The Wisdom of Sirach
(from the New English Bible)
I know this book is from The Apocrypha, but I've been going through all the books that just missed being in the Bible and I find such precious nuggets. I've waded through all the Gnostic claptrap and discarded it, but these verses just blessed me. So, I'm sharing them with you.
Chapter 1
22 Unjust rage can never be excused; when anger tips the scale it is a man's downfall.
23 Until the right time comes, a patient man restrains himself, and afterwards cheerfulness breaks through again;
24 until the right moment he keeps his thoughts to himself, and later his good sense is on everyone's lips.
25 In wisdom's store are wise proverbs, but godliness is detestable to a sinner.
Chapter 2
1 My son, if you aspire to be a servant of the Lord, prepare yourself for testing.
2 Set a straight course, be resolute, and do not lose your head in time of disaster.
4 Bear every hardship that is sent you; be patient under humiliation, whatever the cost.
5 For gold is assayed by fire, and the Lord proves men in the furnace of humiliation.
7 You who fear the Lord, wait for his mercy; do not stray or you will fall.
10 Consider the past generations and see: was anyone who trusted the Lord ever disappointed? was anyone who stood firm in the fear of him ever deserted? did he ever neglect anyone who prayed to him?
11 For the Lord is compassionate and merciful; he forgives sins and comes to the rescue in time of trouble.
15 Those who fear the Lord never disobey his words; and all who love him keep to his ways.
16 Those who fear the Lord try to do his will; and all who love him steep themselves in his commandments.
17 Those who fear the Lord are always prepared; they humble themselves before him and say:
18 'We will fall into the hands of the Lord, not into the hands of men, for his majesty is equaled by his mercy.'
14 Woe to you who have given up the struggle! What will you do when the Lord's reckoning comes?
Chapter 3
11 A man is honored if his father is honored, and neglect of a mother is a disgrace to children.
12 My son, look after your father in his old age; do nothing to vex him as long as he lives.
13 Even if his mind fails, make allowances for him, and do not despise him because you are in your prime.
14 If you support your father it will never be forgotten, but be put to your credit against your sins;
15 when you are in trouble, it will be remembered in your favor, and your sins will melt away like frost in the sunshine.
17 My son, be unassuming in all you do, and those the Lord approves will love you.
18 The greater you are, the humbler you must be, and the Lord will show you favor.
19 Many are high and mighty; but he reveals his secrets to the modest.
21 Do not pry into things too hard for you or examine what is beyond your reach.
22 Meditate on the commandments you have been given; what the Lord keeps secret is no concern of yours.
23 Do not busy yourself with matters that are beyond you; even what has been shown you is above man's grasp.
24 Many have been led astray by their speculations, and false conjectures have impaired their judgment.
Chapter 4
20 Watch your chance and defend yourself against wrong, and do not be over-modest in your own cause;
21 for there is a modesty that leads to sin, as well as a modesty that brings honor and favor.
25 Do not argue against the truth, but have a proper sense of your own ignorance.
26 Never be ashamed to admit your mistakes...
27 Do not let yourself be a doormat to a fool or curry favor with the powerful.
26 Fight to the death for truth, and the Lord God will fight on your side.
Chapter 5
1 Do not rely upon your money and say, 'I am independent.'
2 Dot not yield to every impulse you can gratify or follow the desires of your heart.
3 Do not say, 'I am my own master'; you may be sure the Lord will call you to account.
4 Do not say, 'I sinned, yet nothing happened to me'; it is only that the Lord is very patient.
5 Do not be so confident of pardon that you sin again and again.
6 Do not say, 'His mercy is so great, he will pardon my sins, however many.' To him belong both mercy and wrath, and sinners feel the weight of his retribution.
7 Come back to the Lord without delay...or suddenly the Lord's wrath will be upon you, and you will perish at the time of reckoning.
8 Do not rely upon ill-gotten gains, for they will not avail in time of calamity.
9 Do not winnow in every wind or walk along every path.
10 Stand firmly by what you know and be consistent in what you say.
Chapter 6
5 Pleasant words win many friends, and an affable manner makes acquaintance easy.
7 When you make a friend, begin by testing him, and be in no hurry to trust him.
8 Some friends are loyal when it suits them but desert you in time of trouble.
9 Some friends turn into enemies and shame you by making the quarrel public.
10 Another sits at your table, but is nowhere to be found in time of trouble;
11 when you are prosperous, he will be your second self and make free with your servants,
12 but if you come down in the world, he will turn against you and you will not see him again.
14 A faithful friend is a secure shelter; whoever finds one has found a treasure.
15 A faithful friend is beyond price; his worth is more then money can buy.
17 The man who fears the Lord keeps his friendships in repair, for he treats his neighbor as himself.
Chapter 7
19 Do not lose the chance of a wise and good wife, for her attractions are worth more then gold.
20 Do not ill-treat a slave who works honestly or a hired servant whose heart is in his work.
23 Have you sons? Discipline them and break them in from their earliest years.
24 Have you daughters? See that they are chaste, and do not be too lenient with them.
Chapter 8
5 Do not rebuke a man who is already penitent; remember that we are all guilty.
7 Do not be smug over another man's death; remember that we must all die.
9 Do not ignore the discourse of your elders, for they themselves learned from their fathers
Chapter 9
1 Do not be jealous over the wife you cherish, and so put into her head the idea of wronging you.
2 Do not surrender yourself to a woman and let her trample down your strength.
10 Do not desert an old friend; a new one is not worth as much. A new friend is like new wine; you do not enjoy drinking it until it has matured.
11 Do not envy a bad man his success; you do not know what fate is in store for him.
Chapter 10
14 The Lord overturns the thrones of princes and enthrones the gentle in their place.
15 The Lord pulls up nations by the roots and plants the humble instead.
30 A poor man may be honored for his wisdom, a rich man for his wealth;
31 if a man is honored in poverty, how much more in wealth! And if he is despised in wealth, how much more in poverty!
Chapter 11
11 One man slaves and strains and hurries and is all the farther behind.
12 Another is slow-witted and in need of help, lacking in strength and abounding in poverty; but the Lord turns a kindly eye upon him and lifts him up out of his miserable plight.
13 He raises him to dignity to the amazement of all.
14 Good fortune and bad, life and death, poverty and wealth, all come from the Lord.
17 His gifts to the devout are lasting; his approval brings unending success.
21 Do not envy a rogue his success; trust the Lord and stick to your job. It is no difficult thing for the Lord to make a poor man rich in a moment.
22 The Lord's blessing is the reward of piety, which blossoms in one short hour.
23 Do not say, "What use am I? What good can the future hold for me?"
24 And do not say, "I am independent; nothing can ever go wrong for me."
25 Hardship is forgotten in time of success, and success in time of hardship.
27 One hour's misery wipes out all memory of delight, and a man's end reveals his true character.
Chapter 12
8 Prosperity does not reveal your friends; adversity does not conceal your enemies.
9 When all goes well a man's enemies are friendly, but in hard times even his friend will desert him.
10 Never trust your enemy; he will turn vicious as sure as metal rusts.
11 If he appears humble and obsequious, take care! Be on your guard against him!
12 Do not have him at your side, or he will trip you up and supplant you. Do not let him sit at your right hand, or he will soon be wanting your own seat.
16 An enemy has honey on his lips, but in his heart he plans to trip you into the ditch. He may have tears in his eyes, but give him a chance and he will not stop at bloodshed.
17 If disaster overtakes you, you will find him there ahead of you, ready, with a pretence of help, to pull your feet from under you.
Chapter 13
4 If you can serve his turn, a rich man will exploit you, but if you are in need, he will leave you alone.
5 If you are in funds, he will be your constant companion, and drain you dry without a twinge of remorse.
6 He man need you; and then he will deceive you, and will be all smiles and encouragement...
7 ...until he has drained you two or three times over; but in the end he will laugh at you. Afterwards, when he sees you, he will pass you by, nodding his head over you.
9 If a great man invites you, be slow to accept, and he will be the more pressing in his invitation.
10 Do not be forward, for fear of a rebuff, but do not keep aloof, or you may be forgotten.
11 Do not presume to converse with him as an equal or be over-confident if he holds you long in talk. The more he speaks, the more he is testing you, examining you even while he smiles.
16 All creatures flock together with their kind, and men form attachments with their own sort.
17 What has a wolf in common with a lamb, or a sinner with a man of piety?
19 As lions prey on the wild asses of the desert, so the rich batten on the poor.
20 As humility disgusts the proud, so is the rich man disgusted by the poor.
21 If a rich man staggers, he is held up by his friends; a poor man falls, and his friends disown him as well.
22 When a rich man slips, many come to his rescue; if he says something outrageous, they make excuses for him. A poor man makes a slip, and they all criticize him; even if he talks sense, he is not given a hearing.
23 A rich man speaks, and all are silent; then they praise his speech to the skies. A poor man speaks, and they say, 'Who is this?', and if he stumbles, they give him an extra push.
23 Wealth is good, if sin has not tainted it; poverty is a crime only to the ungodly.
Chapter 14
3 It is not proper for a mean man to be rich: what use is money to a miser?
5 How can a man be hard on himself and kind to others? His possessions bring him no enjoyment.
7 If even he does good, it is by mistake, and then in the end he reveals his meanness.
8 It is a hard man who has a grudging eye; he turns his back on need and looks the other way.
9 A covetous man's eye is not satisfied with his share; greedy injustice shrivels the soul.
14 Do not miss a day's enjoyment or forgo your share of innocent pleasure.
17 Man's body wears out like a garment; for the ancient sentence stands: You shall die.
18 In the thick foliage of a growing tree one crop of leaves falls and another grows instead; so the generations of flesh and blood pass with the death of one and the birth of another.
19 All man's works decay and vanish, and the workman follows them into oblivion.
Chapter 15
9 Worship is out of place on the lips of a sinner, unprompted as he is by the Lord.
11 Do not say, 'The Lord is to blame for my failure'; it is for you to avoid doing what he hates.
12 Do not say, 'It was he who led me astray'; he has no use for sinful men.
13 The Lord hates every kind of vice; you cannot love it and still fear him.
14 When he made man in the beginning, he left him free to take his own decisions;
15 if you choose, you can keep his commandments; whether or not you keep faith is yours to decide.
16 He has set before you fire and water; reach out and take which you choose;
17 before man lie life and death, and whichever he prefers is his.
18 For in his great wisdom and mighty power the Lord sees everything.
19 He keeps watch over those who fear him; no human act escapes his notice.
20 But he has commanded no man to be wicked, nor has he given license to commit sin.
Chapter 16
11 For mercy and anger belong to the Lord; he shows his power in forgiveness, or in the flood of his wrath.
12 His mercy is great, but great also is his condemnation; he judges a man by what he has done.
13 He does not let the sinner escape with his loot or try the patience of the godly too long.
14 He opens a way for every work of mercy, and everyone is treated according to his own deserts.
Chapter 17
22 A man's good deeds the Lord treasures like a signet-ring, and his kindness like the apple of his eye.
23 In the end he will rise up and give the wicked their deserts, bringing down their recompense on their own heads.
24 Yet he leaves a way open for the penitent to return to him, and gives the waverer strength to endure.
Chapter 18
1 He who lives for ever is the Creator of the whole universe;
5 No one can measure his majestic power, still less, tell the full tale of all his mercies.
6 Man can neither increase nor diminish them, nor fathom the wonders of the Lord.
7 When a man comes to the end of them he is still at the beginning, and when he has finished he will still be perplexed.
8 What is man and what use is he? What do his good or evil deeds signify?
9 His span of life is at the most a hundred years;
10 compared with the endless time, his few years are like one drop of sea-water or a single grain of sand.
11 This is why the Lord is patient with them, lavishing his mercy upon them.
12 He sees and knows the harsh fate in store for them, and therefore gives full play to his forgiveness.
13 Man's compassion is only for his neighbor, but the Lord's compassion is for every living thing.
15 My son, do good without scolding; do not spoil your generosity with hard words.
16 As dew gives respite from the sweltering heat, so a word can do more than a gift.
17 A kind word counts for more than a rich present; with a gracious man you will find both.
18 A fool cannot refrain from tactless criticism, and a grudging giver makes no eyes sparkle.
19 Before you speak, learn
20 Before judgment comes, examine yourself, and you will find pardon in the hour of scrutiny.
23 Before you make a vow, give it due thought; do not be like those who try the Lord's patience.
24 Think of the wrath you must face in the hour of death, when the time of reckoning comes, and he turns away his face.
30 Do not let your passions be your guide, but restrain your desires.
33 Do not beggar yourself by feasting on borrowed money, when there is nothing in your purse.
Chapter 19
1 A drunken workman never grows rich; carelessness in small things leads little by little to ruin.
3 To trust a man hastily shows a shallow mind, and to sin is to do an injury to yourself.
4 To delight in wickedness is to court condemnation
7 Never repeat what you hear, and you will never be the loser.
10 Have you heard a rumor? Let it die with you.
11 A fool with a secret goes through agony like a woman in childbirth.
12 As painful as an arrow through the thigh is a rumor in the heart of a fool.
13 Confront your friend with the gossip about him; he may not have done it; or if he did it, he will know not to do it again.
14 Confront your neighbor; he may not have said it; or if he did say it, he will know not to say it again.
15 Confront your friend; it will often turn out to be slander; do not believe everything you hear.
22 The knowledge of wickedness is not wisdom, nor is there good sense in the advice of sinners.
30 A man's clothes, and the way he laughs, and his gait, reveal his character.
Chapter 20
1 A reproof may be untimely, and silence may show a man's good sense.
7 The wise man is silent until the right moment, but a swaggering fool is always speaking out of turn.
18 Better a slip on the stone floor than a slip of the tongue; and the fall of the wicked comes just as suddenly.
21 Poverty may keep a man from doing wrong; when the day's work is over, conscience will not trouble him.
22 A man's diffidence may be his undoing
23 A man may be shamed into making promises to a friend and needlessly turn him into an enemy.
30 Hidden wisdom and buried treasure, what use is there in either?
Chapter 21
1 Have you done wrong, my son? Do it no more, but ask pardon for your past wrongdoing.
5 The Lord listens to the poor man's appeal, and his verdict follows without delay.
6 To hate reproof is to go the way of sinners, but whoever fears the Lord will repent whole-heartedly.
8 To build a house with borrowed money is like collecting stones for your own tomb.
13 A wise man's knowledge is like a river in full spate, and his advice is a life-giving spring.
14 A fool's mind is a leaky bucket: it cannot hold anything it learns.
15 If an instructed man hears a wise saying, he applauds it and improves on it. If an unrestrained man hears it, he is annoyed and throws it behind his back.
19 To fools education is like fetters, like a handcuff on the wrist.
20 To the wise education is a golden ornament like a bracelet on the arm.
26 Fools speak before they think; wise men think first and speak afterwards.
Chapter 22
20 Throw a stone at the birds and you scare them away; abuse a friend and you break off your friendship.
21 If you have drawn your sword on a friend, do not give up hope, there is still a way back.
22 If you have quarreled with your friend, never fear, there can still be a reconciliation.
23 But abuse, scorn, a secret betrayed, a stab in the back - these will make any friend keep his distance.
27 Oh for a sentry to guard my mouth and a seal of discretion to close my lips, to keep them from being my downfall, and to keep my tongue from causing my ruin!
Chapter 23
8 It is by his own words that the sinner is ensnared; he is tripped up by his own immorality and pride.
11 A man given to swearing is lawless to the core; the scourge will never be far from his house. If he goes back on his word, he must bear the blame; if he willfully neglects it, he sins twice over; if his oath itself was insincere, he cannot be acquitted; his house will be filled with trouble.
16 Two kinds of men add sin to sin, and a third brings retribution on himself. Hot lust that blazes like a fire can never be quenched till life is destroyed. A man whose body is given to sensuality never stops till the fire consumes him.
17 To a seducer every loaf is as sweet as the last, and he does not weary until he dies.
18 The man who strays from his own bed says to himself, 'Who can see me? All around is dark and the walls hide me; nobody can see me, why need I worry? The Most High will not take note of my sins.'
19 The eyes of men are all he fears; he forgets that the eyes of the Lord are ten thousand times brighter than the sun, observing every step men take and penetrating every secret.
Chapter 25
3 If you have not gathered wisdom in your youth, how will you find it when you are old?
4 Sound judgment sits well on grey hairs and wise advice comes well from older men.
5 Wisdom is fitting in the aged, and ripe counsel in men of eminence.
6 Long experience is the old man's crown, and his pride is the fear of the Lord.
16 I would sooner share a home with a lion or a snake than keep house with a spiteful wife.
17 Her spite changes her expression, making her look as surly as a bear.
18 Her husband goes to a neighbor for his meals and cannot repress a bitter sigh.
20 It is as easy for an old man to climb a sand-dune as for a quiet husband to live with a nagging wife.
Chapter 26
1 A good wife makes a happy husband; she doubles the length of his life.
2 A staunch wife is her husband's joy; he will live out his days in peace.
3 A good wife means a good life; she is one of the Lord's gifts to those who fear him.
4 Rich or poor, they are light-hearted, and always have a smile on their faces.
Chapter 27
4 Shake a sieve, and the rubbish remains; start an argument, and discover a man's faults.
5 As the work of a potter is tested in the furnace, so a man is tried in debate.
6 As the fruit of the tree reveals the skill of its grower, so the expression of a man's thought reveals his character.
7 Do not praise a man till you hear him in discussion, for this is the test.
16 The betrayer of secrets loses his credit and can never find an intimate friend.
17 Love your friend and keep faith with him, but if you betray his secrets, keep out of his way;
18 as a man kills his enemy, so you have killed your neighbor's friendship.
21 A wound may be bandaged, an insult pardoned, but the betrayer of secrets has nothing to hope for.
25 Whoever throws a stone up in the air is throwing it at his own head, and a treacherous blow means wounds all round.
26 Dig a pit and you will fall into it; set a trap and you will be caught by it.
27 The wrong a man does recoils on him, and he does not know where it has come from.
28 An arrogant man deals in mockery and insults, but retribution lies in wait for him like a lion.
29 Those who rejoice at the downfall of good men will be trapped and consumed
Chapter 28
1 The vengeful man will face the vengeance of the Lord, who keeps strict account of his sins.
3 If a man harbors a grudge against another, is he to expect healing from the Lord?
4 If he has no mercy on his fellow-man, is he still to ask forgiveness for his own sins?
6 Think of the end that awaits you, and have done with hate;
9 A sinner sows trouble between friends and spreads scandal where before there was peace.
14 The talk of a third party has wrecked the lives of many and driven them from country to country; it has destroyed fortified towns and demolished the houses of the great.
17 The lash of a whip raises welts, but the lash of a tongue breaks bones.
18 Many have been killed by the sword, but not so many as by the tongue.
21 The death it brings is an evil death; better the grave than the tongue!
Chapter 29
2 Lend to your neighbor in his time of need; repay your neighbor punctually.
3 Be as good as your word and keep faith with him, and your needs will always be met.
4 Many treat a loan as a windfall and bring trouble on those who helped them.
5 Until he gets a loan, a man kisses his neighbor's hand and talks with bated breath about his money; but when it is time to repay, he postpones it, pays back only perfunctory promises, and alleges that times are hard.
Chapter 30
2 He who disciplines his son will find profit in him and take pride in him among his acquaintances.
8 An unbroken horse turns out stubborn, and an unchecked son turns out headstrong.
9 Pamper a boy and he will shock you;
11 Do not give him freedom while his is young or overlook his errors.
13 Discipline your son and take pains with him or he may offend you by some disgraceful act.
14 Better a poor man who is healthy and fit then a rich man racked by disease.
15 Health and fitness are better than any gold, and bodily vigor than boundless prosperity.
16 There is no wealth to compare with health of body
22 A merry heart keeps a man alive, and joy lengthens his span of days.
24 Envy and anger shorten a man's life, and anxiety brings premature old age.
Chapter 31
1 A rich man loses weight by wakeful nights, when the cares of wealth drive sleep away;
2 sleepless worry keeps him wide awake, just as serious illness banishes sleep.
5 Passion for gold can never be right; the pursuit of money leads a man astray.
7 Gold is a pitfall to those who are infatuated with it, and every fool is caught by it.
8 Happy the rich man who has remained free of its taint and has not made gold his aim!
9 Show us that man, and we will congratulate him; he has performed a miracle among his people.
10 Has anyone ever come through this test unscathed? Then he has good cause to be proud. Has anyone ever had it in his power to sin and refrained, or to do wrong and has not done it?
11 Then he shall be confirmed in his prosperity, and the whole people will hail him as a benefactor.
Chapter 32
14 The man who fears the Lord will accept his discipline, and the diligent will receive his approval.
17 A sinner will not accept criticism; he will find precedents to justify his choice.
18 A sensible man can always take a hint; but an arrogant heathen does not know the meaning of diffidence.
19 Never do anything without deliberation, and afterwards you will have no regrets.
Chapter 33
1 Disaster never comes the way of the man who fears the Lord: in times of trial he will be rescued again and again.
4 Prepare what you have to say, if you want a hearing; marshal your learning and then give your answer.
5 The feelings of a fool turn like a cart-wheel, and his thoughts spin like an axel.
6 A sarcastic friend is like a stallion which neighs no matter who is on its back.
14 Good is the opposite of evil, and life of death; and the sinner is the opposite of the godly.
Chapter 34
13 Those who fear the Lord shall live, for their trust is in one who can keep them safe.
15 How blest is the man who fears the Lord! He knows where to look for support.
19 The Most High is not pleased with the offering of the godless, nor do endless sacrifices win his forgiveness.
20 To offer a sacrifice from the possessions of the poor is like killing a son before his father's eyes.
21 Bread is life to the destitute, and it is murder to deprive them of it.
22 To rob your neighbor of his livelihood is to kill him, an the man who cheats a worker of his wages sheds blood.
23 When one builds and another pulls down, what have they gained except hard work?
24 When one prays and another curses, which is the Lord to listen to?
25 Wash after touching a corpse and then touch it again, and what have you gained by your washing?
26 So it is with the man who fasts for his sins and goes and does the same again; who will listen to his prayer? what has he gained by his penance?
Chapter 35
1 Keeping the law is worth many offerings; to heed the commandments is to sacrifice a thank-offering.
2 A kindness repaid is an offering of flour, and to give alms is a praise-offering.
3 The way to please the Lord is to renounce evil; and to renounce wrongdoing is to make atonement.
6 When the just man brings his offering of fat to the altar, its fragrance rises to the presence of the Most High.
7 The just man's sacrifice is acceptable; it will never be forgotten.
10 Give to the Most High as he has given to you, as generously as you can afford.
11 For the Lord always repays; you will be repaid seven times over.
12 Do not offer him a bribe, for he will not accept it, and do not rely on a dishonest sacrifice; for the Lord is a judge who knows no partiality.
13 He has no favorites at the poor man's expense, but listens to his prayer when he is wronged.
14 He never ignores the appeal of the orphan or the widow when she pours out her complaint.
16 To be accepted a man must serve the Lord as he requires, and then his prayer will reach the clouds.
18 The Lord will not be slow, neither will he be patient with the wicked, until he crushes the sinews of the merciless and sends retribution on the heathen; until he blots out the insolent, one and all, and breaks the power of the unjust;
19 until he gives all men their deserts, judging their actions by their intentions; until he gives his people their rights and gladdens them with his mercy.
20 His mercy is as timely in days of trouble as rain-clouds in days of drought.
Chapter 36
18 All is food for the stomach, but one food is better then another.
19 As the palate identifies game by its taste, so the discerning mind detects lies.
22 A woman's beauty makes a man happy, and there is nothing he desires more.
23 If she has a kind and gentle tongue, then her husband is luckier than most men.
24 The man who wins a wife has the beginnings of a fortune, a helper to match his needs and a pillar to support him.
25 Where there is no hedge, property is plundered; and where there is no wife, the wanderer sighs for a home.
26 Does anyone trust a roving bandit who swoops on town after town? No more will they trust a homeless man who lodges where night overtakes him.
Chapter 37
1 Every friend says, 'I too am your friend'; but some are friends in name only.
4 A friend may be all smiles when you are happy, but turn against you when trouble comes.
7 Every counselor says his own advice is best, but some have their own advantage in view.
8 Beware of the man who offers advice, and find out beforehand where his interest lies.
10 Do not consult a man who is suspicious of you or reveal your intentions to those who envy you.
11 Never consult a woman about her rival or a coward about war, a merchant about a bargain...a skinflint about gratitude or a hard-hearted man about a kind action...do not turn to them for any advice.
18 Four kinds of destiny are offered to men, good and evil, life and death; and always it is the tongue that decides the issue.
19 A man may be clever enough to teach others and yet be useless to himself.
22 If a man is wise in the conduct of his own life, his good sense can be trusted when he speaks.
Chapter 39
18 When he commands, his purpose is fulfilled, and no one can thwart his saving power.
19 He sees the deeds of all mankind; there is no hiding from his gaze.
20 From the beginning to the end of time he keeps watch, and nothing is too marvelous for his.
21 No one should ask, ‘What is this?' or 'Why is that?' Everything has been crated for its own purpose.
22 His blessing is like a river in flood which inundates the parched ground.
23 But the doom he assigns the heathen is his wrath, as when he turned a watered plain into a salt desert.
24 For the devout his paths are straight, but full of pitfalls for the wicked.
25 From the beginning good things were created for the good, and evils for sinners.
28 There are winds created to be agents of retribution, with great whips to give play to their fury; on the day reckoning, they exert their force and give full vent to the anger of their Maker.
29 Fire and hail, famine and deadly disease, all these were created for retribution;
30 beasts of prey, scorpions and vipers, and the avenging sword that destroys the wicked.
31 They delight in carrying out his orders, always standing ready for his service on the earth; and when their time comes, they never disobey.
33 all the works of the Lord are good, and he supplies every need as it occurs.
34 No one should say, 'This is less good then that', for all things prove good at their proper time.
35 Come then, sing with heart and voice, and praise the name of the Lord.
Chapter 40
8 To all living creatures, man and beast - and seven times over to sinners -
9 come death and bloodshed, quarrel and sword, disaster, famine, ruin, and plague.
10 All these were created for the wicked, and on their account the flood happened.
11 All that is of earth returns to earth again, and all that is of water finds its way back to the sea
12 Bribery and injustice will all vanish, but good faith will last for ever.
13 The wealth of the wicked will dry up like a torrent and die away like a great roll of thunder in a storm.
14 As a generous man will have cause for rejoicing, so law-breakers will come to utter ruin.
Chapter 41
1 Death, how bitter is the thought of you to a man living at ease among his possessions, free from anxiety, prosperous in all things, and still vigorous enough to enjoy a good meal!
2 Death, how welcome is your sentence to a destitute man whose strength is failing, worn down by age and endless anxiety, resentful and at the end of his patience!
3 Do not be afraid of death's summons; remember those who have gone before you, and those who will come after.
4 This is the Lord's decree for all living men; why try to argue with the will of the Most High? Whether life lasts ten years, or a hundred, or a thousand, there will be no questions asked in the grave.
5 What a loathsome brood are the children of sinners, brought up in haunts of vice!
6 Their inheritance dwindles away, and their descendants suffer a lasting disgrace.
11 Men grieve over the death of the body, but sinners have no good name to survive them.
12 Take thought for your name, for it will outlive you longer than a thousand hoards of gold.
Chapter 42
9 A daughter is a secret anxiety to her father, and the worry of her keeps him awake at night; when she is young, for fear she may grow too old to marry, and when she is married, for fear she may lose her husband's love;
10 when she is a virgin, for fear she may be seduced and become pregnant in her father's house, when she has a husband, for fear she may misbehave, and after marriage, for fear she may be barren.
Chapter 44
16 Enoch pleased the Lord and was carried off to heaven, an example of repentance to future generations.