Sefarim
Ben Sira33
Sirach / Ecclesiasticus · Chapter 33
There shall no evil happen unto him that feareth the master; but in temptation even again he will deliver him.
A wise man hateth not the torah; but he that is an hypocrite therein is as a ship in a storm.
A man of understanding trusteth in the torah; and the torah is faithful unto him, as an oracle.
Prepare what to say, and so thou shalt be heard: and bind up instruction, and then make answer.
The heart of the foolish is like a cartwheel; and his thoughts are like a rolling axletree.
A stallion horse is as a mocking friend, he neigheth under every one that sitteth upon him.
Why doth one day excel another, when as all the light of every day in the year is of the sun?
By the knowledge of the master they were distinguished: and he altered seasons and feasts.
Some of them hath he made high days, and hallowed them, and some of them hath he made ordinary days.
And all men are from the ground, and Adam was created of earth:
In much knowledge the master hath divided them, and made their ways diverse.
Some of them hath he blessed and exalted and some of them he sanctified, and set near himself: but some of them hath he cursed and brought low, and turned out of their places.
As the clay is in the potter’s hand, to fashion it at his pleasure: so man is in the hand of him that made him, to render to them as liketh him best.
Good is set against evil, and life against death: so is the godly against the sinner, and the sinner against the godly.
So look upon all the works of the most High; and there are two and two, one against another.
I awaked up last of all, as one that gathereth after the grapegatherers: by the blessing of the master I profited, and tred my winepress like a gatherer of grapes.
Consider that I laboured not for myself only, but for all them that seek learning.
Hear me, O ye great men of the people, and hearken with your ears, ye rulers of the congregation.
Give not thy son and wife, thy brother and friend, power over thee while thou livest, and give not thy goods to another: lest it repent thee, and thou intreat for the same again.
As long as thou livest and hast breath in thee, give not thyself over to any.
For better it is that thy children should seek to thee, than that thou shouldest stand to their courtesy.
In all thy works keep to thyself the preeminence; leave not a stain in thine honour.
At the time when thou shalt end thy days, and finish thy life, distribute thine inheritance.
Fodder, a wand, and burdens, are for the ass; and bread, correction, and work, for a servant.
If thou set thy servant to labour, thou shalt find rest: but if thou let him go idle, he shall seek liberty.
A yoke and a collar do bow the neck: so are tortures and torments for an evil servant.
Send him to labour, that he be not idle; for idleness teacheth much evil.
Set him to work, as is fit for him: if he be not obedient, put on more heavy fetters.
But be not excessive toward any; and without discretion do nothing.
If thou have a servant, let him be unto thee as thyself, because thou hast bought him with a price.
If thou have a servant, entreat him as a brother: for thou hast need of him, as of thine own nephesh: if thou entreat him evil, and he run from thee, which way wilt thou go to seek him?
Sefarim
Ben Sira34
Sirach / Ecclesiasticus · Chapter 34
The hopes of a man void of understanding are vain and false: and dreams lift up fools.
Whoso regardeth dreams is like him that catcheth at a shadow, and followeth after the wind.
The vision of dreams is the resemblance of one thing to another, even as the likeness of a face to a face.
Of an unclean thing what can be cleansed? and from that thing which is false what truth can come?
Divinations, and soothsayings, and dreams, are vain: and the heart fancieth, as a woman’s heart in travail.
If they be not sent from the most High in thy visitation, set not thy heart upon them.
For dreams have deceived many, and they have failed that put their trust in them.
The torah shall be found perfect without lies: and wisdom is perfection to a faithful mouth.
A man that hath travelled knoweth many things; and he that hath much experience will declare wisdom.
He that hath no experience knoweth little: but he that hath travelled is full of prudence.
When I travelled, I saw many things; and I understand more than I can express.
I was ofttimes in danger of death: yet I was delivered because of these things.
The spirit of those that fear the master shall live; for their hope is in him that saveth them.
Whoso feareth the master shall not fear nor be afraid; for he is his hope.
Blessed is the nephesh of him that feareth the master: to whom doth he look? and who is his strength?
For the eyes of the master are upon them that love him, he is their mighty protection and strong stay, a defence from heat, and a cover from the sun at noon, a preservation from stumbling, and an help from falling.
He raiseth up the nephesh, and lighteneth the eyes: he giveth health, life, and blessing.
He that sacrificeth of a thing wrongfully gotten, his offering is ridiculous; and the gifts of unjust men are not accepted.
The most High is not pleased with the offerings of the wicked; neither is he pacified for sin by the multitude of sacrifices.
Whoso bringeth an offering of the goods of the poor doeth as one that killeth the son before his father’s eyes.
The bread of the needy is their life: he that defraudeth him thereof is a man of blood.
He that taketh away his neighbour’s living slayeth him; and he that defraudeth the labourer of his hire is a bloodshedder.
When one buildeth, and another pulleth down, what profit have they then but labour?
When one prayeth, and another curseth, whose voice will the master hear?
He that washeth himself after the touching of a dead body, if he touch it again, what availeth his washing?
So is it with a man that fasteth for his sins, and goeth again, and doeth the same: who will hear his prayer? or what doth his humbling profit him?
Sefarim
Ben Sira35
Sirach / Ecclesiasticus · Chapter 35
He that keepeth the torah bringeth offerings enough: he that taketh heed to the mitsvah offereth a peace offering.
He that requiteth a goodturn offereth fine flour; and he that giveth alms sacrificeth praise.
To depart from wickedness is a thing pleasing to the master; and to forsake unrighteousness is a propitiation.
Thou shalt not appear empty before the master.
For all these things
are to be done because of the mitsvah.
The offering of the righteous maketh the altar fat, and the sweet savour thereof is before the most High.
The sacrifice of a just man is acceptable. and the memorial thereof shall never be forgotten.
Give the master his honour with a good eye, and diminish not the firstfruits of thine hands.
In all thy gifts shew a cheerful countenance, and dedicate thy tithes with gladness.
Give unto the most High according as he hath enriched thee; and as thou hast gotten, give with a cheerful eye.
For the master recompenseth, and will give thee seven times as much.
Do not think to corrupt with gifts; for such he will not receive: and trust not to unrighteous sacrifices; for the master is judge, and with him is no respect of persons.
He will not accept any person against a poor man, but will hear the prayer of the oppressed.
He will not despise the supplication of the fatherless; nor the widow, when she poureth out her complaint.
Do not the tears run down the widow’s cheeks? and is not her cry against him that causeth them to fall?
He that serveth the master shall be accepted with favour, and his prayer shall reach unto the clouds.
The prayer of the humble pierceth the clouds: and till it come nigh, he will not be comforted; and will not depart, till the most High shall behold to judge righteously, and execute judgment.
For the master will not be slack, neither will the Mighty be patient toward them, till he have smitten in sunder the loins of the unmerciful, and repayed vengeance to the heathen; till he have taken away the multitude of the proud, and broken the sceptre of the unrighteous;
Till he have rendered to every man according to his deeds, and to the works of men according to their devices; till he have judged the cause of his people, and made them to rejoice in his mercy.
Mercy is seasonable in the time of affliction, as clouds of rain in the time of drought.