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Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) 18
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Chapter 18
The greatness of God
1
He who lives for ever created all the universe.
2
The Lord alone will be found righteous.
4
He has given no one the power to proclaim his works, and who can fathom his magnificent deeds?
5
Who can assess his magnificent strength, and who can go further and tell of his mercies?
6
Nothing can be added to them, nothing subtracted, it is impossible to fathom the marvels of the Lord.
7
When a man finishes he is only beginning, and when he stops he is as puzzled as ever.
The nothingness of man
8
What is man, what purpose does he serve? What is the good in him, and what the bad?
9
Take the number of a man’s days; a hundred years is very long.
10
Like a drop of water from the sea, or a grain of sand, such are these few years compared with eternity.
11
For this reason the Lord shows them forbearance, and pours out his mercy on them.
12
He sees and recognises how wretched their end is, and so he makes his forgiveness the greater.
13
Man’s compassion extends to his neighbour, but the compassion of the Lord extends to everything that lives; rebuking, correcting and teaching, bringing them back as a shepherd brings back a flock.
14
He has compassion on those who accept correction, who fervently look for judgements.
The art of giving
15
My son, do not temper your favours with disparagement, nor any of your gifts with words that hurt.
16
Does not dew relieve the heat? In the same way a word is worth more than a gift.
17
Why surely, a word is better than a good present, but a generous man is ready with both.
18
A fool will offer nothing but insult, and a grudging man’s gift makes the eyes smart.
Reflection and foresight
19
Learn before you speak, take care of yourself before you fall ill.
20
Examine yourself before judgement comes, and on the day of visitation you will find yourself acquitted.
21
Humble yourself before you fall ill, and when you sin, repent.
22
Let nothing prevent your discharging a vow in good time, and do not wait till death before setting matters to rights.
23
Prepare yourself before making a vow, and do not be like a man who tempts the Lord.
24
Bear the wrath of the last days in mind, the time of vengeance when God averts his face.
25
In a time of plenty remember times of famine, poverty and want in days of wealth.
26
The time slips by between dawn and dusk, all things pass swiftly in the presence of the Lord.
27
A wise man will be cautious in everything, and in sinful days he will take care not to offend.
28
Every man of sense recognises wisdom, and will respect anyone who has found her.
29
Those who understand sayings have themselves grown wise and have poured out apt proverbs.
Self-control
30
Do not follow your lusts, restrain your desires.
31
If you allow yourself to satisfy your desires, this will make you the laughing-stock of your enemies.
32
Do not indulge in luxurious living, nor get involved in such society.
33
Do not beggar yourself by banqueting on credit when there is nothing in your pocket.
Chapters of Ecclesiasticus (Sirach)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
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