The Book of Sirach (or Ecclesiasticus) [The Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus]
Project Gutenberg EPUB edition
Anonymous
2:6 Believe in him, and he will help thee; order thy way aright, and trust in him.
2:7 Ye that fear the Lord, wait for his mercy; and go not aside, lest ye fall.
2:8 Ye that fear the Lord, believe him; and your reward shall not fail.
2:9 Ye that fear the Lord, hope for good, and for everlasting joy and mercy.
2:10 Look at the generations of old, and see; did ever any trust in the Lord, and was confounded? or did any abide in his fear, and was forsaken? or whom did he ever despise, that called upon him?
2:11 For the Lord is full of compassion and mercy, longsuffering, and very pitiful, and forgiveth sins, and saveth in time of affliction.
2:12 Woe be to fearful hearts, and faint hands, and the sinner that goeth two ways!
2:13 Woe unto him that is fainthearted! for he believeth not; therefore shall he not be defended.
2:14 Woe unto you that have lost patience! and what will ye do when the Lord shall visit you?
2:15 They that fear the Lord will not disobey his Word; and they that love him will keep his ways.
2:16 They that fear the Lord will seek that which is well, pleasing unto him; and they that love him shall be filled with the law.
2:17 They that fear the Lord will prepare their hearts, and humble their souls in his sight,
2:18 Saying, We will fall into the hands of the Lord, and not into the hands of men: for as his majesty is, so is his mercy.
3:1 Hear me your father, O children, and do thereafter, that ye may be safe.
3:2 For the Lord hath given the father honour over the children, and hath confirmed the authority of the mother over the sons.
3:3 Whoso honoureth his father maketh an atonement for his sins:
3:4 And he that honoureth his mother is as one that layeth up treasure.
3:5 Whoso honoureth his father shall have joy of his own children; and when he maketh his prayer, he shall be heard.
3:6 He that honoureth his father shall have a long life; and he that is obedient unto the Lord shall be a comfort to his mother.
3:7 He that feareth the Lord will honour his father, and will do service unto his parents, as to his masters.
3:8 Honour thy father and mother both in word and deed, that a blessing may come upon thee from them.
3:9 For the blessing of the father establisheth the houses of children; but the curse of the mother rooteth out foundations.
3:10 Glory not in the dishonour of thy father; for thy father’s dishonour is no glory unto thee.
3:11 For the glory of a man is from the honour of his father; and a mother in dishonour is a reproach to the children.
3:12 My son, help thy father in his age, and grieve him not as long as he liveth.
3:13 And if his understanding fail, have patience with him; and despise him not when thou art in thy full strength.
3:14 For the relieving of thy father shall not be forgotten: and instead of sins it shall be added to build thee up.
3:15 In the day of thine affliction it shall be remembered; thy sins also shall melt away, as the ice in the fair warm weather.
3:16 He that forsaketh his father is as a blasphemer; and he that angereth his mother is cursed: of God.
3:17 My son, go on with thy business in meekness; so shalt thou be beloved of him that is approved.
3:18 The greater thou art, the more humble thyself, and thou shalt find favour before the Lord.
3:19 Many are in high place, and of renown: but mysteries are revealed unto the meek.
3:20 For the power of the Lord is great, and he is honoured of the lowly.
3:21 Seek not out things that are too hard for thee, neither search the things that are above thy strength.
3:22 But what is commanded thee, think thereupon with reverence, for it is not needful for thee to see with thine eyes the things that are in secret.
3:23 Be not curious in unnecessary matters: for more things are shewed unto thee than men understand.
3:24 For many are deceived by their own vain opinion; and an evil suspicion hath overthrown their judgment.
3:25 Without eyes thou shalt want light: profess not the knowledge therefore that thou hast not.
3:26 A stubborn heart shall fare evil at the last; and he that loveth danger shall perish therein.
3:27 An obstinate heart shall be laden with sorrows; and the wicked man shall heap sin upon sin.