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Like clouds and wind when no rain follows is the man who
boastfully promises what he never gives. [PROV 25:14]
Like a club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow, is the man who bears
false witness against his neighbor. [PROV 25:18]
Like an infected tooth or an unsteady foot is (dependence on) a
faithless man in time of trouble. [PROV 25:19]
Like a troubled fountain or a polluted spring is a just man who
gives way before the wicked. [PROV 25:26]
Like an open city with no defenses is the man with no check on
his feelings. [PROV 25:28]
You see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a
fool than for him. [PROV 26:12]
The sluggard imagines himself wiser than seven men who answer
with good sense. [PROV 26:16]
Like a crazed archer scattering firebrands and deadly
arrows Is the man who deceives his neighbor, and then says,
"I was only joking." [PROV 26:18-19]
What a bellows is to live coals, what wood is to fire, such is
a contentious man in enkindling strife. [PROV 26:21]
A man may conceal hatred under dissimulation, but his malice
will be revealed in the assembly. [PROV 26:26]
One who is full, tramples on virgin honey; but to the man who
is hungry, any bitter thing is sweet. [PROV 27:7]
Like a bird that is far from its nest is a man who is far from
his home. [PROV 27:8]
The shrewd man perceives evil and hides; simpletons continue on
and suffer the penalty. [PROV 27:12]
As iron sharpens iron, so man sharpens his fellow man. [PROV
27:17]
The nether world and the abyss are never satisfied; so too the
eyes of men. [PROV 27:20]
As the crucible tests silver and the furnace gold, so a man is
tested by the praise he receives. [PROV 27:21]
The wicked man flees although no one pursues him; but the just
man, like a lion, feels sure of himself. [PROV 28:1]
If a land is rebellious, its princes will be many; but with a
prudent man it knows security. [PROV 28:2]
A rich man who oppresses the poor is like a devastating rain
that leaves no food. [PROV 28:3]
Those who abandon the law praise the wicked man, but those who
keep the law war against him. [PROV 28:4]
Evil men understand nothing of justice, but those who seek the
LORD understand all. [PROV 28:5]
Better a poor man who walks in his integrity than he who is
crooked in his ways and rich. [PROV 28:6]
The rich man is wise in his own eyes, but a poor man who is
intelligent sees through him. [PROV 28:11]
Happy the man who is always on his guard; but he who hardens
his heart will fall into evil. [PROV 28:14]
He who cultivates his land will have plenty of food, but from
idle pursuits a man has his fill of poverty. [PROV 28:19]
The trustworthy man will be richly blessed; he who is in haste
to grow rich will not go unpunished. [PROV 28:20]
To show partiality is never good: for even a morsel of bread a
man may do wrong. [PROV 28:21]
The avaricious man is perturbed about his wealth, and he knows
not when want will come upon him. [PROV 28:22]
He who rebukes a man gets more thanks in the end than one with
a flattering tongue. [PROV 28:23]
The greedy man stirs up disputes, but he who trusts in the LORD
will prosper. [PROV 28:25]
When the wicked gain pre-eminence, other men hide; but at their
fall the just flourish. [PROV 28:28]
The man who remains stiff-necked and hates rebuke will be
crushed suddenly beyond cure. [PROV 29:1]
The man who flatters his neighbor is spreading a net under his
feet. [PROV 29:5]
The wicked man steps into a snare, but the just man runs on
joyfully. [PROV 29:6]
The just man has a care for the rights of the poor; the wicked
man has no such concern. [PROV 29:7]
Arrogant men set the city ablaze, but wise men calm the fury. [PROV
29:8]
If a wise man disputes with a fool, he may rage or laugh but
can have no peace. [PROV 29:9]
Bloodthirsty men hate the honest man, but the upright show
concern for his life. [PROV 29:10]
The fool gives vent to all his anger; but by biding his time,
the wise man calms it. [PROV 29:11]
Do you see a man hasty in his words? More can be hoped for from
a fool! [PROV 29:20]
If a man pampers his servant from childhood, he will turn out
to be stubborn. [PROV 29:21]
An ill-tempered man stirs up disputes, and a hotheaded man is
the cause of many sins. [PROV 29:22]
Man's pride causes his humiliation, but he who is humble of
spirit obtains honor. [PROV 29:23]
The fear of man brings a snare, but he who trusts in the LORD
is safe. [PROV 29:25]
What profit has man from all the labor which he toils at under
the sun? [ECCL 1:3]
All speech is labored; there is nothing man can say. The eye is
not satisfied with seeing nor is the ear filled with hearing.
[ECCL 1:8]
There is no remembrance of the men of old; nor of those to come
will there be any remembrance among those who come after them.
[ECCL 1:11]
For what will the man do who is to come after the king? What
men have already done! I went on to the consideration of wisdom,
madness and folly. [ECCL 2:12]
The wise man has eyes in his head, but the fool walks in
darkness. Yet I knew that one lot befalls both of them. [ECCL
2:14]
Neither of the wise man nor of the fool will there be an
abiding remembrance, for in days to come both will have been
forgotten. How is it that the wise man dies as well as the fool!
[ECCL 2:16]
And I detested all the fruits of my labor under the sun,
because I must leave them to a man who is to come after me. And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he
will have control over all the fruits of my wise labor under the
sun. This also is vanity. [ECCL 2:18-19]
For here is a man who has labored with wisdom and knowledge and
skill, and to another, who has not labored over it, he must leave
his property. This also is vanity and a great misfortune. [ECCL
2:21]
There is nothing better for man than to eat and drink and
provide himself with good things by his labors. Even this, I
realized, is from the hand of God. [ECCL 2:24]
For to whatever man he sees fit he gives wisdom and knowledge
and joy; but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering
possessions to be given to whatever man God sees fit. This also is
vanity and a chase after wind. [ECCL 2:26]
He has made everything appropriate to its time, and has put the
timeless into their hearts, without men's ever discovering, from
beginning to end, the work which God has done. [ECCL 3:11]
For every man, moreover, to eat and drink and enjoy the fruit
of all his labor is a gift of God. [ECCL 3:13]
And still under the sun in the judgment place I saw wickedness,
and in the seat of justice, iniquity. And I said to myself, both
the just and the wicked God will judge, since there is a time for
every affair and on every work a judgment. I said to myself: As
for the children of men, it is God's way of testing them and of
showing that they are in themselves like beasts. For the lot of
man and of beast is one lot; the one dies as well as the other.
Both have the same life-breath, and man has no advantage over the
beast; but all is vanity. Both go to the same place; both were
made from the dust, and to the dust they both return. Who knows if
the life-breath of the children of men goes upward and the
life-breath of beasts goes earthward? And I saw that there is
nothing better for a man than to rejoice in his work; for this is
his lot. Who will let him see what is to come after him? [ECCL 3:16-22]
Two are better than one: they get a good wage for their labor.
If the one falls, the other will lift up his companion. Woe to the
solitary man! For if he should fall, he has no one to lift him up.
Where a lone man may be overcome, two together can resist. A
three-ply cord is not easily broken. [ECCL 4:9-10,12]
The covetous man is never satisfied with money, and the lover
of wealth reaps no fruit from it; so this too is vanity. [ECCL
5:9]
Sleep is sweet to the laboring man, whether he eats little or
much, but the rich man's abundance allows him no sleep. [ECCL
5:11]
Here is what I recognize as good: it is well for a man to eat
and drink and enjoy all the fruits of his labor under the sun
during the limited days of the life which God gives him; for this
is his lot. [ECCL 5:17]
Any man to whom God gives riches and property, and grants power
to partake of them, so that he receives his lot and finds joy in
the fruits of his toil, has a gift from God. [ECCL 5:18]
Should a man have a hundred children and live many years, no
matter to what great age, still if he has not the full benefit of
his goods, or if he is deprived of burial, of this man I proclaim
that the child born dead is more fortunate than he. [ECCL 6:3]
All man's toil is for his mouth, yet his desire is not
fulfilled. [ECCL 6:7]
Whatever is, was long ago given its name, and the nature of man
is known, and that he cannot contend in judgment with one who is
stronger than he. [ECCL 6:10]
It is better to go to the house of mourning than to the house
of feasting, For that is the end of every man, and the living
should take it to heart. [ECCL 7:2]
It is better to hearken to the wise man's rebuke than to
hearken to the song of fools [Taken from ECCL 7:5]
For oppression can make a fool of a wise man, and a bribe
corrupts the heart. [ECCL 7:7]
On a good day enjoy good things, and on an evil day consider:
Both the one and the other God has made, so that man cannot find
fault with him in anything. [ECCL 7:14]
Wisdom is a better defense for the wise man than would be ten
princes in the city, yet there is no man on earth so just as to do good and never
sin. [ECCL 7:19-20]
Behold, only this have I found out: God made mankind straight,
but men have had recourse to many calculations. [ECCL 7:29]
Who is like the wise man, and who knows the explanation of
things? A man's wisdom illumines his face, but an impudent look is
resented. [ECCL 8:1]
"He who keeps the commandment experiences no evil, and the
wise man's heart knows times and judgments; for there is a time
and a judgment for everything." - Yet it is a great affliction
for man that he is ignorant of what is to come; for who will make
known to him how it will be? There is no man who is master of the
breath of life so as to retain it, and none has mastery of the day
of death. There is no exemption from the struggle, nor are the
wicked saved by their wickedness. [ECCL 8:5-8]
Because the sentence against evildoers is not promptly
executed, therefore the hearts of men are filled with the desire
to commit evil - because the sinner does evil a hundred times and
survives. Though indeed I know that it shall be well with those
who fear God, for their reverence toward him; and that it shall
not be well with the wicked man, and he shall not prolong his
shadowy days, for his lack of reverence toward God. This is a
vanity which occurs on earth: there are just men treated as though
they had done evil and wicked men treated as though they had done
justly. [Taken from ECCL 8:11-14]
I recognized that man is unable to find out all God's work that
is done under the sun, even though neither by day nor by night do
his eyes find rest in sleep. However much man toils in searching,
he does not find it out; and even if the wise man says that he
knows, he is unable to find it out. [ECCL 8:17]
The wise man's understanding turns him to his right; the fool's
understanding turns him to his left. [ECCL 10:2]
Words from the wise man's mouth win favor, but the fool's lips
consume him. [ECCL 10:12]
Man knows not what is to come, for who can tell him what is to
come after him? [Taken from ECCL 10:14]
Rejoice, O young man, while you are young and let your heart be
glad in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart, the
vision of your eyes; Yet understand that as regards all this God
will bring you to judgment. [ECCL 11:9]
The last word, when all is heard: Fear God and keep his
commandments, for this is man's all; because God will bring to
judgment every work, with all its hidden qualities, whether good
or bad. [ECCL 12:13-14]
As an apple tree among the trees of the woods, so is my lover
among men. I delight to rest in his shadow, and his fruit is sweet
to my mouth. [SONG 2:3]
Your neck is like David's tower girt with battlements; A
thousand bucklers hang upon it, all the shields of valiant men.
[SONG 4:4]
For perverse counsels separate a man from God, and his
power, put to the proof, rebukes the foolhardy; Because into a
soul that plots evil wisdom enters not, nor dwells she in a
body under debt of sin. [WISDOM 1:3-4]
For the spirit of the LORD fills the world, is all-embracing,
and knows what man says. [WISDOM 1:7]
For the devices of the wicked man shall be
scrutinized, and the sound of his words shall reach the
LORD, for the chastisement of his transgressions; Because a
jealous ear hearkens to everything, and discordant grumblings
are no secret. Therefore guard against profitless
grumbling, and from calumny withhold your tongues; For a
stealthy utterance does not go unpunished, and a lying mouth
slays the soul. [WISDOM 1:9-11]
"Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to
us; he sets himself against our doings, Reproaches us
for transgressions of the law and charges us with violations
of our training. He professes to have knowledge of God and
styles himself a child of the LORD. To us he is the censure of our
thoughts; merely to see him is a hardship for us, Because his
life is not like other men's, and different are his ways. He
judges us debased; he holds aloof from our paths as from
things impure. He calls blest the destiny of the
just and boasts that God is his Father. Let us see whether
his words be true; let us find out what will happen to him.
For if the just one be the son of God, he will defend him and
deliver him from the hand of his foes. With revilement and torture
let us put him to the test that we may have proof of his
gentleness and try his patience. Let us condemn him to a
shameful death; for according to his own words, God will take
care of him." [WISDOM 2:12-20]
For God formed man to be imperishable; the image of his own
nature he made him. [WISDOM 2:23]
For if before men, indeed, they be punished, yet is their
hope full of immortality; Chastised a little, they shall be
greatly blessed, because God tried them and found them
worthy of himself. As gold in the furnace, he proved
them, and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself. [WISDOM 3:4-6]
Better is childlessness with virtue; for immortal is its
memory: because both by God is it acknowledged, and by men. When
it is present men imitate it, and they long for it when it is
gone; And forever it marches crowned in
triumph, victorious in unsullied deeds of valor. [WISDOM 4:1-2]
But the just man, though he die early, shall be at rest. For
the age that is honorable comes not with the passing
of time, nor can it be measured in terms of years.
Rather, understanding is the hoary crown for men, and an
unsullied life, the attainment of old age. [WISDOM 4:7-9]
Yes, the just man dead condemns the sinful who live, and
youth swiftly completed condemns the many years of the wicked
man grown old. For they see the death of the wise man and do
not understand what the LORD intended for him, or why he made
him secure. They see, and hold him in contempt; but the LORD
laughs them to scorn. [WISDOM 4:16-18]
Resplendent and unfading is Wisdom, and she is readily
perceived by those who love her, and found by those who seek
her. She hastens to make herself known in anticipation of
men's desire; he who watches for her at dawn shall not be
disappointed, for he shall find her sitting by his gate. [WISDOM 6:12-14]
A great number of wise men is the safety of the world, and a
prudent king, the stability of his people [Taken from WISDOM 6:24]
I too am a mortal man, the same as all the rest, and a
descendant of the first man formed on earth. And in my
mother's womb I was molded into flesh in a ten-months' period-body
and blood, from the seed of man, and the pleasure that
accompanies marriage. And I too, when born, inhaled the
common air, and fell upon the kindred earth; wailing, I
uttered that first sound common to all. In swaddling clothes and
with constant care I was nurtured. For no king has any different
origin or birth, but one is the entry into life for all; and in
one same way they leave it. [WISDOM 7:1-6]
[Wisdom:] For to men she is an unfailing treasure; those who gain this
treasure win the friendship of God, to whom the gifts they have
from discipline commend them. [Taken from WISDOM 7:14]
Cycles of years, positions of the stars, natures of animals,
tempers of beasts, Powers of the winds and thoughts of
men, uses of plants and virtues of roots- Such things as are
hidden I learned and such as are plain; for Wisdom, the artificer
of all, taught me. [Taken from
WISDOM 7:19-22]
Or if one loves justice, the fruits of her works are virtues;
For she teaches moderation and prudence, justice and fortitude,
and nothing in life is more useful for men than these. [WISDOM
8:7]
God of my fathers, LORD of mercy. you who have made all
things by your word And in your wisdom have established
man to rule the creatures produced by you, To govern the
world in holiness and justice, and to render judgment in
integrity of heart: Give me Wisdom, the attendant at your
throne, and reject me not from among your children; For I am
your servant, the son of your handmaid, a man weak and
short-lived and lacking in comprehension of judgment and of
laws. [WISDOM 9:1-5]
Indeed, though one be perfect among the sons of men, if Wisdom,
who comes from you, be not with him, he shall be held in no
esteem. [WISDOM 9:6]
For what man knows God's counsel, or who can conceive what our
LORD intends? [WISDOM 9:13]
And scarce do we guess the things on earth, and what is
within our grasp we find with difficulty; but when things are
in heaven, who can search them out? Or who ever knew your counsel,
except you had given Wisdom and sent your holy spirit from on
high? And thus were the paths of those on earth made
straight, and men learned what was your pleasure, and
were saved by Wisdom. [WISDOM 9:16-18]
[Wisdom:] She preserved the first-formed father of the
world when he alone had been created; And she raised him
up from his fall, and gave him power to rule all things. But when
the unjust man withdrew from her in his anger, he perished
through his fratricidal wrath. When on his account the earth was
flooded, Wisdom again saved it, piloting the just man on
frailest wood. She, when the nations were sunk in universal
wickedness, knew the just man, kept him blameless before
God, and preserved him resolute against pity for his child. [Taken from WISDOM 10:1-5]
For those who forsook Wisdom first were bereft of
knowledge of the right, And then they left mankind a memorial
of their folly - so that they could not even be hidden in
their fall. But Wisdom delivered from tribulations those who
served her. She, when the just man fled from his brother's
anger, guided him in direct ways, Showed him the kingdom
of God and gave him knowledge of holy things; She
prospered him in his labors and made abundant the fruit of
his works, Stood by him against the greed of his
defrauders, and enriched him; She preserved him from
foes, and secured him against ambush, And she gave him
the prize for his stern struggle that he might know that
devotion to God is mightier than all else. She did not
abandon the just man when he was sold, but delivered him from
sin. [WISDOM 10:8-13]
And in return for their senseless, wicked thoughts, which
misled them into worshiping dumb serpents and
worthless insects, You sent upon them swarms of dumb
creatures for vengeance; that they might recognize that a man is
punished by the very things through which he sins. [WISDOM 11:15-16]
But you have mercy on all, because you can do all things; and
you overlook the sins of men that they may repent. [WISDOM 11:23]
But even these, as they were men, you spared, and sent
wasps as forerunners of your army that they might exterminate
them by degrees. Not that you were without power to have the
wicked vanquished in battle by the just, or wiped out at
once by terrible beasts or by one decisive word; But
condemning them bit by bit, you gave them space
for repentance. You were not unaware that their race was
wicked and their malice ingrained, And that their
dispositions would never change; for they were a race accursed
from the beginning. Neither out of fear for anyone did
you grant amnesty for their sins. For who can say to you,
"What have you done?" or who can oppose your
decree? Or when peoples perish, who can challenge you, their
maker; or who can come into your presence as vindicator of
unjust men? For neither is there any god besides you who have
the care of all, that you need show you have not
unjustly condemned; Nor can any king or prince confront you on
behalf of those you have punished. [WISDOM 12:8-14]
For all men were by nature foolish who were in ignorance
of God, and who from the good things seen did not
succeed in knowing him who is, and from studying the
works did not discern the artisan; But either fire, or wind, or
the swift air, or the circuit of the stars, or the mighty
water, or the luminaries of heaven, the governors of the
world, they considered gods. Now if out of joy in their
beauty they thought them gods, let them know how far more
excellent is the Lord than these; for the original source of
beauty fashioned them. [WISDOM 13:1-3]
But you will that the products of your Wisdom be not idle;
therefore men trust their lives even to frailest wood, and have
been safe crossing the surge on a raft. [WISDOM 14:5]
Equally odious to God are the evildoer and his evil deed; and
the thing made shall be punished with its contriver. Therefore
upon even the idols of the nations shall a
visitation come, since they have become abominable amid
God's works, Snares for the souls of men and a trap for
the feet of the senseless. For the source of wantoness is the
devising of idols; and their invention was a corruption of
life. For in the beginning they were not, nor shall they
continue forever; for by the vanity of men they came into the
world, and therefore a sudden end is devised for them. [WISDOM 14:9-14]
Men who lived so far away that they could not honor him in
his presence copied the appearance of the distant
king And made a public image of him they wished to
honor, out of zeal to flatter him when absent, as though
present. And to promote this observance among those to whom it
was strange, the artisan's ambition provided a stimulus.
For he, mayhap in his determination to please the
ruler, labored over the likeness to the best of his skill;
And the masses, drawn by the charm of the workmanship, soon
thought he should be worshiped who shortly before was honored
as a man. And this became a snare for mankind, that men
enslaved to either grief or tyranny conferred the
incommunicable Name on stocks and stones.
[WISDOM 14:17-21]
Man, however, slays in his malice, but when the spirit has
come away, it does not return, nor can he bring back the soul
once it is confined. But your hand none can escape. [WISDOM 16:14-15]
That your sons whom you loved might learn, O LORD, that it is
not the various kinds of fruits that nourish man, but it is your
word that preserves those who believe you! [WISDOM 16:26]
For what was not destroyed by fire, when merely warmed by
a momentary sunbeam, melted; So that men might know that one must
give you thanks before the sunrise, and turn to you at
daybreak. For the hope of the ingrate melts like a wintry
frost and runs off like useless water. [WISDOM 16:27-29]
The beginning of wisdom is fear of the LORD, which is
formed with the faithful in the womb. With devoted men was she
created from of old, and with their children her beneficence
abides. [SIRACH 1:12-13]
Fullness of wisdom is fear of the LORD; she inebriates men with
her fruits. [SIRACH 1:14]
One cannot justify unjust anger; anger plunges a man to his
downfall. [SIRACH 1:19]
A patient man need stand firm but for a time, and then
contentment comes back to him. [SIRACH 1:20]
Play not the hypocrite before men; over your lips keep watch. [SIRACH
1:26]
For in fire gold is tested, and worthy men in the crucible of
humiliation. [SIRACH 2:5]
Let us fall into the hands of the LORD and not into the hands
of men, For equal to his majesty is the mercy that he shows. [SIRACH
2:18]
Glory not in your father's shame, for his shame is no
glory to you! His father's honor is a man's glory; disgrace
for her children, a mother's shame. [SIRACH 3:10-11]
A stubborn man will fare badly in the end, and he who loves
danger will perish in it. [SIRACH 3:25]
A stubborn man will be burdened with sorrow; a sinner will heap
sin upon sin. [SIRACH 3:26]
For the affliction of the proud man there is no cure; he is the
offshoot of an evil plant. [SIRACH 3:27]
The mind of a sage appreciates proverbs, and an attentive ear
is the wise man's joy. [SIRACH 3:28]
My son, rob not the poor man of his livelihood; force not the
eyes of the needy to turn away. [SIRACH 4:1]
A hungry man grieve not, a needy man anger not [Taken from
SIRACH 4:2]
From the needy turn not your eyes, give no man reason to
curse you; For if in the bitterness of his soul he curse
you, his Creator will hear his prayer. [SIRACH 4:5-6]
Endear yourself to the assembly; before a ruler bow your
head. Give a hearing to the poor man, and return his greeting
with courtesy; Deliver the oppressed from the hand of the
oppressor; let not justice be repugnant to you. [SIRACH 4:7-9]
Do not abase yourself before an impious man, nor refuse to do
so before rulers. [SIRACH 4:27]
Honor and dishonor through talking! A man's tongue can be his
downfall. [SIRACH 5:15]
Say nothing harmful, small or great; be not a foe instead of a
friend; A bad name and disgrace will you acquire: "That for
the evil man with double tongue!" [SIRACH 6:1]
If you see a man of prudence, seek him out; let your feet wear
away his doorstep! [SIRACH 6:36]
Laugh not at an embittered man; be mindful of him who exalts
and humbles. [SIRACH 7:11]
More and more, humble your pride; what awaits man is worms. [SIRACH
7:17]
Giving your daughter in marriage ends a great task; but give
her to a worthy man. [SIRACH 7:25]
To the poor man also extend your hand, that your blessing may
be complete [Taken from SIRACH 7:32]
Contend not with an influential man, lest you fall into his
power. [SIRACH 8:1]
Quarrel not with a rich man, lest he pay out the price of your
downfall; For gold has dazzled many, and perverts the character of
princes. [SIRACH 8:2]
Dispute not with a man of railing speech, heap no wood upon his
fire. [SIRACH 8:3]
Be not too familiar with an unruly man, lest he speak ill of
your forebears. [SIRACH 8:4]
Insult no man when he is old, for some of us, too, will grow
old. [SIRACH 8:6]
Rejoice not when a man dies; remember, we are all to die. [SIRACH
8:7]
Reject not the tradition of old men which they have learned
from their fathers; From it you will obtain the knowledge how to
answer in time of need. [SIRACH 8:9]
Let not the impious man intimidate you; it will set him in
ambush against you. [SIRACH 8:11]
Travel not with a ruthless man, lest he weigh you down with
calamity; For he will go his own way straight, and through his
folly you will perish with him. [SIRACH 8:15]
Provoke no quarrel with a quick-tempered man, nor ride with him
through the desert, For bloodshed is nothing to him; when there is
no one to help you, he will destroy you. [SIRACH 8:16]
Open your heart to no man, and banish not your happiness. [SIRACH
8:19]
Rejoice not at a proud man's success; remember he will not
reach death unpunished. [SIRACH 9:12]
Keep far from the man who has power to kill, and you will not
be filled with the dread of death. But if you approach him, offend
him not, lest he take away your life; Know that you are stepping
among snares and walking over a net. [SIRACH 9:13]
Have just men for your table companions; in the fear of God be
your glory. [SIRACH 9:16]
Feared in the city is the man of railing speech, and he who
talks rashly is hated. [SIRACH 9:18]
A wise magistrate lends stability to his people, and the
government of a prudent man is well ordered. [SIRACH 10:1]
Sovereignty over the earth is in the hand of God, who raises up
on it the man of the hour; Sovereignty over every man is in the hand of God, who imparts
his majesty to the ruler. [SIRACH 10:4-5]
Odious to the LORD and to men is arrogance, and the sin of
oppression they both hate. [SIRACH 10:7]
Why are dust and ashes proud? even during life man's body
decays [Taken from SIRACH 10:9]
The beginning of pride is man's stubbornness in withdrawing his
heart from his Maker; For pride is the reservoir of sin, a source which runs over
with vice; Because of it God sends unheard-of afflictions and
brings men to utter ruin. [SIRACH 10:12-13]
The traces of the proud God sweeps away and effaces the
memory of them from the earth. Insolence is not allotted to a
man, nor stubborn anger to one born of woman. [SIRACH 10:17-18]
Whose offspring can be in honor? Those of men. Which offspring
are in honor? Those who fear God. Whose offspring can be in
disgrace? Those of men. Which offspring are in disgrace? Those who
transgress the commandments. [SIRACH 10:19]
It is not just to despise a man who is wise but poor, nor
proper to honor any sinner. [SIRACH 10:22]
The poor man is honored for his wisdom as the rich man is
honored for his wealth; Honored in poverty, how much more so in
wealth! Dishonored in wealth, in poverty how much the more! [SIRACH 10:29-30]
The poor man's wisdom lifts his head high and sets him among
princes. [SIRACH 11:1]
Praise not a man for his looks; despise not a man for his
appearance. [SIRACH 11:2]
Mock not the worn cloak and jibe at no man's bitter day: For
strange are the works of the LORD, hidden from men his deeds. [SIRACH
11:4]
A man may become rich through a miser's life, and this is
his allotted reward: When he says: "I have found
rest, now I will feast on my possessions," He does
not know how long it will be till he dies and leaves them to
others. [SIRACH 11:18-19]
Admire not how sinners live, but trust in the LORD and wait for
his light; For it is easy with the LORD suddenly, in an instant,
to make a poor man rich. [SIRACH 11:21]
God's blessing is the lot of the just man, and in due time his
hopes bear fruit. [SIRACH 11:22]
For it is easy with the LORD on the day of death to repay man
according to his deeds. [SIRACH 11:26]
A moment's affliction brings forgetfulness of past delights;
when a man dies, his life is revealed. [SIRACH 11:27]
Call no man happy before his death, for by how he ends, a man
is known. [SIRACH 11:28]
Bring not every man into your house, for many are the
snares of the crafty one; Though he seem like a bird confined in a
cage, yet like a spy he will pick out the weak spots. [SIRACH 11:29-30]
The evil man lies in wait for blood, and plots against your
choicest possessions. [SIRACH 11:32]
Avoid a wicked man, for he breeds only evil, lest you incur a
lasting stain. [SIRACH 11:33]
Do good to the just man and reward will be yours, if not from
him, from the LORD. [SIRACH 12:2]
Give to the good man, refuse the sinner; refresh the
downtrodden, give nothing to the proud man. [SIRACH 12:4]
When a man is successful even his enemy is friendly; in
adversity even his friend disappears. [SIRACH 12:9]
Who pities a snake charmer when he is bitten, or anyone
who goes near a wild beast? So is it with the companion of the
proud man, who is involved in his sins: While you stand firm,
he makes no bold move; but if you slip, he cannot hold back.
[SIRACH 12:13-15]
He who touches pitch blackens his hand; he who associates with
an impious man learns his ways. [SIRACH 13:1]
The rich man does wrong and boasts of it, the poor man is
wronged and begs forgiveness. [SIRACH 13:3]
As long as the rich man can use you he will enslave you, but
when you are exhausted, he will abandon you. [SIRACH 13:4]
When invited by a man of influence, keep your distance; then he
will urge you all the more. [SIRACH 13:9]
Be on your guard and take care never to accompany men of
violence. [SIRACH 13:13]
Every living thing loves its own kind, every man a man like
himself. [SIRACH 13:14]
Every being is drawn to its own kind; with his own kind every
man associates. [SIRACH 13:15]
A proud man abhors lowliness; so does the rich man abhor the
poor. [SIRACH 13:19]
When a rich man stumbles he is supported by a friend; when a
poor man trips he is pushed down by a friend. [SIRACH 13:20]
Many are the supporters for a rich man when he speaks; though
what he says is odious, it wins approval. When a poor man speaks
they make sport of him; he speaks wisely and no attention is paid
him. [SIRACH 13:21]
A rich man speaks and all are silent, his wisdom they extol to
the clouds. A poor man speaks and they say: "Who is
that?" If he slips they cast him down. [SIRACH 13:22]
The heart of a man changes his countenance, either for good or
for evil. [SIRACH 13:24]
Happy the man whose mouth brings him no grief, who is not stung
by remorse for sin. [SIRACH 14:1]
Happy the man whose conscience does not reproach him, who has
not lost hope. [SIRACH 14:2]
Wealth ill becomes the mean man; and to the miser, of what
use is gold? What he denies himself he collects for
others, and in his possessions a stranger will revel. To whom
will he be generous who is stingy with himself and does not
enjoy what is his own? None is more stingy than he who is stingy
with himself; he punishes his own miserliness. If ever he is
generous, it is by mistake; and in the end he displays his
greed. In the miser's opinion his share is too small; he refuses
his neighbor and brings ruin on himself. [SIRACH
14:3-9]
All man's works will perish in decay, and his handiwork will
follow after him. [SIRACH 14:19]
Happy the man who meditates on wisdom, and reflects on
knowledge; Who ponders her ways in his heart, and understands
her paths; Who pursues her like a scout, and lies in wait at
her entry way [Taken from SIRACH 14:20-22]
He who fears the LORD will do this; he who is practiced in
the law will come to wisdom. Motherlike she will meet
him, like a young bride she will embrace him, Nourish him
with the bread of understanding, and give him the water of
learning to drink. He will lean upon her and not fall, he
will trust in her and not be put to shame. She will exalt him
above his fellows; in the assembly she will make him
eloquent. Joy and gladness he will find, an everlasting name
inherit. Worthless men will not attain to her, haughty men
will not behold her. [SIRACH 15:1-7]
Unseemly is praise on a sinner's lips, for it is not
accorded to him by God. But praise is offered by the wise man's
tongue; its rightful steward will proclaim it. [SIRACH 15:9-10]
Say not: "It was God's doing that I fell
away"; for what he hates he does not do. Say not:
"It was he who set me astray"; for he has no need
of wicked man. Abominable wickedness the LORD hates, he does
not let it befall those who fear him. [SIRACH 15:11-13]
When God, in the beginning, created man, he made him
subject to his own free choice. If you choose you can keep the
commandments; it is loyalty to do his will. There are set
before you fire and water; to whichever you choose, stretch
forth your hand. Before man are life and death, whichever he
chooses shall be given him. [SIRACH 15:14-17]
Immense is the wisdom of the LORD; he is mighty in power,
and all-seeing. The eyes of God see all he has made; he
understands man's every deed. No man does he command to
sin, to none does he give strength for lies. [SIRACH 15:18-20]
Through one wise man can a city be peopled; through a clan of
rebels it becomes desolate. [SIRACH 16:4]
He forgave not the leaders of old who rebelled long ago in
their might; He spared not the neighbors of Lot whom he
detested for their pride; Nor did he spare the doomed
people who were uprooted because of their sin; Nor the six
hundred thousand foot soldiers who perished for the impiety of
their hearts. And had there been but one stiff-necked man, it
were a wonder had he gone unpunished. For mercy and anger
alike are with him who remits and forgives, though on the
wicked alights his wrath. Great as his mercy is his
punishment; he judges men, each according to his deeds. A criminal
does not escape with his plunder; a just man's hope God does
not leave unfulfilled. Whoever does good has his reward, which
each receives according to his deeds. [SIRACH 16:7-14]
Say not: "I am hidden from God; in heaven who
remembers me? Among so many people I cannot be
known; what am I in the world of spirits? Behold, the
heavens, the heaven of heavens, the earth and the abyss
tremble at his visitation; The roots of the mountains, the earth's
foundations, at his mere glance, quiver and quake. Of me,
therefore, he will take no thought; with my ways who will
concern himself? If I sin, no eye will see me; if all in
secret I am disloyal, who is to know? Who tells him of just
deeds and what could I expect for doing my duty?" Such
are the thoughts of senseless men, which only the foolish
knave will think. [SIRACH 16:15-21]
The LORD from the earth created man, and in his own image
he made him. Limited days of life he gives him and makes him
return to earth again. He endows man with a strength of his
own, and with power over all things else on earth. He puts
the fear of him in all flesh, and gives him rule over beasts
and birds. He forms men's tongues and eyes and ears, and
imparts to them an understanding heart. With wisdom and knowledge
he fills them; good and evil he shows them. He looks with
favor upon their hearts, and shows them his glorious works,
That they may describe the wonders of his deeds and praise
his holy name. He has set before them knowledge, a law of
life as their inheritance; An everlasting covenant he has made
with them, his commandments he has revealed to them. His
majestic glory their eyes beheld, his glorious voice their
ears heard. He says to them, "Avoid all evil"; each
of them he gives precepts about his fellow men. Their ways are
ever known to him, they cannot be hidden from his eyes. [SIRACH 17:1-13]
A man's goodness God cherishes like a signet ring, a man's
virtue, like the apple of his eye. [SIRACH 17:17]
Later he will rise up
and repay them, and requite each one of them as they deserve.
But to the penitent he provides a way back, he encourages
those who are losing hope! Return to the LORD and give up
sin, pray to him and make your offenses few. Turn again to
the Most High and away from sin, hate intensely what he
loathes... How great the mercy of the LORD, his forgiveness
of those who return to him! The like cannot be found in
men, for not immortal is any son of man. [SIRACH 17:18-21,24-25]
Is anything brighter than the sun? Yet it can be
eclipsed. How obscure then the thoughts of flesh and blood!
God watches over the hosts of highest heaven, while all men
are dust and ashes. [SIRACH 17:26-27]
What is man, of what worth is he? the good, the evil in
him, what are these? The sum of a man's days is great if it
reaches a hundred years: Like a drop of sea water, like a grain of
sand, so are these few years among the days of eternity. That
is why the LORD is patient with men and showers upon them his
mercy. He sees and understands that their death is
grievous, and so he forgives them all the more. Man may be
merciful to his fellow man, but the LORD'S mercy reaches all
flesh, Reproving, admonishing, teaching, as a shepherd guides
his flock; Merciful to those who accept his guidance, who are
diligent in his precepts. [SIRACH 18:6-13]
My son, to your charity add no reproach, nor spoil any
gift by harsh words. Like dew that abates a burning wind, so
does a word improve a gift. Sometimes the word means more than the
gift; both are offered by a kindly man. [SIRACH 18:14-16]
A wise man is circumspect in all things; when sin is rife he
keeps himself from wrongdoing. [SIRACH 18:27]
Any learned man should make wisdom known, and he who
attains to her should declare her praise; Those trained in her
words must show their wisdom, dispensing sound proverbs like
life-giving waters. [SIRACH 18:28-29]
Let anything you hear die within you; be assured it will
not make you burst. When a fool hears something, he is in
labor, like a woman giving birth to a child. Like an arrow
lodged in a man's thigh is gossip in the breast of a fool. [SIRACH 19:9-11]
Admonish your friend - he may not have done it; and if he
did, that he may not do it again. Admonish your neighbor - he may
not have said it; and if he did, that he may not say it
again. Admonish your friend - often it may be slander; every
story you must not believe. Then, too, a man can slip and not mean
it; who has not sinned with his tongue? Admonish your
neighbor before you break with him; thus will you fulfill the
law of the Most High. [SIRACH 19:12-16]
There is a shrewdness that is detestable, while the simple man
may be free from sin. [SIRACH 19:19]
There is the wicked man who is bowed in grief, but is full
of guile within; He bows his head and feigns not to hear, but
when not observed, he will take advantage of you: Even though his
lack of strength keeps him from sinning, when he finds the
opportunity, he will do harm. [SIRACH 19:22-24]
One can tell a man by his appearance; a wise man is known as
such when first met. A man's attire, his hearty laughter and his gait, proclaim him
for what he is. [SIRACH 19:25-26]
An admonition can be inopportune, and a man may be wise to hold
his peace. [SIRACH 20:1]
One man is silent and is thought wise, another is talkative and
is disliked. [SIRACH 20:4]
One man is silent because he has nothing to say; another is
silent, biding his time. [SIRACH 20:5]
A wise man is silent till the right time comes, but a boasting
fool ignores the proper time. [SIRACH 20:6]
Some misfortunes bring success; some things gained are a man's
loss. [SIRACH 20:8]
Humiliation can follow fame, while from obscurity a man can
lift up his head. [SIRACH 20:10]
A man may buy much for little, but pay for it seven times over.
[SIRACH 20:11]
A wise man makes himself popular by a few words, but fools pour
forth their blandishments in vain. [SIRACH 20:12]
A gift from a rogue will do you no good, for in his eyes
his one gift is equal to seven. He gives little and criticizes
often, and like a crier he shouts aloud. He lends today,
he asks it back tomorrow; hateful indeed is such a man. [SIRACH 20:13-14]
A man through want may be unable to sin, yet in this
tranquility he cannot rest. [SIRACH 20:20]
A man makes a promise to a friend out of shame, and has him for
his enemy needlessly. [SIRACH 20:22]
A lie is a foul blot in a man, yet it is constantly on the lips
of the unruly. [SIRACH 20:23]
A wise man advances himself by his words, a prudent man pleases
the great. [SIRACH 20:26]
Better the man who hides his folly than the one who hides his
wisdom. [SIRACH 20:30]
Flee from sin as from a serpent that will bite you if you go
near it; Its teeth are lion's teeth, destroying the souls of men.
[SIRACH 21:2]
Violence and arrogance wipe out wealth; so too a proud man's
home is destroyed. [SIRACH 21:4]
Prayer from a poor man's lips is heard at once, and justice is
quickly granted him. [SIRACH 21:5]
Widely known is the boastful speaker but the wise man knows his
own faults. [SIRACH 21:7]
A wise man's knowledge wells up in a flood, and his
counsel, like a living spring; A fool's mind is like a broken jar
- no knowledge at all can it hold. [SIRACH 21:13-14]
When an intelligent man hears words of wisdom, he approves them
and adds to them; The wanton hears them with scorn and casts them
behind his back. [SIRACH 21:15]
The views of a prudent man are sought in an assembly, and his
words are considered with care. [SIRACH 21:17]
Like a house in ruins is wisdom to a fool; the stupid man knows
it only as inscrutable words. [SIRACH 21:18]
A fool raises his voice in laughter, but the prudent man at the
most smiles gently. [SIRACH 21:20]
Like a chain of gold is learning to a wise man, like a bracelet
on his right arm. [SIRACH 21:21]
The fool steps boldly into a house, while the well-bred man
remains outside; A boor peeps through the doorway of a house, but a cultured man
keeps his glance cast down. [SIRACH 21:22-23]
It is rude for one to listen at a door; a cultured man would be
overwhelmed by the disgrace of it. [SIRACH 21:24]
The lips of the impious talk of what is not their
concern, but the words of the prudent are carefully weighed.
Fools' thoughts are in their mouths, wise men's words are in
their hearts. [SIRACH 21:25-26]
When a godless man curses his adversary he really curses
himself. A slanderer besmirches himself, and is hated by his
neighbors. [SIRACH 21:27-28]
Teaching a fool is like gluing a broken pot, or like
disturbing a man in the depths of sleep; He talks with a slumberer
who talks with a fool, for when it is over, he will say,
"What was that?" [SIRACH 22:7-8]
Weep over the dead man, for his light has gone out; weep
over the fool, for sense has left him. Weep but a little over the
dead man, for he is at rest; but worse than death is the life
of a fool. Seven days of mourning for the dead, but for the
wicked fool a whole lifetime. [SIRACH 22:9-11]
Speak but seldom with the stupid man, be not the companion
of a brute; Beware of him lest you have trouble and be
spattered when he shakes himself; Turn away from him and you
will find rest and not be wearied by his lack of sense. [SIRACH 22:12-13]
Sand and salt and an iron mass are easier to bear than a stupid
man. [SIRACH 22:15]
Make fast friends with a man while he is poor; thus will you
enjoy his prosperity with him. In time of trouble remain true to
him, so as to share in his inheritance when it comes. [SIRACH
22:23]
Through his lips is the sinner ensnared; the railer and
the arrogant man fall thereby. Let not your mouth form the habit
of swearing, or becoming too familiar with the Holy Name.
Just as a slave that is constantly under scrutiny will not be
without welts, So one who swears continually by the Holy
Name will not remain free from sin. [SIRACH 23:8-10]
A man who often swears heaps up obligations; the scourge will
never be far from his house. If he swears in error, he incurs
guilt; if he neglects his obligation, his sin is doubly great. If
he swears without reason he cannot be found just, and all his
house will suffer affliction. [SIRACH 23:11]
A man who has the habit of abusive language will never mature
in character as long as he lives. [SIRACH 23:15]
Two types of men multiply sins, a third draws down
wrath; For burning passion is a blazing fire, not to be
quenched till it burns itself out: A man given to sins of the
flesh, who never stops until the fire breaks forth; The rake
to whom all bread is sweet and who is never through till he
dies; And the man who dishonors his marriage bed and says to
himself "Who can see me? Darkness surrounds me, walls
hide me; no one sees me; why should I fear to
sin?" Of the Most High he is not mindful, fearing only
the eyes of men; He does not understand that the eyes of the
LORD, ten thousand times brighter than the sun, Observe
every step a man takes and peer into hidden corners. He who
knows all things before they exist still knows them all after
they are made. Such a man will be punished in the streets of the
city; when he least expects it, he will be apprehended. So
also with the woman who is unfaithful to her husband and
offers as heir her son by a stranger. First, she has disobeyed the
law of the Most High; secondly, she has wronged her
husband; Thirdly, in her wanton adultery she has borne
children by another man. Such a woman will be dragged before the
assembly, and her punishment will extend to her children; Her
children will not take root; her branches will not bring
forth fruit. She will leave an accursed memory; her disgrace
will never be blotted out. Thus all who dwell on the earth shall
know, and all who inhabit the world shall
understand, That nothing is better than the fear of the LORD,
nothing more salutary than to obey his commandments. [SIRACH 23:16-27]
The first man never finished comprehending wisdom, nor will the
last succeed in fathoming her. [SIRACH 24:26]
With three things I am delighted, for they are pleasing to the
LORD and to men: Harmony among brethren, friendship among
neighbors, and the mutual love of husband and wife. [SIRACH 25:1]
Three kinds of men I hate; their manner of life I loathe
indeed: A proud pauper, a rich dissembler, and an old man
lecherous in his dotage. [SIRACH 25:2]
The crown of old men is wide experience; their glory, the fear
of the LORD. [SIRACH 25:6]
There are nine who come to my mind as blessed, a tenth whom my
tongue proclaims: The man who finds joy in his children, and he
who lives to see his enemies' downfall. [SIRACH 25:7]
Like a sandy hill to aged feet is a railing wife to a quiet
man. [SIRACH 25:19]
The man is a slave, in disgrace and shame, when a wife supports
her husband. [SIRACH 25:21]
These two bring grief to my heart, and the third arouses my
horror: A wealthy man reduced to want; illustrious men held in
contempt; And the man who passes from justice to sin, for whom the
LORD makes ready the sword. [SIRACH 26:19]
When a sieve is shaken, the husks appear; so do a man's
faults when he speaks. As the test of what the potter molds is in
the furnace, so in his conversation is the test of a man. The
fruit of a tree shows the care it has had; so too does a
man's speech disclose the bent of his mind. Praise no man before
he speaks, for it is then that men are tested. [SIRACH 27:4-7]
Ever wise are the discourses of the devout, but the godless
man, like the moon, is inconstant. [SIRACH 27:11]
Limit the time you spend among fools, but frequent the company
of thoughtful men. [SIRACH 27:12]
Cherish your friend, keep faith with him; but if you
betray his confidence, follow him not; For as an enemy might kill
a man, you have killed your neighbor's friendship. [SIRACH 27:17-18]
The vengeful will suffer the LORD'S vengeance, for he
remembers their sins in detail. Forgive your neighbor's
injustice; then when you pray, your own sins will be
forgiven. Should a man nourish anger against his fellows and
expect healing from the LORD? Should a man refuse mercy to his
fellows, yet seek pardon for his own sins? If he who is but
flesh cherishes wrath, who will forgive his sins? [SIRACH 28:1-5]
Avoid strife and your sins will be fewer, for a
quarrelsome man kindles disputes, Commits the sin of disrupting
friendship and sows discord among those at peace. The more
wood, the greater the fire, the more underlying it, the
fiercer the fight; The greater a man's strength, the sterner
his anger, the greater his power, the greater his wrath. [SIRACH 28:8-10]
Many a man who asks for a loan adds to the burdens of
those who help him; When he borrows, he kisses the lender's
hand and speaks with respect of his creditor's
wealth; But when payment is due he disappoints him and
says he is helpless to meet the claim. If the lender is able to
recover barely half, he considers this an achievement; If not, he is cheated of his wealth and
acquires an enemy at no extra charge; With curses and insults
the borrower pays him back, with abuse instead of honor. Many
refuse to lend, not out of meanness, but from fear of being
cheated. To a poor man, however, be generous; keep him not
waiting for your alms; Because of the precept, help the
needy, and in their want, do not send them away empty-handed.
[SIRACH 29:4-9]
A good man goes surety for his neighbor, and only the
shameless would play him false; Forget not the kindness of your
backer, for he offers his very life for you. [SIRACH 29:14-15]
Going surety has ruined many prosperous men and tossed them
about like waves of the sea, Has exiled men of prominence and sent them wandering through
foreign lands. [SIRACH 29:17-18]
Better a poor man's fare under the shadow of one's own
roof than sumptuous banquets among strangers. Be it little or
much, be content with what you have, and pay no heed to him
who would disparage your home; A miserable life it is to go from
house to house, for as a guest you dare not open your mouth.
[SIRACH 29:22-24]
Painful things to a sensitive man are abuse at home and insults
from his creditors. [SIRACH 29:28]
Better a poor man strong and robust, than a rich man with
wasted frame. [SIRACH 30:14]
What good is an offering to an idol that can neither taste
nor smell? So it is with the afflicted man who groans at the
good things his eyes behold! [SIRACH 30:19-20]
Do not give in to sadness, torment not yourself with
brooding; Gladness of heart is the very life of
man, cheerfulness prolongs his days. Distract yourself, renew
your courage, drive resentment far away from you; For
worry has brought death to many, nor is there aught to be
gained from resentment. Envy and anger shorten one's
life, worry brings on premature old age. [SIRACH 30:21-24]
Keeping watch over riches wastes the flesh, and the care
of wealth drives away rest. Concern for one's livelihood banishes
slumber; more than a serious illness it disturbs repose. The
rich man labors to pile up wealth, and his only rest is
wanton pleasure; The poor man toils for a meager
subsistence, and if ever he rests, he finds himself in want.
[SIRACH 31:1-4]
Happy the rich man found without fault, who turns not aside
after gain! [SIRACH 31:8]
If you are dining with a great man, bring not a greedy
gullet to his table, Nor cry out, "How much food there
is here!" Remember that gluttony is evil. No creature is
greedier than the eye: therefore it weeps for any cause.
Recognize that your neighbor feels as you do, and keep in
mind your own dislikes: Toward what he eyes, do not put out a
hand; nor reach when he does for the same dish. Behave at
table like a favored guest, and be not greedy, lest you be
despised. Be the first to stop, as befits good manners; gorge
not yourself, lest you give offense. If there are many with you at
table, be not the first to reach out your hand. Does not a
little suffice for a well-bred man? When he lies down, it is
without discomfort. Distress and anguish and loss of
sleep, and restless tossing for the glutton! Moderate
eating ensures sound slumber and a clear mind next day on
rising. [SIRACH 31:12-20]
On a man generous with food, blessings are invoked, and this
testimony to his goodness is lasting; He who is miserly with food
is denounced in public, and this testimony to his stinginess
is lasting. [SIRACH 31:23-24]
Let not wine-drinking be the proof of your strength, for
wine has been the ruin of many. As the furnace probes the work of
the smith, so does wine the hearts of the insolent. Wine is
very life to man if taken in moderation. Does he really
live who lacks the wine which was created for his joy? Joy of
heart, good cheer and merriment are wine drunk freely at the
proper time. Headache, bitterness and disgrace is wine drunk
amid anger and strife. More and more wine is a snare for the
fool; it lessens his strength and multiplies his wounds. [SIRACH 31:25-30]
Young man, speak only when necessary, when they have asked
you more than once; Be brief, but say much in those few
words, be like the wise man, taciturn. When among your elders
be not forward, and with officials be not too insistent. Like
the lightning that flashes before a storm is the esteem that
shines on modesty. [SIRACH 32:7-10]
The thoughtful man will not neglect direction; the proud and
insolent man is deterred by nothing. [SIRACH 32:18]
No evil can harm the man who fears the LORD; through trials,
again and again he is safe. [SIRACH 33:1]
The prudent man trusts in the word of the LORD, and the law is
dependable for him as a divine oracle. [SIRACH 33:3]
So too, all men are of clay, for from earth man was
formed; Yet with his great knowledge the LORD makes men
unlike; in different paths he has them walk. Some he blesses
and makes great, some he sanctifies and draws to
himself. Others he curses and brings low, and expels
them from their place. Like clay in the hands of a potter, to
be molded according to his pleasure, So are men in the hands
of their Creator, to be assigned by him their function. As
evil contrasts with good, and death with life, so are sinners
in contrast with the just; See now all the works of the Most
High: they come in pairs, the one the opposite of the other.
[SIRACH 33:10-15]
While breath of life is still in you, let no man have
dominion over you. Give not to another your wealth, lest
then you have to plead with him; Far better that your children
plead with you than that you should look to their generosity.
Keep control over all your affairs; let no one tarnish your
glory. When your few days reach their limit, at the time of
death distribute your inheritance. [SIRACH 33:21-24]
Empty and false are the hopes of the senseless, and fools
are borne aloft by dreams. Like a man who catches at shadows or
chases the wind, is the one who believes in dreams. What is
seen in dreams is to reality what the reflection of a face is
to the face itself. Can the unclean produce the clean? can
the liar ever speak the truth? Divination, omens and dreams all
are unreal; what you already expect, the mind depicts. Unless
it be a vision specially sent by the Most High, fix not your
heart on it; For dreams have led many astray, and those who
believed in them have perished. [SIRACH 34:1-7]
The law is fulfilled without fail, and perfect wisdom is found
in the mouth of the faithful man. [SIRACH 34:8]
A man with training gains wide knowledge; a man of experience
speaks sense. One never put to the proof knows little, whereas with travel a
man adds to his resourcefulness. [SIRACH 34:9-10]
Tainted his gifts who offers in sacrifice ill-gotten
goods! Mock presents from the lawless win not God's favor.
The Most High approves not the gifts of the godless, nor for
their many sacrifices does he forgive their sins. Like the man who
slays a son in his father's presence is he who offers
sacrifice from the possessions of the poor. [SIRACH 34:18-20]
The bread of charity is life itself for the needy; he who
withholds it is a man of blood. [SIRACH 34:21]
If one man builds up and another tears down, what do they gain
but trouble? If one man prays and another curses, whose voice will the LORD
hear? [SIRACH 34:23-24]
If a man again touches a corpse after he has bathed, what did
he gain by the purification? So with a man who fasts for his sins, but then goes and commits
them again: Who will hear his prayer, and what has he gained by
his mortification? [SIRACH 34:25-26]
To keep the law is a great oblation, and he who observes
the commandments sacrifices a peace offering. In works of
charity one offers fine flour, and when he gives alms he
presents his sacrifice of praise. To refrain from evil pleases the
LORD, and to avoid injustice is an atonement. Appear not
before the LORD empty-handed, for all that you offer is in
fulfillment of the precepts. The just man's offering enriches the
altar and rises as a sweet odor before the Most High. The
just man's sacrifice is most pleasing, nor will it ever be
forgotten. In generous spirit pay homage to the LORD, be not
sparing of freewill gifts. With each contribution show a cheerful
countenance, and pay your tithes in a spirit of joy. Give to
the Most High as he has given to you, generously, according
to your means. For the LORD is one who always repays, and he
will give back to you sevenfold. [SIRACH 35:1-10]
He who serves God willingly is heard; his petition reaches
the heavens. The prayer of the lowly pierces the clouds; it
does not rest till it reaches its goal, Nor will it withdraw till
the Most High responds, judges justly and affirms the right.
God indeed will not delay, and like a warrior, will not be
still Till he breaks the backs of the merciless and wreaks
vengeance upon the proud; Till he destroys the haughty root and
branch, and smashes the scepter of the wicked; Till he
requites mankind according to its deeds, and repays men
according to their thoughts; Till he defends the cause of his
people, and gladdens them by his mercy. Welcome is his mercy
in time of distress as rain clouds in time of drought. [SIRACH 35:16-24]
A deceitful character causes grief, but an experienced man can
turn the tables on him. [SIRACH 36:20]
Though any man may be accepted as a husband, yet one girl
will be more suitable than another: A woman's beauty makes her
husband's face light up, for it surpasses all else that
charms the eye; And if, besides, her speech is kindly, his
lot is beyond that of mortal men. A wife is her husband's richest
treasure, a helpmate, a steadying column. A vineyard with no
hedge will be overrun; a man with no wife becomes a homeless
wanderer. Who will trust an armed band that shifts from city
to city? Or a man who has no nest, but lodges where night
overtakes him? [SIRACH 36:21-27]
Speak not to a woman about her rival, nor to a coward about
war, to a merchant about business, to a buyer about value, to a
miser about generosity, to a cruel man about mercy, to a lazy man
about work, to a seasonal laborer about the harvest, to an idle
slave about a great task: pay no attention to any advice they
give. Instead, associate with a religious man, who you are sure keeps
the commandments; Who is like-minded with yourself and will feel
for you if you fall. [SIRACH 37:11-12]
A man's conscience can tell him his situation better than seven
watchmen in a lofty tower. [SIRACH 37:14]
A man may be wise and benefit many, yet be of no use to
himself. [SIRACH 37:19]
Though a man may be wise, if his words are rejected he will be
deprived of all enjoyment. [SIRACH 37:20]
When a man is wise to his own advantage, the fruits of his
knowledge are seen in his own person; When a man is wise to his people's advantage, the fruits of his
knowledge are enduring [Taken from SIRACH 37:21-22]
Limited are the days of one man's life, but the life of Israel
is days without number. [SIRACH 37:23]
My son, while you are well, govern your appetite so that
you allow it not what is bad for you; For not every food is good
for everyone, nor is everything suited to every taste. Be not
drawn after every enjoyment, neither become a glutton for
choice foods, For sickness comes with overeating, and
gluttony brings on biliousness. Through lack of self-control many
have died, but the abstemious man prolongs his life. [SIRACH 37:26-30]
God makes the earth yield healing herbs which the prudent
man should not neglect; Was not the water sweetened by a
twig that men might learn his power? He endows men with the
knowledge to glory in his mighty works, Through which the
doctor eases pain and the druggist prepares his medicines;
Thus God's creative work continues without cease in its
efficacy on the surface of the earth. My son, when you are ill,
delay not, but pray to God, who will heal you [Taken from SIRACH 38:4-9]
The scribe's profession increases his wisdom; whoever is free
from toil can become a wise man. [SIRACH 38:24]
All these men are skilled with their hands, each one an
expert at his own task; Without them no city could be lived
in, and wherever they stay, they need not hunger. They do not
occupy the judge's bench, nor are they prominent in the
assembly; They set forth no decisions or judgments, nor
are they found among the rulers; Yet they maintain God's ancient
handiwork, and their concern is for exercise of their skill.
[SIRACH 38:31-34]
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