Sefarim
Ben Sira39
Sirach / Ecclesiasticus · Chapter 39
But he that giveth his mind to the torah of the most High, and is occupied in the meditation thereof, will seek out the wisdom of all the ancient, and be occupied in prophecies.
He will keep the sayings of the renowned men: and where subtil parables are, he will be there also.
He will seek out the secrets of grave sentences, and be conversant in dark parables.
He shall serve among great men, and appear before princes: he will travel through strange countries; for he hath tried the good and the evil among men.
He will give his heart to resort early to the master that made him, and will pray before the most High, and will open his mouth in prayer, and make supplication for his sins.
When the great master will, he shall be filled with the spirit of understanding: he shall pour out wise sentences, and give thanks unto the master in his prayer.
He shall direct his counsel and knowledge, and in his secrets shall he meditate.
He shall shew forth that which he hath learned, and shall glory in the torah of the b'rit of the master.
Many shall commend his understanding; and so long as the world endureth, it shall not be blotted out; his memorial shall not depart away, and his name shall live from generation to generation.
Nations shall shew forth his wisdom, and the congregation shall declare his praise.
If he die, he shall leave a greater name than a thousand: and if he live, he shall increase it.
Yet have I more to say, which I have thought upon; for I am filled as the moon at the full.
Hearken unto me, ye holy children, and bud forth as a rose growing by the brook of the field:
And give ye a sweet savour as frankincense, and flourish as a lily, send forth a smell, and sing a song of praise, bless the master in all his works.
Magnify his name, and shew forth his praise with the songs of your lips, and with harps, and in praising him ye shall say after this manner:
All the works of the master are exceeding good, and whatsoever he commandeth shall be accomplished in due season.
And none may say, What is this? wherefore is that? for at time convenient they shall all be sought out: at his mitsvah the waters stood as an heap, and at the words of his mouth the receptacles of waters.
At his mitsvah is done whatsoever pleaseth him; and none can hinder, when he will save.
The works of all flesh are before him, and nothing can be hid from his eyes.
He seeth from everlasting to everlasting; and there is nothing wonderful before him.
A man need not to say, What is this? wherefore is that? for he hath made all things for their uses.
His blessing covered the dry land as a river, and watered it as a flood.
As he hath turned the waters into saltness: so shall the heathen inherit his wrath.
As his ways are plain unto the holy; so are they stumblingblocks unto the wicked.
For the good are good things created from the beginning: so evil things for sinners.
The principal things for the whole use of man’s life are water, fire, iron, and salt, flour of wheat, honey, milk, and the blood of the grape, and oil, and clothing.
All these things are for good to the godly: so to the sinners they are turned into evil.
There be spirits that are created for vengeance, which in their fury lay on sore strokes; in the time of destruction they pour out their force, and appease the wrath of him that made them.
Fire, and hail, and famine, and death, all these were created for vengeance;
Teeth of wild beasts, and scorpions, serpents, and the sword punishing the wicked to destruction.
They shall rejoice in his mitsvah, and they shall be ready upon earth, when need is; and when their time is come, they shall not transgress his word.
Therefore from the beginning I was resolved, and thought upon these things, and have left them in writing.
All the works of the master are good: and he will give every needful thing in due season.
So that a man cannot say, This is worse than that: for in time they shall all be well approved.
And therefore praise ye the master with the whole heart and mouth, and bless the name of the master.
Sefarim
Ben Sira40
Sirach / Ecclesiasticus · Chapter 40
Great travail is created for every man, and an heavy yoke is upon the sons of Adam, from the day that they go out of their mother’s womb, till the day that they return to the mother of all things.
Their imagination of things to come, and the day of death,
trouble
their thoughts, and
cause fear of heart;
From him that sitteth on a throne of glory, unto him that is humbled in earth and ashes;
From him that weareth purple and a crown, unto him that is clothed with a linen frock.
Wrath, and envy, trouble, and unquietness, fear of death, and anger, and strife, and in the time of rest upon his bed his night sleep, do change his knowledge.
A little or nothing is his rest, and afterward he is in his sleep, as in a day of keeping watch, troubled in the vision of his heart, as if he were escaped out of a battle.
When all is safe, he awaketh, and marvelleth that the fear was nothing.
Such things happen unto all flesh, both man and beast, and that is sevenfold more upon sinners.
Death, and bloodshed, strife, and sword, calamities, famine, tribulation, and the scourge;
These things are created for the wicked, and for their sakes came the flood.
All things that are of the earth shall turn to the earth again: and that which is of the waters doth return into the sea.
All bribery and injustice shall be blotted out: but true dealing shall endure for ever.
The goods of the unjust shall be dried up like a river, and shall vanish with noise, like a great thunder in rain.
While he openeth his hand he shall rejoice: so shall transgressors come to nought.
The children of the ungodly shall not bring forth many branches: but are as unclean roots upon a hard rock.
The weed growing upon every water and bank of a river shall be pulled up before all grass.
Bountifulness is as a most fruitful garden, and mercifulness endureth for ever.
To labour, and to be content with that a man hath, is a sweet life: but he that findeth a treasure is above them both.
Children and the building of a city continue a man’s name: but a blameless wife is counted above them both.
Wine and musick rejoice the heart: but the love of wisdom is above them both.
The pipe and the psaltery make sweet melody: but a pleasant tongue is above them both.
Thine eye desireth favour and beauty: but more than both corn while it is green.
A friend and companion never meet amiss: but above both is a wife with her husband.
Brethren and help are against time of trouble: but alms shall deliver more than them both.
Gold and silver make the foot stand sure: but counsel is esteemed above them both.
Riches and strength lift up the heart: but the fear of the master is above them both: there is no want in the fear of the master, and it needeth not to seek help.
The fear of the master is a fruitful garden, and covereth him above all glory.
My son, lead not a beggar’s life; for better it is to die than to beg.
The life of him that dependeth on another man’s table is not to be counted for a life; for he polluteth himself with other men’s meat: but a wise man well nurtured will beware thereof.
Begging is sweet in the mouth of the shameless: but in his belly there shall burn a fire.
Sefarim
Ben Sira41
Sirach / Ecclesiasticus · Chapter 41
O death, how bitter is the remembrance of thee to a man that liveth at rest in his possessions, unto the man that hath nothing to vex him, and that hath prosperity in all things: yea, unto him that is yet able to receive meat!
O death, acceptable is thy sentence unto the needy, and unto him whose strength faileth, that is now in the last age, and is vexed with all things, and to him that despaireth, and hath lost patience!
Fear not the sentence of death, remember them that have been before thee, and that come after; for this is the sentence of the master over all flesh.
And why art thou against the pleasure of the most High? there is no inquisition in the grave, whether thou have lived ten, or an hundred, or a thousand years.
The children of sinners are abominable children, and they that are conversant in the dwelling of the ungodly.
The inheritance of sinners’ children shall perish, and their posterity shall have a perpetual reproach.
The children will complain of an ungodly father, because they shall be reproached for his sake.
Woe be unto you, ungodly men, which have forsaken the torah of the most high Elohim! for if ye increase, it shall be to your destruction:
And if ye be born, ye shall be born to a curse: and if ye die, a curse shall be your portion.
All that are of the earth shall turn to earth again: so the ungodly shall go from a curse to destruction.
The mourning of men is about their bodies: but an ill name of sinners shall be blotted out.
Have regard to thy name; for that shall continue with thee above a thousand great treasures of gold.
A good life hath but few days: but a good name endureth for ever.
My children, keep discipline in peace: for wisdom that is hid, and a treasure that is not seen, what profit is in them both?
A man that hideth his foolishness is better than a man that hideth his wisdom.
Therefore be shamefaced according to my word: for it is not good to retain all shamefacedness; neither is it altogether approved in every thing.
Be ashamed of whoredom before father and mother: and of a lie before a prince and a mighty man;
Of an offence before a judge and ruler; of iniquity before a congregation and people; of unjust dealing before thy partner and friend;
And of theft in regard of the place where thou sojournest, and in regard of the truth of Elohim and his b'rit; and to lean with thine elbow upon the meat; and of scorning to give and take;
And of silence before them that salute thee; and to look upon an harlot;
And to turn away thy face from thy kinsman; or to take away a portion or a gift; or to gaze upon another man’s wife.
Or to be overbusy with his maid, and come not near her bed; or of upbraiding speeches before friends; and after thou hast given, upbraid not;
Or of iterating and speaking again that which thou hast heard; and of revealing of secrets.
So shalt thou be truly shamefaced and find favour before all men.