The Book of Jesus Sirach

⭑ Douay-Rheims :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 40 -

The miseries of the life of man are relieved by the grace of God and his fear.

Great labour is created for all men, and a heavy yoke is upon the children of Adam, from the day of their coming out of their mother’s womb, until the day of their burial into the mother of all.

Their thoughts, and fears of the heart, their imagination of things to come, and the day of their end:

From him that sitteth on a glorious throne, unto him that is humbled in earth and ashes:

From him that weareth purple, and beareth the crown, even to him that is covered with rough linen: wrath, envy, trouble, unquietness, and the fear of death, continual anger, and strife,

And in the time of rest upon his bed, the sleep of the night changeth his knowledge.

A little and as nothing is his rest, and afterward in sleep, as in the day of keeping watch.

He is troubled in the vision of his heart, as if he had escaped in the day of battle. In the time of his safety he rose up, and wondereth that there is no fear:

Such things happen to all flesh, from man even to beast, and upon sinners are sevenfold mere.

Moreover, death, and bloodshed, strife, and sword, oppressions, famine, and affliction, and scourges:

All these things are created for the wicked, and for their sakes came the flood.

All things that are of the earth, shall return to the earth again, and all waters shall return to the sea.

All bribery, and injustice shall blotted out, and fidelity shall stand for ever.

The riches of the unjust shall be dried up like a river, and shall pass sway a noise like a great thunder in rain.

While he openeth his hands he shall rejoice: but transgressors shall pine away in the end.

The offspring of the ungodly shall not bring forth many branches, and make a noise as unclean roots upon the top of a rock.

The weed growing over every water, and at the bank of the river, shall be pulled up before all grass.

Grace is like a paradise in blessings, and mercy remaineth for ever.

The life of a labourer that is content with what he hath, shall be sweet, and in it thou shalt find a treasure.

Children, and the building of a city shall establish a name, but a blameless wife shall be counted above them both.

Wine and music rejoice the heart, but the love of wisdom is above them both.

The flute and the psaltery make a sweet melody, but a pleasant tongue is above them both.

Thy eye desireth favour and beauty, but more than these green sown fields.

A friend and companion meeting together in season, but above them both is a wife with her husband.

Brethren are a help in the time of trouble, but mercy shall deliver more than they.

Gold and silver make the feet stand sure: but wise counsel is above them both.

Riches and strength lift up the heart: but above these is the fear of the Lord.

There is no want in the fear of the Lord, and it needeth not to seek for help.

The fear of the Lord is like a paradise of blessing, and they have covered it above all glory.

My son, in thy lifetime be not indigent: for it is better to die than to want.

The life of him that looketh toward another man’s table is not to be counted a life: for he feedeth his soul with another man’s meat.

But a man, well instructed and taught, will look to himself.

Begging will be sweet in the mouth of the unwise, but in his belly there shall burn a fire.

The miseries of the life of man are relieved by the grace of God and his fear.

Great travail is created for every man. A heavy yoke is upon the sons of Adam, from the day of their coming forth from their mother’s womb, until the day for their burial in the mother of all things.

The expectation of things to come, and the day of death, trouble their thoughts, and cause fear in their hearts.

From him who sits on a throne of glory, even to him who is humbled in earth and ashes,

from him who wears purple and a crown, even to him who is clothed in burlap,

there is wrath, jealousy, trouble, unrest, fear of death, anger, and strife. In the time of rest upon his bed, his night sleep changes his knowledge.

He gets little or no rest, and afterward in his sleep, as in a day of keeping watch, he is troubled in the vision of his heart, as one who has escaped from the front of battle.

In the very time of his deliverance, he awakens, and marvels that the fear is nothing.

To all creatures, human and animal, and upon sinners sevenfold more,

come death, bloodshed, strife, sword, calamities, famine, suffering, and plague.

All these things were created for the wicked, and because of them the flood came.

All things that are of the earth turn to the earth again. All things that are of the waters return into the sea.

All bribery and injustice will be blotted out. Good faith will stand forever.

The goods of the unjust will be dried up like a river, and like a great thunder in rain will go off in noise.

In opening his hands, a man will be made glad; so lawbreakers will utterly fail.

The children of the ungodly won’t grow many branches, and are as unhealthy roots on a sheer rock.

The reeds by every water or river bank will be plucked up before all grass.

Kindness is like a garden of blessings. Almsgiving endures forever.

The life of one who labors and is content will be made sweet. He who finds a treasure is better than both.

Children and the building of a city establish a name. A blameless wife is better than both.

Wine and music rejoice the heart. The love of wisdom is better than both.

The pipe and the lute make pleasant melody. A pleasant tongue is better than both.

Your eye desires grace and beauty, but the green shoots of grain more than both.

A friend and a companion is always welcome, and a wife with her husband is better than both.

Relatives and helpers are for a time of affliction, but almsgiving rescues better than both.

Gold and silver will make the foot stand sure, and counsel is esteemed better than both.

Riches and strength will lift up the heart. The fear of the Lord is better than both. There is nothing lacking in the fear of the Lord. In it, there is no need to seek help.

The fear of the Lord is like a garden of blessing and covers a man more than any glory.

My son, don’t lead a beggar’s life. It is better to die than to beg.

A man who looks to the table of another, his life is not to be considered a life. He will pollute his soul with another person’s food, but a wise and well-instructed person will beware of that.

Begging will be sweet in the mouth of the shameless, but it kindles a fire in his belly.