Book 26 Ecclesiasticus (continued 1)
Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
36:16. Fill Sion with thy unspeakable words, and thy people with thy glory.
36:17. Give testimony to them that are thy creatures from the beginning, and raise up the prophecies which the former prophets spoke in thy name.
36:18. Reward them that patiently wait for thee, that thy prophets may be found faithful: and hear the prayers of thy servants,
36:19. According to the blessing of Aaron over thy people, and direct us into the way of justice, and let all know that dwell upon the earth, that thou art God the beholder of all ages.
36:20. The belly will devour all meat, yet one is better than another.
36:21. The palate tasteth venison and the wise heart false speeches.
36:22. A perverse heart will cause grief, and a man of experience will resist it.
36:23. A woman will receive every man: yet one daughter is better than another.
A woman will receive every man... That is, any man that her parents propose to her to marry, though she does not like him, but marries in obedience to her parents, who make the choice for her.
36:24. The beauty of a woman cheereth the countenance of her husband, and a man desireth nothing more.
36:25. If she have a tongue that can cure, and likewise mitigate and shew mercy: her husband is not like other men.
36:26. He that possesseth a good wife, beginneth a possession: she is a help like to himself, and a pillar of rest.
36:27. Where there is no hedge, the possession shall be spoiled: and where there is no wife, he mourneth that is in want.
36:28. Who will trust him that hath no rest, and that lodgeth wheresoever the night taketh him, as a robber well appointed, that skippeth from city to city.
Ecclesiasticus Chapter 37
Of the choice of friends and counsellors.
37:1. Every friend will say: I also am his friend: but there is a friend, that is only a friend in name. Is not this a grief even to death?
37:2. But a companion and a friend shall be turned to an enemy.
37:3. O wicked presumption, whence camest thou to cover the earth with thy malice, and deceitfulness?
37:4. There is a companion who rejoiceth with his friend in his joys, but in the time of trouble, he will be against him.
37:5. There is a companion who condoleth with his friend for his belly's sake, and he will take up a shield against the enemy.
37:6. Forget not thy friend in thy mind, and be not unmindful of him in thy riches.
37:7. Consult not with him that layeth a snare for thee, and hide thy counsel from them that envy thee.
37:8. Every counsellor giveth out counsel, but there is one that is a counsellor for himself.
37:9. Beware of a counsellor. And know before what need he hath: for he will devise to his own mind:
37:10. Lest he thrust a stake into the ground, and say to thee:
37:11. Thy way is good; and then stand on the other side to see what shall befall thee.
37:12. Treat not with a man without religion concerning holiness, nor with an unjust man concerning justice, nor with a woman touching her of whom she is jealous, nor with a coward concerning war, nor with a merchant about traffic, nor with a buyer of selling, nor with an envious man of giving thanks,
37:13. Nor with the ungodly of piety, nor with the dishonest of honesty, nor with the field laborer of every work,
37:14. Nor with him that worketh by the year of the finishing of the year, nor with an idle servant of much business: give no heed to these in any matter of counsel.
37:15. But be continually with a holy man, whomsoever thou shalt know to observe the fear of God,
37:16. Whose soul is according to thy own soul: and who, when thou shalt stumble in the dark, will be sorry for thee.
37:17. And establish within thyself a heart of good counsel: for there is no other thing of more worth to thee than it.
37:18. The soul of a holy man discovereth sometimes true things, more than seven watchmen that sit in a high place to watch.
37:19. But above all these things pray to the most High, that he may direct thy way in truth.
37:20. In all thy works let the true word go before thee, and steady counsel before every action.
37:21. A wicked word shall change the heart: out of which four manner of things arise, good and evil, life and death: and the tongue is continually the ruler of them. There is a man that is subtle and a teacher of many, and yet is unprofitable to his own soul.
37:22. A skilful man hath taught many, and is sweet to his own soul.
37:23. He that speaketh sophistically, is hateful: he shall be destitute of every thing.
37:24. Grace is not given him from the Lord: for he is deprived of all wisdom.