntheir souls in his sight,\n18\nSaying, We will fall into the hands of the Lord, and not into\nthe hands of men: for as his majesty is, so is his mercy.\nSir 3\nHear me your father, O children, and do thereafter, that ye\nmay be safe.\n2\nFor the Lord hath given the father honour over the children,\nand hath confirmed the authority of the mother over the sons.\n3\nWhoso honoureth his father maketh an atonement for his sins:\n4\nAnd he that honoureth his mother is as one that layeth up\ntreasure.\n5\nWhoso honoureth his father shall have joy of his own\nchildren; and when he maketh his prayer, he shall be heard.\n6\nHe that honoureth his father shall have a long life; and he\nthat is obedient unto the Lord shall be a comfort to his mother.\n7\nHe that feareth the Lord will honour his father, and will do\nservice unto his parents, as to his masters.\n8\nHonour thy father and mother both in word and deed, that a\nblessing may come upon thee from them.\n9\nFor the blessing of the father establisheth the houses of\nchildren; but the curse of the mother rooteth out foundations.\n10\nGlory not in the dishonour of thy father; for thy father's\ndishonour is no glory unto thee.\n11\nFor the glory of a man is from the honour of his father; and\na mother in dishonour is a reproach to the children.\n12\nMy son, help thy father in his age, and grieve him not as\nlong as he liveth.\n13\nAnd if his understanding fail, have patience with him; and\ndespise him not when thou art in thy full strength.\n14\nFor the relieving of thy father shall not be forgotten: and\ninstead of sins it shall be added to build thee up.\n15\nIn the day of thine affliction it shall be remembered; thy\nsins also shall melt away, as the ice in the fair warm weather.\n16\nHe that forsaketh his father is as a blasphemer; and he that\nangereth his mother is cursed: of God.\n17\nMy son, go on with thy business in meekness; so shalt thou be\nbeloved of him that is approved.\n18\nThe greater thou art, the more humble thyself, and thou shalt\nfind favour before the Lord.\n19\nMany are in high place, and of renown: but mysteries are\nrevealed unto the meek.\n20\nFor the power of the Lord is great, and he is honoured of the\nlowly.\n21\nSeek not out things that are too hard for thee, neither\nsearch the things that are above thy strength.\n22\nBut what is commanded thee, think thereupon with reverence,\nfor it is not needful for thee to see with thine eyes the things\nthat are in secret.\n23\nBe not curious in unnecessary matters: for more things are\nshewed unto thee than men understand.\n24\nFor many are deceived by their own vain opinion; and an evil\nsuspicion hath overthrown their judgment.\n25\nWithout eyes thou shalt want light: profess not the knowledge\ntherefore that thou hast not.\n26\nA stubborn heart shall fare evil at the last; and he that\nloveth danger shall perish therein.\n27\nAn obstinate heart shall be laden with sorrows; and the\nwicked man shall heap sin upon sin.\n28\nIn the punishment of the proud there is no remedy; for the\nplant of wickedness hath taken root in him.\n29\nThe heart of the prudent will understand a parable; and an\nattentive ear is the desire of a wise man.\n30\nWater will quench a flaming fire; and alms maketh an\natonement for sins.\n31\nAnd he that requiteth good turns is mindful of that which may\ncome hereafter; and when he falleth, he shall find a stay.\nSir 4\nMy son, defraud not the poor of his living, and make not the\nneedy eyes to wait long.\n2\nMake not an hungry soul sorrowful; neither provoke a man in\nhis distress.\n3\nAdd not more trouble to an heart that is vexed; and defer not\nto give to him that is in need.\n4\nReject not the supplication of the afflicted; neither turn\naway thy face from a poor man.\n5\nTurn not away thine eye from the needy, and give him none\noccasion to curse thee:\n6\nFor if he curse thee in the bitterness of his soul, his\nprayer shall be heard of him that made him.\n7\nGet thyself the love of the congregation, and bow thy head to\na great man.\n8\nLet it not grieve thee to bow down thine ear to the poor, and\ngive him a friendly answer with meekness.\n9\nDeliver him that suffereth wrong from the hand of the\noppressor; and be not fainthearted when thou sittest in\njudgment.\n10\nBe as a father unto the fatherless, and instead of an husband\nunto their mother: so shalt thou be as the son of the most High,\nand he shall love thee more than thy mother doth.\n11\nWisdom exalteth her children, and layeth hold of them that\nseek her.\n12\nHe that loveth her loveth life; and they that seek to her\nearly shall be filled with joy.\n13\nHe that holdeth her fast shall inherit glory; and wheresoever\nshe entereth, the Lord will bless.\n14\nThey that serve her shall minister to the Holy One: and them\nthat love her the Lord doth love.\n15\nWhoso giveth ear unto her shall judge the nations: and he\nthat attendeth unto her shall dwell securely.\n16\nIf a man commit himself unto her, he shall inherit her; and\nhis generation shall hold her in possession.\n17\nFor at the first she will walk with him by crooked ways, and\nbring fear and dread upon him, and torment him with her\ndiscipline, until she may trust his soul, and try him by her\nlaws.\n18\nThen will she return the straight way unto him, and comfort\nhim, and shew him her secrets.\n19\nBut if he go wrong, she will forsake him, and give him over\nto his own ruin.\n20\nObserve the opportunity, and beware of evil; and be not\nashamed when it concerneth thy soul.\n21\nFor there is a shame that bringeth sin; and there is a shame\nwhich is glory and grace.\n22\nAccept no person against thy soul, and let not the reverence\nof any man cause thee to fall.\n23\nAnd refrain not to speak, when there is occasion to do good,\nand hide not thy wisdom in her beauty.\n24\nFor by speech wisdom shall be known: and learning by the word\nof the tongue.\n25\nIn no wise speak against the truth; but be abashed of the\nerror of thine ignorance.\n26\nBe not ashamed to confess thy sins; and force not the course\nof the river.\n27\nMake not thyself an underling to a foolish man; neither\naccept the person of the mighty.\n28\nStrive for the truth unto death, and the Lord shall fight for\nthee.\n29\nBe not hasty in thy tongue, and in thy deeds slack and\nremiss.\n30\nBe not as a lion in thy house, nor frantick among thy\nservants.\n31\nLet not thine hand be stretched out to receive, and shut when\nthou shouldest repay.\nSir 5\nSet thy heart upon thy goods; and say not, I have enough for\nmy life.\n2\nFollow not thine own mind and thy strength, to walk in the\nways of thy heart:\n3\nAnd say not, Who shall controul me for my works? for the Lord\nwill surely revenge thy pride.\n4\nSay not, I have sinned, and what harm hath happened unto me?\nfor the Lord is longsuffering, he will in no wise let thee go.\n5\nConcerning propitiation, be not without fear to add sin unto\nsin:\n6\nAnd say not His mercy is great; he will be pacified for the\nmultitude of my sins: for mercy and wrath come from him, and his\nindignation resteth upon sinners.\n7\nMake no tarrying to turn to the Lord, and put not off from\nday to day: for suddenly shall the wrath of the Lord come forth,\nand in thy security thou shalt be destroyed, and perish in the\nday of vengeance.\n8\nSet not thine heart upon goods unjustly gotten, for they\nshall not profit thee in the day of calamity.\n9\nWinnow not with every wind, and go not into every way: for so\ndoth the sinner that hath a double tongue.\n10\nBe stedfast in thy understanding; and let thy word be the\nsame.\n11\nBe swift to hear; and let thy life be sincere; and with\npatience give answer.\n12\nIf thou hast understanding, answer thy neighbour; if not, lay\nthy hand upon thy mouth.\n13\nHonour and shame is in talk: and the tongue of man is his\nfall.\n14\nBe not called a whisperer, and lie not in wait with thy\ntongue: for a foul shame is upon the thief, and an evil\ncondemnation upon the double tongue.\n15\nBe not ignorant of any thing in a great matter or a small.\nSir 6\nInstead of a friend become not an enemy; for [thereby] thou\nshalt inherit an ill name, shame, and reproach: even so shall a\nsinner that hath a double tongue.\n2\nExtol not thyself in the counsel of thine own heart; that thy\nsoul be not torn in pieces as a bull [straying alone.]\n3\nThou shalt eat up thy leaves, and lose thy fruit, and leave\nthyself as a dry tree.\n4\nA wicked soul shall destroy him that hath it, and shall make\nhim to be laughed to scorn of his enemies.\n5\nSweet language will multiply friends: and a fairspeaking\ntongue will increase kind greetings.\n6\nBe in peace with many: nevertheless have but one counsellor\nof a thousand.\n7\nIf thou wouldest get a friend, prove him first and be not\nhasty to credit him.\n8\nFor some man is a friend for his own occasion, and will not\nabide in the day of thy trouble.\n9\nAnd there is a friend, who being turned to enmity, and strife\nwill discover thy reproach.\n10\nAgain, some friend is a companion at the table, and will not\ncontinue in the day of thy affliction.\n11\nBut in thy prosperity he will be as thyself, and will be bold\nover thy servants.\n12\nIf thou be brought low, he will be against thee, and will\nhide himself from thy face.\n13\nSeparate thyself from thine enemies, and take heed of thy\nfriends.\n14\nA faithfull friend is a strong defence: and he that hath\nfound such an one hath found a treasure.\n15\nNothing doth countervail a faithful friend, and his\nexcellency is invaluable.\n16\nA faithful friend is the medicine of life; and they that fear\nthe Lord shall find him.\n17\nWhoso feareth the Lord shall direct his friendship aright:\nfor as he is, so shall his neighbour be also.\n18\nMy son, gather instruction from thy youth up: so shalt thou\nfind wisdom till thine old age.\n19\nCome unto her as one that ploweth and soweth, and wait for\nher good fruits: for thou shalt not toil much in labouring about\nher, but thou shalt eat of her fruits right soon.\n20\nShe is very unpleasant to the unlearned: he that is without\nunderstanding will not remain with her.\n21\nShe will lie upon him as a mighty stone of trial; and he will\ncast her from him ere it be long.\n22\nFor wisdom is according to her name, and she is not manifest\nunto many.\n23\nGive ear, my son, receive my advice, and refuse not my\ncounsel,\n24\nAnd put thy feet into her fetters, and thy neck into her\nchain.\n25\nBow down thy shoulder, and bear her, and be not grieved with\nher bonds.\n26\nCome unto her with thy whole heart, and keep her ways with\nall thy power.\n27\nSearch, and seek, and she shall be made known unto thee: and\nwhen thou hast got hold of her, let her not go.\n28\nFor at the last thou shalt find her rest, and that shall be\nturned to thy joy.\n29\nThen shall her fetters be a strong defence for thee, and her\nchains a robe of glory.\n30\nFor there is a golden ornament upon her, and her bands are\npurple lace.\n31\nThou shalt put her on as a robe of honour, and shalt put her\nabout thee as a crown of joy.\n32\nMy son, if thou wilt, thou shalt be taught: and if thou wilt\napply thy mind, thou shalt be prudent.\n33\nIf thou love to hear, thou shalt receive understanding: and\nif thou bow thine ear, thou shalt be wise,\n34\nStand in the multitude of the elders; and cleave unto him\nthat is wise.\n35\nBe willing to hear every godly discourse; and let not the\nparables of understanding escape thee.\n36\nAnd if thou seest a man of understanding, get thee betimes\nunto him, and let thy foot wear the steps of his door.\n37\nLet thy mind be upon the ordinances of the Lord and meditate\ncontinually in his commandments: he shall establish thine heart,\nand give thee wisdom at thine owns desire.\nSir 7\nDo no evil, so shall no harm come unto thee.\n2\nDepart from the unjust, and iniquity shall turn away from\nthee.\n3\nMy son, sow not upon the furrows of unrighteousness, and thou\nshalt not reap them sevenfold.\n4\nSeek not of the Lord preeminence, neither of the king the\nseat of honour.\n5\njustify not thyself before the Lord; and boast not of thy\nwisdom before the king.\n6\nSeek not to be judge, being not able to take away iniquity;\nlest at any time thou fear the person of the mighty, an\nstumblingblock in the way of thy uprightness.\n7\nOffend not against the multitude of a city, and then thou\nshalt not cast thyself down among the people.\n8\nBind not one sin upon another; for in one thou shalt not be\nunpunished.\n9\nSay not, God will look upon the multitude of my oblations,\nand when I offer to the most high God, he will accept it.\n10\nBe not fainthearted when thou makest thy prayer, and neglect\nnot to give alms.\n11\nLaugh no man to scorn in the bitterness of his soul: for\nthere is one which humbleth and exalteth.\n12\nDevise not a lie against thy brother; neither do the like to\nthy friend.\n13\nUse not to make any manner of lie: for the custom thereof is\nnot good.\n14\nUse not many words in a multitude of elders, and make not\nmuch babbling when thou prayest.\n15\nHate not laborious work, neither husbandry, which the most\nHigh hath ordained.\n16\nNumber not thyself among the multitude of sinners, but\nremember that wrath will not tarry long.\n17\nHumble thyself greatly: for the vengeance of the ungodly is\nfire and worms.\n18\nChange not a friend for any good by no means; neither a\nfaithful brother for the gold of Ophir.\n19\nForego not a wise and good woman: for her grace is above\ngold.\n20\nWhereas thy servant worketh truly, entreat him not evil. nor\nthe hireling that bestoweth himself wholly for thee.\n21\nLet thy soul love a good servant, and defraud him not of\nliberty.\n22\nHast thou cattle? have an eye to them: and if they be for thy\nprofit, keep them with thee.\n23\nHast thou children? instruct them, and bow down their neck\nfrom their youth.\n24\nHast thou daughters? have a care of their body, and shew not\nthyself cheerful toward them.\n25\nMarry thy daughter, and so shalt thou have performed a\nweighty matter: but give her to a man of understanding.\n26\nHast thou a wife after thy mind? forsake her not: but give\nnot thyself over to a light woman.\n27\nHonour thy father with thy whole heart, and forget not the\nsorrows of thy mother.\n28\nRemember that thou wast begotten of them; and how canst thou\nrecompense them the things that they have done for thee?\n29\nFear the Lord with all thy soul, and reverence his priests.\n30\nLove him that made thee with all thy strength, and forsake\nnot his ministers.\n31\nFear the Lord, and honor the priest; and give him his\nportion, as it is commanded thee; the firstfruits, and the\ntrespass offering, and the gift of the shoulders, and the\nsacrifice of sanctification, and the firstfruits of the holy\nthings.\n32\nAnd stretch thine hand unto the poor, that thy blessing may\nbe perfected.\n33\nA gift hath grace in the sight of every man living; and for\nthe dead detain it not.\n34\nFail not to be with them that weep, and mourn with them that\nmourn.\n35\nBe not slow to visit the sick: for that shall make thee to be\nbeloved.\n36\nWhatsoever thou takest in hand, remember the end, and thou\nshalt never do amiss.\nSir 8\nStrive not with a mighty man' lest thou fall into his hands.\n2\nBe not at variance with a rich man, lest he overweigh thee:\nfor gold hath destroyed many, and perverted the hearts of kings.\n3\nStrive not with a man that is full of tongue, and heap not\nwood upon his fire.\n4\nJest not with a rude man, lest thy ancestors be disgraced.\n5\nReproach not a man that turneth from sin, but remember that\nwe are all worthy of punishment.\n6\nDishonour not a man in his old age: for even some of us wax\nold.\n7\nRejoice not over thy greatest enemy being dead, but remember\nthat we die all.\n8\nDespise not the discourse of the wise, but acquaint thyself\nwith their proverbs: for of them thou shalt learn instruction,\nand how to serve great men with ease.\n9\nMiss not the discourse of the elders: for they also learned\nof their fathers, and of them thou shalt learn understanding,\nand to give answer as need requireth.\n10\nKindle not the coals of a sinner, lest thou be burnt with the\nflame of his fire.\n11\nRise not up [in anger] at the presence of an injurious\nperson, lest he lie in wait to entrap thee in thy words\n12\nLend not unto him that is mightier than thyself; for if thou\nlendest him, count it but lost.\n13\nBe not surety above thy power: for if thou be surety, take\ncare to pay it.\n14\nGo not to law with a judge; for they will judge for him\naccording to his honour.\n15\nTravel not by the way with a bold fellow, lest he become\ngrievous unto thee: for he will do according to his own will,\nand thou shalt perish with him through his folly.\n16\nStrive not with an angry man, and go not with him into a\nsolitary place: for blood is as nothing in his sight, and where\nthere is no help, he will overthrow thee.\n17\nConsult not with a fool; for he cannot keep counsel.\n18\nDo no secret thing before a stranger; for thou knowest not\nwhat he will bring forth.\n19\nOpen not thine heart to every man, lest he requite thee with\na shrewd turn.\nSir 9\nBe not jealous over the wife of thy bosom, and teach her not\nan evil lesson against thyself.\n2\nGive not thy soul unto a woman to set her foot upon thy\nsubstance.\n3\nMeet not with an harlot, lest thou fall into her snares.\n4\nUse not much the company of a woman that is a singer, lest\nthou be taken with her attempts.\n5\nGaze not on a maid, that thou fall not by those things that\nare precious in her.\n6\nGive not thy soul unto harlots, that thou lose not thine\ninheritance.\n7\nLook not round about thee in the streets of the city, neither\nwander thou in the solitary place thereof.\n8\nTurn away thine eye from a beautiful woman, and look not upon\nanother's beauty; for many have been deceived by the beauty of a\nwoman; for herewith love is kindled as a fire.\n9\nSit not at all with another man's wife, nor sit down with her\nin thine arms, and spend not thy money with her at the wine;\nlest thine heart incline unto her, and so through thy desire\nthou fall into destruction.\n10\nForsake not an old friend; for the new is not comparable to\nhim: a new friend is as new wine; when it is old, thou shalt\ndrink it with pleasure.\n11\nEnvy not the glory of a sinner: for thou knowest not what\nshall be his end.\n12\nDelight not in the thing that the ungodly have pleasure in;\nbut remember they shall not go unpunished unto their grave.\n13\nKeep thee far from the man that hath power to kill; so shalt\nthou not doubt the fear of death: and if thou come unto him,\nmake no fault, lest he take away thy life presently: remember\nthat thou goest in the midst of snares, and that thou walkest\nupon the battlements of the city.\n14\nAs near as thou canst, guess at thy neighbour, and consult\nwith the wise.\n15\nLet thy talk be with the wise, and all thy communication in\nthe law of the most High.\n16\nAnd let just men eat and drink with thee; and let thy\nglorying be in the fear of the Lord.\n17\nFor the hand of the artificer the work shall be commended:\nand the wise ruler of the people for his speech.\n18\nA man of an ill tongue is dangerous in his city; and he that\nis rash in his talk shall be hated.\nSir 10\nA wise judge will instruct his people; and the government of\na prudent man is well ordered.\n2\nAs the judge of the people is himself, so are his officers;\nand what manner of man the ruler of the city is, such are all\nthey that dwell therein.\n3\nAn unwise king destroyeth his people; but through the\nprudence of them which are in authority the city shall be\ninhabited.\n4\nThe power of the earth is in the hand of the Lord, and in due\ntime he will set over it one that is profitable.\n5\nIn the hand of God is the prosperity of man: and upon the\nperson of the scribe shall he lay his honour.\n6\nBear not hatred to thy neighbour for every wrong; and do\nnothing at all by injurious practices.\n7\nPride is hateful before God and man: and by both doth one\ncommit iniquity.\n8\nBecause of unrighteous dealings, injuries, and riches got by\ndeceit, the kingdom is translated from one people to another.\n9\nWhy is earth and ashes proud? There is not a more wicked\nthing than a covetous man: for such an one setteth his own soul\nto sale; because while he liveth he casteth away his bowels.\n10\nThe physician cutteth off a long disease; and he that is to\nday a king to morrow shall die.\n11\nFor when a man is dead, he shall inherit creeping things,\nbeasts, and worms.\n12\nThe beginning of pride is when one departeth from God, and\nhis heart is turned away from his Maker.\n13\nFor pride is the beginning of sin, and he that hath it shall\npour out abomination: and therefore the Lord brought upon them\nstrange calamities, and overthrew them utterly.\n14\nThe Lord hath cast down the thrones of proud princes, and set\nup the meek in their stead.\n15\nThe Lord hath plucked up the roots of the proud nations, and\nplanted the lowly in their place.\n16\nThe Lord overthrew countries of the heathen, and destroyed\nthem to the foundations of the earth.\n17\nHe took some of them away, and destroyed them, and hath made\ntheir memorial to cease from the earth.\n18\nPride was not made for men, nor furious anger for them that\nare born of a woman.\n19\nThey that fear the Lord are a sure seed, and they that love\nhim an honourable plant: they that regard not the law are a\ndishonourable seed; they that transgress the commandments are a\ndeceivable seed.\n20\nAmong brethren he that is chief is honorable; so are they\nthat fear the Lord in his eyes.\n21\nThe fear of the Lord goeth before the obtaining of authority:\nbut roughness and pride is the losing thereof.\n22\nWhether he be rich, noble, or poor, their glory is the fear\nof the Lord.\n23\nIt is not meet to despise the poor man that hath\nunderstanding; neither is it convenient to magnify a sinful\nman.\n24\nGreat men, and judges, and potentates, shall be honoured; yet\nis there none of them greater than he that feareth the Lord.\n25\nUnto the servant that is wise shall they that are free do\nservice: and he that hath knowledge will not grudge when he is\nreformed.\n26\nBe not overwise in doing thy business; and boast not thyself\nin the time of thy distress.\n27\nBetter is he that laboureth, and aboundeth in all things,\nthan he that boasteth himself, and wanteth bread.\n28\nMy son, glorify thy soul in meekness, and give it honour\naccording to the dignity thereof.\n29\nWho will justify him that sinneth against his own soul? and\nwho will honour him that dishonoureth his own life?\n30\nThe poor man is honoured for his skill, and the rich man is\nhonoured for his riches.\n31\nHe that is honoured in poverty, how much more in riches? and\nhe that is dishonourable in riches, how much more in poverty?\nSir 11\nWisdom lifteth up the head of him that is of low degree, and\nmaketh him to sit among great men.\n2\nCommend not a man for his beauty; neither abhor a man for his\noutward appearance.\n3\nThe bee is little among such as fly; but her fruit is the\nchief of sweet things.\n4\nBoast not of thy clothing and raiment, and exalt not thyself\nin the day of honour: for the works of the Lord are wonderful,\nand his works among men are hidden.\n5\nMany kings have sat down upon the ground; and one that was\nnever thought of hath worn the crown.\n6\nMany mighty men have been greatly disgraced; and the\nhonourable delivered into other men's hands.\n7\nBlame not before thou hast examined the truth: understand\nfirst, and then rebuke.\n8\nAnswer not before thou hast heard the cause: neither\ninterrupt men in the midst of their talk.\n9\nStrive not in a matter that concerneth thee not; and sit not\nin judgment with sinners.\n10\nMy son, meddle not with many matters: for if thou meddle\nmuch, thou shalt not be innocent; and if thou follow after, thou\nshalt not obtain, neither shalt thou escape by fleeing.\n11\nThere is one that laboureth, and taketh pains, and maketh\nhaste, and is so much the more behind.\n12\nAgain, there is another that is slow, and hath need of help,\nwanting ability, and full of poverty; yet the eye of the Lord\nlooked upon him for good, and set him up from his low estate,\n13\nAnd lifted up his head from misery; so that many that saw\nfrom him is peace over all the\n14\nProsperity and adversity, life and death, poverty and riches,\ncome of the Lord.\n15\nWisdom, knowledge, and understanding of the law, are of the\nLord: love, and the way of good works, are from him.\n16\nError and darkness had their beginning together with sinners:\nand evil shall wax old with them that glory therein.\n17\nThe gift of the Lord remaineth with the ungodly, and his\nfavour bringeth prosperity for ever.\n18\nThere is that waxeth rich by his wariness and pinching, and\nthis his the portion of his reward:\n19\nWhereas he saith, I have found rest, and now will eat\ncontinually of my goods; and yet he knoweth not what time shall\ncome upon him, and that he must leave those things to others,\nand die.\n20\nBe stedfast in thy covenant, and be conversant therein, and\nwax old in thy work.\n21\nMarvel not at the works of sinners; but trust in the Lord,\nand abide in thy labour: for it is an easy thing in the sight of\nthe Lord on the sudden to make a poor man rich.\n22\nThe blessing of the Lord is in the reward of the godly, and\nsuddenly he maketh his blessing flourish.\n23\nSay not, What profit is there of my service? and what good\nthings shall I have hereafter?\n24\nAgain, say not, I have enough, and possess many things, and\nwhat evil shall I have hereafter?\n25\nIn the day of prosperity there is a forgetfulness of\naffliction: and in the day of affliction there is no more\nremembrance of prosperity.\n26\nFor it is an easy thing unto the Lord in the day of death to\nreward a man according to his ways.\n27\nThe affliction of an hour maketh a man forget pleasure: and\nin his end his deeds shall be discovered.\n28\nJudge none blessed before his death: for a man shall be known\nin his children.\n29\nBring not every man into thine house: for the deceitful man\nhath many trains.\n30\nLike as a partridge taken [and kept] in a cage, so is the\nheart of the proud; and like as a spy, watcheth he for thy fall:\n31\nFor he lieth in wait, and turneth good into evil, and in\nthings worthy praise will lay blame upon thee.\n32\nOf a spark of fire a heap of coals is kindled: and a sinful\nman layeth wait for blood.\n33\nTake heed of a mischievous man, for he worketh wickedness;\nlest he bring upon thee a perpetual blot.\n34\nReceive a stranger into thine house, and he will disturb\nthee, and turn thee out of thine own.\nSir 12\nWhen thou wilt do good know to whom thou doest it; so shalt\nthou be thanked for thy benefits.\n2\nDo good to the godly man, and thou shalt find a recompence;\nand if not from him, yet from the most High.\n3\nThere can no good come to him that is always occupied in\nevil, nor to him that giveth no alms.\n4\nGive to the godly man, and help not a sinner.\n5\nDo well unto him that is lowly, but give not to the ungodly:\nhold back thy bread, and give it not unto him, lest he\novermaster thee thereby: for [else] thou shalt receive twice as\nmuch evil for all the good thou shalt have done unto him.\n6\nFor the most High hateth sinners, and will repay vengeance\nunto the ungodly, and keepeth them against the mighty day of\ntheir punishment.\n7\nGive unto the good, and help not the sinner.\n8\nA friend cannot be known in prosperity: and an enemy cannot\nbe hidden in adversity.\n9\nIn the prosperity of a man enemies will be grieved: but in\nhis adversity even a friend will depart.\n10\nNever trust thine enemy: for like as iron rusteth, so is his\nwickedness.\n11\nThough he humble himself, and go crouching, yet take good\nheed and beware of him, and thou shalt be unto him as if thou\nhadst wiped a lookingglass, and thou shalt know that his rust\nhath not been altogether wiped away.\n12\nSet him not by thee, lest, when he hath overthrown thee, he\nstand up in thy place; neither let him sit at thy right hand,\nlest he seek to take thy seat, and thou at the last remember my\nwords, and be pricked therewith.\n13\nWho will pity a charmer that is bitten with a serpent, or any\nsuch as come nigh wild beasts?\n14\nSo one that goeth to a sinner, and is defiled with him in his\nsins, who will pity?\n15\nFor a while he will abide with thee, but if thou begin to\nfall, he will not tarry.\n16\nAn enemy speaketh sweetly with his lips, but in his heart he\nimagineth how to throw thee into a pit: he will weep with his\neyes, but if he find opportunity, he will not be satisfied with\nblood.\n17\nIf adversity come upon thee, thou shalt find him there first;\nand though he pretend to help thee, yet shall he undermine thee.\n18\nHe will shake his head, and clap his hands, and whisper much,\nand change his countenance.\nSir 13\nHe that toucheth pitch shall be defiled therewith; and he\nthat hath fellowship with a proud man shall be like unto him.\n2\nBurden not thyself above thy power while thou livest; and\nhave no fellowship with one that is mightier and richer than\nthyself: for how agree the kettle and the earthen pot together?\nfor if the one be smitten against the other, it shall be broken.\n3\nThe rich man hath done wrong, and yet he threateneth withal:\nthe poor is wronged, and he must intreat also.\n4\nIf thou be for his profit, he will use thee: but if thou have\nnothing, he will forsake thee.\n5\nIf thou have any thing, he will live with thee: yea, he will\nmake thee bare, and will not be sorry for it.\n6\nIf he have need of thee, he will deceive thee, and smile upon\nthee, and put thee in hope; he will speak thee fair, and say,\nWhat wantest thou?\n7\nAnd he will shame thee by his meats, until he have drawn thee\ndry twice or thrice, and at the last he will laugh thee to scorn\nafterward, when he seeth thee, he will forsake thee, and shake\nhis head at thee.\n8\nBeware that thou be not deceived and brought down in thy\njollity.\n9\nIf thou be invited of a mighty man, withdraw thyself, and so\nmuch the more will he invite thee.\n10\nPress thou not upon him, lest thou be put back; stand not far\noff, lest thou be forgotten.\n11\nAffect not to be made equal unto him in talk, and believe not\nhis many words: for with much communication will he tempt thee,\nand smiling upon thee will get out thy secrets:\n12\nBut cruelly he will lay up thy words, and will not spare to\ndo thee hurt, and to put thee in prison.\n13\nObserve, and take good heed, for thou walkest in peril of thy\noverthrowing: when thou hearest these things, awake in thy\nsleep.\n14\nLove the Lord all thy life, and call upon him for thy\nsalvation.\n15\nEvery beast loveth his like, and every man loveth his\nneighbor.\n16\nAll flesh consorteth according to kind, and a man will cleave\nto his like.\n17\nWhat fellowship hath the wolf with the lamb? so the sinner\nwith the godly.\n18\nWhat agreement is there between the hyena and a dog? and what\npeace between the rich and the poor?\n19\nAs the wild ass is the lion's prey in the wilderness: so the\nrich eat up the poor.\n20\nAs the proud hate humility: so doth the rich abhor the poor.\n21\nA rich man beginning to fall is held up of his friends: but a\npoor man being down is thrust away by his friends.\n22\nWhen a rich man is fallen, he hath many helpers: he speaketh\nthings not to be spoken, and yet men justify him: the poor man\nslipped, and yet they rebuked him too; he spake wisely, and\ncould have no place.\n23\nWhen a rich man speaketh, every man holdeth his tongue, and,\nlook, what he saith, they extol it to the clouds: but if the\npoor man speak, they say, What fellow is this? and if he\nstumble, they will help to overthrow him.\n24\nRiches are good unto him that hath no sin, and poverty is\nevil in the mouth of the ungodly.\n25\nThe heart of a man changeth his countenance, whether it be\nfor good or evil: and a merry heart maketh a cheerful\ncountenance.\n26\nA cheerful countenance is a token of a heart that is in\nprosperity; and the finding out of parables is a wearisome\nlabour of the mind.\nSir 14\nBlessed is the man that hath not slipped with his mouth, and\nis not pricked with the multitude of sins.\n2\nBlessed is he whose conscience hath not condemned him, and\nwho is not fallen from his hope in the Lord.\n3\nRiches are not comely for a niggard: and what should an\nenvious man do with money?\n4\nHe that gathereth by defrauding his own soul gathereth for\nothers, that shall spend his goods riotously.\n5\nHe that is evil to himself, to whom will he be good? he shall\nnot take pleasure in his goods.\n6\nThere is none worse than he that envieth himself; and this is\na recompence of his wickedness.\n7\nAnd if he doeth good, he doeth it unwillingly; and at the\nlast he will declare his wickedness.\n8\nThe envious man hath a wicked eye; he turneth away his face,\nand despiseth men.\n9\nA covetous man's eye is not satisfied with his portion; and\nthe iniquity of the wicked drieth up his soul.\n10\nA wicked eye envieth [his] bread, and he is a niggard at his\ntable.\n11\nMy son, according to thy ability do good to thyself, and give\nthe Lord his due offering.\n12\nRemember that death will not be long in coming, and that the\ncovenant of the grave is not shewed unto thee.\n13\nDo good unto thy friend before thou die, and according to thy\nability stretch out thy hand and give to him.\n14\nDefraud not thyself of the good day, and let not the part of\na good desire overpass thee.\n15\nShalt thou not leave thy travails unto another? and thy\nlabours to be divided by lot?\n16\nGive, and take, and sanctify thy soul; for there is no\nseeking of dainties in the grave.\n17\nAll flesh waxeth old as a garment: for the covenant from the\nbeginning is, Thou shalt die the death.\n18\nAs of the green leaves on a thick tree, some fall, and some\ngrow; so is the generation of flesh and blood, one cometh to an\nend, and another is born.\n19\nEvery work rotteth and consumeth away, and the worker thereof\nshall go withal.\n20\nBlessed is the man that doth meditate good things in wisdom,\nand that reasoneth of holy things by his understanding. ing.\n21\nHe that considereth her ways in his heart shall also have\nunderstanding in her secrets.\n22\nGo after her as one that traceth, and lie in wait in her\nways.\n23\nHe that prieth in at her windows shall also hearken at her\ndoors.\n24\nHe that doth lodge near her house shall also fasten a pin in\nher walls.\n25\nHe shall pitch his tent nigh unto her, and shall lodge in a\nlodging where good things are.\n26\nHe shall set his children under her shelter, and shall lodge\nunder her branches.\n27\nBy her he shall be covered from heat, and in her glory shall\nhe dwell.\nSir 15\nHe that feareth the Lord will do good, and he that hath the\nknowledge of the law shall obtain her.\n2\nAnd as a mother shall she meet him, and receive him as a wife\nmarried of a virgin.\n3\nWith the bread of understanding shall she feed him, and give\nhim the water of wisdom to drink.\n4\nHe shall be stayed upon her, and shall not be moved; and\nshall rely upon her, and shall not be confounded.\n5\nShe shall exalt him above his neighbours, and in the midst of\nthe congregation shall she open his mouth.\n6\nHe shall find joy and a crown of gladness, and she shall\ncause him to inherit an everlasting name.\n7\nBut foolish men shall not attain unto her, and sinners shall\nnot see her.\n8\nFor she is far from pride, and men that are liars cannot\nremember her.\n9\nPraise is not seemly in the mouth of a sinner, for it was not\nsent him of the Lord.\n10\nFor praise shall be uttered in wisdom, and the Lord will\nprosper it.\n11\nSay not thou, It is through the Lord that I fell away: for\nthou oughtest not to do the things that he hateth.\n12\nSay not thou, He hath caused me to err: for he hath no need\nof the sinful man.\n13\nThe Lord hateth all abomination; and they that fear God love\nit not.\n14\nHe himself made man from the beginning, and left him in the\nhand of his counsel;\n15\nIf thou wilt, to keep the commandments, and to perform\nacceptable faithfulness.\n16\nHe hath set fire and water before thee: stretch forth thy\nhand unto whether thou wilt.\n17\nBefore man is life and death; and whether him liketh shall be\ngiven him.\n18\nFor the wisdom of the Lord is great, and he is mighty in\npower, and beholdeth all things:\n19\nAnd his eyes are upon them that fear him, and he knoweth\nevery work of man.\n20\nHe hath commanded no man to do wickedly, neither hath he\ngiven any man licence to sin.\nSir 16\nDesire not a multitude of unprofitable children, neither\ndelight in ungodly sons.\n2\nThough they multiply, rejoice not in them, except the fear of\nthe Lord be with them.\n3\nTrust not thou in their life, neither respect their\nmultitude: for one that is just is better than a thousand; and\nbetter it is to die without children, than to have them that are\nungodly.\n4\nFor by one that hath understanding shall the city be\nreplenished: but the kindred of the wicked shall speedily become\ndesolate.\n5\nMany such things have I seen with mine eyes, and mine ear\nhath heard greater things than these.\n6\nIn the congregation of the ungodly shall a fire be kindled;\nand in a rebellious nation wrath is set on fire.\n7\nHe was not pacified toward the old giants, who fell away in\nthe strength of their foolishness.\n8\nNeither spared he the place where Lot sojourned, but abhorred\nthem for their pride.\n9\nHe pitied not the people of perdition, who were taken away in\ntheir sins:\n10\nNor the six hundred thousand footmen, who were gathered\ntogether in the hardness of their hearts.\n11\nAnd if there be one stiffnecked among the people, it is\nmarvel if he escape unpunished: for mercy and wrath are with\nhim; he is mighty to forgive, and to pour out displeasure.\n12\nAs his mercy is great, so is his correction also: he judgeth\na man according to his works\n13\nThe sinner shall not escape with his spoils: and the patience\nof the godly shall not be frustrate.\n14\nMake way for every work of mercy: for every man shall find\naccording to his works.\n15\nThe Lord hardened Pharaoh, that he should not know him, that\nhis powerful works might be known to the world.\n16\nHis mercy is manifest to every creature; and he hath\nseparated his light from the darkness with an adamant.\n17\nSay not thou, I will hide myself from the Lord: shall any\nremember me from above? I shall not be remembered among so many\npeople: for what is my soul among such an infinite number of\ncreatures?\n18\nBehold, the heaven, and the heaven of heavens, the deep, and\nthe earth, and all that therein is, shall be moved when he shall\nvisit.\n19\nThe mountains also and foundations of the earth be shaken\nwith trembling, when the Lord looketh upon them.\n20\nNo heart can think upon these things worthily: and who is\nable to conceive his ways?\n21\nIt is a tempest which no man can see: for the most part of\nhis works are hid.\n22\nWho can declare the works of his justice? or who can endure\nthem? for his covenant is afar off, and the trial of all things\nis in the end.\n23\nHe that wanteth understanding will think upon vain things:\nand a foolish man erring imagineth follies.\n24\nby son, hearken unto me, and learn knowledge, and mark my\nwords with thy heart.\n25\nI will shew forth doctrine in weight, and declare his\nknowledge exactly.\n26\nThe works of the Lord are done in judgment from the\nbeginning: and from the time he made them he disposed the parts\nthereof.\n27\nHe garnished his works for ever, and in his hand are the\nchief of them unto all generations: they neither labour, nor are\nweary, nor cease from their works.\n28\nNone of them hindereth another, and they shall never disobey\nhis word.\n29\nAfter this the Lord looked upon the earth, and filled it with\nhis blessings.\n30\nWith all manner of living things hath he covered the face\nthereof; and they shall return into it again.\nSir 17\nThe Lord created man of the earth, and turned him into it\nagain.\n2\nHe gave them few days, and a short time, and power also over\nthe things therein.\n3\nHe endued them with strength by themselves, and made them\naccording to his image,\n4\nAnd put the fear of man upon all flesh, and gave him dominion\nover beasts and fowls.\n5\nThey received the use of the five operations of the Lord, and\nin the sixth place he imparted them understanding, and in the\nseventh speech, an interpreter of the cogitations thereof.]\n6\nCounsel, and a tongue, and eyes, ears, and a heart, gave he\nthem to understand.\n7\nWithal he filled them with the knowledge of understanding,\nand shewed them good and evil.\n8\nHe set his eye upon their hearts, that he might shew them the\ngreatness of his works.\n9\nHe gave them to glory in his marvellous acts for ever, that\nthey might declare his works with understanding.\n10\nAnd the elect shall praise his holy name.\n11\nBeside this he gave them knowledge, and the law of life for\nan heritage.\n12\nHe made an everlasting covenant with them, and shewed them\nhis judgments.\n13\nTheir eyes saw the majesty of his glory, and their ears heard\nhis glorious voice.\n14\nAnd he said unto them, Beware of all unrighteousness; and he\ngave every man commandment concerning his neighbour.\n15\nTheir ways are ever before him, and shall not be hid from his\neyes.\n16\nEvery man from his youth is given to evil; neither could they\nmake to themselves fleshy hearts for stony.\n17\nFor in the division of the nations of the whole earth he set\na ruler over every people; but Israel is the Lord's portion:\n18\nWhom, being his firstborn, he nourisheth with discipline, and\ngiving him the light of his love doth not forsake him.\n19\nTherefore all their works are as the sun before him, and his\neyes are continually upon their ways.\n20\nNone of their unrighteous deeds are hid from him, but all\ntheir sins are before the Lord\n21\nBut the Lord being gracious and knowing his workmanship,\nneither left nor forsook them, but spared them.\n22\nThe alms of a man is as a signet with him, and he will keep\nthe good deeds of man as the apple of the eye, and give\nrepentance to his sons and daughters.\n23\nAfterwards he will rise up and reward them, and render their\nrecompence upon their heads.\n24\nBut unto them that repent, he granted them return, and\ncomforted those that failed in patience.\n25\nReturn unto the Lord, and forsake thy sins, make thy prayer\nbefore his face, and offend less.\n26\nTurn again to the most High, and turn away from iniquity: for\nhe will lead thee out of darkness into the light of health, and\nhate thou abomination vehemently.\n27\nWho shall praise the most High in the grave, instead of them\nwhich live and give thanks?\n28\nThanksgiving perisheth from the dead, as from one that is\nnot: the living and sound in heart shall praise the Lord.\n29\nHow great is the lovingkindness of the Lord our God, and his\ncompassion unto such as turn unto him in holiness!\n30\nFor all things cannot be in men, because the son of man is\nnot immortal.\n31\nWhat is brighter than the sun? yet the light thereof faileth;\nand flesh and blood will imagine evil.\n32\nHe vieweth the power of the height of heaven; and all men are\nbut earth and ashes.\nSir 18\nHe that liveth for ever Hath created all things in general.\n2\nThe Lord only is righteous, and there is none other but he,\n3\nWho governeth the world with the palm of his hand, and all\nthings obey his will: for he is the King of all, by his power\ndividing holy things among them from profane.\n4\nTo whom hath he given power to declare his works? and who\nshall find out his noble acts?\n5\nWho shall number the strength of his majesty? and who shall\nalso tell out his mercies?\n6\nAs for the wondrous works of the Lord, there may nothing be\ntaken from them, neither may any thing be put unto them, neither\ncan the ground of them be found out.\n7\nWhen a man hath done, then he beginneth; and when he leaveth\noff, then he shall be doubtful.\n8\nWhat is man, and whereto serveth he? what is his good, and\nwhat is his evil?\n9\nThe number of a man's days at the most are an hundred years.\n10\nAs a drop of water unto the sea, and a gravelstone in\ncomparison of the sand; so are a thousand years to the days of\neternity.\n11\nTherefore is God patient with them, and poureth forth his\nmercy upon them.\n12\nHe saw and perceived their end to be evil; therefore he\nmultiplied his compassion.\n13\nThe mercy of man is toward his neighbour; but the mercy of\nthe Lord is upon all flesh: he reproveth, and nurtureth, and\nteacheth and bringeth again, as a shepherd his flock.\n14\nHe hath mercy on them that receive discipline, and that\ndiligently seek after his judgments.\n15\nMy son, blemish not thy good deeds, neither use uncomfortable\nwords when thou givest any thing.\n16\nShall not the dew asswage the heat? so is a word better than\na gift.\n17\nLo, is not a word better than a gift? but both are with a\ngracious man.\n18\nA fool will upbraid churlishly, and a gift of the envious\nconsumeth the eyes.\n19\nLearn before thou speak, and use physick or ever thou be\nsick.\n20\nBefore judgment examine thyself, and in the day of visitation\nthou shalt find mercy.\n21\nHumble thyself before thou be sick, and in the time of sins\nshew repentance.\n22\nLet nothing hinder thee to pay thy vow in due time, and defer\nnot until death to be justified.\n23\nBefore thou prayest, prepare thyself; and be not as one that\ntempteth the Lord.\n24\nThink upon the wrath that shall be at the end, and the time\nof vengeance, when he shall turn away his face.\n25\nWhen thou hast enough, remember the time of hunger: and when\nthou art rich, think upon poverty and need.\n26\nFrom the morning until the evening the time is changed, and\nall things are soon done before the Lord.\n27\nA wise man will fear in every thing, and in the day of\nsinning he will beware of offence: but a fool will not observe\ntime.\n28\nEvery man of understanding knoweth wisdom, and will give\npraise unto him that found her.\n29\nThey that were of understanding in sayings became also wise\nthemselves, and poured forth exquisite parables.\n30\nGo not after thy lusts, but refrain thyself from thine\nappetites.\n31\nIf thou givest thy soul the desires that please her, she will\nmake thee a laughingstock to thine enemies that malign thee.\n32\nTake not pleasure in much good cheer, neither be tied to the\nexpence thereof.\n33\nBe not made a beggar by banqueting upon borrowing, when thou\nhast nothing in thy purse: for thou shalt lie in wait for thine\nown life, and be talked on.\nSir 19\nA labouring man that A is given to drunkenness shall not be\nrich: and he that contemneth small things shall fall by little\nand little.\n2\nWine and women will make men of understanding to fall away:\nand he that cleaveth to harlots will become impudent.\n3\nMoths and worms shall have him to heritage, and a bold man\nshall be taken away.\n4\nHe that is hasty to give credit is lightminded; and he that\nsinneth shall offend against his own soul.\n5\nWhoso taketh pleasure in wickedness shall be condemned: but\nhe that resisteth pleasures crowneth his life.\n6\nHe that can rule his tongue shall live without strife; and he\nthat hateth babbling shall have less evil.\n7\nRehearse not unto another that which is told unto thee, and\nthou shalt fare never the worse.\n8\nWhether it be to friend or foe, talk not of other men's\nlives; and if thou canst without offence, reveal them not.\n9\nFor he heard and observed thee, and when time cometh he will\nhate thee.\n10\nIf thou hast heard a word, let it die with thee; and be bold,\nit will not burst thee.\n11\nA fool travaileth with a word, as a woman in labour of a\nchild.\n12\nAs an arrow that sticketh in a man's thigh, so is a word\nwithin a fool's belly.\n13\nAdmonish a friend, it may be he hath not done it: and if he\nhave done it, that he do it no more.\n14\nAdmonish thy friend, it may be he hath not said it: and if he\nhave, that he speak it not again.\n15\nAdmonish a friend: for many times it is a slander, and\nbelieve not every tale.\n16\nThere is one that slippeth in his speech, but not from his\nheart; and who is he that hath not offended with his tongue?\n17\nAdmonish thy neighbour before thou threaten him; and not\nbeing angry, give place to the law of the most High.\n18\nThe fear of the Lord is the first step to be accepted [of\nhim,] and wisdom obtaineth his love.\n19\nThe knowledge of the commandments of the Lord is the doctrine\nof life: and they that do things that please him shall receive\nthe fruit of the tree of immortality.\n20\nThe fear of the Lord is all wisdom; and in all wisdom is the\nperformance of the law, and the knowledge of his omnipotency.\n21\nIf a servant say to his master, I will not do as it pleaseth\nthee; though afterward he do it, he angereth him that nourisheth\nhim.\n22\nThe knowledge of wickedness is not wisdom, neither at any\ntime the counsel of sinners prudence.\n23\nThere is a wickedness, and the same an abomination; and there\nis a fool wanting in wisdom.\n24\nHe that hath small understanding, and feareth God, is better\nthan one that hath much wisdom, and transgresseth the law of the\nmost High.\n25\nThere is an exquisite subtilty, and the same is unjust; and\nthere is one that turneth aside to make judgment appear; and\nthere is a wise man that justifieth in judgment.\n26\nThere is a wicked man that hangeth down his head sadly; but\ninwardly he is full of deceit,\n27\nCasting down his countenance, and making as if he heard not:\nwhere he is not known, he will do thee a mischief before thou be\naware.\n28\nAnd if for want of power he be hindered from sinning, yet\nwhen he findeth opportunity he will do evil.\n29\nA man may be known by his look, and one that hath\nunderstanding by his countenance, when thou meetest him.\n30\nA man's attire, and excessive laughter, and gait, shew what\nhe is.\nSir 20\nThere is a reproof that is not comely: again, some man\nholdeth his tongue, and he is wise.\n2\nIt is much better to reprove, than to be angry secretly: and\nhe that confesseth his fault shall be preserved from hurt.\n3\nHow good is it, when thou art reproved, to shew repentance!\nfor so shalt thou escape wilful sin.\n4\nAs is the lust of an eunuch to deflower a virgin; so is he\nthat executeth judgment with violence.\n5\nThere is one that keepeth silence, and is found wise: and\nanother by much babbling becometh hateful.\n6\nSome man holdeth his tongue, because he hath not to answer:\nand some keepeth silence, knowing his time.\n7\nA wise man will hold his tongue till he see opportunity: but\na babbler and a fool will regard no time.\n8\nHe that useth many words shall be abhorred; and he that\ntaketh to himself authority therein shall be hated.\n9\nThere is a sinner that hath good success in evil things; and\nthere is a gain that turneth to loss.\n10\nThere is a gift that shall not profit thee; and there is a\ngift whose recompence is double.\n11\nThere is an abasement because of glory; and there is that\nlifteth up his head from a low estate.\n12\nThere is that buyeth much for a little, and repayeth it\nsevenfold.\n13\nA wise man by his words maketh him beloved: but the graces of\nfools shall be poured out.\n14\nThe gift of a fool shall do thee no good when thou hast it;\nneither yet of the envious for his necessity: for he looketh to\nreceive many things for one.\n15\nHe giveth little, and upbraideth much; he openeth his mouth\nlike a crier; to day he lendeth, and to morrow will he ask it\nagain: such an one is to be hated of God and man.\n16\nThe fool saith, I have no friends, I have no thank for all my\ngood deeds, and they that eat my bread speak evil of me.\n17\nHow oft, and of how many shall he be laughed to scorn! for he\nknoweth not aright what it is to have; and it is all one unto\nhim as if he had it not.\n18\nTo slip upon a pavement is better than to slip with the\ntongue: so the fall of the wicked shall come speedily.\n19\nAn unseasonable tale will always be in the mouth of the\nunwise.\n20\nA wise sentence shall be rejected when it cometh out of a\nfool's mouth; for he will not speak it in due season.\n21\nThere is that is hindered from sinning through want: and when\nhe taketh rest, he shall not be troubled.\n22\nThere is that destroyeth his own soul through bashfulness,\nand by accepting of persons overthroweth himself.\n23\nThere is that for bashfulness promiseth to his friend, and\nmaketh him his enemy for nothing.\n24\nA lie is a foul blot in a man, yet it is continually in the\nmouth of the untaught.\n25\nA thief is better than a man that is accustomed to lie: but\nthey both shall have destruction to heritage.\n26\nThe disposition of a liar is dishonourable, and his shame is\never with him.\n27\nA wise man shall promote himself to honour with his words:\nand he that hath understanding will please great men.\n28\nHe that tilleth his land shall increase his heap: and he that\npleaseth great men shall get pardon for iniquity.\n29\nPresents and gifts blind the eyes of the wise, and stop up\nhis mouth that he cannot reprove.\n30\nWisdom that is hid, and treasure that is hoarded up, what\nprofit is in them both?\n31\nBetter is he that hideth his folly than a man that hideth his\nwisdom.\n32\nNecessary patience in seeking ing the Lord is better than he\nthat leadeth his life without a guide.\nSir 21\nMy son, hast thou sinned? do so no more, but ask pardon for\nthy former sins.\n2\nFlee from sin as from the face of a serpent: for if thou\ncomest too near it, it will bite thee: the teeth thereof are as\nthe teeth of a lion, slaying the souls of men.\n3\nAll iniquity is as a two edged sword, the wounds whereof\ncannot be healed.\n4\nTo terrify and do wrong will waste riches: thus the house of\nproud men shall be made desolate.\n5\nA prayer out of a poor man's mouth reacheth to the ears of\nGod, and his judgment cometh speedily.\n6\nHe that hateth to be reproved is in the way of sinners: but\nhe that feareth the Lord will repent from his heart.\n7\nAn eloquent man is known far and near; but a man of\nunderstanding knoweth when he slippeth.\n8\nHe that buildeth his house with other men's money is like one\nthat gathereth himself stones for the tomb of his burial.\n9\nThe congregation of the wicked is like tow wrapped together:\nand the end of them is a flame of fire to destroy them.\n10\nThe way of sinners is made plain with stones, but at the end\nthereof is the pit of hell.\n11\nHe that keepeth the law of the Lord getteth the understanding\nthereof: and the perfection of the fear of the Lord is wisdom.\n12\nHe that is not wise will not be taught: but there is a wisdom\nwhich multiplieth bitterness.\n13\nThe knowledge of a wise man shall abound like a flood: and\nhis counsel is like a pure fountain of life.\n14\nThe inner parts of a fool are like a broken vessel, and he\nwill hold no knowledge as long as he liveth.\n15\nIf a skilful man hear a wise word, he will commend it, and\nadd unto it: but as soon as one of no understanding heareth it,\nit displeaseth him, and he casteth it behind his back.\n16\nThe talking of a fool is like a burden in the way: but grace\nshall be found in the lips of the wise.\n17\nThey enquire at the mouth of the wise man in the\ncongregation, and they shall ponder his words in their heart.\n18\nAs is a house that is destroyed, so is wisdom to a fool: and\nthe knowledge of the unwise is as talk without sense.\n19\nDoctrine unto fools is as fetters on the feet, and like\nmanacles on the right hand.\n20\nA fool lifteth up his voice with laughter; but a wise man\ndoth scarce smile a little.\n21\nLearning is unto a wise man as an ornament of gold, and like\na bracelet upon his right arm.\n22\nA foolish man's foot is soon in his [neighbour's] house: but\na man of experience is ashamed of him.\n23\nA fool will peep in at the door into the house: but he that\nis well nurtured will stand without.\n24\nIt is the rudeness of a man to hearken at the door: but a\nwise man will be grieved with the disgrace.\n25\nThe lips of talkers will be telling such things as pertain\nnot unto them: but the words of such as have understanding are\nweighed in the balance.\n26\nThe heart of fools is in their mouth: but the mouth of the\nwise is in their heart.\n27\nWhen the ungodly curseth Satan, he curseth his own soul.\n28\nA whisperer defileth his own soul, and is hated wheresoever\nhe dwelleth.\nSir 22\nA slothful man is compared to a filthy stone, and every one\nwill hiss him out to his disgrace.\n2\nA slothful man is compared to the filth of a dunghill: every\nman that takes it up will shake his hand.\n3\nAn evilnurtured man is the dishonour of his father that begat\nhim: and a [foolish] daughter is born to his loss.\n4\nA wise daughter shall bring an inheritance to her husband:\nbut she that liveth dishonestly is her father's heaviness.\n5\nShe that is bold dishonoureth both her father and her\nhusband, but they both shall despise her.\n6\nA tale out of season [is as] musick in mourning: but stripes\nand correction of wisdom are never out of time.\n7\nWhoso teacheth a fool is as one that glueth a potsherd\ntogether, and as he that waketh one from a sound sleep.\n8\nHe that telleth a tale to a fool speaketh to one in a\nslumber: when he hath told his tale, he will say, What is the\nmatter?\n9\nIf children live honestly, and have wherewithal, they shall\ncover the baseness of their parents.\n10\nBut children, being haughty, through disdain and want of\nnurture do stain the nobility of their kindred.\n11\nWeep for the dead, for he hath lost the light: and weep for\nthe fool, for he wanteth understanding: make little weeping for\nthe dead, for he is at rest: but the life of the fool is worse\nthan death.\n12\nSeven days do men mourn for him that is dead; but for a fool\nand an ungodly man all the days of his life.\n13\nTalk not much with a fool, and go not to him that hath no\nunderstanding: beware of him, lest thou have trouble, and thou\nshalt never be defiled with his fooleries: depart from him, and\nthou shalt find rest, and never be disquieted with madness.\n14\nWhat is heavier than lead? and what is the name thereof, but\na fool?\n15\nSand, and salt, and a mass of iron, is easier to bear, than a\nman without understanding.\n16\nAs timber girt and bound together in a building cannot be\nloosed with shaking: so the heart that is stablished by advised\ncounsel shall fear at no time.\n17\nA heart settled upon a thought of understanding is as a fair\nplaistering on the wall of a gallery.\n18\nPales set on an high place will never stand against the wind:\nso a fearful heart in the imagination of a fool cannot stand\nagainst any fear.\n19\nHe that pricketh the eye will make tears to fall: and he that\npricketh the heart maketh it to shew her knowledge.\n20\nWhoso casteth a stone at the birds frayeth them away: and he\nthat upbraideth his friend breaketh friendship.\n21\nThough thou drewest a sword at thy friend, yet despair not:\nfor there may be a returning [to favour.]\n22\nIf thou hast opened thy mouth against thy friend, fear not;\nfor there may be a reconciliation: except for upbraiding, or\npride, or disclosing of secrets, or a treacherous wound: for for\nthese things every friend will depart.\n23\nBe faithful to thy neighbour in his poverty, that thou mayest\nrejoice in his prosperity: abide stedfast unto him in the time\nof his trouble, that thou mayest be heir with him in his\nheritage: for a mean estate is not always to be contemned: nor\nthe rich that is foolish to be had in admiration.\n24\nAs the vapour and smoke of a furnace goeth before the fire;\nso reviling before blood.\n25\nI will not be ashamed to defend a friend; neither will I hide\nmyself from him.\n26\nAnd if any evil happen unto me by him, every one that heareth\nit will beware of him.\n27\nWho shall set a watch before my mouth, and a seal of wisdom\nupon my lips, that I fall not suddenly by them, and that my\ntongue destroy me not?\nSir 23\nO Lord, Father and Governor of all my whole life, leave me\nnot to their counsels, and let me not fall by them.\n2\nWho will set scourges over my thoughts, and the discipline of\nwisdom over mine heart? that they spare me not for mine\nignorances, and it pass not by my sins:\n3\nLest mine ignorances increase, and my sins abound to my\ndestruction, and I fall before mine adversaries, and mine enemy\nrejoice over me, whose hope is far from thy mercy.\n4\nO Lord, Father and God of my life, give me not a proud look,\nbut turn away from thy servants always a haughty mind.\n5\nTurn away from me vain hopes and concupiscence, and thou\nshalt hold him up that is desirous always to serve thee.\n6\nLet not the greediness of the belly nor lust of the flesh\ntake hold of me; and give not over me thy servant into an\nimpudent mind.\n7\nHear, O ye children, the discipline of the mouth: he that\nkeepeth it shall never be taken in his lips.\n8\nThe sinner shall be left in his foolishness: both the evil\nspeaker and the proud shall fall thereby.\n9\nAccustom not thy mouth to swearing; neither use thyself to\nthe naming of the Holy One.\n10\nFor as a servant that is continually beaten shall not be\nwithout a blue mark: so he that sweareth and nameth God\ncontinually shall not be faultless.\n11\nA man that useth much swearing shall be filled with iniquity,\nand the plague shall never depart from his house: if he shall\noffend, his sin shall be upon him: and if he acknowledge not his\nsin, he maketh a double offence: and if he swear in vain, he\nshall not be innocent, but his house shall be full of\ncalamities.\n12\nThere is a word that is clothed about with death: God grant\nthat it be not found in the heritage of Jacob; for all such\nthings shall be far from the godly, and they shall not wallow in\ntheir sins.\n13\nUse not thy mouth to intemperate swearing, for therein is the\nword of sin.\n14\nRemember thy father and thy mother, when thou sittest among\ngreat men. Be not forgetful before them, and so thou by thy\ncustom become a fool, and wish that thou hadst not been born,\nand curse they day of thy nativity.\n15\nThe man that is accustomed to opprobrious words will never be\nreformed all the days of his life.\n16\nTwo sorts of men multiply sin, and the third will bring\nwrath: a hot mind is as a burning fire, it will never be\nquenched till it be consumed: a fornicator in the body of his\nflesh will never cease till he hath kindled a fire.\n17\nAll bread is sweet to a whoremonger, he will not leave off\ntill he die.\n18\nA man that breaketh wedlock, saying thus in his heart, Who\nseeth me? I am compassed about with darkness, the walls cover\nme, and no body seeth me; what need I to fear? the most High\nwill not remember my sins:\n19\nSuch a man only feareth the eyes of men, and knoweth not that\nthe eyes of the Lord are ten thousand times brighter than the\nsun, beholding all the ways of men, and considering the most\nsecret parts.\n20\nHe knew all things ere ever they were created; so also after\nthey were perfected he looked upon them all.\n21\nThis man shall be punished in the streets of the city, and\nwhere he suspecteth not he shall be taken.\n22\nThus shall it go also with the wife that leaveth her husband,\nand bringeth in an heir by another.\n23\nFor first, she hath disobeyed the law of the most High; and\nsecondly, she hath trespassed against her own husband; and\nthirdly, she hath played the whore in adultery, and brought\nchildren by another man.\n24\nShe shall be brought out into the congregation, and\ninquisition shall be made of her children.\n25\nHer children shall not take root, and her branches shall\nbring forth no fruit.\n26\nShe shall leave her memory to be cursed, and her reproach\nshall not be blotted out.\n27\nAnd they that remain shall know that there is nothing better\nthan the fear of the Lord, and that there is nothing sweeter\nthan to take heed unto the commandments of the Lord.\n28\nIt is great glory to follow the Lord, and to be received of\nhim is long life.\nSir 24\nWisdom shall praise herself, and shall glory in the midst of\nher people.\n2\nIn the congregation of the most High shall she open her\nmouth, and triumph before his power.\n3\nI came out of the mouth of the most High, and covered the\nearth as a cloud.\n4\nI dwelt in high places, and my throne is in a cloudy pillar.\n5\nI alone compassed the circuit of heaven, and walked in the\nbottom of the deep.\n6\nIn the waves of the sea and in all the earth, and in every\npeople and nation, I got a possession.\n7\nWith all these I sought rest: and in whose inheritance shall\nI abide?\n8\nSo the Creator of all things gave me a commandment, and he\nthat made me caused my tabernacle to rest, and said, Let thy\ndwelling be in Jacob, and thine inheritance in Israel.\n9\nHe created me from the beginning before the world, and I\nshall never fail.\n10\nIn the holy tabernacle I served before him; and so was I\nestablished in Sion.\n11\nLikewise in the beloved city he gave me rest, and in\nJerusalem was my power.\n12\nAnd I took root in an honourable people, even in the portion\nof the Lord's inheritance.\n13\nI was exalted like a cedar in Libanus, and as a cypress tree\nupon the mountains of Hermon.\n14\nI was exalted like a palm tree in En-gaddi, and as a rose\nplant in Jericho, as a fair olive tree in a pleasant field, and\ngrew up as a plane tree by the water.\n15\nI gave a sweet smell like cinnamon and aspalathus, and I\nyielded a pleasant odour like the best myrrh, as galbanum, and\nonyx, and sweet storax, and as the fume of frankincense in the\ntabernacle.\n16\nAs the turpentine tree I stretched out my branches, and my\nbranches are the branches of honour and grace.\n17\nAs the vine brought I forth pleasant savour, and my flowers\nare the fruit of honour and riches.\n18\nI am the mother of fair love, and fear, and knowledge, and\nholy hope: I therefore, being eternal, am given to all my\nchildren which are named of him.\n19\nCome unto me, all ye that be desirous of me, and fill\nyourselves with my fruits.\n20\nFor my memorial is sweeter than honey, and mine inheritance\nthan the honeycomb.\n21\nThey that eat me shall yet be hungry, and they that drink me\nshall yet be thirsty.\n22\nHe that obeyeth me shall never be confounded, and they that\nwork by me shall not do amiss.\n23\nAll these things are the book of the covenant of the most\nhigh God, even the law which Moses commanded for an heritage\nunto the congregations of Jacob.\n24\nFaint not to be strong in the Lord; that he may confirm you,\ncleave unto him: for the Lord Almighty is God alone, and beside\nhim there is no other Saviour.\n25\nHe filleth all things with his wisdom, as Phison and as\nTigris in the time of the new fruits.\n26\nHe maketh the understanding to abound like Euphrates, and as\nJordan in the time of the harvest.\n27\nHe maketh the doctrine of knowledge appear as the light, and\nas Geon in the time of vintage.\n28\nThe first man knew her not perfectly: no more shall the last\nfind her out.\n29\nFor her thoughts are more than the sea, and her counsels\nprofounder than the great deep.\n30\nI also came out as a brook from a river, and as a conduit\ninto a garden.\n31\nI said, I will water my best garden, and will water\nabundantly my garden bed: and, lo, my brook became a river, and\nmy river became a sea.\n32\nI will yet make doctrine to shine as the morning, and will\nsend forth her light afar off.\n33\nI will yet pour out doctrine as prophecy, and leave it to all\nages for ever.\n34\nBehold that I have not laboured for myself only, but for all\nthem that seek wisdom.\nSir 25\nIn three things I was beautified, and stood up beautiful both\nbefore God and men: the unity of brethren, the love of\nneighbours, a man and a wife that agree together.\n2\nThree sorts of men my soul hateth, and I am greatly offended\nat their life: a poor man that is proud, a rich man that is a\nliar, and an old adulterer that doateth.\n3\nIf thou hast gathered nothing in thy youth, how canst thou\nfind any thing in thine age?\n4\nO how comely a thing is judgment for gray hairs, and for\nancient men to know counsel!\n5\nO how comely is the wisdom of old men, and understanding and\ncounsel to men of honour.\n6\nMuch experience is the crown of old men, and the fear of God\nis their glory.\n7\nThere be nine things which I have judged in mine heart to be\nhappy, and the tenth I will utter with my tongue: A man that\nhath joy of his children; and he that liveth to see the fall of\nhis enemy:\n8\nWell is him that dwelleth with a wife of understanding, and\nthat hath not slipped with his tongue, and that hath not served\na man more unworthy than himself:\n9\nWell is him that hath found prudence, and he that speaketh in\nthe ears of them that will hear:\n10\nO how great is he that findeth wisdom! yet is there none\nabove him that feareth the Lord.\n11\nBut the love of the Lord passeth all things for illumination:\nhe that holdeth it, whereto shall he be likened?\n12\nThe fear of the Lord is the beginning of his love: and faith\nis the beginning of cleaving unto him.\n13\n[Give me] any plague, but the plague of the heart: and any\nwickedness, but the wickedness of a woman:\n14\nAnd any affliction, but the affliction from them that hate\nme: and any revenge, but the revenge of enemies.\n15\nThere is no head above the head of a serpent; and there is no\nwrath above the wrath of an enemy.\n16\nI had rather dwell with a lion and a dragon, than to keep\nhouse with a wicked woman.\n17\nThe wickedness of a woman changeth her face, and darkeneth\nher countenance like sackcloth.\n18\nHer husband shall sit among his neighbours; and when he\nheareth it shall sigh bitterly.\n19\nAll wickedness is but little to the wickedness of a woman:\nlet the portion of a sinner fall upon her.\n20\nAs the climbing up a sandy way is to the feet of the aged, so\nis a wife full of words to a quiet man.\n21\nStumble not at the beauty of a woman, and desire her not for\npleasure.\n22\nA woman, if she maintain her husband, is full of anger,\nimpudence, and much reproach.\n23\nA wicked woman abateth the courage, maketh an heavy\ncountenance and a wounded heart: a woman that will not comfort\nher husband in distress maketh weak hands and feeble knees.\n24\nOf the woman came the beginning of sin, and through her we\nall die.\n25\nGive the water no passage; neither a wicked woman liberty to\ngad abroad.\n26\nIf she go not as thou wouldest have her, cut her off from thy\nflesh, and give her a bill of divorce, and let her go.\nSir 26\nBlessed is the man that hath a virtuous wife, for the number\nof his days shall be double.\n2\nA virtuous woman rejoiceth her husband, and he shall fulfil\nthe years of his life in peace.\n3\nA good wife is a good portion, which shall be given in the\nportion of them that fear the Lord.\n4\nWhether a man be rich or poor, if he have a good heart toward\nthe Lord, he shall at all times rejoice with a cheerful\ncountenance.\n5\nThere be three things that mine heart feareth; and for the\nfourth I was sore afraid: the slander of a city, the gathering\ntogether of an unruly multitude, and a false accusation: all\nthese are worse than death.\n6\nBut a grief of heart and sorrow is a woman that is jealous\nover another woman, and a scourge of the tongue which\ncommunicateth with all.\n7\nAn evil wife is a yoke shaken to and fro: he that hath hold\nof her is as though he held a scorpion.\n8\nA drunken woman and a gadder abroad causeth great anger, and\nshe will not cover her own shame.\n9\nThe whoredom of a woman may be known in her haughty looks and\neyelids.\n10\nIf thy daughter be shameless, keep her in straitly, lest she\nabuse herself through overmuch liberty.\n11\nWatch over an impudent eye: and marvel not if she trespass\nagainst thee.\n12\nShe will open her mouth, as a thirsty traveller when he hath\nfound a fountain, and drink of every water near her: by every\nhedge will she sit down, and open her quiver against every\narrow.\n13\nThe grace of a wife delighteth her husband, and her\ndiscretion will fatten his bones.\n14\nA silent and loving woman is a gift of the Lord; and there is\nnothing so much worth as a mind well instructed.\n15\nA shamefaced and faithful woman is a double grace, and her\ncontinent mind cannot be valued.\n16\nAs the sun when it ariseth in the high heaven; so is the\nbeauty of a good wife in the ordering of her house.\n17\nAs the clear light is upon the holy candlestick; so is the\nbeauty of the face in ripe age.\n18\nAs the golden pillars are upon the sockets of silver; so are\nthe fair feet with a constant heart.\n19\nMy son, keep the flower of thine age sound; and give not thy\nstrength to strangers.\n20\nWhen thou hast gotten a fruitful possession through all the\nfield, sow it with thine own seed, trusting in the goodness of\nthy stock.\n21\nSo thy race which thou leavest shall be magnified, having the\nconfidence of their good descent.\n22\nAn harlot shall be accounted as spittle; but a married woman\nis a tower against death to her husband.\n23\nA wicked woman is given as a portion to a wicked man: but a\ngodly woman is given to him that feareth the Lord.\n24\nA dishonest woman contemneth shame: but an honest woman will\nreverence her husband.\n25\nA shameless woman shall be counted as a dog; but she that is\nshamefaced will fear the Lord.\n26\nA woman that honoureth her husband shall be judged wise of\nall; but she that dishonoureth him in her pride shall be counted\nungodly of all.\n27\nA loud crying woman and a scold shall be sought out to drive\naway the enemies.\n28\nThere be two things that grieve my heart; and the third\nmaketh me angry: a man of war that suffereth poverty; and men of\nunderstanding that are not set by; and one that returneth from\nrighteousness to sin; the Lord prepareth such an one for the\nsword.\n29\nA merchant shall hardly keep himself from doing wrong; and an\nhuckster shall not be freed from sin.\nSir 27\nMany have sinned for a small matter; and he that seeketh for\nabundance will turn his eyes away.\n2\nAs a nail sticketh fast between the joinings of the stones;\nso doth sin stick close between buying and selling.\n3\nUnless a man hold himself diligently in the fear of the Lord,\nhis house shall soon be overthrown.\n4\nAs when one sifteth with a sieve, the refuse remaineth; so\nthe filth of man in his talk.\n5\nThe furnace proveth the potter's vessels; so the trial of man\nis in his reasoning.\n6\nThe fruit declareth if the tree have been dressed; so is the\nutterance of a conceit in the heart of man.\n7\nPraise no man before thou hearest him speak; for this is the\ntrial of men.\n8\nIf thou followest righteousness, thou shalt obtain her, and\nput her on, as a glorious long robe.\n9\nThe birds will resort unto their like; so will truth return\nunto them that practise in her.\n10\nAs the lion lieth in wait for the prey; so sin for them that\nwork iniquity.\n11\nThe discourse of a godly man is always with wisdom; but a\nfool changeth as the moon.\n12\nIf thou be among the indiscreet, observe the time; but be\ncontinually among men of understanding.\n13\nThe discourse of fools is irksome, and their sport is the\nwantonness of sin.\n14\nThe talk of him that sweareth much maketh the hair stand\nupright; and their brawls make one stop his ears.\n15\nThe strife of the proud is bloodshedding, and their revilings\nare grievous to the ear.\n16\nWhoso discovereth secrets loseth his credit; and shall never\nfind friend to his mind.\n17\nLove thy friend, and be faithful unto him: but if thou\nbetrayest his secrets, follow no more after him.\n18\nFor as a man hath destroyed his enemy; so hast thou lost the\nlove of thy neighbor.\n19\nAs one that letteth a bird go out of his hand, so hast thou\nlet thy neighbour go, and shalt not get him again\n20\nFollow after him no more, for he is too far off; he is as a\nroe escaped out of the snare.\n21\nAs for a wound, it may be bound up; and after reviling there\nmay be reconcilement: but he that betrayeth secrets is without\nhope.\n22\nHe that winketh with the eyes worketh evil: and he that\nknoweth him will depart from him.\n23\nWhen thou art present, he will speak sweetly, and will admire\nthy words: but at the last he will writhe his mouth, and slander\nthy sayings.\n24\nI have hated many things, but nothing like him; for the Lord\nwill hate him.\n25\nWhoso casteth a stone on high casteth it on his own head; and\na deceitful stroke shall make wounds.\n26\nWhoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that setteth a\ntrap shall be taken therein.\n27\nHe that worketh mischief, it shall fall upon him, and he\nshall not know whence it cometh.\n28\nMockery and reproach are from the proud; but vengeance, as a\nlion, shall lie in wait for them.\n29\nThey that rejoice at the fall of the righteous shall be taken\nin the snare; and anguish shall consume them before they die.\n30\nMalice and wrath, even these are abominations; and the sinful\nman shall have them both.\nSir 28\nHe that revengeth shall find vengeance from the Lord, and he\nwill surely keep his sins [in remembrance.]\n2\nForgive thy neighbour the hurt that he hath done unto thee,\nso shall thy sins also be forgiven when thou prayest.\n3\nOne man beareth hatred against another, and doth he seek\npardon from the Lord?\n4\nHe sheweth no mercy to a man, which is like himself: and doth\nhe ask forgiveness of his own sins?\n5\nIf he that is but flesh nourish hatred, who will intreat for\npardon of his sins?\n6\nRemember thy end, and let enmity cease; [remember] corruption\nand death, and abide in the commandments.\n7\nRemember the commandments, and bear no malice to thy\nneighbour: [remember] the covenant of the Highest, and wink at\nignorance.\n8\nAbstain from strife, and thou shalt diminish thy sins: for a\nfurious man will kindle strife,\n9\nA sinful man disquieteth friends, and maketh debate among\nthem that be at peace.\n10\nAs the matter of the fire is, so it burneth: and as a man's\nstrength is, so is his wrath; and according to his riches his\nanger riseth; and the stronger they are which contend, the more\nthey will be inflamed.\n11\nAn hasty contention kindleth a fire: and an hasty fighting\nsheddeth blood.\n12\nIf thou blow the spark, it shall burn: if thou spit upon it,\nit shall be quenched: and both these come out of thy mouth.\n13\nCurse the whisperer and doubletongued: for such have\ndestroyed many that were at peace.\n14\nA backbiting tongue hath disquieted many, and driven them\nfrom nation to nation: strong cities hath it pulled down, and\noverthrown the houses of great men.\n15\nA backbiting tongue hath cast out virtuous women, and\ndeprived them of their labours.\n16\nWhoso hearkeneth unto it shall never find rest, and never\ndwell quietly.\n17\nThe stroke of the whip maketh marks in the flesh: but the\nstroke of the tongue breaketh the bones.\n18\nMany have fallen by the edge of the sword: but not so many as\nhave fallen by the tongue.\n19\nWell is he that is defended through the venom thereof; who\nhath not drawn the yoke thereof, nor hath been bound in her\nbands.\n20\nFor the yoke thereof is a yoke of iron, and the bands thereof\nare bands of brass.\n21\nThe death thereof is an evil death, the grave were better\nthan it.\n22\nIt shall not have rule over them that fear God, neither shall\nthey be burned with the flame thereof.\n23\nSuch as forsake the Lord shall fall into it; and it shall\nburn in them, and not be quenched; it shall be sent upon them as\na lion, and devour them as a leopard.\n24\nLook that thou hedge thy possession about with thorns, and\nbind up thy silver and gold,\n25\nAnd weigh thy words in a balance, and make a door and bar for\nthy mouth.\n26\nBeware thou slide not by it, lest thou fall before him that\nlieth in wait.\nSir 29\nHe that is merciful will lend unto his neighbour; and he that\nstrengtheneth his hand keepeth the commandments.\n2\nLend to thy neighbour in time of his need, and pay thou thy\nneighbour again in due season.\n3\nKeep thy word, and deal faithfully with him, and thou shalt\nalways find the thing that is necessary for thee.\n4\nMany, when a thing was lent them, reckoned it to be found,\nand put them to trouble that helped them.\n5\nTill he hath received, he will kiss a man's hand; and for his\nneighbour's money he will speak submissly: but when he should\nrepay, he will prolong the time, and return words of grief, and\ncomplain of the time.\n6\nIf he prevail, he shall hardly receive the half, and he will\ncount as if he had found it: if not, he hath deprived him of his\nmoney, and he hath gotten him an enemy without cause: he payeth\nhim with cursings and railings; and for honour he will pay him\ndisgrace.\n7\nMany therefore have refused to lend for other men's ill\ndealing, fearing to be defrauded.\n8\nYet have thou patience with a man in poor estate, and delay\nnot to shew him mercy.\n9\nHelp the poor for the commandment's sake, and turn him not\naway because of his poverty.\n10\nLose thy money for thy brother and thy friend, and let it not\nrust under a stone to be lost.\n11\nLay up thy treasure according to the commandments of the most\nHigh, and it shall bring thee more profit than gold.\n12\nShut up alms in thy storehouses: and it shall deliver thee\nfrom all affliction.\n13\nIt shall fight for thee against thine enemies better than a\nmighty shield and strong spear.\n14\nAn honest man is surety for his neighbour: but he that is\nimpudent will forsake him.\n15\nForget not the friendship of thy surety, for he hath given\nhis life for thee.\n16\nA sinner will overthrow the good estate of his surety:\n17\nAnd he that is of an unthankful mind will leave him [in\ndanger] that delivered him.\n18\nSuretiship hath undone many of good estate, and shaken them\nas a wave of the sea: mighty men hath it driven from their\nhouses, so that they wandered among strange nations.\n19\nA wicked man transgressing the commandments of the Lord shall\nfall into suretiship: and he that undertaketh and followeth\nother men's business for gain shall fall into suits.\n20\nHelp thy neighbour according to thy power, and beware that\nthou thyself fall not into the same.\n21\nThe chief thing for life is water, and bread, and clothing,\nand an house to cover shame.\n22\nBetter is the life of a poor man in a mean cottage, than\ndelicate fare in another man's house.\n23\nBe it little or much, hold thee contented, that thou hear not\nthe reproach of thy house.\n24\nFor it is a miserable life to go from house to house: for\nwhere thou art a stranger, thou darest not open thy mouth.\n25\nThou shalt entertain, and feast, and have no thanks: moreover\nthou shalt hear bitter words:\n26\nCome, thou stranger, and furnish a table, and feed me of that\nthou hast ready.\n27\nGive place, thou stranger, to an honourable man; my brother\ncometh to be lodged, and I have need of mine house.\n28\nThese things are grievous to a man of understanding; the\nupbraiding of houseroom, and reproaching of the lender.\nSir 30\nHe that loveth his son causeth him oft to feel the rod, that\nhe may have joy of him in the end.\n2\nHe that chastiseth his son shall have joy in him, and shall\nrejoice of him among his acquaintance.\n3\nHe that teacheth his son grieveth the enemy: and before his\nfriends he shall rejoice of him.\n4\nThough his father die, yet he is as though he were not dead:\nfor he hath left one behind him that is like himself.\n5\nWhile he lived, he saw and rejoiced in him: and when he died,\nhe was not sorrowful.\n6\nHe left behind him an avenger against his enemies, and one\nthat shall requite kindness to his friends.\n7\nHe that maketh too much of his son shall bind up his wounds;\nand his bowels will be troubled at every cry.\n8\nAn horse not broken becometh headstrong: and a child left to\nhimself will be wilful.\n9\nCocker thy child, and he shall make thee afraid: play with\nhim, and he will bring thee to heaviness.\n10\nLaugh not with him, lest thou have sorrow with him, and lest\nthou gnash thy teeth in the end.\n11\nGive him no liberty in his youth, and wink not at his\nfollies.\n12\nBow down his neck while he is young, and beat him on the\nsides while he is a child, lest he wax stubborn, and be\ndisobedient unto thee, and so bring sorrow to thine heart.\n13\nChastise thy son, and hold him to labour, lest his lewd\nbehaviour be an offence unto thee.\n14\nBetter is the poor, being sound and strong of constitution,\nthan a rich man that is afflicted in his body.\n15\nHealth and good estate of body are above all gold, and a\nstrong body above infinite wealth.\n16\nThere is no riches above a sound body, and no joy above the\njoy of the heart.\n17\nDeath is better than a bitter life or continual sickness.\n18\nDelicates poured upon a mouth shut up are as messes of meat\nset upon a grave.\n19\nWhat good doeth the offering unto an idol? for neither can it\neat nor smell: so is he that is persecuted of the Lord.\n20\nHe seeth with his eyes and groaneth, as an eunuch that\nembraceth a virgin and sigheth.\n21\nGive not over thy mind to heaviness, and afflict not thyself\nin thine own counsel.\n22\nThe gladness of the heart is the life of man, and the\njoyfulness of a man prolongeth his days.\n23\nLove thine own soul, and comfort thy heart, remove sorrow far\nfrom thee: for sorrow hath killed many, and there is no profit\ntherein.\n24\nEnvy and wrath shorten the life, and carefulness bringeth age\nbefore the time.\n25\nA cheerful and good heart will have a care of his meat and\ndiet.\nSir 31\nWatching for riches consumeth the flesh, and the care thereof\ndriveth away sleep.\n2\nWatching care will not let a man slumber, as a sore disease\nbreaketh sleep,\n3\nThe rich hath great labour in gathering riches together; and\nwhen he resteth, he is filled with his delicates.\n4\nThe poor laboureth in his poor estate; and when he leaveth\noff, he is still needy.\n5\nHe that loveth gold shall not be justified, and he that\nfolloweth corruption shall have enough thereof.\n6\nGold hath been the ruin of many, and their destruction was\npresent.\n7\nIt is a stumblingblock unto them that sacrifice unto it, and\nevery fool shall be taken therewith.\n8\nBlessed is the rich that is found without blemish, and hath\nnot gone after gold.\n9\nWho is he? and we will call him blessed: for wonderful things\nhath he done among his people.\n10\nWho hath been tried thereby, and found perfect? then let him\nglory. Who might offend, and hath not offended? or done evil,\nand hath not done it?\n11\nHis goods shall be established, and the congregation shall\ndeclare his alms.\n12\nIf thou sit at a bountiful table, be not greedy upon it, and\nsay not, There is much meat on it.\n13\nRemember that a wicked eye is an evil thing: and what is\ncreated more wicked than an eye? therefore it weepeth upon every\noccasion.\n14\nStretch not thine hand whithersoever it looketh, and thrust\nit not with him into the dish.\n15\nJudge not thy neighbour by thyself: and be discreet in every\npoint.\n16\nEat as it becometh a man, those things which are set before\nthee; and devour note, lest thou be hated.\n17\nLeave off first for manners' sake; and be not unsatiable,\nlest thou offend.\n18\nWhen thou sittest among many, reach not thine hand out first\nof all.\n19\nA very little is sufficient for a man well nurtured, and he\nfetcheth not his wind short upon his bed.\n20\nSound sleep cometh of moderate eating: he riseth early, and\nhis wits are with him: but the pain of watching, and choler, and\npangs of the belly, are with an unsatiable man.\n21\nAnd if thou hast been forced to eat, arise, go forth, vomit,\nand thou shalt have rest.\n22\nMy son, hear me, and despise me not, and at the last thou\nshalt find as I told thee: in all thy works be quick, so shall\nthere no sickness come unto thee.\n23\nWhoso is liberal of his meat, men shall speak well of him;\nand the report of his good housekeeping will be believed.\n24\nBut against him that is a niggard of his meat the whole city\nshall murmur; and the testimonies of his niggardness shall not\nbe doubted of.\n25\nShew not thy valiantness in wine; for wine hath destroyed\nmany.\n26\nThe furnace proveth the edge by dipping: so doth wine the\nhearts of the proud by drunkeness.\n27\nWine is as good as life to a man, if it be drunk moderately:\nwhat life is then to a man that is without wine? for it was made\nto make men glad.\n28\nWine measurably drunk and in season bringeth gladness of the\nheart, and cheerfulness of the mind:\n29\nBut wine drunken with excess maketh bitterness of the mind,\nwith brawling and quarrelling.\n30\nDrunkenness increaseth the rage of a fool till he offend: it\ndiminisheth strength, and maketh wounds.\n31\nRebuke not thy neighbour at the wine, and despise him not in\nhis mirth: give him no despiteful words, and press not upon him\nwith urging him [to drink.]\nSir 32\nIf thou be made the master [of a feast,] lift not thyself up,\nbut be among them as one of the rest; take diligent care for\nthem, and so sit down.\n2\nAnd when thou hast done all thy office, take thy place, that\nthou mayest be merry with them, and receive a crown for thy well\nordering of the feast.\n3\nSpeak, thou that art the elder, for it becometh thee, but\nwith sound judgment; and hinder not musick.\n4\nPour not out words where there is a musician, and shew not\nforth wisdom out of time.\n5\nA concert of musick in a banquet of wine is as a signet of\ncarbuncle set in gold.\n6\nAs a signet of an emerald set in a work of gold, so is the\nmelody of musick with pleasant wine.\n7\nSpeak, young man, if there be need of thee: and yet scarcely\nwhen thou art twice asked.\n8\nLet thy speech be short, comprehending much in few words; be\nas one that knoweth and yet holdeth his tongue.\n9\nIf thou be among great men, make not thyself equal with them;\nand when ancient men are in place, use not many words.\n10\nBefore the thunder goeth lightning; and before a shamefaced\nman shall go favour.\n11\nRise up betimes, and be not the last; but get thee home\nwithout delay.\n12\nThere take thy pastime, and do what thou wilt: but sin not by\nproud speech.\n13\nAnd for these things bless him that made thee, and hath\nreplenished thee with his good things.\n14\nWhoso feareth the Lord will receive his discipline; and they\nthat seek him early shall find favour.\n15\nHe that seeketh the law shall be filled therewith: but the\nhypocrite will be offended thereat.\n16\nThey that fear the Lord shall find judgment, and shall kindle\njustice as a light.\n17\nA sinful man will not be reproved, but findeth an excuse\naccording to his will.\n18\nA man of counsel will be considerate; but a strange and proud\nman is not daunted with fear, even when of himself he hath done\nwithout counsel.\n19\nDo nothing without advice; and when thou hast once done,\nrepent not.\n20\nGo not in a way wherein thou mayest fall, and stumble not\namong the stones.\n21\nBe not confident in a plain way.\n22\nAnd beware of thine own children.\n23\nIn every good work trust thy own soul; for this is the\nkeeping of the commandments.\n24\nHe that believeth in the Lord taketh heed to the commandment;\nand he that trusteth in him shall fare never the worse.\nSir 33\nThere shall no evil happen unto him that feareth the Lord;\nbut in temptation even again he will deliver him.\n2\nA wise man hateth not the law; but he that is an hypocrite\ntherein is as a ship in a storm.\n3\nA man of understanding trusteth in the law; and the law is\nfaithful unto him, as an oracle.\n4\nPrepare what to say, and so thou shalt be heard: and bind up\ninstruction, and then make answer.\n5\nThe heart of the foolish is like a cartwheel; and his\nthoughts are like a rolling axletree.\n6\nA stallion horse is as a mocking friend, he neigheth under\nevery one that sitteth upon him.\n7\nWhy doth one day excel another, when as all the light of\nevery day in the year is of the sun?\n8\nBy the knowledge of the Lord they were distinguished: and he\naltered seasons and feasts.\n9\nSome of them hath he made high days, and hallowed them, and\nsome of them hath he made ordinary days.\n10\nAnd all men are from the ground, and Adam was created of\nearth:\n11\nIn much knowledge the Lord hath divided them, and made their\nways diverse.\n12\nSome of them hath he blessed and exalted and some of them he\nsanctified, and set near himself: but some of them hath he\ncursed and brought low, and turned out of their places.\n13\nAs the clay is in the potter's hand, to fashion it at his\npleasure: so man is in the hand of him that made him, to render\nto them as liketh him best.\n14\nGood is set against evil, and life against death: so is the\ngodly against the sinner, and the sinner against the godly.\n15\nSo look upon all the works of the most High; and there are\ntwo and two, one against another.\n16\nI awaked up last of all, as one that gathereth after the\ngrapegatherers: by the blessing of the Lord I profited, and tred\nmy winepress like a gatherer of grapes.\n17\nConsider that I laboured not for myself only, but for all\nthem that seek learning.\n18\nHear me, O ye great men of the people, and hearken with your\nears, ye rulers of the congregation.\n19\nGive not thy son and wife, thy brother and friend, power over\nthee while thou livest, and give not thy goods to another: lest\nit repent thee, and thou intreat for the same again.\n20\nAs long as thou livest and hast breath in thee, give not\nthyself over to any.\n21\nFor better it is that thy children should seek to thee, than\nthat thou shouldest stand to their courtesy.\n22\nIn all thy works keep to thyself the preeminence; leave not a\nstain in thine honour.\n23\nAt the time when thou shalt end thy days, and finish thy\nlife, distribute thine inheritance.\n24\nFodder, a wand, and burdens, are for the ass; and bread,\ncorrection, and work, for a servant. .\n25\nIf thou set thy servant to labour, thou shalt find rest: but\nif thou let him go idle, he shall seek liberty.\n26\nA yoke and a collar do bow the neck: so are tortures and\ntorments for an evil servant.\n27\nSend him to labour, that he be not idle; for idleness\nteacheth much evil.\n28\nSet him to work, as is fit for him: if he be not obedient,\nput on more heavy fetters.\n29\nBut be not excessive toward any; and without discretion do\nnothing.\n30\nIf thou have a servant, let him be unto thee as thyself,\nbecause thou hast bought him with a price.\n31\nIf thou have a servant, entreat him as a brother: for thou\nhast need of him, as of thine own soul: if thou entreat him\nevil, and he run from thee, which way wilt thou go to seek him?\nSir 34\nThe hopes of a man void of understanding are vain and false:\nand dreams lift up fools.\n2\nWhoso regardeth dreams is like him that catcheth at a shadow,\nand followeth after the wind.\n3\nThe vision of dreams is the resemblance of one thing to\nanother, even as the likeness of a face to a face.\n4\nOf an unclean thing what can be cleansed? and from that thing\nwhich is false what truth can come?\n5\nDivinations, and soothsayings, and dreams, are vain: and the\nheart fancieth, as a woman's heart in travail.\n6\nIf they be not sent from the most High in thy visitation, set\nnot thy heart upon them.\n7\nFor dreams have deceived many, and they have failed that put\ntheir trust in them.\n8\nThe law shall be found perfect without lies: and wisdom is\nperfection to a faithful mouth.\n9\nA man that hath travelled knoweth many things; and he that\nhath much experience will declare wisdom.\n10\nHe that hath no experience knoweth little: but he that hath\ntravelled is full of prudence.\n11\nWhen I travelled, I saw many things; and I understand more\nthan I can express.\n12\nI was ofttimes in danger of death: yet I was delivered\nbecause of these things.\n13\nThe spirit of those that fear the Lord shall live; for their\nhope is in him that saveth them.\n14\nWhoso feareth the Lord shall not fear nor be afraid; for he\nis his hope.\n15\nBlessed is the soul of him that feareth the Lord: to whom\ndoth he look? and who is his strength?\n16\nFor the eyes of the Lord are upon them that love him, he is\ntheir mighty protection and strong stay, a defence from heat,\nand a cover from the sun at noon, a preservation from stumbling,\nand an help from falling.\n17\nHe raiseth up the soul, and lighteneth the eyes: he giveth\nhealth, life, and blessing.\n18\nHe that sacrificeth of a thing wrongfully gotten, his\noffering is ridiculous; and the gifts of unjust men are not\naccepted.\n19\nThe most High is not pleased with the offerings of the\nwicked; neither is he pacified for sin by the multitude of\nsacrifices.\n20\nWhoso bringeth an offering of the goods of the poor doeth as\none that killeth the son before his father's eyes.\n21\nThe bread of the needy is their life: he that defraudeth him\nthereof is a man of blood.\n22\nHe that taketh away his neighbour's living slayeth him; and\nhe that defraudeth the labourer of his hire is a bloodshedder.\n23\nWhen one buildeth, and another pulleth down, what profit have\nthey then but labour?\n24\nWhen one prayeth, and another curseth, whose voice will the\nLord hear?\n25\nHe that washeth himself after the touching of a dead body, if\nhe touch it again, what availeth his washing?\n26\nSo is it with a man that fasteth for his sins, and goeth\nagain, and doeth the same: who will hear his prayer? or what\ndoth his humbling profit him?\nSir 35\nHe that keepeth the law bringeth offerings enough: he that\ntaketh heed to the commandment offereth a peace offering.\n2\nHe that requiteth a goodturn offereth fine flour; and he that\ngiveth alms sacrificeth praise.\n3\nTo depart from wickedness is a thing pleasing to the Lord;\nand to forsake unrighteousness is a propitiation.\n4\nThou shalt not appear empty before the Lord.\n5\nFor all these things [are to be done] because of the\ncommandment.\n6\nThe offering of the righteous maketh the altar fat, and the\nsweet savour thereof is before the most High.\n7\nThe sacrifice of a just man is acceptable. and the memorial\nthereof shall never be forgotten.\n8\nGive the Lord his honour with a good eye, and diminish not\nthe firstfruits of thine hands.\n9\nIn all thy gifts shew a cheerful countenance, and dedicate\nthy tithes with gladness.\n10\nGive unto the most High according as he hath enriched thee;\nand as thou hast gotten, give with a cheerful eye.\n11\nFor the Lord recompenseth, and will give thee seven times as\nmuch.\n12\nDo not think to corrupt with gifts; for such he will not\nreceive: and trust not to unrighteous sacrifices; for the Lord\nis judge, and with him is no respect of persons.\n13\nHe will not accept any person against a poor man, but will\nhear the prayer of the oppressed.\n14\nHe will not despise the supplication of the fatherless; nor\nthe widow, when she poureth out her complaint.\n15\nDo not the tears run down the widow's cheeks? and is not her\ncry against him that causeth them to fall?\n16\nHe that serveth the Lord shall be accepted with favour, and\nhis prayer shall reach unto the clouds.\n17\nThe prayer of the humble pierceth the clouds: and till it\ncome nigh, he will not be comforted; and will not depart, till\nthe most High shall behold to judge righteously, and execute\njudgment.\n18\nFor the Lord will not be slack, neither will the Mighty be\npatient toward them, till he have smitten in sunder the loins of\nthe unmerciful, and repayed vengeance to the heathen; till he\nhave taken away the multitude of the proud, and broken the\nsceptre of the unrighteous;\n19\nTill he have rendered to every man according to his deeds,\nand to the works of men according to their devices; till he have\njudged the cause of his people, and made them to rejoice in his\nmercy.\n20\nMercy is seasonable in the time of affliction, as clouds of\nrain in the time of drought.\nSir 36\nHave mercy upon us, O Lord God of all, and behold us:\n2\nAnd send thy fear upon all the nations that seek not after\nthee.\n3\nLift up thy hand against the strange nations, and let them\nsee thy power.\n4\nAs thou wast sanctified in us before them: so be thou\nmagnified among them before us.\n5\nAnd let them know thee, as we have known thee, that there is\nno God but only thou, O God.\n6\nShew new signs, and make other strange wonders: glorify thy\nhand and thy right arm, that they may set forth thy wondrous\nworks.\n7\nRaise up indignation, and pour out wrath: take away the\nadversary, and destroy the enemy.\n8\nSake the time short, remember the covenant, and let them\ndeclare thy wonderful works.\n9\nLet him that escapeth be consumed by the rage of the fire;\nand let them perish that oppress the people.\n10\nSmite in sunder the heads of the rulers of the heathen, that\nsay, There is none other but we.\n11\nGather all the tribes of Jacob together, and inherit thou\nthem, as from the beginning.\n12\nO Lord, have mercy upon the people that is called by thy\nname, and upon Israel, whom thou hast named thy firstborn.\n13\nO be merciful unto Jerusalem, thy holy city, the place of thy\nrest.\n14\nFill Sion with thine unspeakable oracles, and thy people with\nthy glory:\n15\nGive testimony unto those that thou hast possessed from the\nbeginning, and raise up prophets that have been in thy name.\n16\nReward them that wait for thee, and let thy prophets be found\nfaithful.\n17\nO Lord, hear the prayer of thy servants, according to the\nblessing of Aaron over thy people, that all they which dwell\nupon the earth may know that thou art the Lord, the eternal God.\n18\nThe belly devoureth all meats, yet is one meat better than\nanother.\n19\nAs the palate tasteth divers kinds of venison: so doth an\nheart of understanding false speeches.\n20\nA froward heart causeth heaviness: but a man of experience\nwill recompense him.\n21\nA woman will receive every man, yet is one daughter better\nthan another.\n22\nThe beauty of a woman cheereth the countenance, and a man\nloveth nothing better.\n23\nIf there be kindness, meekness, and comfort, in her tongue,\nthen is not her husband like other men.\n24\nHe that getteth a wife beginneth a possession, a help like\nunto himself, and a pillar of rest.\n25\nWhere no hedge is, there the possession is spoiled: and he\nthat hath no wife will wander up and down mourning.\n26\nWho will trust a thief well appointed, that skippeth from\ncity to city? so [who will believe] a man that hath no house,\nand lodgeth wheresoever the night taketh him?\nSir 37\nEvery friend saith, I am his friend also: but there is a\nfriend, which is only a friend in name.\n2\nIs it not a grief unto death, when a companion and friend is\nturned to an enemy?\n3\nO wicked imagination, whence camest thou in to cover the\nearth with deceit?\n4\nThere is a companion, which rejoiceth in the prosperity of a\nfriend, but in the time of trouble will be against him.\n5\nThere is a companion, which helpeth his friend for the belly,\nand taketh up the buckler against the enemy.\n6\nForget not thy friend in thy mind, and be not unmindful of\nhim in thy riches.\n7\nEvery counsellor extolleth counsel; but there is some that\ncounselleth for himself.\n8\nBeware of a counsellor, and know before what need he hath;\nfor he will counsel for himself; lest he cast the lot upon thee,\n9\nAnd say unto thee, Thy way is good: and afterward he stand on\nthe other side, to see what shall befall thee.\n10\nConsult not with one that suspecteth thee: and hide thy\ncounsel from such as envy thee.\n11\nNeither consult with a woman touching her of whom she is\njealous; neither with a coward in matters of war; nor with a\nmerchant concerning exchange; nor with a buyer of selling; nor\nwith an envious man of thankfulness; nor with an unmerciful man\ntouching kindness; nor with the slothful for any work; nor with\nan hireling for a year of finishing work; nor with an idle\nservant of much business: hearken not unto these in any matter\nof counsel.\n12\nBut be continually with a godly man, whom thou knowest to keep\nthe commandments of the Lord, whose, mind is according to thy\nmind, and will sorrow with thee, if thou shalt miscarry.\n13\nAnd let the counsel of thine own heart stand: for there is no\nman more faithful unto thee than it.\n14\nFor a man's mind is sometime wont to tell him more than seven\nwatchmen, that sit above in an high tower.\n15\nAnd above all this pray to the most High, that he will direct\nthy way in truth.\n16\nLet reason go before every enterprize, and counsel before\nevery action.\n17\nThe countenance is a sign of changing of the heart.\n18\nFour manner of things appear: good and evil, life and death:\nbut the tongue ruleth over them continually.\n19\nThere is one that is wise and teacheth many, and yet is\nunprofitable to himself.\n20\nThere is one that sheweth wisdom in words, and is hated: he\nshall be destitute of all food.\n21\nFor grace is not given, him from the Lord, because he is\ndeprived of all wisdom.\n22\nAnother is wise to himself; and the fruits of understanding\nare commendable in his mouth.\n23\nA wise man instructeth his people; and the fruits of his\nunderstanding fail not.\n24\nA wise man shall be filled with blessing; and all they that\nsee him shall count him happy.\n25\nThe days of the life of man may be numbered: but the days of\nIsrael are innumerable.\n26\nA wise man shall inherit glory among his people, and his name\nshall be perpetual.\n27\nMy son, prove thy soul in thy life, and see what is evil for\nit, and give not that unto it.\n28\nFor all things are not profitable for all men, neither hath\nevery soul pleasure in every thing.\n29\nBe not unsatiable in any dainty thing, nor too greedy upon\nmeats:\n30\nFor excess of meats bringeth sickness, and surfeiting will\nturn into choler.\n31\nBy surfeiting have many perished; but he that taketh heed\nprolongeth his life.\nSir 38\nHonour a physician with the honour due unto him for the uses\nwhich ye may have of him: for the Lord hath created him.\n2\nFor of the most High cometh healing, and he shall receive\nhonour of the king.\n3\nThe skill of the physician shall lift up his head: and in the\nsight of great men he shall be in admiration.\n4\nThe Lord hath created medicines out of the earth; and he that\nis wise will not abhor them.\n5\nWas not the water made sweet with wood, that the virtue\nthereof might be known?\n6\nAnd he hath given men skill, that he might be honoured in his\nmarvellous works.\n7\nWith such doth he heal [men,] and taketh away their pains.\n8\nOf such doth the apothecary make a confection; and of his\nworks there is no end; and from him is peace over all the earth,\n9\nMy son, in thy sickness be not negligent: but pray unto the\nLord, and he will make thee whole.\n10\nLeave off from sin, and order thine hands aright, and cleanse\nthy heart from all wickedness.\n11\nGive a sweet savour, and a memorial of fine flour; and make a\nfat offering, as not being.\n12\nThen give place to the physician, for the Lord hath created\nhim: let him not go from thee, for thou hast need of him.\n13\nThere is a time when in their hands there is good success.\n14\nFor they shall also pray unto the Lord, that he would prosper\nthat, which they give for ease and remedy to prolong life.\n15\nHe that sinneth before his Maker, let him fall into the hand\nof the physician.\n16\nMy son, let tears fall down over the dead, and begin to\nlament, as if thou hadst suffered great harm thyself; and then\ncover his body according to the custom, and neglect not his\nburial.\n17\nWeep bitterly, and make great moan, and use lamentation, as\nhe is worthy, and that a day or two, lest thou be evil spoken\nof: and then comfort thyself for thy heaviness.\n18\nFor of heaviness cometh death, and the heaviness of the heart\nbreaketh strength.\n19\nIn affliction also sorrow remaineth: and the life of the poor\nis the curse of the heart.\n20\nTake no heaviness to heart: drive it away, and member the\nlast end.\n21\nForget it not, for there is no turning again: thou shalt not\ndo him good, but hurt thyself.\n22\nRemember my judgment: for thine also shall be so; yesterday\nfor me, and to day for thee.\n23\nWhen the dead is at rest, let his remembrance rest; and be\ncomforted for him, when his Spirit is departed from him.\n24\nThe wisdom of a learned man cometh by opportunity of leisure:\nand he that hath little business shall become wise.\n25\nHow can he get wisdom that holdeth the plough, and that\nglorieth in the goad, that driveth oxen, and is occupied in\ntheir labours, and whose talk is of bullocks?\n26\nHe giveth his mind to make furrows; and is diligent to give\nthe kine fodder.\n27\nSo every carpenter and workmaster, that laboureth night and\nday: and they that cut and grave seals, and are diligent to make\ngreat variety, and give themselves to counterfeit imagery, and\nwatch to finish a work:\n28\nThe smith also sitting by the anvil, and considering the iron\nwork, the vapour of the fire wasteth his flesh, and he fighteth\nwith the heat of the furnace: the noise of the hammer and the\nanvil is ever in his ears, and his eyes look still upon the\npattern of the thing that he maketh; he setteth his mind to\nfinish his work, and watcheth to polish it perfectly:\n29\nSo doth the potter sitting at his work, and turning the wheel\nabout with his feet, who is alway carefully set at his work, and\nmaketh all his work by number;\n30\nHe fashioneth the clay with his arm, and boweth down his\nstrength before his feet; he applieth himself to lead it over;\nand he is diligent to make clean the furnace:\n31\nAll these trust to their hands: and every one is wise in his\nwork.\n32\nWithout these cannot a city be inhabited: and they shall not\ndwell where they will, nor go up and down:\n33\nThey shall not be sought for in publick counsel, nor sit high\nin the congregation: they shall not sit on the judges' seat, nor\nunderstand the sentence of judgment: they cannot declare justice\nand judgment; and they shall not be found where parables are\nspoken.\n34\nBut they will maintain the state of the world, and [all]\ntheir desire is in the work of their craft.\nSir 39\nBut he that giveth his mind to the law of the most High, and\nis occupied in the meditation thereof, will seek out the wisdom\nof all the ancient, and be occupied in prophecies.\n2\nHe will keep the sayings of the renowned men: and where\nsubtil parables are, he will be there also.\n3\nHe will seek out the secrets of grave sentences, and be\nconversant in dark parables.\n4\nHe shall serve among great men, and appear before princes: he\nwill travel through strange countries; for he hath tried the\ngood and the evil among men.\n5\nHe will give his heart to resort early to the Lord that made\nhim, and will pray before the most High, and will open his mouth\nin prayer, and make supplication for his sins.\n6\nWhen the great Lord will, he shall be filled with the spirit\nof understanding: he shall pour out wise sentences, and give\nthanks unto the Lord in his prayer.\n7\nHe shall direct his counsel and knowledge, and in his secrets\nshall he meditate.\n8\nHe shall shew forth that which he hath learned, and shall\nglory in the law of the covenant of the Lord.\n9\nMany shall commend his understanding; and so long as the\nworld endureth, it shall not be blotted out; his memorial shall\nnot depart away, and his name shall live from generation to\ngeneration.\n10\nNations shall shew forth his wisdom, and the congregation\nshall declare his praise.\n11\nIf he die, he shall leave a greater name than a thousand: and\nif he live, he shall increase it.\n12\nYet have I more to say, which I have thought upon; for I am\nfilled as the moon at the full.\n13\nHearken unto me, ye holy children, and bud forth as a rose\ngrowing by the brook of the field:\n14\nAnd give ye a sweet savour as frankincense, and flourish as a\nlily, send forth a smell, and sing a song of praise, bless the\nLord in all his works.\n15\nMagnify his name, and shew forth his praise with the songs of\nyour lips, and with harps, and in praising him ye shall say\nafter this manner:\n16\nAll the works of the Lord are exceeding good, and whatsoever\nhe commandeth shall be accomplished in due season.\n17\nAnd none may say, What is this? wherefore is that? for at\ntime convenient they shall all be sought out: at his commandment\nthe waters stood as an heap, and at the words of his mouth the\nreceptacles of waters.\n18\nAt his commandment is done whatsoever pleaseth him; and none\ncan hinder, when he will save.\n19\nThe works of all flesh are before him, and nothing can be hid\nfrom his eyes.\n20\nHe seeth from everlasting to everlasting; and there is\nnothing wonderful before him.\n21\nA man need not to say, What is this? wherefore is that? for\nhe hath made all things for their uses.\n22\nHis blessing covered the dry land as a river, and watered it\nas a flood.\n23\nAs he hath turned the waters into saltness: so shall the\nheathen inherit his wrath.\n24\nAs his ways are plain unto the holy; so are they\nstumblingblocks unto the wicked.\n25\nFor the good are good things created from the beginning: so\nevil things for sinners.\n26\nThe principal things for the whole use of man's life are\nwater, fire, iron, and salt, flour of wheat, honey, milk, and\nthe blood of the grape, and oil, and clothing.\n27\nAll these things are for good to the godly: so to the sinners\nthey are turned into evil.\n28\nThere be spirits that are created for vengeance, which in\ntheir fury lay on sore strokes; in the time of destruction they\npour out their force, and appease the wrath of him that made\nthem.\n29\nFire, and hail, and famine, and death, all these were created\nfor vengeance;\n30\nTeeth of wild beasts, and scorpions, serpents, and the sword\npunishing the wicked to destruction.\n31\nThey shall rejoice in his commandment, and they shall be\nready upon earth, when need is; and when their time is come,\nthey shall not transgress his word.\n32\nTherefore from the beginning I was resolved, and thought upon\nthese things, and have left them in writing.\n33\nAll the works of the Lord are good: and he will give every\nneedful thing in due season.\n34\nSo that a man cannot say, This is worse than that: for in\ntime they shall all be well approved.\n35\nAnd therefore praise ye the Lord with the whole heart and\nmouth, and bless the name of the Lord.\nSir 40\nGreat travail is created for every man, and an heavy yoke is\nupon the sons of Adam, from the day that they go out of their\nmother's womb, till the day that they return to the mother of\nall things.\n2\nTheir imagination of things to come, and the day of death,\n[trouble] their thoughts, and [cause] fear of heart;\n3\nFrom him that sitteth on a throne of glory, unto him that is\nhumbled in earth and ashes;\n4\nFrom him that weareth purple and a crown, unto him that is\nclothed with a linen frock.\n5\nWrath, and envy, trouble, and unquietness, fear of death, and\nanger, and strife, and in the time of rest upon his bed his\nnight sleep, do change his knowledge.\n6\nA little or nothing is his rest, and afterward he is in his\nsleep, as in a day of keeping watch, troubled in the vision of\nhis heart, as if he were escaped out of a battle.\n7\nWhen all is safe, he awaketh, and marvelleth that the fear\nwas nothing.\n8\n[Such things happen] unto all flesh, both man and beast, and\nthat is sevenfold more upon sinners.\n9\nDeath, and bloodshed, strife, and sword, calamities, famine,\ntribulation, and the scourge;\n10\nThese things are created for the wicked, and for their sakes\ncame the flood.\n11\nAll things that are of the earth shall turn to the earth\nagain: and that which is of the waters doth return into the sea.\n12\nAll bribery and injustice shall be blotted out: but true\ndealing shall endure for ever.\n13\nThe goods of the unjust shall be dried up like a river, and\nshall vanish with noise, like a great thunder in rain.\n14\nWhile he openeth his hand he shall rejoice: so shall\ntransgressors come to nought.\n15\nThe children of the ungodly shall not bring forth many\nbranches: but are as unclean roots upon a hard rock.\n16\nThe weed growing upon every water and bank of a river shall\nbe pulled up before all grass.\n17\nBountifulness is as a most fruitful garden, and mercifulness\nendureth for ever.\n18\nTo labour, and to be content with that a man hath, is a sweet\nlife: but he that findeth a treasure is above them both.\n19\nChildren and the building of a city continue a man's name:\nbut a blameless wife is counted above them both.\n20\nWine and musick rejoice the heart: but the love of wisdom is\nabove them both.\n21\nThe pipe and the psaltery make sweet melody: but a pleasant\ntongue is above them both.\n22\nThine eye desireth favour and beauty: but more than both corn\nwhile it is green.\n23\nA friend and companion never meet amiss: but above both is a\nwife with her husband.\n24\nBrethren and help are against time of trouble: but alms shall\ndeliver more than them both.\n25\nGold and silver make the foot stand sure: but counsel is\nesteemed above them both.\n26\nRiches and strength lift up the heart: but the fear of the\nLord is above them both: there is no want in the fear of the\nLord, and it needeth not to seek help.\n27\nThe fear of the Lord is a fruitful garden, and covereth him\nabove all glory.\n28\nMy son, lead not a beggar's life; for better it is to die\nthan to beg.\n29\nThe life of him that dependeth on another man's table is not\nto be counted for a life; for he polluteth himself with other\nmen's meat: but a wise man well nurtured will beware thereof.\n30\nBegging is sweet in the mouth of the shameless: but in his\nbelly there shall burn a fire.\nSir 41\nO death, how bitter is the remembrance of thee to a man that\nliveth at rest in his possessions, unto the man that hath\nnothing to vex him, and that hath prosperity in all things: yea,\nunto him that is yet able to receive meat!\n2\nO death, acceptable is thy sentence unto the needy, and unto\nhim whose strength faileth, that is now in the last age, and is\nvexed with all things, and to him that despaireth, and hath lost\npatience!\n3\nFear not the sentence of death, remember them that have been\nbefore thee, and that come after; for this is the sentence of\nthe Lord over all flesh.\n4\nAnd why art thou against the pleasure of the most High? there\nis no inquisition in the grave, whether thou have lived ten, or\nan hundred, or a thousand years.\n5\nThe children of sinners are abominable children, and they\nthat are conversant in the dwelling of the ungodly.\n6\nThe inheritance of sinners' children shall perish, and their\nposterity shall have a perpetual reproach.\n7\nThe children will complain of an ungodly father, because they\nshall be reproached for his sake.\n8\nWoe be unto you, ungodly men, which have forsaken the law of\nthe most high God! for if ye increase, it shall be to your\ndestruction:\n9\nAnd if ye be born, ye shall be born to a curse: and if ye\ndie, a curse shall be your portion.\n10\nAll that are of the earth shall turn to earth again: so the\nungodly shall go from a curse to destruction.\n11\nThe mourning of men is about their bodies: but an ill name of\nsinners shall be blotted out.\n12\nHave regard to thy name; for that shall continue with thee\nabove a thousand great treasures of gold.\n13\nA good life hath but few days: but a good name endureth for\never.\n14\nMy children, keep discipline in peace: for wisdom that is\nhid, and a treasure that is not seen, what profit is in them\nboth?\n15\nA man that hideth his foolishness is better than a man that\nhideth his wisdom.\n16\nTherefore be shamefaced according to my word: for it is not\ngood to retain all shamefacedness; neither is it altogether\napproved in every thing.\n17\nBe ashamed of whoredom before father and mother: and of a lie\nbefore a prince and a mighty man;\n18\nOf an offence before a judge and ruler; of iniquity before a\ncongregation and people; of unjust dealing before thy partner\nand friend;\n19\nAnd of theft in regard of the place where thou sojournest,\nand in regard of the truth of God and his covenant; and to lean\nwith thine elbow upon the meat; and of scorning to give and\ntake;\n20\nAnd of silence before them that salute thee; and to look upon\nan harlot;\n21\nAnd to turn away thy face from thy kinsman; or to take away a\nportion or a gift; or to gaze upon another man's wife.\n22\nOr to be overbusy with his maid, and come not near her bed;\nor of upbraiding speeches before friends; and after thou hast\ngiven, upbraid not;\n23\nOr of iterating and speaking again that which thou hast\nheard; and of revealing of secrets.\n24\nSo shalt thou be truly shamefaced and find favour before all\nmen.\nSir 42\nOf these things be not thou ashamed, and accept no person to\nsin thereby:\n2\nOf the law of the most High, and his covenant; and of\njudgment to justify the ungodly;\n3\nOf reckoning with thy partners and travellers; or of the gift\nof the heritage of friends;\n4\nOf exactness of balance and weights; or of getting much or\nlittle;\n5\nAnd of merchants' indifferent selling; of much correction of\nchildren; and to make the side of an evil servant to bleed.\n6\nSure keeping is good, where an evil wife is; and shut up,\nwhere many hands are.\n7\nDeliver all things in number and weight; and put all in\nwriting that thou givest out, or receivest in.\n8\nBe not ashamed to inform the unwise and foolish, and the\nextreme aged that contendeth with those that are young: thus\nshalt thou be truly learned, and approved of all men living.\n9\nThe father waketh for the daughter, when no man knoweth; and\nthe care for her taketh away sleep: when she is young, lest she\npass away the flower of her age; and being married, lest she\nshould be hated:\n10\nIn her virginity, lest she should be defiled and gotten with\nchild in her father's house; and having an husband, lest she\nshould misbehave herself; and when she is married, lest she\nshould be barren.\n11\nKeep a sure watch over a shameless daughter, lest she make\nthee a laughingstock to thine enemies, and a byword in the city,\nand a reproach among the people, and make thee ashamed before\nthe multitude.\n12\nBehold not every body's beauty, and sit not in the midst of\nwomen.\n13\nFor from garments cometh a moth, and from women wickedness.\n14\nBetter is the churlishness of a man than a courteous woman, a\nwoman, I say, which bringeth shame and reproach.\n15\nI will now remember the works of the Lord, and declare the\nthings that I have seen: In the words of the Lord are his works.\n16\nThe sun that giveth light looketh upon all things, and the\nwork thereof is full of the glory of the Lord.\n17\nThe Lord hath not given power to the saints to declare all\nhis marvellous works, which the Almighty Lord firmly settled,\nthat whatsoever is might be established for his glory.\n18\nHe seeketh out the deep, and the heart, and considereth their\ncrafty devices: for the Lord knoweth all that may be known, and\nhe beholdeth the signs of the world.\n19\nHe declareth the things that are past, and for to come, and\nrevealeth the steps of hidden things.\n20\nNo thought escapeth him, neither any word is hidden from him.\n21\nHe hath garnished the excellent works of his wisdom, and he\nis from everlasting to everlasting: unto him may nothing be\nadded, neither can he be diminished, and he hath no need of any\ncounsellor.\n22\nOh how desirable are all his works! and that a man may see\neven to a spark.\n23\nAll these things live and remain for ever for all uses, and\nthey are all obedient.\n24\nAll things are double one against another: and he hath made\nnothing imperfect.\n25\nOne thing establisheth the good or another: and who shall be\nfilled with beholding his glory?\nSir 43\nThe pride of the height, the clear firmament, the beauty of\nheaven, with his glorious shew;\n2\nThe sun when it appeareth, declaring at his rising a\nmarvellous instrument, the work of the most High:\n3\nAt noon it parcheth the country, and who can abide the\nburning heat thereof?\n4\nA man blowing a furnace is in works of heat, but the sun\nburneth the mountains three times more; breathing out fiery\nvapours, and sending forth bright beams, it dimmeth the eyes.\n5\nGreat is the Lord that made it; and at his commandment\nrunneth hastily.\n6\nHe made the moon also to serve in her season for a\ndeclaration of times, and a sign of the world.\n7\nFrom the moon is the sign of feasts, a light that decreaseth\nin her perfection.\n8\nThe month is called after her name, increasing wonderfully in\nher changing, being an instrument of the armies above, shining\nin the firmament of heaven;\n9\nThe beauty of heaven, the glory of the stars, an ornament\ngiving light in the highest places of the Lord.\n10\nAt the commandment of the Holy One they will stand in their\norder, and never faint in their watches.\n11\nLook upon the rainbow, and praise him that made it; very\nbeautiful it is in the brightness thereof.\n12\nIt compasseth the heaven about with a glorious circle, and\nthe hands of the most High have bended it.\n13\nBy his commandment he maketh the snow to fall aplace, and\nsendeth swiftly the lightnings of his judgment.\n14\nThrough this the treasures are opened: and clouds fly forth\nas fowls.\n15\nBy his great power he maketh the clouds firm, and the\nhailstones are broken small.\n16\nAt his sight the mountains are shaken, and at his will the\nsouth wind bloweth.\n17\nThe noise of the thunder maketh the earth to tremble: so doth\nthe northern storm and the whirlwind: as birds flying he\nscattereth the snow, and the falling down thereof is as the\nlighting of grasshoppers:\n18\nThe eye marvelleth at the beauty of the whiteness thereof,\nand the heart is astonished at the raining of it.\n19\nThe hoarfrost also as salt he poureth on the earth, and being\ncongealed, it lieth on the top of sharp stakes.\n20\nWhen the cold north wind bloweth, and the water is congealed\ninto ice, it abideth upon every gathering together of water, and\nclotheth the water as with a breastplate.\n21\nIt devoureth the mountains, and burneth the wilderness, and\nconsumeth the grass as fire.\n22\nA present remedy of all is a mist coming speedily, a dew\ncoming after heat refresheth.\n23\nBy his counsel he appeaseth the deep, and planteth islands\ntherein.\n24\nThey that sail on the sea tell of the danger thereof; and\nwhen we hear it with our ears, we marvel thereat.\n25\nFor therein be strange and wondrous works, variety of all\nkinds of beasts and whales created.\n26\nBy him the end of them hath prosperous success, and by his\nword all things consist.\n27\nWe may speak much, and yet come short: wherefore in sum, he\nis all.\n28\nHow shall we be able to magnify him? for he is great above\nall his works.\n29\nThe Lord is terrible and very great, and marvellous is his\npower.\n30\nWhen ye glorify the Lord, exalt him as much as ye can; for\neven yet will he far exceed: and when ye exalt him, put forth\nall your strength, and be not weary; for ye can never go far\nenough.\n31\nWho hath seen him, that he might tell us? and who can magnify\nhim as he is?\n32\nThere are yet hid greater things than these be, for we have\nseen but a few of his works.\n33\nFor the Lord hath made all things; and to the godly hath he\ngiven wisdom.\nSir 44\nLet us now praise famous men, and our fathers that begat us.\n2\nThe Lord hath wrought great glory by them through his great\npower from the beginning.\n3\nSuch as did bear rule in their kingdoms, men renowned for\ntheir power, giving counsel by their understanding, and\ndeclaring prophecies:\n4\nLeaders of the people by their counsels, and by their\nknowledge of learning meet for the people, wise and eloquent are\ntheir instructions:\n5\nSuch as found out musical tunes, and recited verses in\nwriting:\n6\nRich men furnished with ability, living peaceably in their\nhabitations:\n7\nAll these were honoured in their generations, and were the\nglory of their times.\n8\nThere be of them, that have left a name behind them, that\ntheir praises might be reported.\n9\nAnd some there be, which have no memorial; who are perished,\nas though they had never been; and are become as though they had\nnever been born; and their children after them.\n10\nBut these were merciful men, whose righteousness hath not\nbeen forgotten.\n11\nWith their seed shall continually remain a good inheritance,\nand their children are within the covenant.\n12\nTheir seed standeth fast, and their children for their sakes.\n13\nTheir seed shall remain for ever, and their glory shall not\nbe blotted out.\n14\nTheir bodies are buried in peace; but their name liveth for\nevermore.\n15\nThe people will tell of their wisdom, and the congregation\nwill shew forth their praise.\n16\nEnoch pleased the Lord, and was translated, being an example\nof repentance to all generations.\n17\nNoah was found perfect and righteous; in the time of wrath he\nwas taken in exchange [for the world;] therefore was he left as\na remnant unto the earth, when the flood came.\n18\nAn everlasting covenant was made with him, that all flesh\nshould perish no more by the flood.\n19\nAbraham was a great father of many people: in glory was there\nnone like unto him;\n20\nWho kept the law of the most High, and was in covenant with\nhim: he established the covenant in his flesh; and when he was\nproved, he was found faithful.\n21\nTherefore he assured him by an oath, that he would bless the\nnations in his seed, and that he would multiply him as the dust\nof the earth, and exalt his seed as the stars, and cause them to\ninherit from sea to sea, and from the river unto the utmost part\nof the land.\n22\nWith Isaac did he establish likewise [for Abraham his\nfather's sake] the blessing of all men, and the covenant, And\nmade it rest upon the head of Jacob. He acknowledged him in his\nblessing, and gave him an heritage, and divided his portions;\namong the twelve tribes did he part them.\nSir 45\nAnd he brought out of him a merciful man, which found favour\nin the sight of all flesh, even Moses, beloved of God and men,\nwhose memorial is blessed.\n2\nHe made him like to the glorious saints, and magnified him,\nso that his enemies stood in fear of him.\n3\nBy his words he caused the wonders to cease, and he made him\nglorious in the sight of kings, and gave him a commandment for\nhis people, and shewed him part of his glory.\n4\nHe sanctified him in his faithfuless and meekness, and chose\nhim out of all men.\n5\nHe made him to hear his voice, and brought him into the dark\ncloud, and gave him commandments before his face, even the law\nof life and knowledge, that he might teach Jacob his covenants,\nand Israel his judgments.\n6\nHe exalted Aaron, an holy man like unto him, even his\nbrother, of the tribe of Levi.\n7\nAn everlasting covenant he made with him and gave him the\npriesthood among the people; he beautified him with comely\nornaments, and clothed him with a robe of glory.\n8\nHe put upon him perfect glory; and strengthened him with rich\ngarments, with breeches, with a long robe, and the ephod.\n9\nAnd he compassed him with pomegranates, and with many golden\nbells round about, that as he went there might be a sound, and a\nnoise made that might be heard in the temple, for a memorial to\nthe children of his people;\n10\nWith an holy garment, with gold, and blue silk, and purple,\nthe work of the embroidere, with a breastplate of judgment, and\nwith Urim and Thummim;\n11\nWith twisted scarlet, the work of the cunning workman, with\nprecious stones graven like seals, and set in gold, the work of\nthe jeweller, with a writing engraved for a memorial, after the\nnumber of the tribes of Israel.\n12\nHe set a crown of gold upon the mitre, wherein was engraved\nHoliness, an ornament of honour, a costly work, the desires of\nthe eyes, goodly and beautiful.\n13\nBefore him there were none such, neither did ever any\nstranger put them on, but only his children and his children's\nchildren perpetually.\n14\nTheir sacrifices shall be wholly consumed every day twice\ncontinually.\n15\nMoses consecrated him, and anointed him with holy oil: this\nwas appointed unto him by an everlasting covenant, and to his\nseed, so long as the heavens should remain, that they should\nminister unto him, and execute the office of the priesthood, and\nbless the people in his name.\n16\nHe chose him out of all men living to offer sacrifices to the\nLord, incense, and a sweet savour, for a memorial, to make\nreconciliation for his people.\n17\nHe gave unto him his commandments, and authority in the\nstatutes of judgments, that he should teach Jacob the\ntestimonies, and inform Israel in his laws.\n18\nStrangers conspired together against him, and maligned him in\nthe wilderness, even the men that were of Dathan's and Abiron's\nside, and the congregation of Core, with fury and wrath.\n19\nThis the Lord saw, and it displeased him, and in his wrathful\nindignation were they consumed: he did wonders upon them, to\nconsume them with the fiery flame.\n20\nBut he made Aaron more honourable, and gave him an heritage,\nand divided unto him the firstfruits of the increase; especially\nhe prepared bread in abundance:\n21\nFor they eat of the sacrifices of the Lord, which he gave\nunto him and his seed.\n22\nHowbeit in the land of the people he had no inheritance,\nneither had he any portion among the people: for the Lord\nhimself is his portion and inheritance.\n23\nThe third in glory is Phinees the son of Eleazar, because he\nhad zeal in the fear of the Lord, and stood up with good courage\nof heart: when the people were turned back, and made\nreconciliation for Israel.\n24\nTherefore was there a covenant of peace made with him, that\nhe should be the chief of the sanctuary and of his people, and\nthat he and his posterity should have the dignity of the\npriesthood for ever:\n25\nAccording to the covenant made with David son of Jesse, of\nthe tribe of Juda, that the inheritance of the king should be to\nhis posterity alone: so the inheritance of Aaron should also be\nunto his seed.\n26\nGod give you wisdom in your heart to judge his people in\nrighteousness, that their good things be not abolished, and that\ntheir glory may endure for ever.\nSir 46\nJesus the son a Nave was valiant in the wars, and was the\nsuccessor of Moses in prophecies, who according to his name was\nmade great for the saving of the elect of God, and taking\nvengeance of the enemies that rose up against them, that he\nmight set Israel in their inheritance.\n2\nHow great glory gat he, when he did lift up his hands, and\nstretched out his sword against the cities!\n3\nWho before him so stood to it? for the Lord himself brought\nhis enemies unto him.\n4\nDid not the sun go back by his means? and was not one day as\nlong as two?\n5\nHe called upon the most high Lord, when the enemies pressed\nupon him on every side; and the great Lord heard him.\n6\nAnd with hailstones of mighty power he made the battle to\nfall violently upon the nations, and in the descent [of\nBeth-horon] he destroyed them that resisted, that the nations\nmight know all their strength, because he fought in the sight of\nthe Lord, and he followed the Mighty One.\n7\nIn the time of Moses also he did a work of mercy, he and\nCaleb the son of Jephunne, in that they withstood the\ncongregation, and withheld the people from sin, and appeased the\nwicked murmuring.\n8\nAnd of six hundred thousand people on foot, they two were\npreserved to bring them in to the heritage, even unto the land\nthat floweth with milk and honey.\n9\nThe Lord gave strength also unto Caleb, which remained with\nhim unto his old age: so that he entered upon the high places of\nthe land, and his seed obtained it for an heritage:\n10\nThat all the children of Israel might see that it is good to\nfollow the Lord.\n11\nAnd concerning the judges, every one by name, whose heart\nwent not a whoring, nor departed from the Lord, let their memory\nbe blessed.\n12\nLet their bones flourish out of their place, and let the name\nof them that were honoured be continued upon their children.\n13\nSamuel, the prophet of the Lord, beloved of his Lord,\nestablished a kingdom, and anointed princes over his people.\n14\nBy the law of the Lord he judged the congregation, and the\nLord had respect unto Jacob.\n15\nBy his faithfulness he was found a true prophet, and by his\nword he was known to be faithful in vision.\n16\nHe called upon the mighty Lord, when his enemies pressed upon\nhim on every side, when he offered the sucking lamb.\n17\nAnd the Lord thundered from heaven, and with a great noise\nmade his voice to be heard.\n18\nAnd he destroyed the rulers of the Tyrians, and all the\nprinces cf the Philistines.\n19\nAnd before his long sleep he made protestations in the sight\nof the Lord and his anointed, I have not taken any man's goods,\nso much as a shoe: and no man did accuse him.\n20\nAnd after his death he prophesied, and shewed the king his\nend, and lifted up his voice from the earth in prophecy, to blot\nout the wickedness of the people.\nSir 47\nAnd after him rose up Nathan to prophesy in the time of\nDavid.\n2\nAs is the fat taken away from the peace offering, so was\nDavid chosen out of the children of Israel.\n3\nHe played with lions as with kids, and with bears as with\nlambs.\n4\nSlew he not a giant, when he was yet but young? and did he\nnot take away reproach from the people, when he lifted up his\nhand with the stone in the sling, and beat down the boasting of\nGoliath?\n5\nFor he called upon the most high Lord; and he gave him\nstrength in his right hand to slay that mighty warrior, and set\nup the horn of his people.\n6\nSo the people honoured him with ten thousands, and praised\nhim in the blessings of the Lord, in that he gave him a crown of\nglory.\n7\nFor he destroyed the enemies on every side, and brought to\nnought the Philistines his adversaries, and brake their horn in\nsunder unto this day.\n8\nIn all his works he praised the Holy One most high with words\nof glory; with his whole heart he sung songs, and loved him that\nmade him.\n9\nHe set singers also before the altar, that by their voices\nthey might make sweet melody, and daily sing praises in their\nsongs.\n10\nHe beautified their feasts, and set in order the solemn times\nuntil the end, that they might praise his holy name, and that\nthe temple might sound from morning.\n11\nThe Lord took away his sins, and exalted his horn for ever:\nhe gave him a covenant of kings, and a throne of glory in\nIsrael.\n12\nAfter him rose up a wise son, and for his sake he dwelt at\nlarge.\n13\nSolomon reigned in a peaceable time, and was honoured; for\nGod made all quiet round about him, that he might build an house\nin his name, and prepare his sanctuary for ever.\n14\nHow wise wast thou in thy youth and, as a flood, filled with\nunderstanding!\n15\nThy soul covered the whole earth, and thou filledst it with\ndark parables.\n16\nThy name went far unto the islands; and for thy peace thou\nwast beloved.\n17\nThe countries marvelled at thee for thy songs, and proverbs,\nand parables, and interpretations.\n18\nBy the name of the Lord God, which is called the Lord God of\nIsrael, thou didst gather gold as tin and didst multiply silver\nas lead.\n19\nThou didst bow thy loins unto women, and by thy body thou\nwast brought into subjection.\n20\nThou didst stain thy honour, and pollute thy seed: so that\nthou broughtest wrath upon thy children, and wast grieved for\nthy folly.\n21\nSo the kingdom was divided, and out of Ephraim ruled a\nrebellious kingdom.\n22\nBut the Lord will never leave off his mercy, neither shall\nany of his works perish, neither will he abolish the posterity\nof his elect, and the seed of him that loveth him he will not\ntake away: wherefore he gave a remnant unto Jacob, and out of\nhim a root unto David.\n23\nThus rested Solomon with his fathers, and of his seed he left\nbehind him Roboam, even the foolishness of the people, and one\nthat had no understanding, who turned away the people through\nhis counsel. There was also Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who\ncaused Israel to sin, and shewed Ephraim the way of sin:\n24\nAnd their sins were multiplied exceedingly, that they were\ndriven out of the land.\n25\nFor they sought out all wickedness, till the vengeance came\nupon them.\nSir 48\nThen stood up Elias the prophet as fire, and his word burned\nlike a lamp.\n2\nHe brought a sore famine upon them, and by his zeal he\ndiminished their number.\n3\nBy the word of the Lord he shut up the heaven, and also three\ntimes brought down fire.\n4\nO Elias, how wast thou honoured in thy wondrous deeds! and\nwho may glory like unto thee!\n5\nWho didst raise up a dead man from death, and his soul from\nthe place of the dead, by the word of the most High:\n6\nWho broughtest kings to destruction, and honorable men from\ntheir bed:\n7\nWho heardest the rebuke of the Lord in Sinai, and in Horeb\nthe judgment of vengeance:\n8\nWho annointedst kings to take revenge, and prophets to\nsucceed after him:\n9\nWho was taken up in a whirlwind of fire, and in a chariot of\nfiery horses:\n10\nWho wast ordained for reproofs in their times, to pacify the\nwrath of the Lord's judgment, before it brake forth into fury,\nand to turn the heart of the father unto the son, and to restore\nthe tribes of Jacob.\n11\nBlessed are they that saw thee, and slept in love; for we\nshall surely live.\n12\nElias it was, who was covered with a whirlwind: and Eliseus\nwas filled with his spirit: whilst he lived, he was not moved\nwith the presence of any prince, neither could any bring him\ninto subjection.\n13\nNo word could overcome him; and after his death his body\nprophesied.\n14\nHe did wonders in his life, and at his death were his works\nmarvellous.\n15\nFor all this the people repented not, neither departed they\nfrom their sins, till they were spoiled and carried out of their\nland, and were scattered through all the earth: yet there\nremained a small people, and a ruler in the house of David:\n16\nOf whom some did that which was pleasing to God, and some\nmultiplied sins.\n17\nEzekias fortified his city, and brought in water into the\nmidst thereof: he digged the hard rock with iron, and made wells\nfor waters.\n18\nIn his time Sennacherib came up, and sent Rabsaces, and\nlifted up his hand against Sion, and boasted proudly.\n19\nThen trembled their hearts and hands, and they were in pain,\nas women in travail.\n20\nBut they called upon the Lord which is merciful, and\nstretched out their hands toward him: and immediately the Holy\nOne heard them out of heaven, and delivered them by the ministry\nof Esay.\n21\nHe smote the host of the Assyrians, and his angel destroyed\nthem.\n22\nFor Ezekias had done the thing that pleased the Lord, and was\nstrong in the ways of David his father, as Esay the prophet, who\nwas great and faithful in his vision, had commanded him.\n23\nIn his time the sun went backward, and he lengthened the\nking's life.\n24\nHe saw by an excellent spirit what should come to pass at the\nlast, and he comforted them that mourned in Sion.\n25\nHe shewed what should come to pass for ever, and secret\nthings or ever they came.\nSir 49\nThe remembrance of Josias is like the composition of the\nperfume that is made by the art of the apothecary: it is sweet\nas honey in all mouths, and as musick at a banquet of wine.\n2\nHe behaved himself uprightly in the conversion of the people,\nand took away the abominations of iniquity.\n3\nHe directed his heart unto the Lord, and in the time of the\nungodly he established the worship of God.\n4\nAll, except David and Ezekias and Josias, were defective: for\nthey forsook the law of the most High, even the kings of Juda\nfailed.\n5\nTherefore he gave their power unto others, and their glory to\na strange nation.\n6\nThey burnt the chosen city of the sanctuary, and made the\nstreets desolate, according to the prophecy of Jeremias.\n7\nFor they entreated him evil, who nevertheless was a prophet,\nsanctified in his mother's womb, that he might root out, and\nafflict, and destroy; and that he might build up also, and\nplant.\n8\nIt was Ezekiel who saw the glorious vision, which was shewed\nhim upon the chariot of the cherubims.\n9\nFor he made mention of the enemies under the figure of the\nrain, and directed them that went right.\n10\nAnd of the twelve prophets let the memorial be blessed, and\nlet their bones flourish again out of their place: for they\ncomforted Jacob, and delivered them by assured hope.\n11\nHow shall we magnify Zorobabel? even he was as a signet on\nthe right hand:\n12\nSo was Jesus the son of Josedec: who in their time builded\nthe house, and set up an holy temple to the Lord, which was\nprepared for everlasting glory.\n13\nAnd among the elect was Neemias, whose renown is great, who\nraised up for us the walls that were fallen, and set up the\ngates and the bars, and raised up our ruins again.\n14\nBut upon the earth was no man created like Enoch; for he was\ntaken from the earth.\n15\nNeither was there a young man born like Joseph, a governor of\nhis brethren, a stay of the people, whose bones were regarded of\nthe Lord.\n16\nSem and Seth were in great honour among men, and so was Adam\nabove every living thing in creation.\nSir 50\nSimon the high priest, the son of Onias, who in his life\nrepaired the house again, and in his days fortified the temple:\n2\nAnd by him was built from the foundation the double height,\nthe high fortress of the wall about the temple:\n3\nIn his days the cistern to receive water, being in compass as\nthe sea, was covered with plates of brass:\n4\nHe took care of the temple that it should not fall, and\nfortified the city against besieging:\n5\nHow was he honoured in the midst of the people in his coming\nout of the sanctuary!\n6\nHe was as the morning star in the midst of a cloud, and as\nthe moon at the full:\n7\nAs the sun shining upon the temple of the most High, and as\nthe rainbow giving light in the bright clouds:\n8\nAnd as the flower of roses in the spring of the year, as\nlilies by the rivers of waters, and as the branches of the\nfrankincense tree in the time of summer:\n9\nAs fire and incense in the censer, and as a vessel of beaten\ngold set with all manner of precious stones:\n10\nAnd as a fair olive tree budding forth fruit, and as a\ncypress tree which groweth up to the clouds.\n11\nWhen he put on the robe of honour, and was clothed with the\nperfection of glory, when he went up to the holy altar, he made\nthe garment of holiness honourable.\n12\nWhen he took the portions out of the priests' hands, he\nhimself stood by the hearth of the altar, compassed about, as a\nyoung cedar in Libanus; and as palm trees compassed they him\nround about.\n13\nSo were all the sons of Aaron in their glory, and the\noblations of the Lord in their hands, before all the\ncongregation of Israel.\n14\nAnd finishing the service at the altar, that he might adorn\nthe offering of the most high Almighty,\n15\nHe stretched out his hand to the cup, and poured of the blood\nof the grape, he poured out at the foot of the altar a\nsweetsmelling savour unto the most high King of all.\n16\nThen shouted the sons of Aaron, and sounded the silver\ntrumpets, and made a great noise to be heard, for a remembrance\nbefore the most High.\n17\nThen all the people together hasted, and fell down to the\nearth upon their faces to worship their Lord God Almighty, the\nmost High.\n18\nThe singers also sang praises with their voices, with great\nvariety of sounds was there made sweet melody.\n19\nAnd the people besought the Lord, the most High, by prayer\nbefore him that is merciful, till the solemnity of the Lord was\nended, and they had finished his service.\n20\nThen he went down, and lifted up his hands over the whole\ncongregation of the children of Israel, to give the blessing of\nthe Lord with his lips, and to rejoice in his name.\n21\nAnd they bowed themselves down to worship the second time,\nthat they might receive a blessing from the most High.\n22\nNow therefore bless ye the God of all, which only doeth\nwondrous things every where, which exalteth our days from the\nwomb, and dealeth with us according to his mercy.\n23\nHe grant us joyfulness of heart, and that peace may be in our\ndays in Israel for ever:\n24\nThat he would confirm his mercy with us, and deliver us at\nhis time!\n25\nThere be two manner of nations which my heart abhorreth, and\nthe third is no nation:\n26\nThey that sit upon the mountain of Samaria, and they that\ndwell among the Philistines, and that foolish people that dwell\nin Sichem.\n27\nJesus the son of Sirach of Jerusalem hath written in this\nbook the instruction of understanding and knowledge, who out of\nhis heart poured forth wisdom.\n28\nBlessed is he that shall be exercised in these things; and he\nthat layeth them up in his heart shall become wise.\n29\nFor if he do them, he shall be strong to all things: for the\nlight of the Lord leadeth him, who giveth wisdom to the godly.\nBlessed be the name of the Lord for ever. Amen, Amen.\n[A Prayer of Jesus the son of Sirach.]\nSir 51\nI will thank thee, O Lord and King, and praise thee, O God my\nSaviour: I do give praise unto thy name:\n2\nFor thou art my defender and helper, and has preserved my\nbody from destruction, and from the snare of the slanderous\ntongue, and from the lips that forge lies, and has been mine\nhelper against mine adversaries:\n3\nAnd hast delivered me, according to the multitude of they\nmercies and greatness of thy name, from the teeth of them that\nwere ready to devour me, and out of the hands of such as sought\nafter my life, and from the manifold afflictions which I had;\n4\nFrom the choking of fire on every side, and from the midst of\nthe fire which I kindled not;\n5\nFrom the depth of the belly of hell, from an unclean tongue,\nand from lying words.\n6\nBy an accusation to the king from an unrighteous tongue my\nsoul drew near even unto death, my life was near to the hell\nbeneath.\n7\nThey compassed me on every side, and there was no man to help\nme: I looked for the succour of men, but there was none.\n8\nThen thought I upon thy mercy, O Lord, and upon thy acts of\nold, how thou deliverest such as wait for thee, and savest them\nout of the hands of the enemies.\n9\nThen lifted I up my supplications from the earth, and prayed\nfor deliverance from death.\n10\nI called upon the Lord, the Father of my Lord, that he would\nnot leave me in the days of my trouble, and in the time of the\nproud, when there was no help.\n11\nI will praise thy name continually, and will sing praises\nwith thanksgiving; and so my prayer was heard:\n12\nFor thou savedst me from destruction, and deliveredst me from\nthe evil time: therefore will I give thanks, and praise thee,\nand bless they name, O Lord.\n13\nWhen I was yet young, or ever I went abroad, I desired wisdom\nopenly in my prayer.\n14\nI prayed for her before the temple, and will seek her out\neven to the end.\n15\nEven from the flower till the grape was ripe hath my heart\ndelighted in her: my foot went the right way, from my youth up\nsought I after her.\n16\nI bowed down mine ear a little, and received her, and gat\nmuch learning.\n17\nI profited therein, therefore will I ascribe glory unto him\nthat giveth me wisdom.\n18\nFor I purposed to do after her, and earnestly I followed that\nwhich is good; so shall I not be confounded.\n19\nMy soul hath wrestled with her, and in my doings I was exact:\nI stretched forth my hands to the heaven above,\nand bewailed my ignorances of her.\n20\nI directed my soul unto her, and I found her in pureness:\nI have had my heart joined with her from the beginning,\ntherefore shall I not be foresaken.\n21\nMy heart was troubled in seeking her: therefore have I gotten\na good possession.\n22\nThe Lord hath given me a tongue for my reward,\nand I will praise him therewith.\n23\nDraw near unto me, ye unlearned, and dwell in the house of learning.\n24\nWherefore are ye slow, and what say ye to these things,\nseeing your souls are very thirsty?\n25\nI opened my mouth, and said, Buy her for yourselves without money.\n26\nPut your neck under the yoke, and let your soul receive\ninstruction: she is hard at hand to find.\n27\nBehold with your eyes, how that I have but little labour, and\nhave gotten unto me much rest.\n28\nGet learning with a great sum of money, and get much gold by her.\n29\nLet your soul rejoice in his mercy, and be not ashamed of his praise.\n30\nWork your work betimes, and in his time he will give you your reward.","title":"The Book of Sirach (or Ecclesiasticus)","type":"page"}