The Book of Sirach (or Ecclesiasticus) [The Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus]
Project Gutenberg EPUB edition
Anonymous
6:31 Thou shalt put her on as a robe of honour, and shalt put her about thee as a crown of joy.
6:32 My son, if thou wilt, thou shalt be taught: and if thou wilt apply thy mind, thou shalt be prudent.
6:33 If thou love to hear, thou shalt receive understanding: and if thou bow thine ear, thou shalt be wise,
6:34 Stand in the multitude of the elders; and cleave unto him that is wise.
6:35 Be willing to hear every godly discourse; and let not the parables of understanding escape thee.
6:36 And if thou seest a man of understanding, get thee betimes unto him, and let thy foot wear the steps of his door.
6:37 Let thy mind be upon the ordinances of the Lord and meditate continually in his commandments: he shall establish thine heart, and give thee wisdom at thine own desire.
7:1 Do no evil, so shall no harm come unto thee.
7:2 Depart from the unjust, and iniquity shall turn away from thee.
7:3 My son, sow not upon the furrows of unrighteousness, and thou shalt not reap them sevenfold.
7:4 Seek not of the Lord preeminence, neither of the king the seat of honour.
7:5 Justify not thyself before the Lord; and boast not of thy wisdom before the king.
7:6 Seek not to be judge, being not able to take away iniquity; lest at any time thou fear the person of the mighty, an stumblingblock in the way of thy uprightness.
7:7 Offend not against the multitude of a city, and then thou shalt not cast thyself down among the people.
7:8 Bind not one sin upon another; for in one thou shalt not be unpunished.
7:9 Say not, God will look upon the multitude of my oblations, and when I offer to the most high God, he will accept it.
7:10 Be not fainthearted when thou makest thy prayer, and neglect not to give alms.
7:11 Laugh no man to scorn in the bitterness of his soul: for there is one which humbleth and exalteth.
7:12 Devise not a lie against thy brother; neither do the like to thy friend.
7:13 Use not to make any manner of lie: for the custom thereof is not good.
7:14 Use not many words in a multitude of elders, and make not much babbling when thou prayest.
7:15 Hate not laborious work, neither husbandry, which the most High hath ordained.
7:16 Number not thyself among the multitude of sinners, but remember that wrath will not tarry long.
7:17 Humble thyself greatly: for the vengeance of the ungodly is fire and worms.
7:18 Change not a friend for any good by no means; neither a faithful brother for the gold of Ophir.
7:19 Forego not a wise and good woman: for her grace is above gold.
7:20 Whereas thy servant worketh truly, entreat him not evil, nor the hireling that bestoweth himself wholly for thee.
7:21 Let thy soul love a good servant, and defraud him not of liberty.
7:22 Hast thou cattle? have an eye to them: and if they be for thy profit, keep them with thee.
7:23 Hast thou children? instruct them, and bow down their neck from their youth.
7:24 Hast thou daughters? have a care of their body, and shew not thyself cheerful toward them.
7:25 Marry thy daughter, and so shalt thou have performed a weighty matter: but give her to a man of understanding.
7:26 Hast thou a wife after thy mind? forsake her not: but give not thyself over to a light woman.
7:27 Honour thy father with thy whole heart, and forget not the sorrows of thy mother.
7:28 Remember that thou wast begotten of them; and how canst thou recompense them the things that they have done for thee?
7:29 Fear the Lord with all thy soul, and reverence his priests.
7:30 Love him that made thee with all thy strength, and forsake not his ministers.
7:31 Fear the Lord, and honor the priest; and give him his portion, as it is commanded thee; the firstfruits, and the trespass offering, and the gift of the shoulders, and the sacrifice of sanctification, and the firstfruits of the holy things.
7:32 And stretch thine hand unto the poor, that thy blessing may be perfected.
7:33 A gift hath grace in the sight of every man living; and for the dead detain it not.