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/Sir/ - Sirach

<< Wisdom Baruch >>The Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus
The Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus
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34The hopes of a man void of understanding are vain and false: and dreams lift up fools.

2Whoso regardeth dreams is like him that catcheth at a shadow, and followeth after the wind.

3The vision of dreams is the resemblance of one thing to another, even as the likeness of a face to a face.

4Of an unclean thing what can be cleansed? and from that thing which is false what truth can come?

5Divinations, and soothsayings, and dreams, are vain: and the heart fancieth, as a woman’s heart in travail.

6If they be not sent from the most High in thy visitation, set not thy heart upon them.

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

8The law shall be found perfect without lies: and wisdom is perfection to a faithful mouth.

9A man that hath travelled knoweth many things; and he that hath much experience will declare wisdom.

10He that hath no experience knoweth little: but he that hath travelled is full of prudence.

11When I travelled, I saw many things; and I understand more than I can express.

12I was ofttimes in danger of death: yet I was delivered because of these things.

13The spirit of those that fear the Lord shall live; for their hope is in him that saveth them.

14Whoso feareth the Lord shall not fear nor be afraid; for he is his hope.

15Blessed is the soul of him that feareth the Lord: to whom doth he look? and who is his strength?

16For the eyes of the Lord are upon them that love him, he is their mighty protection and strong stay, a defence from heat, and a cover from the sun at noon, a preservation from stumbling, and an help from falling.

17He raiseth up the soul, and lighteneth the eyes: he giveth health, life, and blessing.

18He that sacrificeth of a thing wrongfully gotten, his offering is ridiculous; and the gifts of unjust men are not accepted.

19The most High is not pleased with the offerings of the wicked; neither is he pacified for sin by the multitude of sacrifices.

20Whoso bringeth an offering of the goods of the poor doeth as one that killeth the son before his father’s eyes.

21The bread of the needy is their life: he that defraudeth him thereof is a man of blood.

22He that taketh away his neighbour’s living slayeth him; and he that defraudeth the labourer of his hire is a bloodshedder.

23When one buildeth, and another pulleth down, what profit have they then but labour?

24When one prayeth, and another curseth, whose voice will the Lord hear?

25He that washeth himself after the touching of a dead body, if he touch it again, what availeth his washing?

26So is it with a man that fasteth for his sins, and goeth again, and doeth the same: who will hear his prayer? or what doth his humbling profit him?

35He that keepeth the law bringeth offerings enough: he that taketh heed to the commandment offereth a peace offering.

2He that requiteth a goodturn offereth fine flour; and he that giveth alms sacrificeth praise.

3To depart from wickedness is a thing pleasing to the Lord; and to forsake unrighteousness is a propitiation.

4Thou shalt not appear empty before the Lord.

5For all these things are to be done because of the commandment.

6The offering of the righteous maketh the altar fat, and the sweet savour thereof is before the most High.

7The sacrifice of a just man is acceptable. and the memorial thereof shall never be forgotten.

8Give the Lord his honour with a good eye, and diminish not the firstfruits of thine hands.

9In all thy gifts shew a cheerful countenance, and dedicate thy tithes with gladness.

10Give unto the most High according as he hath enriched thee; and as thou hast gotten, give with a cheerful eye.

11For the Lord recompenseth, and will give thee seven times as much.

12Do not think to corrupt with gifts; for such he will not receive: and trust not to unrighteous sacrifices; for the Lord is judge, and with him is no respect of persons.

13He will not accept any person against a poor man, but will hear the prayer of the oppressed.

14He will not despise the supplication of the fatherless; nor the widow, when she poureth out her complaint.

15Do not the tears run down the widow’s cheeks? and is not her cry against him that causeth them to fall?

16He that serveth the Lord shall be accepted with favour, and his prayer shall reach unto the clouds.

17The prayer of the humble pierceth the clouds: and till it come nigh, he will not be comforted; and will not depart, till the most High shall behold to judge righteously, and execute judgment.

18For the Lord will not be slack, neither will the Mighty be patient toward them, till he have smitten in sunder the loins of the unmerciful, and repayed vengeance to the heathen; till he have taken away the multitude of the proud, and broken the sceptre of the unrighteous;

19Till he have rendered to every man according to his deeds, and to the works of men according to their devices; till he have judged the cause of his people, and made them to rejoice in his mercy.

20Mercy is seasonable in the time of affliction, as clouds of rain in the time of drought.

36Have mercy upon us, O Lord God of all, and behold us:

2And send thy fear upon all the nations that seek not after thee.

3Lift up thy hand against the strange nations, and let them see thy power.

4As thou wast sanctified in us before them: so be thou magnified among them before us.

5And let them know thee, as we have known thee, that there is no God but only thou, O God.

6Shew new signs, and make other strange wonders: glorify thy hand and thy right arm, that they may set forth thy wondrous works.

7Raise up indignation, and pour out wrath: take away the adversary, and destroy the enemy.

8Sake the time short, remember the covenant, and let them declare thy wonderful works.

9Let him that escapeth be consumed by the rage of the fire; and let them perish that oppress the people.

10Smite in sunder the heads of the rulers of the heathen, that say, There is none other but we.

11Gather all the tribes of Jacob together, and inherit thou them, as from the beginning.

12O Lord, have mercy upon the people that is called by thy name, and upon Israel, whom thou hast named thy firstborn.

13O be merciful unto Jerusalem, thy holy city, the place of thy rest.

14Fill Sion with thine unspeakable oracles, and thy people with thy glory:

15Give testimony unto those that thou hast possessed from the beginning, and raise up prophets that have been in thy name.

16Reward them that wait for thee, and let thy prophets be found faithful.

17O Lord, hear the prayer of thy servants, according to the blessing of Aaron over thy people, that all they which dwell upon the earth may know that thou art the Lord, the eternal God.

18The belly devoureth all meats, yet is one meat better than another.

19As the palate tasteth divers kinds of venison: so doth an heart of understanding false speeches.

20A froward heart causeth heaviness: but a man of experience will recompense him.

21A woman will receive every man, yet is one daughter better than another.

22The beauty of a woman cheereth the countenance, and a man loveth nothing better.

23If there be kindness, meekness, and comfort, in her tongue, then is not her husband like other men.

24He that getteth a wife beginneth a possession, a help like unto himself, and a pillar of rest.

25Where no hedge is, there the possession is spoiled: and he that hath no wife will wander up and down mourning.

26Who will trust a thief well appointed, that skippeth from city to city? so who will believe a man that hath no house, and lodgeth wheresoever the night taketh him?

37Every friend saith, I am his friend also: but there is a friend, which is only a friend in name.

2Is it not a grief unto death, when a companion and friend is turned to an enemy?

3O wicked imagination, whence camest thou in to cover the earth with deceit?

4There is a companion, which rejoiceth in the prosperity of a friend, but in the time of trouble will be against him.

5There is a companion, which helpeth his friend for the belly, and taketh up the buckler against the enemy.

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

7Every counsellor extolleth counsel; but there is some that counselleth for himself.

8Beware of a counsellor, and know before what need he hath; for he will counsel for himself; lest he cast the lot upon thee,

9And say unto thee, Thy way is good: and afterward he stand on the other side, to see what shall befall thee.

10Consult not with one that suspecteth thee: and hide thy counsel from such as envy thee.

11Neither consult with a woman touching her of whom she is jealous; neither with a coward in matters of war; nor with a merchant concerning exchange; nor with a buyer of selling; nor with an envious man of thankfulness; nor with an unmerciful man touching kindness; nor with the slothful for any work; nor with an hireling for a year of finishing work; nor with an idle servant of much business: hearken not unto these in any matter of counsel.

12But be continually with a godly man, whom thou knowest to keep the commandments of the Lord, whose, mind is according to thy mind, and will sorrow with thee, if thou shalt miscarry.

13And let the counsel of thine own heart stand: for there is no man more faithful unto thee than it.

14For a man’s mind is sometime wont to tell him more than seven watchmen, that sit above in an high tower.

15And above all this pray to the most High, that he will direct thy way in truth.

16Let reason go before every enterprize, and counsel before every action.

17The countenance is a sign of changing of the heart.

18Four manner of things appear: good and evil, life and death: but the tongue ruleth over them continually.

19There is one that is wise and teacheth many, and yet is unprofitable to himself.

20There is one that sheweth wisdom in words, and is hated: he shall be destitute of all food.

21For grace is not given, him from the Lord, because he is deprived of all wisdom.

22Another is wise to himself; and the fruits of understanding are commendable in his mouth.

23A wise man instructeth his people; and the fruits of his understanding fail not.

24A wise man shall be filled with blessing; and all they that see him shall count him happy.

25The days of the life of man may be numbered: but the days of Israel are innumerable.

26A wise man shall inherit glory among his people, and his name shall be perpetual.

27My son, prove thy soul in thy life, and see what is evil for it, and give not that unto it.

28For all things are not profitable for all men, neither hath every soul pleasure in every thing.

29Be not unsatiable in any dainty thing, nor too greedy upon meats:

30For excess of meats bringeth sickness, and surfeiting will turn into choler.

31By surfeiting have many perished; but he that taketh heed prolongeth his life.

38Honour a physician with the honour due unto him for the uses which ye may have of him: for the Lord hath created him.

2For of the most High cometh healing, and he shall receive honour of the king.

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

4The Lord hath created medicines out of the earth; and he that is wise will not abhor them.

5Was not the water made sweet with wood, that the virtue thereof might be known?

6And he hath given men skill, that he might be honoured in his marvellous works.

7With such doth he heal men, and taketh away their pains.

8Of such doth the apothecary make a confection; and of his works there is no end; and from him is peace over all the earth,

9My son, in thy sickness be not negligent: but pray unto the Lord, and he will make thee whole.

10Leave off from sin, and order thine hands aright, and cleanse thy heart from all wickedness.

11Give a sweet savour, and a memorial of fine flour; and make a fat offering, as not being.

12Then give place to the physician, for the Lord hath created him: let him not go from thee, for thou hast need of him.

13There is a time when in their hands there is good success.

14For they shall also pray unto the Lord, that he would prosper that, which they give for ease and remedy to prolong life.

15He that sinneth before his Maker, let him fall into the hand of the physician.

16My son, let tears fall down over the dead, and begin to lament, as if thou hadst suffered great harm thyself; and then cover his body according to the custom, and neglect not his burial.

17Weep bitterly, and make great moan, and use lamentation, as he is worthy, and that a day or two, lest thou be evil spoken of: and then comfort thyself for thy heaviness.

18For of heaviness cometh death, and the heaviness of the heart breaketh strength.

19In affliction also sorrow remaineth: and the life of the poor is the curse of the heart.

20Take no heaviness to heart: drive it away, and member the last end.

21Forget it not, for there is no turning again: thou shalt not do him good, but hurt thyself.

22Remember my judgment: for thine also shall be so; yesterday for me, and to day for thee.

23When the dead is at rest, let his remembrance rest; and be comforted for him, when his Spirit is departed from him.

24The wisdom of a learned man cometh by opportunity of leisure: and he that hath little business shall become wise.

25How can he get wisdom that holdeth the plough, and that glorieth in the goad, that driveth oxen, and is occupied in their labours, and whose talk is of bullocks?

26He giveth his mind to make furrows; and is diligent to give the kine fodder.

27So every carpenter and workmaster, that laboureth night and day: and they that cut and grave seals, and are diligent to make great variety, and give themselves to counterfeit imagery, and watch to finish a work:

28The smith also sitting by the anvil, and considering the iron work, the vapour of the fire wasteth his flesh, and he fighteth with the heat of the furnace: the noise of the hammer and the anvil is ever in his ears, and his eyes look still upon the pattern of the thing that he maketh; he setteth his mind to finish his work, and watcheth to polish it perfectly:

29So doth the potter sitting at his work, and turning the wheel about with his feet, who is alway carefully set at his work, and maketh all his work by number;

30He fashioneth the clay with his arm, and boweth down his strength before his feet; he applieth himself to lead it over; and he is diligent to make clean the furnace:

31All these trust to their hands: and every one is wise in his work.

32Without these cannot a city be inhabited: and they shall not dwell where they will, nor go up and down:

33They shall not be sought for in publick counsel, nor sit high in the congregation: they shall not sit on the judges’ seat, nor understand the sentence of judgment: they cannot declare justice and judgment; and they shall not be found where parables are spoken.

34But they will maintain the state of the world, and all their desire is in the work of their craft.


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