ECCLESIASTICUS
Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
24:29. They that eat me, shall yet hunger: and they that drink me, shall yet thirst.
24:30. He that hearkeneth to me, shall not be confounded: and they that work by me, shall not sin.
24:31. They that explain me shall have life everlasting.
24:32. All these things are the book of life, and the covenant of the most High, and the knowledge of truth.
24:33. Moses commanded a law in the precepts of justices, and an inheritance to the house of Jacob, and the promises to Israel.
24:34. He appointed to David his servant to raise up of him a most mighty king, and sitting on the throne of glory for ever.
A most mighty king... Viz., Christ, who by his gospel, like an overflowing river, has enriched the earth with heavenly wisdom.
24:35. Who filleth up wisdom as the Phison, and as the Tigris in the days of the new fruits.
24:36. Who maketh understanding to abound as the Euphrates, who multiplieth it as the Jordan in the time of harvest.
24:37. Who sendeth knowledge as the light, and riseth up as Gehon in the time of the vintage.
24:38. Who first hath perfect knowledge of her, and a weaker shall not search her out.
Who first hath perfect knowledge of her... Christ was the first that had perfect knowledge of heavenly wisdom.
24:39. For her thoughts are more vast than the sea, and her counsels more deep than the great ocean.
24:40. I, wisdom, have poured out rivers.
24:41. I, like a brook out of a river of a mighty water; I, like a channel of a river, and like an aqueduct, came out of paradise.
24:42. I said: I will water my garden of plants, and I will water abundantly the fruits of my meadow.
24:43. And behold my brook became a great river, and my river came near to a sea:
24:44. For I make doctrine to shine forth to all as the morning light, and I will declare it afar off.
24:45. I will penetrate to all the lower parts of the earth, and will behold all that sleep, and will enlighten all that hope in the Lord.
24:46. I will yet pour out doctrine as prophecy, and will leave it to them that seek wisdom, and will not cease to instruct their offspring even to the holy age.
24:47. See ye that I have not laboured myself only, but for all that seek out the truth.
Ecclesiasticus Chapter 25
Documents of wisdom on several subjects.
25:1. With three things my spirit is pleased, which are approved before God and men:
25:2. The concord of brethren, and the love of neighbours, and man and wife that agree well together.
25:3. Three sorts my soul hateth, and I am greatly grieved at their life:
25:4. A poor man that is proud: a rich man that is a liar: an old man that is a fool, and doting.
25:5. The things that thou hast not gathered in thy youth, how shalt thou find them in thy old age?
25:6. O how comely is judgment for a grey head, and for ancients to know counsel!
25:7. O how comely is wisdom for the aged, and understanding and counsel to men of honour!
25:8. Much experience is the crown of old men, and the fear of God is their glory.
25:9. Nine things that are not to be imagined by the heart have I magnified, and the tenth I will utter to men with my tongue.
25:10. A man that hath joy of his children: and he that liveth and seeth the fall of his enemies.
25:11. Blessed is he that dwelleth with a wise woman, and that hath not slipped with his tongue, and that hath not served such as are unworthy of him.
25:12. Blessed is he that findeth a true friend, and that declareth justice to an ear that heareth.
25:13. How great is he that findeth wisdom and knowledge! but there is none above him that feareth the Lord.
25:14. The fear of God hath set itself above all things:
25:15. Blessed is the man, to whom it is given to have the fear of God: he that holdeth it, to whom shall he be likened?
25:16. The fear of God is the beginning of his love: and the beginning of faith is to be fast joined unto it.
25:17. The sadness of the heart is every plague: and the wickedness of a woman is all evil.