The Book of Jesus Sirach

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- Chapter 38 -

Of physicians and medicines: what is to be done in sickness, and how we are to mourn for the dead. Of the employments of labourers and artificers.

Honour the physician for the need thou hast of him: for the most High hath created him.

For all healing is from God, and he shall receive gifts of the king.

The skill of the physician shall lift up his head, and in the sight of great men he shall be praised.

The most High hath created medicines out of the earth, and a wise man will not abhor them.

Was not bitter water made sweet with wood?

The virtue of these things is come to the knowledge of men, and the meet High hath given knowledge to men, that he may be honoured in his wonders.

By these he shall cure and shall allay their pains, and of these the apothecary shall make sweet confections, and shall make up ointments of health, and of his works there shall be no end.

For the peace of God is over all the face of the earth.

My son, in thy sickness neglect not thyself, but pray to the Lord, and he shall heal thee.

Turn away from sin and order thy hands aright, and cleanse thy heart from all offence.

Give a sweet savour, and a memorial of fine flour, and make a fat offering, and then give place to the physician.

For the Lord created him: and let him not depart from thee, for his works are necessary.

For there is a time when thou must fall into their hands:

And they shall beseech the Lord, that he would prosper what they give for ease and remedy, for their conversation.

He that sinneth in the sight of his Maker, shall fall into the hands of the physician.

My son, shed tears over the dead, and begin to lament as if thou hadst suffered some great harm, and according to judgment cover his body, and neglect not his burial.

And for fear of being ill spoken of weep bitterly for a, day, and then comfort thyself in thy sadness.

And make mourning for him according to his merit for a day, or two, for fear of detraction.

For of sadness cometh death, and it overwhelmeth the strength, and the sorrow of the heart boweth down the neck.

In withdrawing aside sorrow remaineth: and the substance of the poor is according to his heart.

Give not up thy heart to sadness, but drive it from thee: and remember the latter end.

Forget it not: for there is no returning, and thou shalt do him no good, and shalt hurt thyself.

Remember my judgment: for also shall be so: yesterday for me, and today for thee.

When the dead is at rest, let his remembrance rest, and comfort him in the departing of his spirit.

The wisdom of a scribe cometh by his time of leisure: and he that is less in action, shall receive wisdom.

With what wisdom shall he be furnished that holdeth the plough, and that glorieth in the goad, that driveth the oxen therewith, and is occupied in their labours, and his whole talk is about the offspring of bulls?

He shall give his mind to turn up furrows, and his care is to give the kine fodder.

So every craftsman and workmaster that laboureth night and day, he who maketh graven seals, and by his continual diligence varieth the figure: he shall give his mind to the resemblance of the picture, and by his watching shall finish the work.

So doth the smith sitting by the anvil and considering the iron work. The vapour of the fire wasteth his flesh, and he fighteth with the heat of the furnace.

The noise of the hammer is always in his ears, and his eye is upon the pattern of the vessel he maketh.

He setteth his mind to finish his work, and his watching to polish them, to perfection.

So doth the potter sitting at his work, turning the wheel about with his feet, who is always carefully set to his work, and maketh all his work by number:

He fashioneth the clay with his arm, and boweth down his strength before his feet:

He shall give his mind to finish the glazing, and his watching to make clean the furnace.

All these trust to their hands, and every one is wise in his own art.

Without these a city is not built.

And they shall not dwell, nor walk about therein, and they shall not go up into the assembly.

Upon the judges’ seat they shall not sit, and the ordinance of judgment they shall not understand, neither shall they declare discipline and judgment, and they shall not be found where parables are spoken:

But they shall strengthen the state of the world, and their prayer shall be in the work of their craft, applying their soul, and searching in the law of the most High.

Of physicians and medicines: what is to be done in sickness, and how we are to mourn for the dead. Of the employments of labourers and artificers.

Honor a physician according to your need with the honors due to him, for truly the Lord has created him.

For healing comes from the Most High, and he shall receive a gift from the king.

The skill of the physician will lift up his head. He will be admired in the sight of great men.

The Lord created medicines out of the earth. A prudent man will not despise them.

Wasn’t water made sweet with wood, that its power might be known?

He gave men skill that he might be glorified in his marvelous works.

With them he heals and takes away pain.

With these, the pharmacist makes a mixture. God’s works won’t be brought to an end. From him, peace is upon the face of the earth.

My son, in your sickness don’t be negligent, but pray to the Lord, and he will heal you.

Put away wrong doing, and direct your hands in righteousness. Cleanse your heart from all sin.

Give a sweet savor and a memorial of fine flour, and pour oil on your offering, according to your means.

Then give place to the physician, for truly the Lord has created him. Don’t let him leave you, for you need him.

There is a time when in recovery is in their hands.

For they also shall ask the Lord to prosper them in diagnosis and in healing for the maintenance of life.

He who sins before his Maker, let him fall into the hands of the physician.

My son, let your tears fall over the dead, and as one who suffers grievously, begin lamentation. Wind up his body with due honor. Don’t neglect his burial.

Make bitter weeping and make passionate wailing. Let your mourning be according to his merit, for one day or two, lest you be spoken evil of; and so be comforted for your sorrow.

For from sorrow comes death. Sorrow of heart saps one’s strength.

In calamity, sorrow also remains. A poor man’s life is grievous to the heart.

Don’t give your heart to sorrow. Put it away, remembering the end.

Don’t forget it, for there is no returning again. You do him no good, and you would harm yourself.

Remember his end, for so also will yours be: yesterday for me, and today for you.

When the dead is at rest, let his remembrance rest. Be comforted for him when his spirit departs from him.

The wisdom of the scribe comes by the opportunity of leisure. He who has little business can become wise.

How could he become wise who holds the plow, who glories in the shaft of the goad, who drives oxen and is occupied in their labors, and who mostly talks about bulls?

He will set his heart upon turning his furrows. His lack of sleep is to give his heifers their fodder.

So is every craftsman and master artisan who passes his time by night as by day, those who cut engravings of signets. His diligence is to make great variety. He sets his heart to preserve likeness in his portraiture, and is careful to finish his work.

So too is the smith sitting by the anvil and considering the unwrought iron. The smoke of the fire will waste his flesh. He toils in the heat of the furnace. The noise of the hammer deafens his ear. His eyes are upon the pattern of the object. He will set his heart upon perfecting his works. He will be careful to adorn them perfectly.

So is the potter sitting at his work and turning the wheel around with his feet, who is always anxiously set at his work. He produces his handiwork in quantity.

He will fashion the clay with his arm and will bend its strength in front of his feet. He will apply his heart to finish the glazing. He will be careful to clean the kiln.

All these put their trust in their hands. Each becomes skillful in his own work.

Without these no city would be inhabited. Men wouldn’t reside as foreigners or walk up and down there.

They won’t be sought for in the council of the people. They won’t mount on high in the assembly. They won’t sit on the seat of the judge. They won’t understand the covenant of judgment. Neither will they declare instruction and judgment. They won’t be found where parables are.

But they will maintain the fabric of the age. Their prayer is in the handiwork of their craft.