The Book of Sirach (or Ecclesiasticus) [The Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus]
Project Gutenberg EPUB edition
Anonymous
38:18 For of heaviness cometh death, and the heaviness of the heart breaketh strength.
38:19 In affliction also sorrow remaineth: and the life of the poor is the curse of the heart.
38:20 Take no heaviness to heart: drive it away, and member the last end.
38:21 Forget it not, for there is no turning again: thou shalt not do him good, but hurt thyself.
38:22 Remember my judgment: for thine also shall be so; yesterday for me, and to day for thee.
38:23 When the dead is at rest, let his remembrance rest; and be comforted for him, when his Spirit is departed from him.
38:24 The wisdom of a learned man cometh by opportunity of leisure: and he that hath little business shall become wise.
38:25 How can he get wisdom that holdeth the plough, and that glorieth in the goad, that driveth oxen, and is occupied in their labours, and whose talk is of bullocks?
38:26 He giveth his mind to make furrows; and is diligent to give the kine fodder.
38:27 So every carpenter and workmaster, that laboureth night and day: and they that cut and grave seals, and are diligent to make great variety, and give themselves to counterfeit imagery, and watch to finish a work:
38:28 The smith also sitting by the anvil, and considering the iron work, the vapour of the fire wasteth his flesh, and he fighteth with the heat of the furnace: the noise of the hammer and the anvil is ever in his ears, and his eyes look still upon the pattern of the thing that he maketh; he setteth his mind to finish his work, and watcheth to polish it perfectly:
38:29 So doth the potter sitting at his work, and turning the wheel about with his feet, who is alway carefully set at his work, and maketh all his work by number;
38:30 He fashioneth the clay with his arm, and boweth down his strength before his feet; he applieth himself to lead it over; and he is diligent to make clean the furnace:
38:31 All these trust to their hands: and every one is wise in his work.
38:32 Without these cannot a city be inhabited: and they shall not dwell where they will, nor go up and down:
38:33 They shall not be sought for in publick counsel, nor sit high in the congregation: they shall not sit on the judges’ seat, nor understand the sentence of judgment: they cannot declare justice and judgment; and they shall not be found where parables are spoken.
38:34 But they will maintain the state of the world, and [all] their desire is in the work of their craft.
39:1 But he that giveth his mind to the law of the most High, and is occupied in the meditation thereof, will seek out the wisdom of all the ancient, and be occupied in prophecies.
39:2 He will keep the sayings of the renowned men: and where subtil parables are, he will be there also.
39:3 He will seek out the secrets of grave sentences, and be conversant in dark parables.
39:4 He shall serve among great men, and appear before princes: he will travel through strange countries; for he hath tried the good and the evil among men.
39:5 He will give his heart to resort early to the Lord that made him, and will pray before the most High, and will open his mouth in prayer, and make supplication for his sins.
39:6 When the great Lord will, he shall be filled with the spirit of understanding: he shall pour out wise sentences, and give thanks unto the Lord in his prayer.
39:7 He shall direct his counsel and knowledge, and in his secrets shall he meditate.
39:8 He shall shew forth that which he hath learned, and shall glory in the law of the covenant of the Lord.
39:9 Many shall commend his understanding; and so long as the world endureth, it shall not be blotted out; his memorial shall not depart away, and his name shall live from generation to generation.
39:10 Nations shall shew forth his wisdom, and the congregation shall declare his praise.
39:11 If he die, he shall leave a greater name than a thousand: and if he live, he shall increase it.
39:12 Yet have I more to say, which I have thought upon; for I am filled as the moon at the full.
39:13 Hearken unto me, ye holy children, and bud forth as a rose growing by the brook of the field:
39:14 And give ye a sweet savour as frankincense, and flourish as a lily, send forth a smell, and sing a song of praise, bless the Lord in all his works.
39:15 Magnify his name, and shew forth his praise with the songs of your lips, and with harps, and in praising him ye shall say after this manner:
39:16 All the works of the Lord are exceeding good, and whatsoever he commandeth shall be accomplished in due season.
39:17 And none may say, What is this? wherefore is that? for at time convenient they shall all be sought out: at his commandment the waters stood as an heap, and at the words of his mouth the receptacles of waters.
39:18 At his commandment is done whatsoever pleaseth him; and none can hinder, when he will save.
39:19 The works of all flesh are before him, and nothing can be hid from his eyes.
39:20 He seeth from everlasting to everlasting; and there is nothing wonderful before him.
39:21 A man need not to say, What is this? wherefore is that? for he hath made all things for their uses.
39:22 His blessing covered the dry land as a river, and watered it as a flood.
39:23 As he hath turned the waters into saltness: so shall the heathen inherit his wrath.