Ecclesiasticus
Chapter 14
- 1
Blessed is the man that hath not slipped by a word out of his mouth, and is not pricked with the remorse of sin.
- 2
Happy is he that hath had no sadness of his mind, and who is not fallen from his hope.
- 3
Riches are not comely for a covetous man and a niggard, and what should an envious man do with gold?
- 4
He that gathereth together by wronging his own soul, gathereth for others, and another will squander away his goods in rioting.
- 5
He that is evil to himself, to whom will he be good? and he shall not take pleasure in his goods.
- 6
There is none worse than he that envieth himself, and this is the reward of his wickedness:
- 7
And if he do good, he doth it ignorantly, and unwillingly: and at the last he discovereth his wickedness.
- 8
The eye of the envious is wicked: and he turneth away his face, and despiseth his own soul.
- 9
The eye of the covetous man is insatiable in his portion of iniquity: he will not be satisfied till he consume his own soul, drying it up.
- 10
An evil eye is towards evil things: and he shall not have his fill of bread, but shall be needy and pensive at his own table.
- 11
My son, if thou have any thing, do good to thyself, and offer to God worthy offerings.
- 12
Remember that death is not slow, and that the covenant of hell hath been shewn to thee: for the covenant of this world shall surely die.
- 13
Do good to thy friend before thou die, and according to thy ability, stretching out thy hand give to the poor.
- 14
Defraud not thyself of the good day, and let not the part of a good gift overpass thee.
- 15
Shalt thou not leave to others to divide by lot thy sorrows and labours?
- 16
Give and take, and justify thy soul.
- 17
Before thy death work justice: for in hell there is no finding food.
- 18
All flesh shall fade as grass, and as the leaf that springeth out on a green tree.
- 19
Some grow, and some fall off: so is the generation of flesh and blood, one cometh to an end, and another is born.
- 20
Every work that is corruptible shall fail in the end: and the worker thereof shall go with it.
- 21
And every excellent work shall be justified: and the worker thereof shall be honoured therein.
- 22
Blessed is the man that shall continue in wisdom, and that shall meditate in his justice, and in his mind shall think of the all seeing eye of God.
- 23
He that considereth her ways in his heart, and hath understanding in her secrets, who goeth after her as one that traceth, and stayeth in her ways:
- 24
He who looketh in at her windows, and hearkeneth at her door:
- 25
He that lodgeth near her house, and fastening a pin in her walls shall set up his tent nigh unto her, where good things shall rest in his lodging for ever.
- 26
He shall set his children under her shelter, and shall lodge under her branches:
- 27
He shall be protected under her covering from the heat, and shall rest in her glory.