The Book of Sirach (or Ecclesiasticus) [The Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus]
Project Gutenberg EPUB edition
Anonymous
37:9 And say unto thee, Thy way is good: and afterward he stand on the other side, to see what shall befall thee.
37:10 Consult not with one that suspecteth thee: and hide thy counsel from such as envy thee.
37:11 Neither consult with a woman touching her of whom she is jealous; neither with a coward in matters of war; nor with a merchant concerning exchange; nor with a buyer of selling; nor with an envious man of thankfulness; nor with an unmerciful man touching kindness; nor with the slothful for any work; nor with an hireling for a year of finishing work; nor with an idle servant of much business: hearken not unto these in any matter of counsel.
37:12 But be continually with a godly man, whom thou knowest to keep the commandments of the Lord, whose mind is according to thy mind, and will sorrow with thee, if thou shalt miscarry.
37:13 And let the counsel of thine own heart stand: for there is no man more faithful unto thee than it.
37:14 For a man’s mind is sometime wont to tell him more than seven watchmen, that sit above in an high tower.
37:15 And above all this pray to the most High, that he will direct thy way in truth.
37:16 Let reason go before every enterprize, and counsel before every action.
37:17 The countenance is a sign of changing of the heart.
37:18 Four manner of things appear: good and evil, life and death: but the tongue ruleth over them continually.
37:19 There is one that is wise and teacheth many, and yet is unprofitable to himself.
37:20 There is one that sheweth wisdom in words, and is hated: he shall be destitute of all food.
37:21 For grace is not given, him from the Lord, because he is deprived of all wisdom.
37:22 Another is wise to himself; and the fruits of understanding are commendable in his mouth.
37:23 A wise man instructeth his people; and the fruits of his understanding fail not.
37:24 A wise man shall be filled with blessing; and all they that see him shall count him happy.
37:25 The days of the life of man may be numbered: but the days of Israel are innumerable.
37:26 A wise man shall inherit glory among his people, and his name shall be perpetual.
37:27 My son, prove thy soul in thy life, and see what is evil for it, and give not that unto it.
37:28 For all things are not profitable for all men, neither hath every soul pleasure in every thing.
37:29 Be not unsatiable in any dainty thing, nor too greedy upon meats:
37:30 For excess of meats bringeth sickness, and surfeiting will turn into choler.
37:31 By surfeiting have many perished; but he that taketh heed prolongeth his life.
38:1 Honour a physician with the honour due unto him for the uses which ye may have of him: for the Lord hath created him.
38:2 For of the most High cometh healing, and he shall receive honour of the king.
38:3 The skill of the physician shall lift up his head: and in the sight of great men he shall be in admiration.
38:4 The Lord hath created medicines out of the earth; and he that is wise will not abhor them.
38:5 Was not the water made sweet with wood, that the virtue thereof might be known?
38:6 And he hath given men skill, that he might be honoured in his marvellous works.
38:7 With such doth he heal [men,] and taketh away their pains.
38:8 Of such doth the apothecary make a confection; and of his works there is no end; and from him is peace over all the earth,
38:9 My son, in thy sickness be not negligent: but pray unto the Lord, and he will make thee whole.
38:10 Leave off from sin, and order thine hands aright, and cleanse thy heart from all wickedness.
38:11 Give a sweet savour, and a memorial of fine flour; and make a fat offering, as not being.
38:12 Then give place to the physician, for the Lord hath created him: let him not go from thee, for thou hast need of him.
38:13 There is a time when in their hands there is good success.
38:14 For they shall also pray unto the Lord, that he would prosper that, which they give for ease and remedy to prolong life.
38:15 He that sinneth before his Maker, let him fall into the hand of the physician.
38:16 My son, let tears fall down over the dead, and begin to lament, as if thou hadst suffered great harm thyself; and then cover his body according to the custom, and neglect not his burial.
38:17 Weep bitterly, and make great moan, and use lamentation, as he is worthy, and that a day or two, lest thou be evil spoken of: and then comfort thyself for thy heaviness.