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.
Sefarim
Ben Sira42
Sirach / Ecclesiasticus · Chapter 42
Of these things be not thou ashamed, and accept no person to sin thereby:
Of the torah of the most High, and his b'rit; and of judgment to justify the ungodly;
Of reckoning with thy partners and travellers; or of the gift of the heritage of friends;
Of exactness of balance and weights; or of getting much or little;
And of merchants’ indifferent selling; of much correction of children; and to make the side of an evil servant to bleed.
Sure keeping is good, where an evil wife is; and shut up, where many hands are.
Deliver all things in number and weight; and put all in writing that thou givest out, or receivest in.
Be not ashamed to inform the unwise and foolish, and the extreme aged that contendeth with those that are young: thus shalt thou be truly learned, and approved of all men living.
The father waketh for the daughter, when no man knoweth; and the care for her taketh away sleep: when she is young, lest she pass away the flower of her age; and being married, lest she should be hated:
In her virginity, lest she should be defiled and gotten with child in her father’s house; and having an husband, lest she should misbehave herself; and when she is married, lest she should be barren.
Keep a sure watch over a shameless daughter, lest she make thee a laughingstock to thine enemies, and a byword in the city, and a reproach among the people, and make thee ashamed before the multitude.
Behold not every body’s beauty, and sit not in the midst of women.
For from garments cometh a moth, and from women wickedness.
Better is the churlishness of a man than a courteous woman, a woman, I say, which bringeth shame and reproach.
I will now remember the works of the master, and declare the things that I have seen: In the words of the master are his works.
The sun that giveth light looketh upon all things, and the work thereof is full of the glory of the master.
The master hath not given power to the saints to declare all his marvellous works, which the Almighty master firmly settled, that whatsoever is might be established for his glory.
He seeketh out the deep, and the heart, and considereth their crafty devices: for the master knoweth all that may be known, and he beholdeth the signs of the world.
He declareth the things that are past, and for to come, and revealeth the steps of hidden things.
No thought escapeth him, neither any word is hidden from him.
He hath garnished the excellent works of his wisdom, and he is from everlasting to everlasting: unto him may nothing be added, neither can he be diminished, and he hath no need of any counsellor.
Oh how desirable are all his works! and that a man may see even to a spark.
All these things live and remain for ever for all uses, and they are all obedient.
All things are double one against another: and he hath made nothing imperfect.
One thing establisheth the good or another: and who shall be filled with beholding his glory?