The Wisdom of Sirach -or- Ecclesiasticus

Edits, corrections and cross references by The Firmament

The Wisdom of Sirach, also known as Ecclesiasticus, is contained in a group of books called Apocrypha (hidden or secret), which were once in the canonical Bible between the old and new testaments. This book is in a class called “Wisdom Literature” due to its frequent reference to wisdom. See Chapter 24 for an extended discourse on the relationship between Wisdom, personified as Sophia, and God.

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Chapter 1

Sir 1:1 “All Wisdom comes from the Lord, and remains with him forever.”
Sir 1:2 “The sand of the seas, and the drops of rain, and the days of eternity; who can count them?”
Sir 1:3 “The height of the heavens, and the breadth of the earth, and the deep, and wisdom; who can track them out?”
Sir 1:4 “Wisdom was created before them all, and sound intelligence from eternity.”
Sir 1:5 “The Word of God most high is the fountain of wisdom; and her ways are everlasting commandments.”
Sir 1:6 “To whom has the source of wisdom been revealed? And who knows her devices?”
Sir 1:7 “[Unto whom has the knowledge of wisdom been made manifest? and who has understood her experience?]”
Sir 1:8 “There is but one who is wise, and greatly to be feared, the Lord seated upon his throne;”
Sir 1:9 “The Lord himself created her; He saw her and counted her, and poured her out upon all he made;”
Sir 1:10 “Upon all mankind, as he chose to bestow her; But he supplied her liberally to those who loved him.”
Sir 1:11 “To fear the Lord is a glory and a ground of exultation, a joy, and a crown of ecstasy.”
Sir 1:12 “To fear the Lord delights the heart, and brings gladness and joy and long life.”
Sir 1:13 “The man who fears the Lord will have a happy end, and be blessed in the day of his death.”
Sir 1:14 “To fear the Lord is the source of wisdom, and she was created with the faithful in the womb.”
Sir 1:15 “She has built her nest among men as a foundation from eternity, and among their posterity she will be held in trust.”
Sir 1:16 “To fear the Lord is to be satisfied with wisdom, for she intoxicates them with her fruits.”
Sir 1:17 “She will fill all their houses with desirable things, and their storehouses with her produce;”
Sir 1:18 “To fear the Lord is a crown of wisdom, making peace and healing health flourish; which are both gifts of God, and it enlarges their rejoicing that love Him.”
Sir 1:19 “He rained down understanding and sound knowledge, and increased the glory of those who possessed her.”
Sir 1:20 “To fear the Lord is the root of wisdom, and her branches are long life.”
Sir 1:21 “The fear of the Lord drives away sins, and where it is present, it turns away wrath.”
Sir 1:22 “Unrighteous anger can never be excused, for the weight of a man’s anger shall be his destruction.”
Sir 1:23 “A patient man will control himself for a while, and afterward joy will break out.”
Sir 1:24 “He will repress his words for a time, and the lips of many will tell of his understanding.”
Sir 1:25 “The parables of knowledge are in the treasures of wisdom: but godliness is an abomination to a sinner.”
Sir 1:26 “If you desire wisdom, keep the commandments, and the Lord will supply you with her liberally.”
Sir 1:27 “For to fear the Lord is wisdom and education, And faith and meekness win his approval.”
Sir 1:28 “Do not disobey the fear of the Lord, and do not approach it with a divided heart.”
Sir 1:29 “Do not be a hypocrite in the mouths of men, and take heed to your own lips.”
Sir 1:30 “Do not exalt yourself, or you may fall, and bring disgrace upon yourself; and the Lord will reveal your secrets and prostrate you before all the congregation, because you did not come to the fear of the Lord, but your heart was full of deceit.”

Chapter 2

Sir 2:1 “My child, if you come to serve the Lord, prepare yourself to be tried.”
Sir 2:2 “Set your heart right and constantly endure, and do not make haste in time of trouble.”
Sir 2:3 “Hold fast to him, and do not forsake him, so that you may be honored when your life ends.”
Sir 2:4 “Whatever happens to you, take cheerfully, and be patient in humiliating vicissitudes.”
Sir 2:5 “For gold is tried in the fire, and men who are approved must be tested in the furnace of humiliation (adversity).”
Sir 2:6 “Have faith in him, and he will help you; make your ways straight, and put your hope in him.”
Sir 2:7 “You who fear the Lord, wait for his mercy, and do not turn aside, or you will fall.”
Sir 2:8 “You who fear the Lord, have faith in him, and you will not lose your reward.”
Sir 2:9 “You who fear the Lord, hope for his blessings, And for everlasting joy and mercy.”
Sir 2:10 “Look at the generations of antiquity and see, Who that put his trust in the Lord was ever put to shame? Or who that continued to fear him was ever forsaken? Or who that called upon him was overlooked by him?”
Sir 2:11 “For the Lord is merciful and has pity, and forgives sins and delivers in times of affliction.”
Sir 2:12 “Woe be to cowardly hearts and palsied hands! And for a sinner who follows two paths!”
Sir 2:13 “Woe be to a faint heart, for it does not believe; therefore it will not be protected.”
Sir 2:14 “Woe be to you, who have lost your steadfastness! What will you do when the Lord visits you?”
Sir 2:15 “Those who fear the Lord will not disobey his word, and those who love him will keep his ways.”
Sir 2:16 “Those who fear the Lord will seek his favor, and those who love him will be filled with the Law.”
Sir 2:17 “Those who fear the Lord will prepare their hearts, and will humble their souls before him.”
Sir 2:18 ““Let us fall into the Lord’s hands, and not into the hands of men.” For as his majesty is, so is his mercy also.”

Chapter 3

Sir 3:1 “Listen to me, your father, children, and act in such a way that you may be preserved.”
Sir 3:2 “For the Lord has glorified the father above his children, and he has established the rights of the mother over her sons.”
Sir 3:3 “He who honors his father atones for his sins,”
Sir 3:4 “And he who shows his mother honor is like a man who lays up treasure.”
Sir 3:5 “He who honors his father will be gladdened by his own children, and will be heard on the day that he prays.”
Sir 3:6 “He who shows his father honor will have a long life, and he who listens to the Lord will be a comfort to his mother,”
Sir 3:7 “He that fears the Lord will honor his father, and will serve his parents as his masters.”
Sir 3:8 “Honor your father in word and deed, so that his blessing may attend you.”
Sir 3:9 “For a father’s blessing establishes the houses of his children, but a mother’s curse uproots their foundations.”
Sir 3:10 “Do not glorify yourself by dishonoring your father, for your father’s disgrace is no glory to you.”
Sir 3:11 “For the glory of a man is from the honor of his father, and a neglected mother is a reproach to her children.”
Sir 3:12 “My child, help your father in his old age, and do not grieve him, as long as he lives.”
Sir 3:13 “If his understanding fails, be considerate, and do not humiliate him, when you are in all your strength.”
Sir 3:14 “Charity given to a father will not be forgotten, and will build you up a further atonement for your sins.”
Sir 3:15 “When you are in trouble, you will be remembered; Like frost in sunshine your sins will melt away.”
Sir 3:16 “He who deserts his father is like a blasphemer, and he who angers his mother is cursed by the Lord.”
Sir 3:17 “My child, carry on your business in humility, and you will be loved by men whom God accepts.”
Sir 3:18 “The greater you are, the more you must practice humility, and you will find favor with the Lord.”
Sir 3:19 “Many are in high places, and of renown; but mysteries are revealed to the meek.”
Sir 3:20 “For the Lord’s power is great, and he is glorified by the humble-minded.”
Sir 3:21 “Do not seek for what is too hard for you, and do not investigate what is beyond your strength;”
Sir 3:22 “Think of the commands that have been given you, for you have no need of the things that are hidden.”
Sir 3:23 “Do not waste your labor on what is superfluous to your work, for things beyond man’s understanding have been shown to you.”
Sir 3:24 “For many have been led astray by their imagination, and a wicked fancy has made their minds slip.”
Sir 3:25 “Without eyes you shall want light, do not profess the knowledge, therefore, that you do not have.”
Sir 3:26 “It will go hard with an obstinate heart at the end, and the man who loves danger will perish through it.”
Sir 3:27 “An obstinate heart will be loaded with troubles, and the irreligious man will add one sin to another.”
Sir 3:28 “There is no cure for the misfortune of the proud, for a wicked plant has taken root in him.”
Sir 3:29 “An intelligent man’s mind can understand a proverb; and a wise man desires a listening ear.”
Sir 3:30 “As water will quench a blazing fire, so alms will atone for sin.”
Sir 3:31 “He who returns favors is remembered afterward, and when he totters, he will find a support.”

Chapter 4

Sir 4:1 “My child, do not defraud the poor man of his living, and do not make the eyes of the needy wait.”
Sir 4:2 “Do not pain a hungry heart, and do not anger a man who is in want.”
Sir 4:3 “Do not increase the troubles of a mind that is incensed, and do not put off giving to a man who is in need.”
Sir 4:4 “Do not refuse a suppliant in his trouble, and do not avert your face from the poor.”
Sir 4:5 “Do not turn your eyes away from the needy, and do not give anyone cause to curse you,”
Sir 4:6 “For if he curses you in the bitterness of his spirit, his creator will hear his prayer.”
Sir 4:7 “Make yourself beloved in the congregation, and bow your head to a great personage;”
Sir 4:8 “Listen to what a poor man has to say, and give him a peaceful and gentle answer.”
Sir 4:9 “Rescue a man who is being wronged from the hand of the oppressor, and do not be faint-hearted about giving your judgment.”
Sir 4:10 “Be like a father to the fatherless, and take the place of a husband to their mother. Then you will be like a son of the Most High, and he will show you more than a mother’s love.”
Sir 4:11 “Wisdom exalts her sons, and lays hold of those who seek her.”
Sir 4:12 “Whoever loves her loves life, and those who seek her early will be filled with joy.”
Sir 4:13 “Whoever holds her fast will inherit glory; The Lord will bless every house she enters.”
Sir 4:14 “Those who serve her serve the Holy One, and the Lord loves those who love her.”
Sir 4:15 “Whoever obeys her will judge the heathen, And whoever attends to her will dwell in security.”
Sir 4:16 “If he trusts in her, he will possess her, and his descendants will retain possession of her.”
Sir 4:17 “For at first she will go with him in crooked ways, she will bring fear and cowardice upon him, and torment him with her discipline, until she can trust in his soul, and test him with her judgments.”
Sir 4:18 “Then she will return the straight way back to him again, and make him glad, and reveal her secrets to him.”
Sir 4:19 “If he wanders off, she will forsake him, and hand him over to his own ruin.”
Sir 4:20 “Watch your opportunity and guard against evil, and do not have to feel shame for your soul.”
Sir 4:21 “For there is a shame that brings sin, and there is a shame that is glory and favor.”
Sir 4:22 “Show regard for no one at the expense of your soul, and respect no one, to your own downfall.”
Sir 4:23 “Do not refrain from speaking when it is needed; and hide not your wisdom in her beauty.”
Sir 4:24 “For wisdom is known through speech, and instruction through the spoken word.”
Sir 4:25 “Do not contradict the truth, but feel shame for your want of education.”
Sir 4:26 “Do not be ashamed to confess your sins, and do not try to force back the current of a river.”
Sir 4:27 “Do not make yourself an underling to a foolish man, neither accept the person of the mighty.”
Sir 4:28 “Contend for the truth to the death, and the Lord will fight for you.”
Sir 4:29 “Do not be hasty in speech, or slothful and slack in action.”
Sir 4:30 “Do not be like a lion at home, and unreasonable with your servants.”
Sir 4:31 “Do not stretch your hand out to receive, But close it when you should repay.”

Chapter 5

Sir 5:1 “Do not set your heart on your money, and do not say, “It is enough for me.”
Sir 5:2 “Do not follow your soul and your strength and pursue the desires of your heart.”
Sir 5:3 “Do not say, “Who can have power over me?” For the Lord will certainly take vengeance on your pride.”
Sir 5:4 “Do not say, “I sinned, and what happened to me?” For the Lord is long-suffering, he will in no way let you go.”
Sir 5:5 “As for atonement, do not be without fear to add one sin to another,”
Sir 5:6 “And do not say, “His mercy is great, He will make atonement for the multitude of my sins.” For mercy and wrath are both with him, and his anger will rest upon sinners.”
Sir 5:7 “Do not put off turning to the Lord, and do not postpone it from day to day; for the Lord’s wrath will suddenly come forth, and in the time of vengeance you will perish.”
Sir 5:8 “Do not set your heart on unrighteous gain, for it will be of no benefit to you in the time of misfortune.”
Sir 5:9 “Do not winnow in every wind, and do not follow every path; that is what the deceitful sinner does.”
Sir 5:10 “Be steadfast in your understanding, and let what you say be one.”
Sir 5:11 “Be quick to hear, let your life be sincere, and make your reply with patience.”
Sir 5:12 “If you possess understanding, answer your neighbor, but if you do not have it, keep your hand over your mouth!”
Sir 5:13 “Both glory and disgrace come from speaking, and a man’s tongue is his downfall.”
Sir 5:14 “Do not be known as a whisperer, and do not set an ambush with your tongue, for shame rests upon the thief, and evil condemnation on the double-tongued.”
Sir 5:15 “Do not be ignorant in great matters or in small.”

Chapter 6

Sir 6:1 “And do not prove an enemy instead of a friend; for an evil name incurs disgrace and reproach; so does a sinner who is double tongued.
Sir 6:2 “Do not exalt yourself in your soul’s designs, so that your soul may not be torn in pieces like a bull;”
Sir 6:3 “If you eat up your leaves, you will destroy your fruit, and leave yourself like a dried-up tree.”
Sir 6:4 “A wicked heart will destroy its possessor, and fill his enemies with malignant joy.”
Sir 6:5 “Sweet speech makes many friends, and a polite tongue multiplies courtesy.”
Sir 6:6 “Let those who are at peace with you be many, but let your advisers be one in a thousand.”
Sir 6:7 “If you make a friend, make one only after testing him, and do not be in a hurry to confide in him.”
Sir 6:8 “There are friends who are so when it suits their convenience, who will not stand by you when you are in trouble.”
Sir 6:9 “And there are friends who turn into enemies, and reveal quarrels to your discredit.”
Sir 6:10 “And there are friends who will sit at your table, but will not stand by you when you are in trouble.”
Sir 6:11 “They will make themselves at home, as long as you are prosperous, and will give orders to your servants;”
Sir 6:12 “If you come down in the world, they will take sides against you, and hide themselves from your presence.”
Sir 6:13 “Separate yourself from your enemies, and beware of your friends.”
Sir 6:14 “A faithful friend is a strong protection; A man who has found one has found a treasure.”
Sir 6:15 “A faithful friend is beyond price, and his value cannot be weighed.”
Sir 6:16 “A faithful friend is a life-giving medicine, and those who fear the Lord will find it.”
Sir 6:17 “The man who fears the Lord will make genuine friendships, for to him his neighbor is like himself.”
Sir 6:18 “My child, from your youth up cultivate education, and you will keep on finding wisdom until you are gray.”
Sir 6:19 “Approach her like a man who plows and sows, and wait for her abundant crops (fruit). For in cultivating her, you will toil but little, and soon you will eat her produce.”
Sir 6:20 “She seems very harsh, to the undisciplined, and a thoughtless man cannot abide her.”
Sir 6:21 “She will rest on him like a great stone to test him, and he will not delay to throw her off,”
Sir 6:22 “For wisdom is what her name implies, and to most men she is invisible.”
Sir 6:23 “Listen, my child, and accept my opinion, and do not refuse my advice.”
Sir 6:24 “Put your feet into her fetters, and your neck into her collar.”
Sir 6:25 “Put your shoulder under her and carry her, and do not weary of her chains;”
Sir 6:26 “Come to her with all your heart, and follow her ways with all your might.”
Sir 6:27 “Inquire and search, and she will be made known to you; and when you have grasped her, do not let her go.”
Sir 6:28 “For at the last you will find the rest she gives, and you will find her turning into gladness.”
Sir 6:29 “Her fetters will become your strong defense, and her collars a splendid robe.”
Sir 6:30 “She wears gold ornaments, and her chains are purple thread;”
Sir 6:31 “You will put her on like a splendid robe, and put her on your head like a victor’s wreath.”
Sir 6:32 “My child, if you wish, you can be educated, and if you devote yourself to it, you can become prudent.”
Sir 6:33 “If you love to hear, you will receive, and if you listen, you will be wise.”
Sir 6:34 “Take your stand in the throng of elders; Which of them is wise? Attach yourself to him.”
Sir 6:35 “Be willing to listen to every godly discourse, and do not let any wise proverbs escape you.”
Sir 6:36 “If you see a man of understanding, go to him early, and let your feet wear out his doorstep.”
Sir 6:37 “Think about the statutes of the Lord, and constantly meditate on his commandments. He will strengthen your mind, and the wisdom you desire will be given you.”

Chapter 7

Sir 7:1 “Do no evil, and evil will not overtake you.”
Sir 7:2 “Avoid what is wrong, and it will turn away from you.”
Sir 7:3 “My son, do not sow among the furrows of iniquity, and you will not reap them sevenfold.”
Sir 7:4 “Do not ask the Lord for pre-eminence, or the king for a seat of honor.”
Sir 7:5 “Do not justify yourself in the sight of the Lord, or show off your wisdom before the king;”
Sir 7:6 “Do not seek to be made a judge, or you may not be able to put down wrongdoing; or you may show partiality to a man of influence, and put a stumbling block in the way of your own uprightness.”
Sir 7:7 “Do not sin against the multitude of the city, and do not throw yourself down in the throng.”
Sir 7:8 “Do not repeat a sin, for with even one offense you are not innocent.”
Sir 7:9 “Do not say, “God will consider the number of my offerings, and when I sacrifice to the Most High God, he will accept it.”
Sir 7:10 “Do not be discouraged about your prayers, and do not fail to give alms.”
Sir 7:11 “Do not laugh at a man when he is in bitterness of spirit; for there is one who can humble and can exalt!”
Sir 7:12 “Do not sow a lie against your brother, or do such a thing to your friend.”
Sir 7:13 “Do not consent to utter any lie, for the practice of it is not beneficial.”
Sir 7:14 “Do not indulge in idle talk in the throng of elders, and do not repeat yourself when you pray.”
Sir 7:15 “Do not hate hard work, or farming, which was created by the Most High.”
Sir 7:16 “Do not be counted in the crowd of sinners; remember that wrath will not delay.”
Sir 7:17 “Humble your heart exceedingly, For fire and worms are the punishment of the ungodly.”
Sir 7:18 “Do not exchange a friend for an advantage, or a real brother for the gold of Ophir.”
Sir 7:19 “Do not fail a wise, good wife, for her favor is worth more than gold.”
Sir 7:20 “Do not ill-treat a servant who does his work faithfully, or a hired man who is devoting his life to you.”
Sir 7:21 “Let your soul love an intelligent servant; do not defraud him of his freedom.”
Sir 7:22 “If you have cattle, look after them, and if they are profitable to you, keep them.”
Sir 7:23 “If you have children, discipline them, and from their youth up bend their necks.”
Sir 7:24 “If you have daughters, look after their persons, and do not look too favorably upon them.”
Sir 7:25 “If you give your daughter in marriage, you will have done a great thing, but bestow her on a man of understanding.”
Sir 7:26 “If you have a wife after your own heart, do not cast her out, but do not trust yourself to one whom you hate (a light woman).”
Sir 7:27 “Honor your father with your whole heart, and do not forget the pangs of your mother.”
Sir 7:28 “Remember that it was of them you were born, and how can you requite them for what they have done for you?”
Sir 7:29 “Honor the Lord with all your soul, and revere his priests.”
Sir 7:30 “Love him who made you with all your strength, and do not forsake his ministers.”
Sir 7:31 “Fear the Lord and honor the priest, and give him his portion, as you were commanded, The firstfruits, and the sin offering, and the gift of the shoulders, and the sacrifice of consecration, and the firstfruits of holy things.”
Sir 7:32 “Stretch out your hand to the poor also, that your blessing may be accomplished.”
Sir 7:33 “A present pleases every man alive, and in the case of the dead, do not withhold your kindness.”
Sir 7:34 “Do not be wanting to those who weep, but mourn with those who mourn.”
Sir 7:35 “Do not hesitate to visit a man who is sick, for you will be loved for such acts.”
Sir 7:36 “In all that you say remember your end, and you will never commit a sin.”

Chapter 8

Sir 8:1 “Do not quarrel with a powerful man, or you may fall into his hands.”
Sir 8:2 “Do not contend with a rich man, or he may outweigh you. Gold has been the destruction of many, and perverted the minds of kings.”
Sir 8:3 “Do not quarrel with a garrulous man, and do not add fuel to the fire.”
Sir 8:4 “Do not make sport of an uneducated man, or you may dishonor your own forefathers.”
Sir 8:5 “Do not reproach a man when he turns from his sin; remember that we are all liable to punishment.”
Sir 8:6 “Do not treat a man with disrespect when he is old, for some of us are growing old.”
Sir 8:7 “Do not exult over a man who is dead; remember that we are all going to die.”
Sir 8:8 “Do not neglect the discourse of wise men, but busy yourself with their proverbs; For from them you will gain instruction, and learn to serve great men.”
Sir 8:9 “Do not miss the discourse of old men, for they learned it from their fathers; for from them you will gain understanding, and learn to return an answer in your time of need.”
Sir 8:10 “Do not kindle the coals of a sinner, or you may be burned with the flame of his fire.”
Sir 8:11 “Do not start up before an insolent man, so that he may not lie in ambush for what you say.”
Sir 8:12 “Do not lend to a man who is stronger than you, or if you do, act as though you had lost it.”
Sir 8:13 “Do not give surety beyond your means, and if you give surety, regard it as something you will have to pay.”
Sir 8:14 “Do not go to law with a judge; for in view of his dignity they will decide for him.”
Sir 8:15 “Do not travel with a reckless man, so that he may not overburden you; for he will do just as he pleases, and you will perish through his folly.”
Sir 8:16 “Do not have a fight with a hot-tempered man, and do not travel across the desert with him, for bloodshed is as nothing in his eyes, and where there is no help, he will strike you down.”
Sir 8:17 “Do not take counsel with a fool, for he will not be able to keep the matter secret.”
Sir 8:18 “Do not do a secret thing before a stranger, for you do not know what he will bring forth.”
Sir 8:19 “Do not open your heart to every man, and do not accept a favor from him.”

Chapter 9

Sir 9:1 “Do not be jealous about the wife of your bosom, and do not teach her an evil lesson, to your own hurt.”
Sir 9:2 “Do not give your soul to a woman, so that she will trample on your strength.”
Sir 9:3 “Do not meet a prostitute, or you may fall into her snares.”
Sir 9:4 “Do not associate with a woman singer, or you may be caught by her wiles.”
Sir 9:5 “Do not look closely at a girl, or you may be entrapped in penalties on her account.”
Sir 9:6 “Do not give your soul to prostitutes (harlots), so that you may not lose your inheritance.”
Sir 9:7 “Do not look around in the streets of the city, and do not wander about the unfrequented parts of it.”
Sir 9:8 “Avert your eyes from a beautiful woman, and do not look closely at beauty that belongs to someone else, for many have been led astray by a woman’s beauty, and love is kindled by it like a fire.”
Sir 9:9 “Do not ever sit at table with a married woman, and do not feast and drink with her, or your heart may turn away to her, and you may slip into spiritual ruin.”
Sir 9:10 “Do not forsake an old friend, for a new one is not equal to him; a new friend is new wine; when it grows old, you will enjoy drinking it.”
Sir 9:11 “Do not envy the glory of a sinner; for you do not know what disaster awaits him.”
Sir 9:12 “Delight not in the thing that the ungodly have pleasure in, but remember they shall not go unpunished unto their grave.”
Sir 9:13 “Keep far from a man who has the power of life and death, and you will have no suspicion of the fear of death. If you do approach him, do not offend him, so that he may not take away your life. Understand that you are striding along among traps, and walking on the city battlements.”
Sir 9:14 “As far as you can, guess at your neighbor, and take counsel with those who are wise.”
Sir 9:15 “Let your discussion be with men of understanding, and all your discourse about the Law of the Most High.”
Sir 9:16 “Make upright men your companions at table, and your exultation be over the fear of the Lord.”
Sir 9:17 “It is for the skill of the craftsmen that a piece of work is commended, and a ruler of the people must be wise in what he says.”
Sir 9:18 “A talkative man is dreaded in his city, and a man who is rash in speech is hated.”

Chapter 10

Sir 10:1 “A wise judge will instruct his people, and the rule of a man of understanding is well ordered.”
Sir 10:2 “Like the judge of a people are his officers, and like the governor of a city are all who live in it.”
Sir 10:3 “An uneducated (unwise) king ruins his people, but a city becomes populous through the understanding of its rulers.”
Sir 10:4 “Authority over the earth is in the hands of the Lord, and in due time he will set over it one who will serve his purpose.”
Sir 10:5 “A man’s prosperity is in the hands of the Lord, and he makes his glory rest on the person of the scribe.”
Sir 10:6 “Do not get angry with your neighbor for any misdeed, and do not gain your end by acts of violence.”
Sir 10:7 “Pride is detested in the sight of the Lord and of men, and injustice is wrong in the sight of both.”
Sir 10:8 “Sovereignty passes from one nation to another because of injustice and violence and greed for money.”
Sir 10:9 “Why are dust and ashes proud? There is not a more wicked thing than a covetous man, for such a one sets his own soul for sale, for while a man is still alive, his bowels decay.”
Sir 10:10 “The physician cuts off a long illness; and he that is a king today, shall die tomorrow.”
Sir 10:11 “For when a man dies, reptiles, animals, and worms become his portion (inheritance).”
Sir 10:12 “A man begins to be proud when he departs from the Lord, and his heart forsakes his Creator.”
Sir 10:13 “For pride begins with sin, and the man who clings to it will rain down abominations. For this reason, the Lord brings unheard-of calamities upon them, and overturns them utterly.”
Sir 10:14 “The Lord tears down the thrones of rulers, and seats the humble-minded (meek) in their places.”
Sir 10:15 “The Lord plucks up nations by the roots, and plants the lowly in their places.”
Sir 10:16 “The Lord overturns heathen countries, and destroys them down to the foundations of the earth.”
Sir 10:17 “He takes some of them away, and destroys them, and makes the memory of them cease from the earth.”
Sir 10:18 “Pride was not created for men, nor fierce anger for those who are born of women.”
Sir 10:19 “They that fear the Lord are a sure seed, and they that love him an honorable plant. They that regard not the law are a dishonorable seed, they that transgress the commandments are a deceivable seed.”
Sir 10:20 “Among his brothers, their leader is honored, and those who fear the Lord are honored in his eyes.”
Sir 10:21 “The fear of the Lord goes before the obtaining of authority, but roughness and pride is the losing thereof.”
Sir 10:22 “Rich, and distinguished, and poor alike, their glory is the fear of the Lord.”
Sir 10:23 “It is not right to slight a poor man who has understanding, and it is not proper to honor a sinful man.”
Sir 10:24 “Prince, judge, and ruler are honored, but none of them is greater than the man who fears the Lord.”
Sir 10:25 “Free men will wait on a wise servant, and the intelligent man will not object.”
Sir 10:26 “Do not parade your wisdom when you are at work, and do not commend yourself when you are in need;”
Sir 10:27 “It is better to work and have plenty of everything, than to go about commending yourself but in want of bread.”
Sir 10:28 “My child, glorify your soul with meekness, and show it such honor as it deserves.”
Sir 10:29 “Who can justify a man who sins against his own soul? And who can honor a man who disgraces his own life?”
Sir 10:30 “A poor man is honored for his knowledge, and a rich man is honored for his wealth.”
Sir 10:31 “If a man is honored in poverty, how much more will he be in wealth? And if a man is dishonored when he is rich, how much more will he be when he is poor?”

Chapter 11

Sir 11:1 “The wisdom of a humble person will lift up his head, and make him sit among the great.”
Sir 11:2 “Do not praise a man for his good looks, and do not detest a man for his appearance.”
Sir 11:3 “The bee is one of the smallest of winged creatures, but what she produces is the greatest of sweets.”
Sir 11:4 “Do not boast of the clothes you wear, and do not be uplifted when you are honored, for the works of the Lord are marvelous, and his doings are hidden from men,”
Sir 11:5 “Many sovereigns have had to sit on the ground, while a man who was never thought of has assumed the diadem.”
Sir 11:6 “Many rulers have been utterly disgraced, and men of renown have been delivered into the hands of others.”
Sir 11:7 “Do not find fault before you investigate, first understand, and then rebuke.”
Sir 11:8 “Do not answer before you hear, and do not interrupt in the middle of what is being said.”
Sir 11:9 “Do not quarrel about a matter that does not concern you, and when sinners judge, do not sit in council with them.”
Sir 11:10 “My child, do not busy yourself about many things. if you multiply your activities, you will not be held guiltless, and if you pursue, you will not overtake, and you will not escape by running away.”
Sir 11:11 “One man toils and labors and hurries, and is all the worse off.”
Sir 11:12 “Another is slow, and needs help, lacks strength and has plenty of poverty, yet the eyes of the Lord look favorably on him, and he lifts him up out of his low position.”
Sir 11:13 “And lifts up his head, and many wonder at him.”
Sir 11:14 “Good and evil, life and death, poverty and wealth, are from the Lord,”
Sir 11:15 “Wisdom, knowledge, and understanding of the law, are of the Lord; love, and the way of good works are from him.”
Sir 11:16 “Error and darkness had their beginning together with sinners: and evil shall wax old with them that glory therein.”
Sir 11:17 “What the Lord gives stays by the godly, and what he approves will always prosper.”
Sir 11:18 “One man grows rich by carefulness and greed, and this will be his reward:”
Sir 11:19 “When he says, “Now I can rest, and enjoy my goods,” He does not know when the time will come When he will die and leave them to others.”
Sir 11:20 “Stand by your agreement, and attend to it, and grow old in your work.”
Sir 11:21 “Do not wonder at the doings of the sinner, but trust in the Lord and stick to your work. For it is easy in the Lord’s eyes swiftly and suddenly to make a poor man rich.”
Sir 11:22 “The blessing of the Lord rests on the wages of the godly; and he quickly makes his blessing flourish.”
Sir 11:23 “Do not say, “What do I need, and from this time on what can benefit me?”
Sir 11:24 “Do not say, “I have enough, and from this time on how can I be injured?”
Sir 11:25 “In prosperity one forgets misfortune, and in the day of affliction, there is no more remembrance of prosperity.”
Sir 11:26 “For it is easy in the Lord’s sight when a man dies to repay him according to his ways.”
Sir 11:27 “An hour of hardship makes one forget enjoyment, and when a man dies, what he has done is disclosed.”
Sir 11:28 “Count no one happy before his death, for a man will be known by his children.”
Sir 11:29 “Do not bring any and every man to your home, for a treacherous man has many wiles.”
Sir 11:30 “A proud man’s heart is like a partridge in a cage, and like a spy he looks for your downfall;”
Sir 11:31 “For he tries to entrap you, turning good into evil, and he finds fault with your favorite things (worthy of praise).”
Sir 11:32 “A spark of fire kindles a whole heap of coals, and a sinful man lies in wait for blood.”
Sir 11:33 “Beware of an evil-doer, for he contrives wickedness, or he will bring blame on you forever.”
Sir 11:34 “If you entertain a stranger, he will disturb and torment you, and he will estrange you from your home.”

Chapter 12

Sir 12:1 “If you do a kindness, know to whom you are doing it, and you will be thanked for your good deeds.”
Sir 12:2 “If you do a kindness to a godly man, you will be repaid, if not by him, yet by the Most High.”
Sir 12:3 “The man who persists in evil will not prosper, nor the man who will not give alms.”
Sir 12:4 “Give to the godly man, and do not help the sinner;”
Sir 12:5 “Do kindnesses to the humble-minded, and do not give to the ungodly; hold back his bread, and do not give it to him, so that he may not come to control you with it; for you will experience twice as much evil for all the good you do him.”
Sir 12:6 “For the Most High hates sinners, and will take vengeance on the ungodly, and keep them against the mighty day of their punishment.”
Sir 12:7 “Give to the good man, and do not help the sinner.”
Sir 12:8 “A friend cannot be proved in prosperity, nor an enemy concealed in adversity.”
Sir 12:9 “When a man prospers, his enemies are grieved, and when he is unfortunate, even his friend separates from him.”
Sir 12:10 “Never trust your enemy, for his wickedness is like bronze that rusts;”
Sir 12:11 “Even if he acts humbly, and goes about bent over, look out for yourself, and be on your guard against him. You must be to him like a man who wipes a mirror clean, and you must make sure that it is not all covered with rust.”
Sir 12:12 “Do not place him at your side, or he may overthrow you and take your place. Do not seat him at your right hand, or he may try to get your seat, And you may at last learn the truth of what I say, and be stung by my words.”
Sir 12:13 “Who pities a snake-charmer when he is bitten, or all those who have to do with wild animals?”
Sir 12:14 “In the same way, who will pity a man who approaches a sinner, and is defiled with him in his sins?”
Sir 12:15 “He will stay with you for a while, but if you fall, he will not hold out.”
Sir 12:16 “An enemy will speak sweetly with his lips, but in his heart he will plan to throw you into a pit. An enemy will shed tears with his eyes, but if he gets a chance, he cannot get blood enough.”
Sir 12:17 “If misfortune overtakes you, you will find him there before you, and while he is pretending to help you, he will trip you up.”
Sir 12:18 “He will shake his head, and clap his hands, And whisper a great deal, and change his expression toward you.”

Chapter 13

Sir 13:1 “The man who touches pitch will get his hands dirty, and the man who associates with a proud person will become like him.”
Sir 13:2 “Do not lift a load that is too heavy for you, and do not associate with a man stronger or richer than you are. What relation can an earthen pot have with a kettle? The kettle knocks against it, and it is broken in pieces.”
Sir 13:3 “When a rich man does a wrong, he adds a threat; when a poor man suffers a wrong, he must beg pardon.”
Sir 13:4 “If you can be useful, he makes you work for him, and if you are in want, he abandons you.”
Sir 13:5 “As long as you have anything, he will live with you, and will strip you bare, but he will feel no distress.”
Sir 13:6 “If he needs you, he will deceive you, and smile upon you, and raise your hopes. He will speak you fair and say, “Is there anything you need?”
Sir 13:7 “He will shame you by his food, until he has impoverished you again and again, and finally he will mock you. Afterward when he sees you he will pass you by, and shake his head at you.”
Sir 13:8 “Take care not to be misled, and humbled through your own folly.”
Sir 13:9 “When a leading (mighty) man invites you, be retiring, and he will invite you all the more.”
Sir 13:10 “Do not press upon him, or you may be pushed away; But do not stand too far off, or you may be forgotten.”
Sir 13:11 “Do not aim to speak to him as an equal, but do not believe all he says; For he will test you with much conversation, and will examine you with a smile.
Sir 13:12 “He who does not keep to himself what is said to him is unmerciful; and will not hesitate to hurt and to bind.”
Sir 13:13 “Keep them to yourself, and take great care, for you are walking with your own downfall; when you hear these things, awake in your sleep.”
Sir 13:14 “Love the Lord all your life, and call upon him for your salvation.”
Sir 13:15 “Every creature loves its like, and every man loves his neighbor.”
Sir 13:16 “All living beings gather with their own kind, and a man associates with another like himself.”
Sir 13:17 “What companionship can a wolf have with a lamb? Just as much as a sinner with a godly man.”
Sir 13:18 “What peace can there be between a hyena and a dog? and what peace between a rich man and a poor one?”
Sir 13:19 “Wild asses are the prey of lions in the wilderness, just as the poor are pasture for the rich.”
Sir 13:20 “Humility is detestable to the proud, just as a poor man is detestable to a rich one.”
Sir 13:21 “When a rich man is shaken, he is steadied by his friends, but when a poor man falls down, his friends push him away.”
Sir 13:22 “When a rich man falls, there are many to help him; He tells secrets, and they justify him. When a humble man falls, they add reproaches. He speaks with understanding, but no place is made for him.
Sir 13:23 “When a rich man speaks, everyone keeps silent, and they extol what he says to the clouds. When a poor man speaks, they say, “Who is that?” And if he stumbles, they will help to throw him down.”
Sir 13:24 “Wealth is good if it carries with it no sin, and poverty is called evil by the ungodly.”
Sir 13:25 “A man’s disposition affects his appearance, both for good and for evil; a merry heart makes a cheerful countenance.”
Sir 13:26 “And a cheerful face is a sign of a happy heart, but it takes painstaking thought to compose proverbs!”

Chapter 14

Sir 14:1 “How happy is the man who makes no slip with his mouth, and is not stabbed with sorrow for his sins!”
Sir 14:2 “Happy is the man whose heart does not condemn him, and who has not given up hope.”
Sir 14:3 “Wealth does not become a niggardly man, and what use is money to an envious man?”
Sir 14:4 “The man who withholds from himself amasses for others, and others will enjoy his goods.”
Sir 14:5 “If a man is evil to himself, to whom will he be good? For he will not take any pleasure in his own money.”
Sir 14:6 “There is nobody worse than the man who is grudging to himself, and that is the penalty of his wickedness.”
Sir 14:7 “If he does any good, he does it through forgetfulness, and shows his wickedness in the end.”
Sir 14:8 “He is a wicked man who has an envious eye, turning away his face, and pretending not to see human souls.”
Sir 14:9 “A covetous man’s eye is never satisfied with what he gets, and wicked injustice dries up the heart.”
Sir 14:10 “An evil eye begrudges bread, and is in want of it at his own table.”
Sir 14:11 “My child, if you have any means, provide well for yourself, and make suitable offerings to the Lord.”
Sir 14:12 “Remember that death will not delay, and the agreement of Hades has not been shown to you.”
Sir 14:13 “Treat your friend well before you die, and reach out and give to him as much as your strength permits.”
Sir 14:14 “Do not miss your time of prosperity, and do not let the good fortune that you desire escape you.”
Sir 14:15 “Will you not leave the fruit of your labors to someone else, and the result of your toil to be cast lots for?”
Sir 14:16 “Give and take, and sanctify your soul, for there is no looking for luxury in Hades.”
Sir 14:17 “Human life grows old like a cloak, for from the beginning the decree has read, “You will surely die.”
Sir 14:18 “Like the thick leaves on a flourishing tree, which drops some and puts forth others, are the generations of flesh and blood; One dies, and another is born;”
Sir 14:19 “Everything made will decay and disappear, and the man who has made it will depart with it.”
Sir 14:20 “Happy (blessed) is the man who meditates on good things in wisdom, who reasons of holy things with his understanding;”
Sir 14:21 “Who considers her ways in his mind (heart), shall also have understanding of her secrets;”
Sir 14:22 “(Go after her like a hunter And lie in wait by her ways!)”
Sir 14:23 “Who peers in at her windows, and listens at her doorways;”
Sir 14:24 “Who lodges close to her house, and fastens his pegs in her walls;”
Sir 14:25 “Who pitches his tent close beside her, and finds comfortable lodgings;”
Sir 14:26 “Who puts his children under her shelter, and spends the night under her branches;”
Sir 14:27 “He will be sheltered by her from the heat, and will lodge in her splendors.”

Chapter 15

Sir 15:1 “The man who fears the Lord will do this, and he who masters the Law will win her.
Sir 15:2 “She will meet him like a mother, and receive him like a bride.”
Sir 15:3 “She will feed him with the bread of understanding, and give him the water of wisdom to drink;”
Sir 15:4 “He will lean on her, and not fall, and will rely on her, and not be disappointed.”
Sir 15:5 “She will exalt him above his neighbors, and open his mouth in the midst of the assembly;”
Sir 15:6 “He will find joy and a crown of gladness, and possess eternal renown.”
Sir 15:7 “Men with no understanding will not win her, and sinners will not see her.”
Sir 15:8 “She is far from pride, and liars give no heed to her.”
Sir 15:9 “Praise is not becoming on the lips of a sinner, for it was not sent him from the Lord.”
Sir 15:10 “For praise must be uttered in wisdom, and the Lord will make it prosper.”
Sir 15:11 “Do not say, “It was because of the Lord that I fell away,” for he will not do things that he hates.”
Sir 15:12 “Do not say, “It was he that led me astray,” for he has no need of a sinner.”
Sir 15:13 “The Lord hates anything abominable; and it is not loved by those who fear him.”
Sir 15:14 “It was he who made man in the beginning, and left him in the hands of his own decision;”
Sir 15:15 “If you will, you can keep the commandments, and acting faithfully rests on your own good pleasure.”
Sir 15:16 “He has set fire and water before you; stretch out your hand for whichever you wish.”
Sir 15:17 “Life and death are before a man, and whichever he chooses will be given him.”
Sir 15:18 “For the wisdom of the Lord is great; He is mighty in strength, and beholds all things.”
Sir 15:19 “His eyes rest on those who fear him, and he knows everything man does.”
Sir 15:20 “He has not commanded anyone to be ungodly, and he has given no one permission to sin.”

Chapter 16

Sir 16:1 “Do not desire a multitude of unprofitable children, nor delight in ungodly sons.”
Sir 16:2 “If they multiply, do not rejoice in them, unless the fear of the Lord is with them.
Sir 16:3 “Do not put your trust in their lives, and do not rely on their number; for one that is just is better than a thousand, and to die childless than to have children that are ungodly.”
Sir 16:4 “For from one man of understanding, a city will be peopled (replenished), but the kindred of the wicked shall speedily become desolate.”
Sir 16:5 “Many such things my eyes have seen, and mightier things than these my ears have heard.”
Sir 16:6 “In a gathering of sinners a fire is kindled, and in a disobedient nation wrath burns.”
Sir 16:7 “He did not forgive the giants of old, who rebelled in the strength of their foolishness.”
Sir 16:8 “He did not spare the people among whom Lot was living, whom he detested for their pride.”
Sir 16:9 “He did not have mercy on the doomed nation (people of perdition), who were dispossessed for their sins;”
Sir 16:10 “Or on the six hundred thousand men on foot, who gathered against him in their obstinacy.”
Sir 16:11 “Why, if there is one stiff-necked man, it is a wonder if he goes unpunished; For both mercy and wrath are with him, He is mighty in forgiveness, and yet pours out his wrath;”
Sir 16:12 “Great as is his mercy, so great is his correction also; He will judge a man by his doings.”
Sir 16:13 “A sinner will not escape with his booty, and the steadfastness of the godly man will not be disappointed.”
Sir 16:14 “He will make room for all mercy, yet what every man receives will be governed by what he has done.”
Sir 16:15 “The Lord hardened Pharaoh, that he should not know him, that his powerful works might be known to the world.”
Sir 16:16 “His mercy is manifest to every creature, and he has separated his light from the darkness with an adamant.”
Sir 16:17 “Do not say, “I will be hidden from the Lord, and on high who will remember me? Among so many people I will not be noticed, and what is my soul in a boundless creation?”
Sir 16:18 “Behold the heaven and the heaven of heavens, the abyss and the earth, and all that is therein shall shake when he inspects (visits) them;”
Sir 16:19 “Yes, the mountains and the foundations of the earth shake and tremble when he looks at them.”
Sir 16:20 “No mind can think about them, and who can grasp his ways?”
Sir 16:21 “There are hurricanes which no man sees, and the most of his doings are done in secret.”
Sir 16:22 “Who can declare his upright deeds? Or who can endure them? For his covenant is far from me, and the trial of all things is in the end.”
Sir 16:23 “A man who is wanting in understanding thinks upon vain things, and a senseless, misguided man has these foolish thoughts.”
Sir 16:24 “Listen to me, my child, and receive instruction, and apply your mind (heart) to what I say;”
Sir 16:25 “I will disclose instruction by weight, and declare knowledge with exactness.”
Sir 16:26 “When the Lord created his works in the beginning, after he made them, he fixed their several divisions.”
Sir 16:27 “He organized his works in a system forever, and their divisions for all their generations. They do not grow hungry or tired, and they do not stop working.”
Sir 16:28 “None of them crowds his neighbor aside, and they never disobey his command.”
Sir 16:29 “After that, the Lord looked at the earth, and filled it with his blessings.”
Sir 16:30 “He covered the face of it with every living creature, and to it they return.”

Chapter 17

Sir 17:1 “The Lord created man out of the ground, and made him return to it again.”
Sir 17:2 “He set a limit to the number of their days, and gave them dominion over what was on the earth.”
Sir 17:3 “He clothed them with strength like his own, and made them in his own image.”
Sir 17:4 “He put fear of them in every living creature, and made them masters of the wild animals and birds.”
Sir 17:6 “He gave them reason and speech and sight, hearing, and a mind for thought.”
Sir 17:7 “He filled them with the knowledge of understanding, and showed them good and evil.”
Sir 17:8 “He put his eyesight in their minds to show them the majesty of his works,”
Sir 17:9 “So that they would praise his holy name and declare the majesty of his works with understanding.”
Sir 17:10 “And the elect shall praise his holy name.”
Sir 17:11 “He gave them knowledge also, and gave them a law of life as an inheritance.”
Sir 17:12 “He made an everlasting covenant with them, and showed them his decrees (judgments).”
Sir 17:13 “Their eyes saw his glorious majesty, and their ears heard the glory of his voice.”
Sir 17:14 “He said to them, “Beware all unrighteousness”, and he gave everyone of them commands concerning his neighbor.”
Sir 17:15 “Their ways are always before him; they cannot be hidden from his eyes.”
Sir 17:16 “Every man from his youth is given to evil; neither could they make to themselves fleshy hearts for stony.”
Sir 17:17 “For every nation he appointed a ruler, but Israel is the Lord’s own portion.”
Sir 17:18 “Whom, being his firstborn, he nourishes with discipline, and giving him the light of his love does not forsake him.”
Sir 17:19 “All their doings are as clear as the sun before him, and his eyes rest continually upon their ways.”
Sir 17:20 “Their iniquities are not hidden from him, and all their sins are before the Lord.”
Sir 17:21 “But the Lord being gracious, and knowing his workmanship, neither left nor forsook them, but spared them.”
Sir 17:22 “A man’s alms are like a signet with him, and a man’s liberality he will preserve like the apple of his eye, and give repentance to his sons and daughters.”
Sir 17:23 “Afterward he will rise up and requite them, and pay back their recompense upon their heads.”
Sir 17:24 “But to those who repent he has given a way to return, and he comforted those that failed in patience.”
Sir 17:25 “Turn to the Lord, and forsake your sins; offer a prayer before him, and lessen your offense.”
Sir 17:26 “Draw near to the Most High, and turn away from iniquity, for He will lead you out of darkness into the light of health, and hate bitterly what He abhors.”
Sir 17:27 “Who will praise the Most High in Hades, compared with those who give him thanks while they still live?”
Sir 17:28 “Thanksgiving from the dead perishes as though he were not; It is the man who is alive and well that should praise the Lord.”
Sir 17:29 “How great is the mercy of the Lord, and his forgiveness for those who turn to him!”
Sir 17:30 “For everything cannot exist in men, for man is not immortal.”
Sir 17:31 “What is brighter than the sun? Yet it is eclipsed; So flesh and blood devise evil.”
Sir 17:32 “He looks after the power of the very height of heaven, but all men are only dust and ashes.”

Chapter 18

Sir 18:1 “He who lives forever has created all things alike;
Sir 18:2 “The Lord only is righteous, and there is none other but he.”
Sir 18:3 “Who governs the world with the palm of his hand, and all things obey his will: for he is the King of all, by his power dividing holy things among them from profane.”
Sir 18:4 “To whom has he given power to declare his works? and who can track out his mighty deeds?”
Sir 18:5 “Who can compute the power of his majesty? And who can in addition detail his mercies?”
Sir 18:6 “It is not possible to take from them or to add to them, Or to track out the wonders of the Lord.”
Sir 18:7 “Where man ends, he begins, and when man stops, will he be perplexed?”
Sir 18:8 “What is man, and of what use is he? What is the good of him, and what is the evil?”
Sir 18:9 “The length of a man’s days is great at a hundred years,”
Sir 18:10 “Like a drop of water from the sea, or a grain of sand, so are a thousand years to the days of eternity.”
Sir 18:11 “Therefore the Lord has been patient with them, and he has poured out his mercy upon them.”
Sir 18:12 “He sees and recognizes that their end is evil, so he increases his forgiveness.”
Sir 18:13 “A man has mercy on his neighbor, but the mercy of the Lord is for all mankind, Reproving and training and teaching them, and bringing them back as a shepherd does his flock.”
Sir 18:14 “On those who accept (receive) his training (discipline) he has mercy, and on those who eagerly seek his decrees (judgments).”
Sir 18:15 “My child, do not spoil your good deeds, or when you make any gift cause pain by what you say.”
Sir 18:16 “Does not the dew assuage the scorching heat? So a word is more potent than a gift.”
Sir 18:17 “Why, is not a word better than a gift? Both mark the gracious man;”
Sir 18:18 “A fool ungraciously abuses people, and a present from a grudging man makes one cry his eyes out.”
Sir 18:19 “Learn before you speak, and take care of yourself before you get sick;”
Sir 18:20 “Examine yourself before you are judged, and at the time of visitation you will find forgiveness.”
Sir 18:21 “Humble yourself before you fall sick, and when you would sin, show repentance instead.”
Sir 18:22 “Let nothing prevent you from paying your vow in due time, and do not wait till you die to be justified.”
Sir 18:23 “Prepare yourself before you make a vow, and do not be like a man who tests the Lord.”
Sir 18:24 “Think of his wrath in later days, and the time of vengeance, when he turns away his face.”
Sir 18:25 “Remember the time of famine in the time of plenty, poverty and want in the days of wealth.”
Sir 18:26 “Between morning and evening the situation changes, and it all passes swiftly in the sight of the Lord.”
Sir 18:27 “A wise man is always reverent, and in days of sin he is careful not to offend; but a fool will not observe time.”
Sir 18:28 “Every man of understanding recognizes wisdom, and will thank the man who finds her.”
Sir 18:29 “Men skilled in the use of words compose cleverly themselves, and pour forth apt proverbs.”
Sir 18:30 “Do not follow your impulses, but restrain your longings.”
Sir 18:31 “If you give assent to the impulse of your heart, it will make you a laughingstock to your enemies that malign you.”
Sir 18:32 “Do not indulge in too much luxury, do not be tied to its expense.”
Sir 18:33 “Do not be impoverished from feasting on borrowed money when you have nothing in your purse, for you shall lie in wait for your own life, and be talked on.”

Chapter 19

Sir 19:1 “A workman who is a drunkard will never get rich; and the man who despises little things will gradually fail;”
Sir 19:2 “Wine and women make men of understanding stand aloof; and the man who is devoted to prostitutes is reckless.”
Sir 19:3 “Worms and decay will eventually possess him, and the rash soul will be destroyed.”
Sir 19:4 “The man who trusts people quickly is light-minded; and he who sins offends against his own soul.”
Sir 19:5 “The man who takes pleasure in wickedness will be condemned, and he who resists pleasures crowns his life.”
Sir 19:6 “He that can rule his tongue shall life without strife, and he that hates babbling will have less evil.”
Sir 19:7 “If you never repeat what you are told, you will fare none the worse.”
Sir 19:8 “Whether it be friend or foe, talk not of other men’s lives, and if you can without offense, reveal them not.”
Sir 19:10 “For someone has heard you and watched you, and when the time comes he will hate you.”
Sir 19:11 “If you hear something said, let it die with you, Have courage, it will not make you burst!”
Sir 19:12 “A fool to express a thought suffers such pangs as a woman in childbirth suffers to bear a child.”
Sir 19:13 “Like an arrow sticking in the flesh of the thigh is a word in the heart of a fool.”
Sir 19:14 “Question a friend; perhaps he did not do it; or if he did, so that he will not do it again.”
Sir 19:15 “Question your neighbor; perhaps he did not say it; or if he did, so that he may not repeat it.”
Sir 19:16 “Question a friend, for often there is slander, and you must not believe everything that is said.”
Sir 19:17 “A man may make a slip without intending to, who has not sinned with his tongue?”
Sir 19:18 “Question your neighbor before you threaten him, and not being angry, give place to the Law of the Most High.”
Sir 19:20 “The fear of the Lord is the sum of wisdom, and in all wisdom the Law is fulfilled, and the knowledge of his omnipotence.”
Sir 19:21 “If a servant say to his master, I will not do as it pleases you, though afterward he do it, he angers him that nourishes him.”
Sir 19:22 “The knowledge of wickedness is not wisdom, and where the counsel of sinners is, there is no understanding.”
Sir 19:23 “There is a cunning that is detestable, and there is a foolish man who is deficient in wisdom.”
Sir 19:24 “A man who is inferior in understanding but fears God is better than one who abounds in prudence (wisdom) but transgresses the Law of the Most High.”
Sir 19:25 “There is an exquisite subtlety and the same is unjust, and there is a man who acts crookedly to gain a judgment, and there is a wise man that justifies in judgment.”
Sir 19:26 “There is a wicked man that bends down his head sadly, but inwardly is full of deceit.”
Sir 19:27 “He covers his face, and pretends to be deaf, but when no one is looking, he will take advantage of you.”
Sir 19:28 “And though for lack of power he may be prevented from sinning, if he finds an opportunity, he will do you harm.”
Sir 19:29 “A man is known by his appearance, and an intelligent man can be told by the expression of his face.”
Sir 19:30 “A man’s clothes and a broad smile, and the way he walks tell what he is.”

Chapter 20

Sir 20:1 “There is a rebuke that is uncalled for, and a time when the man who keeps silent is wise.”
Sir 20:2 “How much better it is to reprove someone than to be angry secretly, for the man who confesses his fault will be preserved from hurt.”
Sir 20:3 “How good it is, when you are reproved, to show repentance! For so shall you escape willful sin.”
Sir 20:4 “Like the lust of a eunuch to deflower a virgin, so is the man who would execute judgment by violence.”
Sir 20:5 “One man keeps silence and is considered wise; while another is hated for his loquacity (much babbling).
Sir 20:6 “One man keeps silence because he has nothing to say; and another keeps silence because he knows it is the time for it.”
Sir 20:7 “A wise man will keep silence till his time comes, but a babbler and a fool miss the fitting time.”
Sir 20:8 “The man who talks excessively is detested, and he who takes it on himself to speak is hated.”
Sir 20:9 “There is a sinner that has good success in evil things, and there is a gain that turns to loss.”
Sir 20:10 “There is a gift that will not profit you, and there is a gift whose recompense is double.”
Sir 20:11 “There are humiliations for the sake of gaining glory, and there are men who rise from low conditions.”
Sir 20:12 “One man buys much for little, and yet pays for it sevenfold.”
Sir 20:13 “A man who speaks wisely makes himself beloved; but the pleasant speeches of fools are thrown away.”
Sir 20:14 “The gift of a fool will do you no good when you have it, neither yet of the envious for his necessity, for he looks to receive many things for one.”
Sir 20:15 “He gives little, and finds a great deal of fault, and opens his mouth like a town-crier. He will lend today and ask it back tomorrow; such a man is to be hated by God and man.”
Sir 20:16 “The fool says, “I have no friends, I get no thanks for all my good deeds, and they that eat my bread speak evil of me.”
Sir 20:17 “How many will laugh at him, and how often! for he doesn’t know what it is to have, and it is all unto him as if he had it not.”
Sir 20:18 “A slip on the ground is better than a slip of the tongue; so the fall of the wicked will come quickly.”
Sir 20:19 “A disagreeable man and an unseasonable story – they will both be constantly on the lips of the uneducated.”
Sir 20:20 “A proverb on the lips of a fool will be refused, for he will not speak it in due season.”
Sir 20:21 “One man is kept from sinning through poverty, so his conscience does not prick him when he goes to rest.”
Sir 20:22 “Another loses his own life from sheer embarrassment, and by accepting of persons, he overthrows himself.”
Sir 20:23 “Another out of embarrassment makes promises to his friend, and so makes him his enemy for nothing.”
Sir 20:24 “A lie is a bad blot in a man; it is continually found on the lips of the ignorant.”
Sir 20:25 “A thief is better than a habitual liar, but they are both doomed to destruction.”
Sir 20:26 “The disposition of a liar is dishonorable, and his shame attends him continually.”
Sir 20:27 “A wise man promotes himself to honor with his words, and a man of understanding will please great men.”
Sir 20:28 “The man who cultivates the soil makes his heap high, and the man who pleases great men shall get pardon for iniquity.”
Sir 20:29 “Gifts and presents can blind the eyes of wise men, and avert reproofs like a muzzle on the mouth.”
Sir 20:30 “Hidden wisdom and concealed treasure – what is the use of either of them?”
Sir 20:31 “A man who conceals his folly is better than a man who conceals his wisdom.”
Sir 20:32 “Necessary patience in seeking the Lord is better than he that leads his life without a guide.”

Chapter 21

Sir 21:1 “My child, if you have sinned, do not do it again, and ask pardon for your former sins.”
Sir 21:2 “Flee from sin as from the face of a serpent; for if you approach it, it will bite you. Its teeth are as lion’s teeth, and destroy the souls of men.”
Sir 21:3 “All iniquity is like a two-edged sword; and the wounds from it cannot be healed.”
Sir 21:4 “Terror and violence lay waste riches; so the house of a proud man will be laid waste.”
Sir 21:5 “The prayer from a poor man’s mouth reaches to the ears of God, and his judgment comes speedily.”
Sir 21:6 “A man who hates reproof is walking in the sinner’s steps, but he who fears the Lord will turn to him in his heart.”
Sir 21:7 “A man who is mighty in tongue is known afar off, but a man of understanding knows when he slips.”
Sir 21:8 “The man who builds his house with other men’s money is like one who gathers stones for (the tomb of his burial) winter.”
Sir 21:9 “An assembly of wicked men is like tow wrapped together; for their end is a blazing fire to destroy them.”
Sir 21:10 “The way of sinners is made smooth with stones, but at the end of it is the pit of Hades.”
Sir 21:11 “The man who keeps the Law of the Lord gets understanding thereof, and the perfection of the fear of the Lord is wisdom.”
Sir 21:12 “The man who is not wise will not be instructed, but there is a wisdom that spreads bitterness.”
Sir 21:13 “A wise man’s knowledge abounds like a flood, and his counsel is like a living spring.”
Sir 21:14 “The heart of a fool is like a broken vessel; it will hold no knowledge as long as he lives.”
Sir 21:15 “If a man of understanding hears a wise saying, he commends it, and adds to it; but as soon as one of no understanding hears it, it displeases him, and he throws it behind his back.”
Sir 21:16 “The discourse of a fool is like a burden on a journey; but grace is found on the lips of a man of understanding.”
Sir 21:17 “The utterance of a wise man will be asked for in an assembly, and what he says they will think over in their minds (heart).”
Sir 21:18 “To a fool wisdom is like a ruined house, and the knowledge of a man without understanding is words that will not bear investigation.”
Sir 21:19 “To the foolish man, instruction is fetters on his feet; and handcuffs on his right hand.”
Sir 21:20 “A fool raises his voice when he laughs, but a wise man will hardly even smile quietly.”
Sir 21:21 “To a wise man instruction is like a gold ornament, and like a bracelet on his right arm.”
Sir 21:22 “The foot of a fool is quick to enter his [neighbor’s] house, but a man of experience waits respectfully before it.”
Sir 21:23 “A senseless person (fool) peeps into a house through the door, but a cultivated (well nurtured) man stands outside.”
Sir 21:24 “It is stupidity (the rudeness) in a man to listen at a door; but a wise man would overwhelmed with disgrace.”
Sir 21:25 “The lips of talkers will be telling such things which do not pertain to them, but the words of sensible men are weighed in the balance.”
Sir 21:26 “The minds (hearts) of fools are in their mouths, but the mouth of wise men is their mind (hearts).”
Sir 21:27 “When an ungodly man curses his adversary (Satan), he curses his own soul.”
Sir 21:28 “A whisperer pollutes (defiles) his own soul, and will be hated wherever he dwells.”

Chapter 22

Sir 22:1 “A slothful man is like a filthy stone, and everybody hisses at his disgrace.”
Sir 22:2 “A slothful man is like the filth of a dunghill; anyone who picks it up shakes out his hand.”
Sir 22:3 “It is a disgrace to be the father of an ignorant son, and to have a [foolish] daughter is a disadvantage.”
Sir 22:4 “A wise daughter will bring an inheritance to her husband, but one who brings disgrace is a grief to her father.”
Sir 22:5 “She who is bold disgraces her father and her husband, and will be despised by both.”
Sir 22:6 “Unseasonable talk is music in a time of mourning; but blows and discipline in wisdom are always in order.”
Sir 22:7 “The man who teaches a fool is gluing a potsherd together, or rousing a sleeper out of a deep sleep.”
Sir 22:8 “The man who lectures to a fool lectures to one who is dozing, and at the conclusion he will say, “What was it?”
Sir 22:9 “If children live honestly, and have wherewithal, they shall cover the baseness of their parents.”
Sir 22:10 “But children, being haughty, through disdain, and want of nurture do stain the nobility of their kindred.”
Sir 22:11 “Weep for one who is dead, for light has failed him; and weep over a fool, for understanding has failed him. Weep less bitterly over the dead, for he has gone to rest; but the fool’s life is worse than death.”
Sir 22:12 “The mourning for the dead lasts seven days, but that for a fool or an ungodly man lasts all the days of his life.”
Sir 22:13 “Do not talk much with a senseless man, or go to see a man of no understanding; Beware of him, or you may have trouble, and do not be defiled with his fooleries. Avoid him, and you will find rest, and you will not be wearied by his senselessness.”
Sir 22:14 “What is heavier than lead? What can you call it but a fool?”
Sir 22:15 “Sand and salt and a lump of iron are easier to bear than a man without understanding.”
Sir 22:16 “A wooden girder fastened in a building is not loosened by an earthquake; So a mind established on well-considered thought will not be afraid at any time.”
Sir 22:17 “A mind (heart) fixed on understanding thought is like a plaster ornament on a smooth wall.”
Sir 22:18 “Fences set up in the air will not stand against the wind; So a cowardly heart with foolish thoughts will not stand against any fear.”
Sir 22:19 “The man who pricks the eye makes tears fall, and the man who pricks the heart makes it show feeling (her knowledge).”
Sir 22:20 “The man who throws a stone at the birds scares them away, and the man who abuses a friend destroys a friendship.”
Sir 22:21 “Even if you draw the sword against your friend, do not despair, for there is a way to repent;”
Sir 22:22 “If you open your mouth against your friend, do not be afraid, for there is such a thing as reconciliation; But when it comes to abuse and arrogance and telling a secret and a treacherous blow, at such treatment any friend will take to flight.”
Sir 22:23 “Be faithful to your neighbor in his poverty, so that when he prospers you may rejoice with him. Stand by him in time of trouble, so that you may share his inheritance with him, for the mean estate is not always to be contemned; nor the rich that is foolish to be had in admiration.”
Sir 22:24 “The vapor and smoke from the furnace precede the fire; so abuse precedes bloodshed.”
Sir 22:25 “I will not shrink from giving shelter to a friend, and I will not hide myself from him,”
Sir 22:26 “And if misfortune overtakes me on his account, everyone who hears of it will beware of him.”
Sir 22:27 “Who will set a guard over my mouth, and put a seal of wisdom upon my lips, so that I may not fall because of them, and my tongue may not destroy me?”

Chapter 23

Sir 23:1 “O Lord, Father and Master of my life, do not abandon me to their designs; do not let me fall because of them.”
Sir 23:2 “Who will set scourges over my mind? and the discipline of wisdom over my heart? so that they may not spare me for my errors of ignorance, and it may not pass over my sins.”
Sir 23:3 “So that my acts of ignorance may not become numerous, and my sins multiply, and I fall before my adversaries, And my enemy rejoice over me, whose hope is far from your mercy.”
Sir 23:4 “O Lord, Father and God of my life, do not give me roving eyes, and avert evil desire from me;”
Sir 23:5 “Turn away from me vain hopes and concupiscence, and you shall hold him up that is desirous always to serve you.”
Sir 23:6 “Let not the greediness of the belly nor the lust of the flesh take hold of me, and give not over me, your servant, to a impudent mind.”
Sir 23:7 “Listen, my children, to the discipline of the mouth, for he who observes it will not be taken captive.”
Sir 23:8 “It is through his lips that the sinner is caught, and the abusive and the proud are tripped up by them.”
Sir 23:9 “Do not accustom your mouth to an oath, and do not form the habit of uttering the name of the Holy One;”
Sir 23:10 “For just as a servant who is constantly being beaten does not lack the marks of a blow, so the man who constantly swears and utters the Name cannot be absolved from sin.”
Sir 23:11 “A man who swears a great deal will be filled with iniquity, and the plague will never leave his house; if he offends, his sin rests upon him, and if he disregards it, he sins doubly; and if he has sworn needlessly, he is not justified, for his house will be filled with misery.”
Sir 23:12 “There is a way of speaking that may be compared with death; God grant that it be not found in the heritage of Jacob. for all this will be far from the godly, and they will not wallow in sin.”
Sir 23:13 “Do not accustom your mouth to foul rudeness, for that is sinful speech.”
Sir 23:14 “Remember your father and mother, when you sit in council with the great, or you may forget yourself in their presence, and seem like a fool through the habit you have so that you will wish you had never been born, and curse the day of your birth.”
Sir 23:15 “A man who forms the habit of abusive speech will never be educated as long as he lives.”
Sir 23:16 “There are two kinds of men that multiply sins, and a third that incurs wrath: A spirit (mind) hot as a burning fire, it cannot be quenched until it is consumed; One who is a fornicator in the body of his flesh, he will not stop until the fire burns him up;”
Sir 23:17 “All bread is sweet to a whoremonger, he will not tire until he dies;”
Sir 23:18 “A man that breaks wedlock, and says to himself, “Who can see me? Darkness is around me, and the walls hide me, so no one can see me; what risk do I run? The Most High will not remember my sins.”
Sir 23:19 “The eyes of men are his only fear, and he does not know that the eyes of the Lord are ten thousand times brighter than the sun, surveying all the ways of men, and observe the secret places.”
Sir 23:20 “All things were known to him before they were created, so was it also after they were completed.”
Sir 23:21 “Such a man will be punished in the streets of the city, and caught where he least suspects it.”
Sir 23:22 “It is so also with a wife who leaves her husband, and provides an heir by a stranger.”
Sir 23:23 “For, first, she disobeys the law of the Most High, and, second, she wrongs her husband, and, third, she played the whore in adultery, and provides children by a stranger.”
Sir 23:24 “She will be brought before the assembly, and her sin will be visited upon her children.
Sir 23:25 “Her children will not take root, and her branches will not bear fruit.”
Sir 23:26 “She will leave her memory for a curse, and her reproach will not be blotted out.”
Sir 23:27 “And those who are left behind will know that there is nothing better than the fear of the Lord, and nothing more pleasant (sweeter) than observing the Lord’s commandments.”
Sir 23:28 “It is great glory to follow the Lord, and to be received by him is long life.”

Chapter 24

Sir 24:1 “Wisdom is her own recommendation, and exults in the midst of her people.”
Sir 24:2 “She opens her mouth in the assembly of the Most High, and in the presence of his might she utters her boast:”
Sir 24:3 “I issued from the mouth of the Most High, and covered the earth like a mist (cloud).”
Sir 24:4 “I lived on the heights, and my throne was in the pillar of cloud.”
Sir 24:5 “I alone compassed the circuit of heaven, and I walked in the depth of the abyss.”
Sir 24:6 “I owned the waves of the sea and the whole earth and every people and nation.”
Sir 24:7 “Among all these I sought a resting-place; In whose inheritance should I lodge?”
Sir 24:8 “Then the Creator of all gave me his command; and he who created me made my tabernacle to rest, And said, ‘Pitch your tent in Jacob, and find your inheritance in Israel.’“
Sir 24:9 “He created me from the beginning, before the world, and I shall never cease.”
Sir 24:10 “I ministered before him in the holy tabernacle, and so I was established in Zion.”
Sir 24:11 “He made me rest likewise in the beloved city, and I had authority over Jerusalem.”
Sir 24:12 “I took root in the glorified people, in the portion of the Lord, and of his inheritance.”
Sir 24:13 “I was exalted like a cedar in the Lebanon, or a cypress in the mountains of Hermon;”
Sir 24:14 “I was exalted like a palm tree in Engadi, or like the rose bushes in Jericho; Like a fine olive tree in the field; I was exalted like a plane tree by the water.”
Sir 24:15 “I gave forth a perfume like cinnamon and camel’s thorn (aspalathus), and I spread fragrance like choice myrrh; like galbanum, onycha, and stacte, and like the smoke of frankincense in the tabernacle.”
Sir 24:16 “I stretched out my branches like a terebinths, my branches were glorious, graceful branches.”
Sir 24:17 “I made grace grow like a vine, and my blossoms are the fruit of honor and riches.”
Sir 24:18 “I am the mother of fair love, and fear, and knowledge, and holy hope; I therefore, being eternal, am given to all my children which are named of him.”
Sir 24:19 “Come to me, you who desire me, and fill yourselves with my fruits.”
Sir 24:20 “For the memory of me is sweeter than honey, and the possession of me, than the honeycomb.”
Sir 24:21 “Those who eat me will cease to be hungry, and those who drink me will cease to be thirsty.”
Sir 24:22 “He who obeys me will not be put to shame, and those who work with me will commit no sin.”
Sir 24:23 “All this is the book of the covenant of the Most High God, The Law which Moses ordained for us as an inheritance for the congregations of Jacob;”
Sir 24:24 “Faint not to be strong in the Lord, that he may confirm you, cleave to him, for the Lord Almighty is God alone, and beside him there is no Savior.”
Sir 24:25 “He fills men with his wisdom, as the Pishon, and as the Tigris in the time of the new fruits.”
Sir 24:26 “He makes the understanding to abound like the Euphrates, and as the Jordan in harvest time.”
Sir 24:27 “Which makes instruction shine forth like light, like the Gihon in the days of the vintage.”
Sir 24:28 “Just as the first man did not know her perfectly, the last one will not track her out.”
Sir 24:29 “For her thinking is fuller than the sea, and her counsel than the great deep.”
Sir 24:30 “I came out like a canal from the river, and like a watercourse in a garden.”
Sir 24:31 “I said, “I will water my garden, and drench my flower bed.” And behold, my canal became a river, and my river became a sea.”
Sir 24:32 “I will again make instruction dawn like the daybreak, and make it shine forth afar.”
Sir 24:33 “I will pour out teaching again as prophecy, and leave it behind for endless generations.”
Sir 24:34 “Observe that I have not labored for myself only, but for all who seek her out.”

Chapter 25

Sir 25:1 “In three things I show my beauty and stand up in beauty before the Lord and men; Unity of brethren, the love of neighbors, and a men and a wife that agree together.”
Sir 25:2 “But three kinds of men my soul hates, and I am greatly angered at their existence: A poor man who is proud, and a rich man who lies, and an old man who is an adulterer and lacks understanding.”
Sir 25:3 “If you have not gathered in your youth, how can you find anything in your old age?”
Sir 25:4 “How beautiful judgment is for hoary hair, and the knowledge of what to advise for the elderly!”
Sir 25:5 “How beautiful is the wisdom of old men, and consideration and counsel in men of distinction.”
Sir 25:6 “Rich experience is the crown of old men, and their boast is the fear of the Lord.”
Sir 25:7 “Nine things I have thought of and considered happy, and I can mention a tenth with my tongue: A man who is happy in his children; one who lives to see his enemies fall;”
Sir 25:8 “Blessed is the man who lives with a wife of understanding; and the one who does not slip with his tongue; and the one who is not a slave to his inferior;”
Sir 25:9 “Blessed is the man who finds good sense; and the one who discourses to the ears of men who listen;”
Sir 25:10 “How great the man is who finds wisdom; but there is no one greater than the man who fears the Lord.”
Sir 25:11 “But the love of the Lord surpasses everything for illumination, to what can the man who possesses it be compared?”
Sir 25:12 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of his love, and faith is the beginning of cleaving to him.”
Sir 25:13 “Any wound but a wounded heart! And any wickedness but the wickedness of a woman!”
Sir 25:14 “Any calamity but a calamity brought about by those who hate you; And any vengeance but the vengeance of your enemies!”
Sir 25:15 “There is no head higher than a snake’s head, and no anger greater than an enemy’s.”
Sir 25:16 “I had rather keep house with a lion and a serpent than keep house with a wicked woman.”
Sir 25:17 “A woman’s wickedness changes her looks, and darkens her face like a bear;”
Sir 25:18 “Her husband sits at table among his neighbors, and involuntarily groans bitterly.”
Sir 25:19 “Any malice is small to a woman’s malice; may the lot of the sinner befall her!”
Sir 25:20 “Like a sandy climb to an old man’s feet so is a talkative wife to a quiet man.”
Sir 25:21 “Do not fall down before a woman’s beauty, and do not greatly desire her for a wife.”
Sir 25:22 “A woman, if she supports her husband, is full of anger and impudence and much reproach.”
Sir 25:23 “A wicked woman abates courage, makes a heavy countenance and a wounded heart. A woman who will not comfort her husband in distress, makes palsied hands and paralyzed knees.”
Sir 25:24 “Sin began with a woman, and because of her we all die.”
Sir 25:25 “Do not give water an outlet, nor a wicked woman freedom to speak.”
Sir 25:26 “If she does not act as you would have her, cut her off from your person, give her a bill of divorcement, and let her go.”

Chapter 26

Sir 26:1 “Happy is the man who has a good wife! The number of his days is doubled.”
Sir 26:2 “A noble wife gladdens her husband, and he lives out his years in peace.”
Sir 26:3 “A good wife is good fortune; she falls to the lot of those who fear the Lord,”
Sir 26:4 “Whether rich or poor, if he has a good heart toward the Lord, he shall at all times rejoice with a cheerful face.”
Sir 26:5 “There are three things my heart is afraid of, and a for a fourth that I fear: The slander of a city, and the gathering of a mob, and a false accusation – these are all worse than death.”
Sir 26:6 “It is heartache and sorrow when one woman that is jealous over another woman, and a scourge of the tongue which communicates with all.”
Sir 26:7 “A wicked woman is a chafing ox-yoke; taking hold of her is like grasping a scorpion.”
Sir 26:8 “A drunken woman and a gad about causes great anger, and does not even cover up her own shame.”
Sir 26:9 “The whoredom of a woman is revealed by her haughty looks, and by her eyelids.”
Sir 26:10 “Keep a close watch over a headstrong daughter, for if she is allowed her liberty, she may take advantage of it.”
Sir 26:11 “Keep watch over a roving eye, and do not be surprised if it offends against you.”
Sir 26:12 “She will open her mouth, like a thirsty traveler who opens his mouth and drinks of any water that is near, she will sit down before every tent peg, and open her quiver to every arrow.”
Sir 26:13 “The grace of a wife delights her husband, and her knowledge fattens his bones.”
Sir 26:14 “A silent and loving woman is a gift from the Lord, and there is nothing worth as much as a mind well instructed.”
Sir 26:15 “A modest wife is blessing after blessing, and a self controlled spirit no scales can weigh.”
Sir 26:16 “Like the sun rising on the Lord’s loftiest heights, is the beauty of a good woman as she keeps her house in order.”
Sir 26:17 “Like a lamp shining on the holy lampstand, is a beautiful face on a good figure.”
Sir 26:18 “Like gold pillars on silver bases are beautiful feet with a constant heart.”
Sir 26:19 “My son, keep the flower of your age sound, and give not your strength to strangers.”
Sir 26:20 “When you have gotten a fruitful possession through all the field, sow it with your own seed, trusting in the goodness of your stock.”
Sir 26:21 “So your race which you leave shall be magnified, having the confidence of their good descent.”
Sir 26:22 “An harlot shall be accounted as spittle; but a married woman is a tower against death to her husband.” (Magdalene means ‘tower’ in Hebrew and Greek)
Sir 26:23 “A wicked woman is given as a portion to a wicked man, but a godly woman is given to him that fears the Lord.”
Sir 26:24 “A dishonest woman contemned shame, but an honest woman will reverence her husband.”
Sir 26:25 “A shameless woman shall be counted as a dog, but she that is shamefaced will fear the Lord.”
Sir 26:26 “A woman that honors her husband shall be judged wise of all, but she that dishonors him in her pride shall be counted ungodly of all.”
Sir 26:27 “A loud crying woman and a scold shall be sought out to drive away the enemies.”
Sir 26:28 “Over two things my heart is grieved, and over a third anger overcomes me: A soldier in poverty and want, men of understanding who are treated like dirt, and the man who turns back from uprightness to sin – The Lord will prepare a sword for him!”
Sir 26:29 “A merchant can hardly keep himself from doing wrong, and a storekeeper cannot be acquitted of sin.”

Chapter 27

Sir 27:1 “Many sin for the sake of gain, and the man who is intent on increasing what he has, has to shut his eyes.”
Sir 27:2 “As a nail will stick fast between the joinings of the stones, so does sin stick close between buying and selling.”
Sir 27:3 “Unless a man earnestly holds on to the fear of the Lord, his house will soon be overturned.”
Sir 27:4 “When a sieve is shaken, the refuse remains in it; so, the filth of a man in his talk.”
Sir 27:5 “The furnace tests the potter’s dishes, and the test of a man is in his reasoning.”
Sir 27:6 “Its fruit shows how a tree has been cultivated; so does the expression of the thought of a man’s mind.”
Sir 27:7 “Do not praise a man before you hear him reason, for that is the way men are tested.”
Sir 27:8 “If you pursue what is right, you will overtake it, and put it on like a splendid robe.”
Sir 27:9 “Birds roost with their own kind, and truth comes back to those who practice it.”
Sir 27:10 “The lion lies in wait for his prey, and so does sin for those who work iniquity.”
Sir 27:11 “The discourse of a godly man is always wise, but the foolish man changes like the moon.”
Sir 27:12 “Among unintelligent people watch your opportunity to leave, but among thoughtful people stay on.”
Sir 27:13 “The discourse of fools is offensive, and their laughter is wanton sinfulness.”
Sir 27:14 “A profane man’s talk makes your hair stand on end, and their quarreling makes you stop your ears.”
Sir 27:15 “When arrogant men quarrel, there is bloodshed, and their abuse of one another is dreadful to hear.”
Sir 27:16 “The man who tells secrets destroys confidence, and will not find a friend to his mind.”
Sir 27:17 “If you love your friend, keep faith with him, but if you tell his secrets, do not pursue him.”
Sir 27:18 “For as a man destroys his enemies, so have you lost the love of your neighbor.”
Sir 27:19 “And as you let a bird out of your hand, you have let your neighbor go, and you will not catch him again.”
Sir 27:20 “Do not go after him, for he is far away, and has made his escape like a gazelle from a trap.”
Sir 27:21 “For you can bind up a wound, and be reconciled after abuse, but for the man who tells secrets there is no hope.
Sir 27:22 “A man who winks his eye plots mischief, and no one can keep it from him.”
Sir 27:23 “Face to face with you he speaks sweetly, and will show respect for what you say; But afterward he will twist his lips, and make a stumbling block of your words.”
Sir 27:24 “I have hated many things, but found nothing like him, and the Lord hates him too.”
Sir 27:25 “The man who throws a stone into the air is throwing it on his own head, and a deceitful stroke shall make wounds.”
Sir 27:26 “The man who digs a hole will fall into it, and the man who sets a trap will be caught in it.”
Sir 27:27 “If a man does wicked things, they will fall on him, and he will not know where they come from.”
Sir 27:28 “Mockery and abuse are from the proud and arrogant men, but vengeance lies in wait for them like a lion.”
Sir 27:29 “Those who enjoy the downfall of the godly will be caught in a trap, and pain will consume them before they die.”
Sir 27:30 “Wrath and anger are also detestable, and the sinful man clings to them.”

Chapter 28

Sir 28:1 “The man who takes vengeance will have vengeance taken on him by the Lord, and he will keep close watch of his sins.”
Sir 28:2 “Forgive your neighbor his wrongdoing; then your sins will be forgiven when you pray.”
Sir 28:3 “Shall one man bear hatred against another, and yet ask healing from the Lord?”
Sir 28:4 “Does he have no mercy on a man like himself, and yet pray for his own sins?”
Sir 28:5 “If he, though he is flesh and blood, nourishes hatred, who will atone for his sins?”
Sir 28:6 “Remember your end and give up your enmity; think of death and destruction, and stand by the commandments.”
Sir 28:7 “Remember the commandments, and do not be angry with your neighbor; Think of the covenant of the Most High, and overlook men’s ignorance.”
Sir 28:8 “Keep from quarreling, and you will reduce your sins, for a furious man kindles quarrels.”
Sir 28:9 “A sinful man creates dissension among friends, and arouses enmity among those who are at peace.”
Sir 28:10 “The more fuel, the more the fire will burn, and the more obstinate the quarrel, the more it will burn. The stronger a man is, the greater is his anger, and the richer he is, the haughtier will his wrath be.”
Sir 28:11 “A hurried dispute kindles a fire, and a hasty quarrel means bloodshed.”
Sir 28:12 “If you blow on a spark, it will blaze, and if you spit on it, it will be put out; and both of these come out of your mouth.”
Sir 28:13 “Curse the whisperer and the deceitful man; for he has destroyed many who were at peace.”
Sir 28:14 “A backbiting tongue has stirred many up, and driven them from nation to nation; it has torn down strongly fortified cities, and overthrown the houses of the great.”
Sir 28:15 “A backbiting tongue has driven out noble women, and robbed them of the fruit of their labors.”
Sir 28:16 “The man who listens to it will find no rest, and will not live in peace.”
Sir 28:17 “The blow of a whip leaves a bruise, but the blow of a tongue breaks the bones.”
Sir 28:18 “Many have fallen by the edge of the sword, but not so many as have fallen by the tongue.”
Sir 28:19 “Happy is the man who is protected from it, who does not feel its anger (venom), who does not bear its yoke, and is not bound with its chains.”
Sir 28:20 “For its yoke is an iron yoke, and its chains are brazen chains;”
Sir 28:21 “Its death is a cruel death, and Hades is better than it.”
Sir 28:22 “It will not control godly men, and they will not be burned in its fire.”
Sir 28:23 “Those who forsake the Lord will fall into it, and it will burn at them and not be put out; it will be sent upon them like a lion, and ravage them like a leopard.”
Sir 28:24 “Look that you hedge your property in with thorns, and shut up your silver and gold,”
Sir 28:25 “Make balances and scales to weigh your words, and make a barred door for your mouth.”
Sir 28:26 “Take heed not to make a slip with it, or you will fall before someone lying in wait for you.”

Chapter 29

Sir 29:1 “The man who shows mercy will lend to his neighbor, and the man who takes him by the hand keeps the commandments.”
Sir 29:2 “Lend to your neighbor when he is in need, and pay your neighbor back again in due season.”
Sir 29:3 “Keep your word and keep faith with him, and you will always find the thing that is necessary for you.”
Sir 29:4 “Many consider a loan as a windfall, and bring trouble on those who help them.”
Sir 29:5 “A man will kiss another man’s hands until he gets it; and speak humbly about his neighbor’s money; but when payment is due, he extends the time, and answers indifferently, and finds fault about the time of payment.”
Sir 29:6 “If he prevails, he will hardly get half of it, and he will consider that a windfall. If he does not, the other has defrauded him of his money, and needlessly made him his enemy; He will pay him with curses and abuse, and repay him with insults instead of honor.”
Sir 29:7 “Many refuse to lend, not from their wickedness, but they are afraid of being needlessly defrauded.”
Sir 29:8 “But be patient with a poor man, and delay not to show him mercy.”
Sir 29:9 “For the commandment’s sake help the needy man, and, in view of his need, do not send him away unsatisfied.”
Sir 29:10 “Lose your money for the sake of a brother or a friend, and do not let it rust to ruin under a stone.”
Sir 29:11 “Lay up your treasure according to the commandments of the Most High, and it will be more profitable to you than gold.”
Sir 29:12 “Store up alms in your storerooms, and it will deliver you from all harm.”
Sir 29:13 “Better than a mighty shield and a ponderous spear, it will fight for you against your enemy.”
Sir 29:14 “A good man will go surety for his neighbor, but the man who has lost his sense of shame will abandon him.”
Sir 29:15 “Do not forget the favor your surety has done you, for he has put himself in your place, and given his life for you.”
Sir 29:16 “A sinner will disregard the service done him by his surety,”
Sir 29:17 “And an ungrateful man will forsake the man who saved him.”
Sir 29:18 “Suretyship has ruined many prosperous men, and shaken them like an ocean wave. It has driven influential men out of their houses, and made them wander among foreign nations.”
Sir 29:19 “A wicked man transgressing the commandments of the Lord shall fall into suretyship, and the man who pursues other men’s business for gain falls into lawsuits.”
Sir 29:20 “Help your neighbor to the best of your ability, but take heed that you do not fall.”
Sir 29:21 “The basis of life is water and bread and clothing, and a house to cover one’s nakedness.”
Sir 29:22 “The life of a poor man under a shelter of logs is better than splendid fare in someone else’s house.”
Sir 29:23 “Be contented with much or little, and you will not hear the reproach of being a stranger.”
Sir 29:24 “It is a miserable life to go from house to house; and where you are a stranger, you cannot open your mouth.”
Sir 29:25 “If you entertain others and give them drink, you will have no thanks, and besides that you will have bitter things to hear:”
Sir 29:26 ““Come in, stranger, set the table, and if you have anything with you, let me have it to eat.”
Sir 29:27 “Get out, stranger, here is somebody more important; My brother has come to be my guest, I need my house.”
Sir 29:28 “These things are trying to a man of understanding, the reproach of a household and the abuse of a creditor.”

Chapter 30

Sir 30:1 “The man who loves his son causes him often to feel the rod, so that he may be glad at the end.”
Sir 30:2 “The man who disciplines his son will profit by him, and boast of him among his acquaintances;”
Sir 30:3 “The man who teaches his son will make his enemy jealous, and exult over him before his friends.”
Sir 30:4 “When his father dies, it is as though he were not dead, for he leaves behind him one like himself.”
Sir 30:5 “In his lifetime he sees him and rejoices, and in death he does not grieve.”
Sir 30:6 “He has left one to avenge him upon his enemies, and to repay the kindness of his friends.”
Sir 30:7 “The man who spoils his son will have to bind up his wounds, and his heart will tremble at every cry.”
Sir 30:8 “An unbroken horse turns out stubborn, and a son left to himself grows up headstrong.”
Sir 30:9 “If you pamper your child, he will make you afraid; play with him, and he will grieve you;”
Sir 30:10 “Do not laugh with him, so that you may not have to mourn with him, and gnash your teeth over him at last.”
Sir 30:11 “Do not allow him liberty in his youth, and wink not at his follies.”
Sir 30:12 “Bow down his neck while he is a child, so that he will not become stubborn and disobey you.”
Sir 30:13 “Discipline your son and take pains with him, so that he will not distress you with his bad behavior.”
Sir 30:14 “A poor man who is well and has a strong constitution is better off than a rich man who is afflicted in body.”
Sir 30:15 “Health and a good constitution are better than any amount of gold, and a strong body than untold riches.”
Sir 30:16 “There is no greater wealth than health of body, and there is no greater happiness than gladness of heart.”
Sir 30:17 “Death is better than a wretched life, and eternal rest than continual sickness.”
Sir 30:18 “Good things spread out before a mouth that is closed are like piles of food laid on a grave.”
Sir 30:19 “What good is an offering of fruit to an idol? It can neither eat nor smell; that is the way with a man who is afflicted by the Lord:”
Sir 30:20 “He sees things with his eyes and groans like a eunuch embracing a girl and sighs!”
Sir 30:21 “Do not give yourself up to sorrow, and do not afflict yourself in your own counsel.”
Sir 30:22 “Gladness of heart is a man’s life, and exultant joy prolongs his days.”
Sir 30:23 “Be kind to yourself and comfort your heart, and put sorrow far from you; For sorrow has destroyed many, and there is no profit in it.”
Sir 30:24 “Envy and anger shorten a man’s days, and worry brings on old age before its time.”
Sir 30:25 “A heart that is cheerful and good will pay attention to the food he eats.”

Chapter 31

Sir 31:1 “Anxiety about wealth makes a man waste away; and his worry about it drives away his sleep.”
Sir 31:2 “Wakefulness and worry banish drowsiness as a serious illness dispels sleep.”
Sir 31:3 “A rich man toils to amass money, and when he stops to rest, he enjoys luxury;”
Sir 31:4 “A poor man toils for the want of a livelihood, and if he stops to rest, he finds himself still in want.”
Sir 31:5 “The man who loves gold cannot be called upright, and the man who pursues profits will be led astray by them.”
Sir 31:6 “Many have been brought to their downfall because of gold and have been brought face to face with ruin.”
Sir 31:7 “It is a stumbling block to those who are possessed by it, and every foolish man is taken captive by it.”
Sir 31:8 “Happy is the rich man who is found blameless, and does not go after gold;”
Sir 31:9 “Who is he? – that we may congratulate him, for he has worked wonders among his people.”
Sir 31:10 “Who has been tested by it and found perfect? He has a right to boast. Who has been able to transgress and has not transgressed, and to do wrong and has not done it?”
Sir 31:11 “His prosperity will be lasting, and the congregation will declare his alms.”
Sir 31:12 “Do you sit at a great table? Do not gulp at it, and do not say, “How much there is on it!”
Sir 31:13 “Remember that an envious eye is wrong. What has been created that is more wicked than the eye? That is why it sheds tears on every occasion.”
Sir 31:14 “Do not reach out your hand wherever it looks, and do not crowd your neighbor in the dish;”
Sir 31:15 “Judge of your neighbor by yourself, and be thoughtful in everything.”
Sir 31:16 “Eat, as it becomes a man, what is served to you, do not devour your food, or you will be detested.”
Sir 31:17 “Be the first to leave off for good manners’ sake, and do not be greedy, or you will give offense.”
Sir 31:18 “Even though you are seated in a large company, do not be the first to help yourself.”
Sir 31:19 “How adequate a little is for a well-bred man! He does not have to gasp upon his bed!”
Sir 31:20 “Healthy sleep results from moderation in eating; One gets up in the morning, in good spirits. The distress of sleeplessness and indigestion and colic attend the greedy man.”
Sir 31:21 “If you are compelled to eat, get up in the middle of the meal and stop eating.”
Sir 31:22 “Listen to me, my child, and do not disregard me, and in the end you will find my words true: Be industrious in all your work, and no disease will overtake you.”
Sir 31:23 “The man who is generous with his bread men’s lips will bless, and their testimony to his goodness can be relied on.”
Sir 31:24 “The town will grumble at the man who is grudging with his bread, and their testimony to his niggardliness is correct.”
Sir 31:25 “Do not play the man about wine, for wine has been the ruin of many.”
Sir 31:26 “The furnace proves the steel’s temper by dipping it; So wine tests hearts when proud men quarrel.”
Sir 31:27 “Wine is like life to men, if you drink it in moderation; What life has a man who is without wine? For it was created to give gladness to men.”
Sir 31:28 “An exhilaration to the heart and gladness to the soul is wine, drunk in the proper season and in sufficient quantity;”
Sir 31:29 “Bitterness to the soul is much drinking of wine amidst irritation and conflict.”
Sir 31:30 “Drunkenness increases the anger of a foolish man to his injury, reducing his strength and causing wounds.”
Sir 31:31 “Do not rebuke your neighbor at a banquet, and do not despise him in his mirth. Do not say a reproachful word to him, and do not press him with urging [to drink].”

Chapter 32

Sir 32:1 “If you be made the master of a feast, do not lift yourself up; but be among them as one of the rest, take diligent care for them, and then take your seat;”
Sir 32:2 “When you have performed your duties, take your place, so that you may rejoice on their account, and be crowned for your well ordering of the feast.”
Sir 32:3 “Speak, elder, for that is your part, with sound understanding, and do not interfere with the music.”
Sir 32:4 “When there is to be entertainment, do not talk volubly, and do not philosophize when it is inopportune.”
Sir 32:5 “A carbuncle signet in a gold setting is a musical concert at a banquet.”
Sir 32:6 “An emerald signet richly set in gold is the melody of music with the taste of wine.”
Sir 32:7 “Speak, young man, if you are obliged to, and only if you are asked repeatedly.”
Sir 32:8 “Speak concisely; say much in few words; Be as a man who knows more than he says.”
Sir 32:9 “When among great men do not act like an equal; and when another man is speaking, do not talk much.”
Sir 32:10 “The lightning hastens before the thunder, and approval opens the way for a modest man.”
Sir 32:11 “Leave in good season and do not bring up the rear; Hurry home and do not linger.”
Sir 32:12 “Amuse yourself there, and do what you please, but do not sin through proud speech.”
Sir 32:13 “For all these things bless your Maker, who makes you drink his blessings till you are satisfied.”
Sir 32:14 “The man who fears the Lord will accept his discipline, and those who rise early to seek him will gain his approval.”
Sir 32:15 “The man who pursues the Law will get his fill of it, but the hypocrite will be tripped up by it.”
Sir 32:16 “Those who fear the Lord will discern his judgment, and will kindle upright acts like the light.”
Sir 32:17 “A sinful man will not be reproved, but will find a legal decision to his liking.
Sir 32:18 “A man of counsel will be considerate; but a strange or proud man will not cower with fear, even when of himself he has done without counsel;”
Sir 32:19 “Do nothing without consideration; and when you do a thing, do not change your mind.”
Sir 32:20 “Do not walk in a path full of obstacles, and do not stumble over stony ground.”
Sir 32:21 “Do not trust an untried way,”
Sir 32:22 “And guard against your own children.”
Sir 32:23 “In every act have faith in yourself, for that is the keeping of the commandments.”
Sir 32:24 “The man who has faith in the Law heeds the commandments, and the man who trusts in the Lord will not fail.”

Chapter 33

Sir 33:1 “No evil will befall the man who fears the Lord, but in trial he will deliver him again and again.”
Sir 33:2 “A wise man will not hate the Law, but the man who is hypocritical about it is like a ship in a storm.”
Sir 33:3 “A man of understanding will trust in the Law, and the Law is faithful to him, as an oracle.”
Sir 33:4 “Prepare what you have to say, and then you will be listened to: Knit your instruction together and give your answer.”
Sir 33:5 “The heart of a fool is a wagon wheel; and his thought is like a turning axle.”
Sir 33:6 “A stallion is like a mocking friend; he neighs under everyone who mounts him.”
Sir 33:7 “Why is one day better than another, when the light of every day in the year is from the sun?”
Sir 33:8 “By the Lord’s knowledge they have been separated, and he has made the various seasons and festivals.”
Sir 33:9 “Some of them he has exalted and made sacred, and some he has made ordinary days.”
Sir 33:10 “All men are from the ground, lo and Adam was created out of earth.”
Sir 33:11 “In the wealth of his knowledge the Lord has distinguished them, and made their ways different.”
Sir 33:12 “Some of them he has blessed and exalted, and some he has made holy and brought near himself. Some of them he has cursed and humbled, and thrown down from their position.”
Sir 33:13 “Like clay in the hand of the potter – for all his ways are guided by his good pleasure – So men are in the hand of their Creator, to be fashioned as he decides.”
Sir 33:14 “As good is the opposite of evil, and life the opposite of death, So the sinner is the opposite of the godly man.”
Sir 33:15 “So look upon all the works of the Most High, in pairs, one the opposite of the other.”
Sir 33:16 “I was the last to wake up, like one who gleans after the grape-gatherers; by the blessing of the Lord I profited, and like a grape-gatherer I filled my winepress.”
Sir 33:17 “Observe that I have not labored for myself only, But for all who seek instruction.”
Sir 33:18 “Hear me, you leaders of the people, and you rulers of the assembly, listen to me.”
Sir 33:19 “To a son or a wife, to a brother or a friend, do not give power over yourself as long as you live, and do not give your money to someone else, so that you may not change your mind and have to ask for it.”
Sir 33:20 “As long as you live and have breath in your body, do not sell yourself to anybody.”
Sir 33:21 “For it is better that your children should ask from you, than that you should look to the clean hands of your sons.”
Sir 33:22 “In all that you do retain control, so that you will not put any stain upon your reputation.”
Sir 33:23 “When the days of your life reach their end, at the time of your death distribute your property.”
Sir 33:24 “Fodder and a stick and loads for an ass, bread and discipline and work for a servant.”
Sir 33:25 “Put your slave to work, and you will have rest; leave his hands idle, and he will seek his liberty.
Sir 33:26 “The yoke and the strap will bend his neck, and racks and tortures are for a servant who is a wrong-doer.”
Sir 33:27 “Put him to work, so that he will not be idle, for idleness teaches much evil.”
Sir 33:28 “Set him such work as is suited to him, and if he does not obey, load him with fetters.”
Sir 33:29 “But do not be overbearing to anybody, and do not do anything without consideration.”
Sir 33:30 “If you have a servant, regard him as yourself, Because you have bought him with blood.”
Sir 33:31 “If you have a servant, treat him like a brother, For you need him as you do your own life. If you ill-treat him, and he leaves and runs away, where will you look for him?”

Chapter 34

Sir 34:1 “Vain and delusive are the hopes of a man of no understanding, and dreams give wings to fools!”
Sir 34:2 “Like a man who catches at a shadow, and chases the wind, is the man who is absorbed in dreams.”
Sir 34:3 “A vision of dreams is this against that, the likeness of one face before another.”
Sir 34:4 “From an unclean thing what can be clean? And from something false what can be true?”
Sir 34:5 “Divinations and omens and dreams are folly, And fancies of the mind like those of a woman in travail.”
Sir 34:6 “Unless they are sent from the Most High as a warning, do not pay any attention to them,”
Sir 34:7 “For dreams have deceived many, and setting their hopes on them has led to their downfall.”
Sir 34:8 “The Law must be observed without any such falsehoods, and wisdom finds perfection in truthful lips.”
Sir 34:9 “A well-taught man knows a great deal, and a man of experience will discourse with understanding.”
Sir 34:10 “The man who has not been tested knows little, lo but the man who has wandered far gains great ingenuity.”
Sir 34:11 “I have seen much in my travels, and I understand more than I can describe;”
Sir 34:12 “I have often been in danger of death, but I have been saved by these qualities.”
Sir 34:13 “The spirit of those who fear the Lord will live, for their hope is in him who can save them.”
Sir 34:14 “The man who fears the Lord will have no dread, and will not be afraid, for he is his hope.”
Sir 34:15 “Happy is the soul of the man who fears the Lord! Whom does he regard? And who is his support?”
Sir 34:16 “The eyes of the Lord rest on those who love him, a mighty shield, a strong support, a shelter from the hot wind and the noonday heat, a guard against stumbling and a defense against falling.”
Sir 34:17 “He lifts up the soul and gives light to the eyes, and bestows healing, life, and blessing.”
Sir 34:18 “If a man offers a sacrifice that was wrongfully obtained, it is blemished, and the gifts of sinful men are not acceptable.”
Sir 34:19 “The Most High is not pleased with the offerings of ungodly men, and a man cannot atone for his sins with a great number of sacrifices.”
Sir 34:20 “The man who offers a sacrifice from the property of the poor does as one who kills a son before his father’s eyes.”
Sir 34:21 “Scanty fare is the living of the poor; the man who deprives them of it is a murderous man.”
Sir 34:22 “The man who takes away his neighbor’s living murders him, and the man who deprives a hired man of his wages is guilty of bloodshed.”
Sir 34:23 “One man builds and another tears down; What do they gain but toil?”
Sir 34:24 “One man prays and another curses; which one’s voice will the Lord listen to?”
Sir 34:25 “If a man washes himself after touching a corpse and then touches it again, what good has his bath done him?”
Sir 34:26 “That is the way with a man who fasts for his sins, and goes and does the same things over. Who will listen to his prayer? And what has he gained by humiliating himself?”

Chapter 35

Sir 35:1 “The man who keeps the Law will make many offerings; He who gives heed to the commandments will offer a thanksgiving sacrifice,
Sir 35:2 “The man who returns a kindness will offer a meal offering, and the man who gives alms will offer the sacrifice of praise.”
Sir 35:3 “Avoiding wickedness wins the Lord’s approval, and avoiding wrongdoing is atonement.”
Sir 35:4 “Do not appear before the Lord empty.”
Sir 35:5 “For all these things must be done because they are commanded.”
Sir 35:6 “The offering of an upright man enriches the altar, and the sweet savor reaches the Most High.”
Sir 35:7 “The sacrifice of an upright man is acceptable, and the memory of it will not be forgotten.”
Sir 35:8 “Glorify the Lord with a generous eye, and do not diminish the first fruits of your hands.”
Sir 35:9 “In all your giving show a joyful face, and dedicate your tithes with gladness.”
Sir 35:10 “Give to the Most High as he has given to you, with a generous eye, and as your hand has found.”
Sir 35:11 “For the Lord is one who repays, and he will repay you seven times over.”
Sir 35:12 “Do not try to bribe him, for he will not accept it, and do not rely on an ill-gotten sacrifice; For the Lord is a judge, and there is no partiality with him.”
Sir 35:13 “He will show no partiality against the poor, but he will listen to the prayer of the oppressed.”
Sir 35:14 “He will not disregard the supplication of the orphan, or the widow, if she pours out her story.”
Sir 35:15 “Do not the widow’s tears run down her cheeks, while she utters her complaint against the man who has caused them to fall?”
Sir 35:16 “The man who serves God with good will is welcomed, and his prayer reaches to the clouds.”
Sir 35:17 “The prayer of the humble pierces the clouds, and until it reaches God, he will not be comforted. He will not leave off until the Most High considers him, and does justice to the upright, and passes judgment.”
Sir 35:18 “And the Lord will not delay, or be slow about them, until he crushes the loins of the unmerciful, and takes vengeance on the heathen; Until he destroys the multitude of the insolent, and breaks the scepters of the unrighteous;”
Sir 35:19 “Until he repays a man for his doings, and repays men’s deeds according to their thoughts; Until he judges the case of his people, and makes them glad with his mercy.”
Sir 35:20 “Mercy is as beautiful in a time of trouble as rain clouds in a time of drought.”

Chapter 36

Sir 36:1 “Have mercy upon us, Lord God of all, and look upon us,”
Sir 36:2 “And cast fear of you upon all the heathen.”
Sir 36:3 “Raise your hand against strange peoples, and let them see your might.”
Sir 36:4 “As you have been sanctified before them, in us, may you be magnified before us, in them;”
Sir 36:5 “And let them know, as we have known, that there is no god, Lord, but you.”
Sir 36:6 “Show signs again, and show other wonders, Make your hand and your right arm glorious.”
Sir 36:7 “Arouse your anger and pour out your wrath, destroy the adversary and wipe out the enemy.”
Sir 36:8 “Hasten the time and remember your oath (covenant); And let them relate your mighty acts.”
Sir 36:9 “Let him that would save himself be consumed in furious fire, and let those who oppress your people meet destruction.”
Sir 36:10 “Crush the heads of the enemy’s rulers, who say, “There is no one but ourselves!”
Sir 36:11 “Gather all the tribes of Jacob, and give them their inheritance, as it was of old.”
Sir 36:12 “Have mercy, Lord, on the people that has borne your name, and on Israel, whom you have named your firstborn.”
Sir 36:13 “Have pity on the city of your sanctuary, Jerusalem, the place where you rest.”
Sir 36:14 “Fill Zion with the celebration of your goodness, and your people with your glory.”
Sir 36:15 “Bear witness to those whom you created in the beginning, and fulfil the prophecies made in your name.”
Sir 36:16 “Give those who wait for you their reward, and let men trust in your prophets.”
Sir 36:17 “Hear, Lord, the prayer of your servants, according to Aaron’s blessing on your people, that all the people on the earth may know that you are the Lord, the eternal God.”
Sir 36:18 “The stomach will eat any food, yet one food is better than another.
Sir 36:19 “As the mouth tastes the meat of game, an intelligent mind detects false words.”
Sir 36:20 “A perverse mind causes pain, but an experienced man will pay him back.”
Sir 36:21 “A woman can receive any man, yet one girl surpasses another.”
Sir 36:22 “A woman’s beauty gladdens one’s countenance, and exceeds every desire man has.”
Sir 36:23 “If mercy, meekness, and comfort are on her lips, her husband is not like the sons of men.”
Sir 36:24 “The man who gets a wife enters upon a possession, a helper like himself, and a pillar of support.”
Sir 36:25 “Where there is no hedge (wall), a piece of property will be plundered, and where there is no wife, a man will wander about and groan.”
Sir 36:26 “For who will trust an active robber who bounds from one city to another? So who will trust a man who has no nest, and spends the night wherever evening overtakes him?”

Chapter 37

Sir 37:1 “Every friend will say, “I am your friend”; but sometimes a friend is a friend only in name.”
Sir 37:2 “Is it not a sorrow like that of death itself when a companion and friend turns into an enemy?”
Sir 37:3 “O wicked thought! Why were you shaped to cover the earth with deceit?”
Sir 37:4 “There are companions who rejoice in their friends’ happiness, but when trouble comes, are against them.”
Sir 37:5 “There are companions who labor with a friend for their stomach’s sake, who will take up the shield in the face of war.”
Sir 37:6 “Do not forget your friend in your heart, and do not be unmindful of him in your wealth.”
Sir 37:7 “Every adviser praises good counsel, but some give advice in their own interests.”
Sir 37:8 “Be on your guard against advisers and first find out what is for their advantage – For they will take thought for themselves Or they will cast the lot against you,”
Sir 37:9 “And say to you, “Your way is good,” and will stand over against you to see what will happen to you.”
Sir 37:10 “Do not consult with the man who looks suspiciously at you, and conceal your purpose from those who are jealous of you;”
Sir 37:11 “Neither consult with a woman about her rival, nor with a coward about a war; nor with a merchant about business, nor with a buyer about selling; With an envious man about gratitude, nor with a merciless man about kindness; With an idler about any piece of work, nor with a man hired by the year about finishing his work; With a lazy servant about a large undertaking; Do not look to these for any advice.”
Sir 37:12 “But stay all the time with a godly man, who you know keeps the commandments; Whose heart (mind) is at one with your heart (mind), and who will sorrow with you if you fail.”
Sir 37:13 “And hold fast the counsel of your own mind, for you have nothing more to be depended on than it.”
Sir 37:14 “For a man’s soul is sometimes wont to bring him news better than seven watchmen sitting high on a watchtower.”
Sir 37:15 “And, above all this, entreat the Most High to direct your way in truth.”
Sir 37:16 “Every undertaking begins with reason, and consideration precedes every work.”
Sir 37:17 “The countenance is a sign of changing of the mind.”
Sir 37:18 “If we trace the changes of the mind, four parts appear, good and evil, life and death; but it is the tongue that continually rules them.”
Sir 37:19 “A man may be shrewd and the instructor of many, and yet be unprofitable to himself.”
Sir 37:20 “There is one that shows wisdom in words, and is hated; he shall be destitute of all food.”
Sir 37:21 “For grace has not been given him by the Lord, because he has been deprived of all wisdom.”
Sir 37:22 “A man may be wise to himself, and the products of his understanding may be trustworthy on his lips;”
Sir 37:23 “A wise man will instruct his own people, and the products of his understanding will be trustworthy;”
Sir 37:24 “A wise man will be satisfied with blessing, and all who see him will call him happy.”
Sir 37:25 “The days of the life of man may be numbered, but the days of Israel are innumerable.”
Sir 37:26 “The wise man will obtain the trust of his people, and his name will live forever.”
Sir 37:27 “My child, test your soul while you live, and see what is evil for it, and do not give it that.”
Sir 37:28 “For not everything is good for everyone, and not everybody enjoys everything.”
Sir 37:29 “Do not be insatiable about any luxury, and do not be carried away with food,”
Sir 37:30 “For sickness comes with excessive eating, and greediness leads to severe illness.”
Sir 37:31 “Many have died of greediness, but the man who guards against it prolongs his life.”

Chapter 38

Sir 38:1 “Show the physician due honor in view of your need of him, for the Lord has created him;”
Sir 38:2 “Healing comes from the Most High, and he will receive presents from the king.”
Sir 38:3 “The skill of the physician exalts him, and he is admired among the great.”
Sir 38:4 “The Lord has created medicines out of the earth, and a sensible man will not refuse them.”
Sir 38:5 “Was not water made sweet by wood, so that its strength might be shown?”
Sir 38:6 “And he has given men knowledge so that he might be glorified for his wonderful works.”
Sir 38:7 “With them he heals [men] and takes away their pain,”
Sir 38:8 “The druggist makes a mixture of them. His works will never end, and from him peace spreads over the face of the earth.”
Sir 38:9 “My child, do not be negligent when you are sick, but pray to the Lord, and he will make you whole.”
Sir 38:10 “Renounce wrongdoing and make your hands do right, and cleanse your heart from every sin,”
Sir 38:11 “Offer a fragrant offering and a memorial sacrifice of fine flour, and make your offering rich, as though you were no longer to live,”
Sir 38:12 “And leave room for the physician, for the Lord has created him, and he must not desert you, for you need him.”
Sir 38:13 “There is a time when your welfare depends upon them,”
Sir 38:14 “For they too will pray the Lord to guide them to bringing relief and effecting a cure and restoration to health.”
Sir 38:15 “As for the man who sins in the sight of his Maker, may he fall into the hands of the physician!”
Sir 38:16 “My child, for the dead let your tears fall, and like one who is suffering terribly begin your lament. Wrap his body up fittingly, and do not neglect his burial.”
Sir 38:17 “Weep bitterly and wail passionately and show your grief as he may deserve, for one day or perhaps two, to avert criticism; Then be comforted for your sorrow.”
Sir 38:18 “For death comes of sorrow, and sorrow of heart prostrates one’s strength.”
Sir 38:19 “In misfortune grief will continue, and the life of the poor saddens the heart.”
Sir 38:20 “But do not resign your heart to grief; Dismiss it, but remember your end,”
Sir 38:21 “Do not forget it, for he will not come back; you cannot help him, and you will harm yourself;”
Sir 38:22 “Remember my judgment, for yours will be like it; mine today, and yours tomorrow!”
Sir 38:23 “When the dead is at rest, let his memory rest, and be comforted for him when his spirit departs.”
Sir 38:24 “A learned man attains wisdom through the opportunities of leisure, and the man who has little business to do shall become wise.”
Sir 38:25 “How can the man who holds the plow become wise, who glories in handling the ox-goad? Who drives oxen, and guides them at their work, and whose discourse is of bulls?”
Sir 38:26 “He sets his mind on turning his furrows, and his anxiety is about fodder for heifers.”
Sir 38:27 “It is so with every craftsman and builder, who keeps at work at night as well as by day. Some cut carved seals, and elaborate variety of design; Another puts his mind on painting a likeness (counterfeit imagery), and is anxious to complete his work.”
Sir 38:28 “It is so with the smith sitting by his anvil, and expert in working in iron; The smoke of the fire reduces his flesh, and he exerts himself in the heat of the furnace. He bends his ear to the sound of the hammer, and his eyes are on the pattern of the implement. He puts his mind on completing his work, and he is anxious to finish preparing it, and watches to polish it perfectly.”.
Sir 38:29 “It is so with the potter, as he sits at his work, and turns the wheel with his foot; He is constantly careful about his work, and all his manufacture is by measure;”
Sir 38:30 “He will shape the clay with his arm, and bend its strength with his feet; He puts his mind on finishing the glazing, and he is anxious to make his furnace clean.”
Sir 38:31 “All these rely on their hands; and each one is skilful in his own work;”
Sir 38:32 “Without them, no city can be inhabited, and men will not live in one or go about in it.”
Sir 38:33 “But they are not sought for to advise the people, and in the public assembly they do not excel. They do not sit on the judge’s seat, and they do not think about the decision of lawsuits; They do not utter instruction or judgment, and they are not found using proverbs.”
Sir 38:34 “Yet they support the fabric of the world, and their prayer is in the practice of their trade.”

Chapter 39

Sir 39:1 “It is not so with the man who applies himself, and studies the Law of the Most High. He searches out the wisdom of all the ancients, and busies himself with prophecies;”
Sir 39:2 “He observes the discourse of famous men, and where subtle parables are, he will be there also.”
Sir 39:3 “He searches out the hidden meaning of proverbs, And acquaints himself with the obscurities of figures (dark parables).”
Sir 39:4 “He will serve among great men, and appear before rulers. He will travel through the lands of strange peoples, and test what is good and what is evil among men.”
Sir 39:5 “He will devote himself to going early to the Lord his Maker, and will make his entreaty before the Most High. He will open his mouth in prayer, and make entreaty for his sins.”
Sir 39:6 “If the great Lord pleases, he will be filled with the spirit of understanding, he will pour out his wise sayings, and give thanks to the Lord in prayer;”
Sir 39:7 “He will direct his counsel and knowledge, and study his secrets.”
Sir 39:8 “He will reveal instruction in his teaching, and will glory in the Law of the covenant of the Lord.”
Sir 39:9 “Many will praise his understanding, and it will never be blotted out. His memory will not disappear, and his name will live for endless generations.”
Sir 39:10 “Nations will repeat his wisdom, and the congregation will utter his praise.”
Sir 39:11 “If he lives long, he will leave a greater name than a thousand, and if he goes to rest, his fame is enough for him.”
Sir 39:12 “I have reflected further, and I will utter it, and I am full as the full moon.”
Sir 39:13 “Listen to me, you holy sons, and bud like a rose that grows by a watercourse;”
Sir 39:14 “And give a sweet savor like a frankincense tree, and blossom like a lily. Give forth an odor and sing a song of praise, bless the Lord for all his works.”
Sir 39:15 “Magnify his name, and confess him with praise, with songs on your lips and with lyres, and this is what you are to say in your thanksgiving:”
Sir 39:16 “The works of the Lord are all extremely good, and every command of his will be obeyed in its proper season.”
Sir 39:17 “No one can say “What does this mean? Why is that?” for in his good time they will all be searched out, At his command the waters stood in a heap, and the reservoirs of water at the word he uttered.”
Sir 39:18 “At his order all that he pleases is done, and there is no one who can interfere with his saving power.”
Sir 39:19 “The doings of all mankind are before him, and it is not possible to be hidden from his eyes.”
Sir 39:20 “From everlasting to everlasting he beholds them, and nothing is marvelous to him.”
Sir 39:21 “No one can say, “What does this mean? Why is that?” For everything has been created for their use.”
Sir 39:22 “His blessing covers the land like a river, and saturates the dry land like a flood.”
Sir 39:23 “As he turns fresh water into salt water, so the heathen will experience his wrath.”
Sir 39:24 “To his people his ways are straight, just as they are stumbling blocks to the disobedient.”
Sir 39:25 “From the beginning good things have been created for the good, just as evils have been created for sinners.”
Sir 39:26 “The elements necessary for man’s life Are water and fire and iron and salt, And wheat flour and milk and honey, The blood of the grape, and olive oil and clothing.”
Sir 39:27 “All these things prove good to the godly, just as they turn into evils for the sinful.”
Sir 39:28 “There are winds which have been created for vengeance, and when he is angry, they make their scourges strong; When the consummation comes, they will pour out their strength, and calm the anger of their Creator.”
Sir 39:29 “Fire and hail and famine and death, these have all been created for vengeance.”
Sir 39:30 “The teeth of wild animals, and scorpions and vipers, and the sword that drives the ungodly to destruction.”
Sir 39:31 “They will rejoice when he commands, and be made ready on the earth for their functions. And they will not disobey his word, at their proper times.”
Sir 39:32 “Therefore from the beginning I have become assured, and have reached this conclusion and left it in writing:”
Sir 39:33 “The works of the Lord are all good, and will supply every need when it arises,”
Sir 39:34 “And no one can say, “This is worse than that,” for they will all prove good in their season.”
Sir 39:35 “So now sing praise with all your heart and voice, and bless the name of the Lord.”

Chapter 40

Sir 40:1 “Much travail is appointed for every man, and a heavy yoke rests on the sons of Adam, from the day they come out of their mother’s womb until the day when they return to the mother of us all.”
Sir 40:2 “Their perplexities and anxiety of mind, their apprehension, and the day of their end! trouble their thoughts and cause fear of heart.”
Sir 40:3 “From the man who sits on his splendid throne to the one who is abased in dust and ashes,”
Sir 40:4 “From the man who wears purple and a crown, to the one who is clad in coarse linen,”
Sir 40:5 “There is wrath and envy and trouble and perplexity And fear of death and anger and strife, and when a man rests upon his bed, his sleep at night confuses his knowledge.”
Sir 40:6 “He gets little or no rest, and afterward in his sleep, he is like a watchman on duty, bewildered by the vision of his mind like a man who has escaped from the front of battle.”
Sir 40:7 “In the moment of his extremity he wakes up, and wonders that his fear came to nothing.”
Sir 40:8 “It is so with all flesh, man and beast; and with sinners seven times more;”
Sir 40:9 “Death and bloodshed and strife and sword, misfortunes, famine and affliction, tribulation and plague;”
Sir 40:10 “All these were created for the wicked, and because of them the flood came.”
Sir 40:11 “All that comes from the earth returns to the earth, and what comes from the waters turns back to the sea.”
Sir 40:12 “All bribery and injustice will be blotted out, but good faith will stand forever.”
Sir 40:13 “The property of unrighteous men will dry up like a river, and explode like a clap of thunder in a rain.”
Sir 40:14 “As surely as an open-handed man is glad, transgressors will utterly fail.”
Sir 40:15 “The children of the ungodly will not put forth many branches; they are unclean roots on a precipitous rock.”
Sir 40:16 “Sedge by any water or riverbank will be plucked up before any grass.”
Sir 40:17 “Bountifulness is as a most fruitful garden, and mercifulness endures forever.”
Sir 40:18 “The life of a self-supporting man or of a workman is made sweet, but a man who finds a treasure is better off than both of them.
Sir 40:19 “Children or the building of a city perpetuate a man’s name, but an irreproachable wife is counted better than both of them.”
Sir 40:20 “Wine and music delight the heart, but the love of wisdom is better than both of them.”
Sir 40:21 “The flute and the lute make sweet melody, but a pleasant tongue is better than both of them.”
Sir 40:22 “The eye desires grace and beauty, but more than both of them the springing grain.”
Sir 40:23 “A friend and a comrade meet opportunely, but a wife with her husband is better than both of them.”
Sir 40:24 “Brothers and help are for a time of trouble, But alms is a better deliverer than both of them.”
Sir 40:25 “Gold and silver make a man stand firm, but good counsel is more approved than both of them.”
Sir 40:26 “Money and vigor elate the mind, but the fear of the Lord is better than both of them. Where is no flaw in the fear of the Lord, and with it there is no need to seek for help.”
Sir 40:27 “The fear of the Lord is like a fruitful garden, and covers a man better than any glory.”
Sir 40:28 “My child, do not lead a beggar’s life; it is better to die than to beg.”
Sir 40:29 “When a man looks to another man’s table, his existence cannot be considered life. He pollutes his soul with another man’s food, but a man who is intelligent and well-instructed will beware of it.”
Sir 40:30 “In a shameless man’s mouth begging is sweet, but it kindles a fire in his heart.”

Chapter 41

Sir 41:1 “O death, how bitter is the remembrance of you to a man at peace among his possessions, to a man who is free from distractions and prosperous in everything, and is still vigorous enough to enjoy his food!”
Sir 41:2 “O death, your sentence is good for a needy man of failing strength, in extreme old age, and distracted about everything; who is contrary, and has lost his patience.”
Sir 41:3 “Do not fear the sentence of death; remember those who went before you and those who come after. This is the sentence of the Lord upon all flesh and blood.
Sir 41:4 “And how can you refuse what is the will of the Most High? Whether you lived ten or a hundred or a thousand years, there is no inquisition in Hades.
Sir 41:5 “The children of sinners are detestable children, and live in the circles of the ungodly.”
Sir 41:6 “The possessions of the children of sinners will be lost, and perpetual reproach will follow their posterity.”
Sir 41:7 “His children will blame an ungodly father because they are reproached on his account.”
Sir 41:8 “Woe be to you, ungodly men, who have forsaken the law of the Most High God! for if you increase, it shall be to your destruction.”
Sir 41:9 “When you are born, you are born to a curse, and when you die, a curse will be your lot.”
Sir 41:10 “Everything that springs from the earth will go back to the earth; Just as surely the ungodly go from a curse to destruction.”
Sir 41:11 “Men grieve about their bodies, but the name of sinners is not good and will be blotted out.”
Sir 41:12 “Take heed about your name, for you retain it longer than a thousand great stores of gold.”
Sir 41:13 “The days of a good life are numbered, but a good name lasts forever.”
Sir 41:14 “Children, maintain instruction and be at peace; concealed wisdom and invisible treasure, what is the use of either?”
Sir 41:15 “A man who hides his folly is better than a man who hides his wisdom.”
Sir 41:16 “Therefore regard what I say; for not every kind of shame is it well to maintain, and not everything is approved in good faith by all.”
Sir 41:17 “Be ashamed of whoredom before father and mother, and of lie before a prince and a ruler,”
Sir 41:18 “Of a judge and a magistrate, for an offense, And of an assembly and the people, for iniquity, of the partner and a friend, for unjust dealing,”
Sir 41:19 “And of the place where you are living, for theft; Respect the truth of God and his covenant, Be ashamed to lean on your elbow at table; to be contemptuous about giving back what you have.”
Sir 41:20 “And to keep silent before those who greet you; to look at a woman who is a harlot,”
Sir 41:21 “And to turn your face away from a relative; to take someone’s portion or present, and to stare at a married woman;”
Sir 41:22 “To meddle with another man’s maid, (and do not stand over her bed); To utter words of abuse before friends (and after you make a gift do not add abuse);”
Sir 41:23 “To repeat what you have heard, and to tell things that are secret.”
Sir 41:24 “Then you will be really modest, and win the approval of everyone.”

Chapter 42

Sir 42:1 “Do not be ashamed of these things, and do not show partiality, so as to sin:”
Sir 42:2 “Of the Law of the Most High and his covenant, and of Judgment, to punish the ungodly;”
Sir 42:3 “Of having a reckoning with a partner and fellow travelers, and of a present from what is inherited by your companions;
Sir 42:4 “Of the accuracy of scales and weights, and of the acquisition of much or little;”
Sir 42:5 “Of profit from dealing with merchants, and of the careful training of children; and of staining the side of a bad servant with blood.”
Sir 42:6 “It is well to put a seal on a wicked wife, and where there are many hands, lock things up.”
Sir 42:7 “Whatever you hand over, let it be by number and weight; and in giving and receiving, let everything be in writing.”
Sir 42:8 “Do not be ashamed to instruct the senseless and foolish, or an aged man who is charged with immorality. Then you will be really instructed, and approved in the eyes of every man alive.”
Sir 42:9 “A daughter is a secret cause of sleeplessness to her father, and his concern for her robs him of his rest; In her youth, for fear she will pass her prime, And when she is married, for fear she will be hated;”
Sir 42:10 “When she is a girl, for fear she will be profaned, and be with child in her father’s house; When she has a husband, for fear she will transgress; And when she is married, for fear she will be childless.”
Sir 42:11 “Keep a close watch over a headstrong daughter, for fear she will fill your enemies with malignant joy, and make you the talk of the town and notorious among the people, and disgrace you before the multitude.”
Sir 42:12 “Do not look at anybody for her beauty, and do not sit among women,”
Sir 42:13 “For as a moth comes out of clothing, a woman’s wickedness comes from a woman.”
Sir 42:14 “A man’s wickedness is better than a beneficent woman, a woman that disgraces you shamefully.”
Sir 42:15 “I will call to mind the doings of the Lord, and recount the things that I have seen. By the commands of the Lord his works are done;”
Sir 42:16 “The light-giving sun looks down on everything, and his work is full of the glory of the Lord.”
Sir 42:17 “He has not permitted the saints of the Lord to recount all his wonders, which the Lord, the Almighty, has firmly established, so that the universe might stand fast through his glory.”
Sir 42:18 “He searches out the great deep and the human mind, and he understands their crafty designs; For the Most High possesses all knowledge, and looks upon the portent of eternity,”
Sir 42:19 “And declares the things that are past and the things that are to come, and uncovers the tracks of hidden things.”
Sir 42:20 “No thought escapes him, not one word is hidden from him.”
Sir 42:21 “He has ordained the majesty of his wisdom, for he is from everlasting to everlasting. It cannot be increased or diminished, and he has no need of any counselor.”
Sir 42:22 “How much to be desired are all his works, and how sparkling they are to see.”
Sir 42:23 “All these things live and last forever, with all their functions, and they are all obedient.”
Sir 42:24 “They are all in pairs, one facing another, not one of them is missing.”
Sir 42:25 “One confirms the good of the other, and who can have too much of beholding his glory?”

Chapter 43

Sir 43:1 “The glory of the height is the firmament in its purity, the sight of the heavens with the spectacle of their splendor.”
Sir 43:2 “The sun, when he appears, making proclamation as he goes forth, is a wonderful instrument, the work of the Most High;
Sir 43:3 “At noonday he dries up the country, and who can withstand his burning heat?”
Sir 43:4 “A man who blows a furnace works in the midst of heat, but the sun three times as much, burning up the mountains. He breathes out fiery vapors, and shoots forth his beams, blinding men’s eyes.”
Sir 43:5 “Great is the Lord who made him, at whose command he hurries on his course.”
Sir 43:6 “The moon, too, he places in its position at its season, to mark times and be an everlasting sign;”
Sir 43:7 “The moon gives the sign for the festival, a light that wanes after reaching the full.”
Sir 43:8 “The month is named after him; he increases marvelously as he changes, an instrument of the hosts on high, shining in the firmament of the heavens.”
Sir 43:9 “The beauty of heaven, the glory of the stars, a system giving light in the highest places of the Lord.”
Sir 43:10 “At the command of the Holy One they take their places as he decrees, and they will not fail in their watches.”
Sir 43:11 “See the rainbow, and bless him who made it surpassingly beautiful in its brightness.”
Sir 43:12 “It curves over the heaven in a glorious circle, the hands of the Most High have stretched it out,”
Sir 43:13 “By his command he brings the hurrying snow, and makes swift the lightnings of his judgment;”
Sir 43:14 “Because of it, the storehouses are opened, and the clouds fly out like birds.”
Sir 43:15 “In his majesty he makes the clouds thick, and the hailstones are broken in pieces.”
Sir 43:16 “When he appears, the mountains shake. At his wish the south wind blows.”
Sir 43:17 “His voice in the thunder rebukes the earth; so do the hurricane from the north and the whirlwind. He sprinkles the snow like birds fluttering down it comes down like locusts settling;”
Sir 43:18 “The eye is amazed at the beauty of its whiteness, and the mind is astonished at its raining.”
Sir 43:19 “He pours hoarfrost over the earth like salt, and, when it freezes, it becomes points of thorns.”
Sir 43:20 “The cold north wind blows and the ice freezes on the water; It lodges on every pool of water, and the water puts it on like a breastplate.”
Sir 43:21 “It consumes the mountains and burns up the wilderness, and shrivels the green herbage like fire,”
Sir 43:22 “A mist coming quickly heals everything; the dew falling refreshes things after the heat.”
Sir 43:23 “By his counsel he has stilled the deep, and planted islands in it.”
Sir 43:24 “Those who sail the sea tell of its danger, and we wonder at what we hear with our ears.”
Sir 43:25 “There are strange and wonderful works in it, a variety of kinds of beasts and whales created.”
Sir 43:26 “Because of him his messenger prospers on his way, and through his command all things consist.”
Sir 43:27 “We may say more, but we will not reach the end and the conclusion of what we have to say is: He is the whole.”
Sir 43:28 “Where can we find strength to glorify him? For he is greater than all his works.”
Sir 43:29 “The Lord is awesome and exceedingly great, and his power is wonderful.
Sir 43:30 “Glorify the Lord and exalt him as much as you can, for even then he will surpass it when you exalt him put forth all your strength; Do not grow weary, for you will not reach the end.”
Sir 43:31 “Who has ever seen him, so that he can describe him? And who can tell his greatness as it really is?”
Sir 43:32 “Many things greater than these still remain hidden, for we have seen but few of his works.”
Sir 43:33 “For the Lord has made all things, and he has given wisdom to the godly.”

Chapter 44

Sir 44:1 “Let us now praise distinguished men, our forefathers before us.”
Sir 44:2 “They are a great glory to the Lord who created them; they show his majesty from the beginning.”
Sir 44:3 “Men who exercised authority in their reigns, and were renowned for their might! They gave their counsel with understanding, and brought men tidings through their prophecy.”
Sir 44:4 “Leaders of the people in deliberation and understanding, men of learning for the people, wise in their words of instruction;”
Sir 44:5 “Composers of musical airs, authors of poems in writing;”
Sir 44:6 “Rich men, endowed with strength, who lived in peace upon their lands.”
Sir 44:7 “All these were honored in their generation, and were a glory in their day.”
Sir 44:8 “There are some of them who have left a name, so that men declare their praise;”
Sir 44:9 “And there are some who have no memorial, And have perished as though they had not lived, and have become as though they had not been, with their children after them.”
Sir 44:10 “Yet these were merciful men, and their uprightness has not been forgotten.”
Sir 44:11 “With their descendants it will remain, and their children are within the covenant.”
Sir 44:12 “Their descendants stand fast, and their children also for their sakes;”
Sir 44:13 “Their posterity will endure forever, and their glory will not be blotted out.”
Sir 44:14 “Their bodies are buried in peace, but their name lives to all generations.”
Sir 44:15 “Peoples will recite their wisdom, and the congregation declare their praise!”
Sir 44:16 “Enoch pleased the Lord and was taken up from the earth, an example of repentance for all generations.”
Sir 44:17 “Noah was found perfect and upright; In the time of God’s anger he was taken in exchange [for the world]. On his account a remnant was left to the earth (therefore he was left as a remnant unto the earth) when the flood occurred.”
Sir 44:18 “An everlasting covenant was made with him, that all life should never be blotted out by a flood.”
Sir 44:19 “Abraham was the great father of a multitude of nations, and no one has been found equal to him in glory.”
Sir 44:20 “He observed the Law of the Most High, and entered into a covenant with him. He certified the agreement in his flesh, and when he was tested, he proved faithful.”
Sir 44:21 “For that reason he assured him with an oath that nations would be blessed through his posterity, and that he would make him as numerous as the dust of the earth, and would raise his posterity as high as the stars, and that they should possess from sea to sea, and from the river to the end of the earth.”
Sir 44:22 “He guaranteed it to Isaac also in like manner, because of his father Abraham. The blessing of all mankind and the covenant.”
Sir 44:23 “He made to rest upon the head of Jacob. He acknowledged him with his blessings, and gave them to him as his inheritance. And he divided his portions, and distributed them among twelve tribes.”

Chapter 45

Sir 45:1 “From his posterity he brought a man of mercy, who found favor in the sight of all mankind, and was beloved by God and man, Moses, whose memory is blessed.”
Sir 45:2 “He made him equal to his holy ones in glory, and made him great in the fears of his enemies.”
Sir 45:3 “By his words he brought wonders to pass; he made him glorious in the sight of kings. He gave him commands for his people, and showed him part of his glory.”
Sir 45:4 “Through faithfulness and meekness he sanctified him; He chose him out of all mankind.”
Sir 45:5 “He made him hear his voice; He brought him into the thick darkness, and gave him his commandments face to face, The law of life and knowledge, that he may teach Jacob his covenant, and Israel his decrees.”
Sir 45:6 “He exalted Aaron, a holy man like him, who was his brother, from the tribe of Levi.”
Sir 45:7 “He made with him an everlasting covenant, and gave him the priesthood of the people. He blessed him with stateliness, and put on him a splendid robe;”
Sir 45:8 “He clothed him with glorious perfection, and strengthened him with garments of authority, the drawers, the robe, and the apron.”
Sir 45:9 “And he surrounded him with pomegranates, with very many gold bells all around to ring out as he walked, to make their sound heard in the temple, for a memorial to remind the children of his people;”
Sir 45:10 “With a holy garment, with gold and violet and purple, a work of embroidery; With the oracle of judgment, the decider of truth (with Urim and Thummim).”
Sir 45:11 “With twisted scarlet, the work of an artist; With precious stones, engraved like signets in a setting of gold, the work of an engraver, for a reminder, in carved letters, giving the number of the tribes of Israel;”
Sir 45:12 “With a gold crown upon his mitre/turban, engraved like a signet with “Sacredness”; a glorious distinction, a work of might, the desire of the eyes, richly adorned.”
Sir 45:13 “Before him, there never were such beautiful things, no stranger will ever put them on, but his children alone and their posterity forever.”
Sir 45:14 “His sacrifices will be wholly consumed twice every day perpetually.”
Sir 45:15 “Moses filled his hands, and anointed him with sacred oil; It became an everlasting covenant with him and his posterity all the days of heaven, to minister to him and act as priest and bless the people in his name.”
Sir 45:16 “He chose him out of all the living to offer sacrifices to the Lord, incense and a sweet savor for a memorial sacrifice, to make atonement for your people.”
Sir 45:17 “In his commandments he gave him authority over the agreements about judgments, to teach Jacob the decrees and to enlighten Israel with his law.”
Sir 45:18 “Strangers conspired against him, and envied him in the desert; The men with Dathan and Abiram, and the company of Korah, in their wrath and anger.”
Sir 45:19 “The Lord saw it and was not pleased, and they were destroyed by his fierce anger; He executed signs upon them, to devour them with his blazing fire.”
Sir 45:20 “And he increased Aaron’s glory, and gave him his inheritance; he apportioned to him the very first of the firstfruits; He prepared the Presentation Bread in abundance,”
Sir 45:21 “For they are to eat the sacrifices of the Lord, which he gave to him and his posterity.”
Sir 45:22 “But he has no share in the land of the people, and he has no portion among the people, for the Lord himself is your portion and your inheritance.”
Sir 45:23 “Phineas, the son of Eleazar, is the third in glory, for he was zealous for the fear of the Lord, and stood fast, when the people turned away, In the goodness and eagerness of his soul, and made atonement for Israel.”
Sir 45:24 “Therefore an agreement of peace was established with him, that he should be the leader of the saints and of his people, that he and his posterity should possess the dignity of the priesthood forever.”
Sir 45:25 “According to the covenant that was made with David, the son of Jesse, of the tribe of Judah; As the king’s inheritance passes only from son to son, so the inheritance of Aaron is for his posterity.”
Sir 45:26 “May he give you wisdom of mind to judge his people with uprightness so that their prosperity may not come to an end, but their glory may last through all their generations.”

Chapter 46

Sir 46:1 “Joshua, the son of Nun, was mighty in war, and the successor of Moses in prophesying, who according to his name was made great for saving the elect of God, and taking vengeance on the enemies that rose up against them, so that he might give Israel their inheritance.”
Sir 46:2 “How glorious he was when he lifted up his hands, and pointed his sword against the cities!”
Sir 46:3 “Before him who ever stood so fast? For he carried on the wars of the Lord.”
Sir 46:4 “Was not the sun stayed by his hand, and one day increased to two?”
Sir 46:5 “He called on the Most High Ruler, when his enemies pressed upon him on all sides, and the great Lord heard him.”
Sir 46:6 “And with hailstones of mighty power he made war burst upon that nation, and at the descent (of Beth-horon) he destroyed his opponents, so that the heathen might recognize his armor, and know that he fought in the sight of the Lord.”
Sir 46:7 “In the days of Moses also this champion did a work of mercy, he and Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, in that they withstood the congregation, and restrained the people from sin, and quieted their wicked grumbling.”
Sir 46:8 “These two alone were preserved out of six hundred thousand people on foot to bring them into their heritage, to a land running with milk and honey.”
Sir 46:9 “And the Lord gave Caleb strength, and it remained with him until he was old, so that he climbed upon the high places of the land, and his posterity obtained it for an heritage.”
Sir 46:10 “So that all the sons of Israel might see that it is good to follow after the Lord.”
Sir 46:11 “The judges too, everyone by name, all whose hearts did not fall into idolatry, and who did not turn away from the Lord, may their memory be blessed!”
Sir 46:12 “May their bones revive where they lie, and the name of them be transmitted to the descendants of their renown.”
Sir 46:13 “There was Samuel, beloved by his Lord; A prophet of the Lord, he established the kingdom, and anointed princes over his people.”
Sir 46:14 “By the Law of the Lord he judged the congregation, and the Lord showed regard for Jacob.”
Sir 46:15 “By his faithfulness he was proved a prophet, and he was known to be trustworthy through the words of his vision.”
Sir 46:16 “And he called upon the Mighty Lord, when his enemies pressed him on every side, and he offered him a suckling lamb;”
Sir 46:17 “Then the Lord thundered from heaven, and made his voice heard with a loud noise,”
Sir 46:18 “And he wiped out the rulers of the Tyrians and all the princes of the Philistines.”
Sir 46:19 “And before his long sleep, he called them to witness, before the Lord and his anointed, “From no man have I taken his property, even as much as a pair of shoes.” And no one accused him.”
Sir 46:20 “Even after he fell asleep he prophesied, and showed the king his end, and lifted his voice out of the earth in prophecy, to blot out the wickedness of the people.”

Chapter 47

Sir 47:1 “After him Nathan arose, to prophesy in the days of David.”
Sir 47:2 “Just as the fat is separated from the offering, David was separated from the Israelites.”
Sir 47:3 “He played with lions as though they were kids, and with bears as though they were lambs of the flock.”
Sir 47:4 “In his youth did he not kill a giant, and relieve the people of reproach, when he lifted his hand with a stone in the sling, and brought down the boasting of Goliath?”
Sir 47:5 “For he called on the Lord, the Most High, and he gave strength to his right hand to slay a mighty warrior, and to exalt the strength (horn) of his people.”
Sir 47:6 “So they lauded him for his ten thousands, and praised him for the blessings of the Lord, when the glorious diadem was brought to him.”
Sir 47:7 “For he wiped out his enemies on every side, and annihilated his adversaries the Philistines, he crushed their strength, unto this day.”
Sir 47:8 “Over all that he did he gave thanks to the Holy One, the Most High, with words of praise. He sang praise with his whole heart, and he loved his Maker.”
Sir 47:9 “He placed singers before the altar, to make sweet melody with their voices.”
Sir 47:10 “He gave dignity to the festivals, and set the seasons in order throughout the year, while they praised God’s holy name, and the sanctuary rang with it from early morning.”
Sir 47:11 “The Lord took away his sins, and exalted his strength (horn) forever, and gave him the covenant of kings, and a glorious throne in Israel.”
Sir 47:12 “After him arose his wise son, who lived in wide borders because of him;”
Sir 47:13 “Solomon reigned in days of peace, and God gave him rest on every side, so that he might erect a house in his name, and provide a sanctuary forever.”
Sir 47:14 “How wise you became in your youth, and how full of understanding, like a river!”
Sir 47:15 “Your soul covered the earth, and you filled it with puzzling proverbs.”
Sir 47:16 “Your name reached distant islands, and you were loved for your peaceful sway.”
Sir 47:17 “For your songs and proverbs and parables, and your interpretations, the countries wondered at you.”
Sir 47:18 “Through the name of the Lord God, Who is called the God of Israel, you gathered gold like tin, and accumulated silver like lead.”
Sir 47:19 “You laid your flanks beside women, and were brought into subjection by your body.”
Sir 47:20 “You brought a stain upon your fame, and polluted your posterity, so that you brought wrath upon your children, and they were grieved at your folly.”
Sir 47:21 “So that the sovereignty was divided, and a disobedient kingdom arose out of Ephraim.”
Sir 47:22 “But the Lord will not forsake his mercy, and he will not prove false to any of his words, nor will he blot out the descendants of his chosen, nor destroy the posterity of him who loved him. For he gave Jacob a remnant, and David a root sprung from him.”
Sir 47:23 So Solomon rested with his forefathers, and left behind him one of his own children, “The people’s folly,” a man wanting in understanding, Rehoboam, who by his counsel made the people revolt. And there was Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin, and showed Ephraim a sinful way.”
Sir 47:24 “Their sins became so exceedingly many that they dislodged them from their land.”
Sir 47:25 “For they sought out every kind of wickedness, until vengeance should come upon them.”

Chapter 48

Sir 48:1 “Then the prophet Elijah arose like fire, and his word burned like a torch;”
Sir 48:2 “He brought a famine upon them, and made them few by his zeal,”
Sir 48:3 “By the word of the Lord he shut up heaven; In the same way, he brought down fire three times.”
Sir 48:4 “How glorified you were, Elijah, in your wonderful acts, and who can glory like you?”
Sir 48:5 “You who raised one who was dead, from death, and from Hades, by the word of the Most High.”
Sir 48:6 “Who brought kings down to destruction, and distinguished men from their beds.”
Sir 48:7 “Who heard rebukes at Sinai, and judgments of vengeance at Horeb;”
Sir 48:8 “Who anointed kings to exact retribution, and prophets to succeed him;”
Sir 48:9 “Who were taken up in a whirlwind of fire, in a chariot with fiery horses;”
Sir 48:10 “Who, it is written, is to come in rebuke at the appointed time, to quit anger before it becomes wrath, to turn the heart of the father to his son, and to restore the tribes of Jacob.”
Sir 48:11 “Happy are those who saw you, and those who fell asleep in love; for we will surely live.”
Sir 48:12 “When Elijah was sheltered by the whirlwind, Elisha was filled with his spirit. In all his days he was not shaken by any ruler and no one overmastered him.”
Sir 48:13 “Nothing was too wonderful for him, and when he had fallen asleep, his body prophesied.”
Sir 48:14 “In his life he did signs, and after his death he worked wonders.”
Sir 48:15 “For all this the people did not repent, and did not forsake their sins, until they were carried away captive from their land, and scattered over all the earth. Yet, there remained a people very few in number, and a ruler in the house of David.”
Sir 48:16 “Some of them did what was right, and some of them sinned more and more.”
Sir 48:17 “Hezekiah fortified his city, and brought water into the midst of it; He dug the sheer rock with iron, and built wells for water.”
Sir 48:18 “In his days Sennacherib came up, and sent the commander, and departed. And he raised his hand against Zion, and uttered great boasts in his arrogance;”
Sir 48:19 “Then their hearts and hands were shaken, and they suffered like women in travail.”
Sir 48:20 “Then they called upon the Lord, who is merciful, spreading out their hands to him, and the Holy One heard them speedily from heaven, and delivered them by the hand of Isaiah.”
Sir 48:21 “He struck the camp of the Assyrians, and his angel wiped them out.”
Sir 48:22 “For Hezekiah did what pleased the Lord, and was strong in the ways of his forefather David, which the prophet Isaiah commanded, who was great and faithful in his prophetic vision.
Sir 48:23 “In his days the sun went back, and prolonged the life of the king.”
Sir 48:24 “Through the spirit of might he foresaw the future, and comforted those who mourned in Zion.”
Sir 48:25 “He revealed the things that were to be, forever, and the hidden things, before they came to pass.”

Chapter 49

Sir 49:1 “The memory of Josiah is like a blending of incense carefully prepared by the perfumer; everyone finds it sweet as honey to the taste, and like music at a banquet.”
Sir 49:2 “He succeeded in converting the people, and abolished the wicked abominations.”
Sir 49:3 “He made his heart right with the Lord, in the days of wicked men he established the worship of God.”
Sir 49:4 “All, except David and Hezekiah and Josiah, sinned greatly, for they forsook the Law of the Most High, even the kings of Judah failed utterly.”
Sir 49:5 “Therefore, he gave their strength to others, and their glory to a foreign nation.”
Sir 49:6 “They set fire to the chosen city of the sanctuary, and made her streets desolate, according to the prophecy of Jeremiah;”
Sir 49:7 “For they had misused him; though he was consecrated before his birth to be a prophet, to root up and injure and ruin, likewise to build and to plant.”
Sir 49:8 “It was Ezekiel who saw the glorious vision, which he showed him upon the chariot borne by the winged creatures (cherubim).”
Sir 49:9 “For he remembers his enemies with rain, and to do good to those who make their paths straight.”
Sir 49:10 “And may the bones of the Twelve Prophets revive out of their place, for they comforted Jacob, and delivered them with their confident hope.”
Sir 49:11 “How shall we magnify Zerubbabel? For he was like a signet on the right hand;”
Sir 49:12 “So was Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, for they in their days rebuilt the house, and raised a temple holy to the Lord, prepared for everlasting glory.”
Sir 49:13 “And among the elect was Nehemiah, whose renown is great, for he raised up for us the walls which had fallen, and set up barred gates, and rebuilt our houses.”
Sir 49:14 “No one was ever created on earth like Enoch, for he was taken up from the earth;
Sir 49:15 “Nor was a man ever born like Joseph, the leader of his brothers, the support of the people; and his bones were cared for.”
Sir 49:16 “Shem and Seth were greatly honored above other men, but above every living thing was Adam in his creation.”

Chapter 50

Sir 50:1 “It was Simon, the son of Onias, the great priest, who in his lifetime repaired the house, and in his days strengthened the sanctuary.”
Sir 50:2 “He laid the foundation for the height of the double wall, the lofty substructure for the temple inclosure.”
Sir 50:3 “In his days a water cistern was hewed out, a reservoir in circumference like the sea,”
Sir 50:4 “He took thought for his people to keep them from calamity, and fortified the city against siege.”
Sir 50:5 “How glorious he was, surrounded by the people, as he came out of the sanctuary!”
Sir 50:6 “Like the morning star among the clouds, like the moon when it is full;”
Sir 50:7 “Like the sun shining forth upon the sanctuary of the Most High; like the rainbow, showing itself among glorious clouds,”
Sir 50:8 “Like roses in the days of firstfruits, like lilies by a spring of water, like a sprig of frankincense, on summer days,”
Sir 50:9 “Like fire and incense in the censer, like a dish of beaten gold, adorned with all kinds of precious stones;”
Sir 50:10 “Like an olive putting forth its fruit, and like a cypress towering among the clouds.”
Sir 50:11 “When he assumed his glorious robe, and put on glorious perfection, and when he went up to the holy altar, he made the court of the sanctuary glorious.”
Sir 50:12 “And when he received the portions from the hands of the priests, as he stood by the hearth of the altar, with his brothers like a wreath about him, he was like a young cedar on Lebanon, and they surrounded him like the trunks of palm trees.”
Sir 50:13 “All the descendants of Aaron in their splendor, with the Lord’s offering in their hands, before the whole assembly of Israel;”
Sir 50:14 “And when he finished the service at the altars, to adorn the offering of the Most High, the Almighty,”
Sir 50:15 “He stretched out his hand to the cup, and poured out some of the blood of the grape; He poured it out at the foot of the altar, a fragrant odor unto the Most High, the King of All.”
Sir 50:16 “Then the descendants of Aaron shouted; they sounded the trumpets of beaten work; they made a great sound heard, for a reminder, before the Most High.”
Sir 50:17 “Then all the people made haste together, and fell upon their faces on the ground, to worship their Lord, the Almighty, the Most High.”
Sir 50:18 “The singers too praised him with their voices; They made sweet music in the fullest volume.
Sir 50:19 “And the people entreated the Lord Most High, with prayer before him who is merciful, until the worship of the Lord should be finished, and they completed his service.”
Sir 50:20 “Then he came down and lifted his hands over the whole assembly of the descendants of Israel, to pronounce the blessing of the Lord with his lips, and to exult in his name.”
Sir 50:21 “And they prostrated themselves a second time, to receive the blessing from the Most High.”
Sir 50:22 “Now bless the God of all, who in every way does great things; who exalts our days from our birth, and deals with us according to his mercy.”
Sir 50:23 “May he give us gladness of heart, and may there be peace in our days in Israel, and through the days of eternity.”
Sir 50:24 “May he intrust his mercy to us, and let him deliver us in our days (at his time).”
Sir 50:25 “With two nations my soul is vexed, and the third is no nation;”
Sir 50:26 “They who live on the mountain of Samaria, they that dwell among the Philistines, and the foolish people that live in Shechem.”
Sir 50:27 “Instruction in understanding and knowledge has Jeshua, son of Sirach, son of Eleazar, of Jerusalem, written in this book, who poured forth wisdom from his mind.”
Sir 50:28 “Happy is he who concerns himself with these things, and he that lays them up in his mind will become wise.”
Sir 50:29 “For if he does them, he will be strong for all things, for the light of the Lord is his path, who gives wisdom to the godly. Blessed be the Lord forever. Amen, Amen.”

Chapter 51

Sir 51:1 “I will give thanks to you, Lord and King, and praise you as God my Savior. I give thanks to your name.”
Sir 51:2 “For you have been my protector and helper, and have delivered my body from destruction, and from the snare of a slanderous tongue. from lips that utter lies, and before those who stood by, you were my helper.”
Sir 51:3 “And delivered me, in the greatness of your mercy and of your name, from the gnashing of teeth when I was about to be devoured, from the hand of those who sought my life, from the numerous troubles that I had.”
Sir 51:4 “From choking fire all around me, and from the midst of a flame which I had not kindled,”
Sir 51:5 “From the depth of the heart of Hades, and from the unclean tongue and the lying speech.”
Sir 51:6 “An unrighteous tongue uttered slander to the king; my soul drew nigh to death, and my life was near to Hades beneath;”
Sir 51:7 “They surrounded me on every side, and there was no one to help me; I looked for the help of men, and there was none.”
Sir 51:8 “Then I remembered your mercy, Lord, and your work which has been from of old, for you deliver those who wait for you, and save them from the hand of their enemies.”
Sir 51:9 “And I sent up my supplication from the earth, and prayed for deliverance from death.”
Sir 51:10 “I besought the Lord, the father of my lord, not to forsake me in my days of trouble, at the time when there is no help against the proud.”
Sir 51:11 “I said, “I will praise your name continually, and praise you with thanksgiving.” And my prayer was heard.”
Sir 51:12 “For you saved me from destruction, and delivered me from my emergency. Therefore I will give thanks to you and praise you, and bless the name of the Lord.”
Sir 51:13 “When I was very young, before I went on my wanderings, I sought wisdom expressly in my prayer;”
Sir 51:14 “In front of the temple I asked for her, and I will search for her unto the end.”
Sir 51:15 “From her flower as from her ripening grape, my heart delighted in her. My foot trod in uprightness; from my youth I followed her steps.”
Sir 51:16 “I bowed my ear a little and received her, and found much instruction for myself.”
Sir 51:17 “I made progress in her; and to him who gave me wisdom I will give glory.”
Sir 51:18 “For I resolved to practice her, and I was zealous for the good, and I shall not be disappointed.”
Sir 51:19 “My soul grappled with her, and in the fulfillment of the Law I was very strict. I spread out my hands to heaven above, and lamented my ignorance of her.”
Sir 51:20 “I directed my soul to her, and I found her in pureness. I gained my purpose with her from the beginning; therefore I will not be forsaken.”
Sir 51:21 “My heart was stirred to seek her; therefore I obtained a good possession.”
Sir 51:22 “The Lord gave me the power to speak as my reward, and I will praise him with it.”
Sir 51:23 “Come to me, you who are untaught, and pass the night in the house of instruction.”
Sir 51:24 “Why do you say you are wanting in these things, and that your souls are very thirsty?”
Sir 51:25 “I opened my mouth and said, “Get her for yourselves without money,”
Sir 51:26 “Put your neck under her yoke, and let your soul receive instruction. She is to be found close by.”
Sir 51:27 “See with your own eyes that I have worked but little, and yet found myself much repose.”
Sir 51:28 “Get some instruction with a great sum in silver, and you will gain much gold with it.”
Sir 51:29 “Let your soul delight in his mercy and be not ashamed of his praise.”
Sir 51:30 “Finish your work in time, And in his own time he will give you your reward.”