The Book of Sirach (or Ecclesiasticus) [The Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus]
Project Gutenberg EPUB edition
Anonymous
29:20 Help thy neighbour according to thy power, and beware that thou thyself fall not into the same.
29:21 The chief thing for life is water, and bread, and clothing, and an house to cover shame.
29:22 Better is the life of a poor man in a mean cottage, than delicate fare in another man’s house.
29:23 Be it little or much, hold thee contented, that thou hear not the reproach of thy house.
29:24 For it is a miserable life to go from house to house: for where thou art a stranger, thou darest not open thy mouth.
29:25 Thou shalt entertain, and feast, and have no thanks: moreover thou shalt hear bitter words:
29:26 Come, thou stranger, and furnish a table, and feed me of that thou hast ready.
29:27 Give place, thou stranger, to an honourable man; my brother cometh to be lodged, and I have need of mine house.
29:28 These things are grievous to a man of understanding; the upbraiding of houseroom, and reproaching of the lender.
30:1 He that loveth his son causeth him oft to feel the rod, that he may have joy of him in the end.
30:2 He that chastiseth his son shall have joy in him, and shall rejoice of him among his acquaintance.
30:3 He that teacheth his son grieveth the enemy: and before his friends he shall rejoice of him.
30:4 Though his father die, yet he is as though he were not dead: for he hath left one behind him that is like himself.
30:5 While he lived, he saw and rejoiced in him: and when he died, he was not sorrowful.
30:6 He left behind him an avenger against his enemies, and one that shall requite kindness to his friends.
30:7 He that maketh too much of his son shall bind up his wounds; and his bowels will be troubled at every cry.
30:8 An horse not broken becometh headstrong: and a child left to himself will be wilful.
30:9 Cocker thy child, and he shall make thee afraid: play with him, and he will bring thee to heaviness.
30:10 Laugh not with him, lest thou have sorrow with him, and lest thou gnash thy teeth in the end.
30:11 Give him no liberty in his youth, and wink not at his follies.
30:12 Bow down his neck while he is young, and beat him on the sides while he is a child, lest he wax stubborn, and be disobedient unto thee, and so bring sorrow to thine heart.
30:13 Chastise thy son, and hold him to labour, lest his lewd behaviour be an offence unto thee.
30:14 Better is the poor, being sound and strong of constitution, than a rich man that is afflicted in his body.
30:15 Health and good estate of body are above all gold, and a strong body above infinite wealth.
30:16 There is no riches above a sound body, and no joy above the joy of the heart.
30:17 Death is better than a bitter life or continual sickness.
30:18 Delicates poured upon a mouth shut up are as messes of meat set upon a grave.
30:19 What good doeth the offering unto an idol? for neither can it eat nor smell: so is he that is persecuted of the Lord.
30:20 He seeth with his eyes and groaneth, as an eunuch that embraceth a virgin and sigheth.
30:21 Give not over thy mind to heaviness, and afflict not thyself in thine own counsel.
30:22 The gladness of the heart is the life of man, and the joyfulness of a man prolongeth his days.
30:23 Love thine own soul, and comfort thy heart, remove sorrow far from thee: for sorrow hath killed many, and there is no profit therein.
30:24 Envy and wrath shorten the life, and carefulness bringeth age before the time.
30:25 A cheerful and good heart will have a care of his meat and diet.
31:1 Watching for riches consumeth the flesh, and the care thereof driveth away sleep.
31:2 Watching care will not let a man slumber, as a sore disease breaketh sleep,
31:3 The rich hath great labour in gathering riches together; and when he resteth, he is filled with his delicates.
31:4 The poor laboureth in his poor estate; and when he leaveth off, he is still needy.
31:5 He that loveth gold shall not be justified, and he that followeth corruption shall have enough thereof.
31:6 Gold hath been the ruin of many, and their destruction was present.