Sefarim
Ben Sira14
Sirach / Ecclesiasticus · Chapter 14
Blessed is the man that hath not slipped with his mouth, and is not pricked with the multitude of sins.
Blessed is he whose conscience hath not condemned him, and who is not fallen from his hope in the master.
Riches are not comely for a niggard: and what should an envious man do with money?
He that gathereth by defrauding his own nephesh gathereth for others, that shall spend his goods riotously.
He that is evil to himself, to whom will he be good? he shall not take pleasure in his goods.
There is none worse than he that envieth himself; and this is a recompence of his wickedness.
And if he doeth good, he doeth it unwillingly; and at the last he will declare his wickedness.
The envious man hath a wicked eye; he turneth away his face, and despiseth men.
A covetous man’s eye is not satisfied with his portion; and the iniquity of the wicked drieth up his nephesh.
A wicked eye envieth
his bread, and he is a niggard at his table.
My son, according to thy ability do good to thyself, and give the master his due offering.
Remember that death will not be long in coming, and that the b'rit of the grave is not shewed unto thee.
Do good unto thy friend before thou die, and according to thy ability stretch out thy hand and give to him.
Defraud not thyself of the good day, and let not the part of a good desire overpass thee.
Shalt thou not leave thy travails unto another? and thy labours to be divided by lot?
Give, and take, and sanctify thy nephesh; for there is no seeking of dainties in the grave.
All flesh waxeth old as a garment: for the b'rit from the beginning is, Thou shalt die the death.
As of the green leaves on a thick tree, some fall, and some grow; so is the generation of flesh and blood, one cometh to an end, and another is born.
Every work rotteth and consumeth away, and the worker thereof shall go withal.
Blessed is the man that doth meditate good things in wisdom, and that reasoneth of holy things by his understanding. ing.
He that considereth her ways in his heart shall also have understanding in her secrets.
Go after her as one that traceth, and lie in wait in her ways.
He that prieth in at her windows shall also hearken at her doors.
He that doth lodge near her house shall also fasten a pin in her walls.
He shall pitch his tent nigh unto her, and shall lodge in a lodging where good things are.
He shall set his children under her shelter, and shall lodge under her branches.
By her he shall be covered from heat, and in her glory shall he dwell.
Sefarim
Ben Sira15
Sirach / Ecclesiasticus · Chapter 15
He that feareth the master will do good, and he that hath the knowledge of the torah shall obtain her.
And as a mother shall she meet him, and receive him as a wife married of a virgin.
With the bread of understanding shall she feed him, and give him the water of wisdom to drink.
He shall be stayed upon her, and shall not be moved; and shall rely upon her, and shall not be confounded.
She shall exalt him above his neighbours, and in the midst of the congregation shall she open his mouth.
He shall find joy and a crown of gladness, and she shall cause him to inherit an everlasting name.
But foolish men shall not attain unto her, and sinners shall not see her.
For she is far from pride, and men that are liars cannot remember her.
Praise is not seemly in the mouth of a sinner, for it was not sent him of the master.
For praise shall be uttered in wisdom, and the master will prosper it.
Say not thou, It is through the master that I fell away: for thou oughtest not to do the things that he hateth.
Say not thou, He hath caused me to err: for he hath no need of the sinful man.
The master hateth all abomination; and they that fear Elohim love it not.
He himself made man from the beginning, and left him in the hand of his counsel;
If thou wilt, to keep the mitsvot, and to perform acceptable faithfulness.
He hath set fire and water before thee: stretch forth thy hand unto whether thou wilt.
Before man is life and death; and whether him liketh shall be given him.
For the wisdom of the master is great, and he is mighty in power, and beholdeth all things:
And his eyes are upon them that fear him, and he knoweth every work of man.
He hath commanded no man to do wickedly, neither hath he given any man licence to sin.
Sefarim
Ben Sira16
Sirach / Ecclesiasticus · Chapter 16
Desire not a multitude of unprofitable children, neither delight in ungodly sons.
Though they multiply, rejoice not in them, except the fear of the master be with them.
Trust not thou in their life, neither respect their multitude: for one that is just is better than a thousand; and better it is to die without children, than to have them that are ungodly.
For by one that hath understanding shall the city be replenished: but the kindred of the wicked shall speedily become desolate.
Many such things have I seen with mine eyes, and mine ear hath heard greater things than these.
In the congregation of the ungodly shall a fire be kindled; and in a rebellious nation wrath is set on fire.
He was not pacified toward the old giants, who fell away in the strength of their foolishness.
Neither spared he the place where Lot sojourned, but abhorred them for their pride.
He pitied not the people of perdition, who were taken away in their sins:
Nor the six hundred thousand footmen, who were gathered together in the hardness of their hearts.
And if there be one stiffnecked among the people, it is marvel if he escape unpunished: for mercy and wrath are with him; he is mighty to forgive, and to pour out displeasure.
As his mercy is great, so is his correction also: he judgeth a man according to his works
The sinner shall not escape with his spoils: and the patience of the godly shall not be frustrate.
Make way for every work of mercy: for every man shall find according to his works.
The master hardened Pharaoh, that he should not know him, that his powerful works might be known to the world.
His mercy is manifest to every creature; and he hath separated his light from the darkness with an adamant.
Say not thou, I will hide myself from the master: shall any remember me from above? I shall not be remembered among so many people: for what is my nephesh among such an infinite number of creatures?
Behold, the shamayim, and the shamayim of shamayim, the deep, and the earth, and all that therein is, shall be moved when he shall visit.
The mountains also and foundations of the earth be shaken with trembling, when the master looketh upon them.
No heart can think upon these things worthily: and who is able to conceive his ways?
It is a tempest which no man can see: for the most part of his works are hid.
Who can declare the works of his justice? or who can endure them? for his b'rit is afar off, and the trial of all things is in the end.
He that wanteth understanding will think upon vain things: and a foolish man erring imagineth follies.
by son, hearken unto me, and learn knowledge, and mark my words with thy heart.
I will shew forth doctrine in weight, and declare his knowledge exactly.
The works of the master are done in judgment from the beginning: and from the time he made them he disposed the parts thereof.
He garnished his works for ever, and in his hand are the chief of them unto all generations: they neither labour, nor are weary, nor cease from their works.
None of them hindereth another, and they shall never disobey his word.
After this the master looked upon the earth, and filled it with his blessings.
With all manner of living things hath he covered the face thereof; and they shall return into it again.