The Book of Jesus Sirach

⭑ Catholic Public Domain :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 40 -

The miseries of the life of man are relieved by the grace of God and his fear.

A great occupation was created for all men, and a heavy yoke is upon the sons of Adam, from the day of their departure from their mother’s womb, even until the day of their burial into the mother of all:

their thoughts, and the fears of their heart, their imagined expectations, and the day of their end,

from him who sits upon a glorious throne, even to him who is humbled in earth and ashes,

from him who wears hyacinth and bears a crown, even to him who is covered with rough linen: wrath, envy, tumult, restlessness, and the fear of death, continual anger and contention.

And in the time of rest upon his bed, the sleep of the night changes his knowledge.

There is little or no rest, and sleep is taken from him, as if on a day of keeping watch.

He is disturbed by a vision of his heart, as if he had escaped in a day of warfare. In the time of his salvation, he rose up and wondered that there was no fear.

This is so with all flesh, from man even to cattle, but upon sinners it is seven times as great.

Add to this: death, bloodshed, contention, and the spear, oppression, famine, and affliction, and scourges.

All these things have been created because of iniquity, and it is due to iniquity that the great flood was made.

All things that are of the earth shall return to the earth, and all waters shall return to the sea.

All bribery and iniquity will be wiped away, but faith shall stand forever.

The substance of the unjust will dry up like a river, and will pass away with a noise like loud thunder in a rainstorm.

When he opens his hands, he will rejoice. So will transgressors pass away at the consummation.

The descendants of the impious will not produce many branches, for they may be compared to dirty roots at the edge of a rock.(a)

The weeds, which grow above every water and beside the banks of the river, will be uprooted before all the grass.

Grace is like a paradise of blessings, and mercy continues for eternity.

The life of a worker, when content with what is sufficient, will become sweet, and in it you will find a treasure.

Sons, and the building of a city, will establish a name, but an immaculate wife will be ranked above these things.

Wine and music rejoice the heart, but the love of wisdom is above them both.

The flute and the psaltery make a sweet melody, but a pleasant word is above them both.

Your eye desires elegance and beauty, but verdant fields are above these things.

A friend and a companion meet one another in time, but above them both is a wife with her husband.

Brothers are a help in time of tribulation, but mercy will liberate, more so than they will.

Gold and silver provide a firm position for the feet, but well-spoken counsel is above them both.

Ability and strength lift up the heart, but the fear of the Lord is above these things.

There is no loss in the fear of the Lord, and it has no need to ask for assistance.

The fear of the Lord is like a paradise of blessings, and they have covered it above all glory.

Son, in your lifetime you should not be indigent, for it is better to die than to be destitute.

The life of him who looks to another man’s table should not be thought of as a way of life. For he feeds his life with another man’s food.

But a disciplined and well-taught man will take care of himself.

Scarcity will seem sweet to the mouth of the imprudent, but a fire will burn in his belly.

Footnotes

(a)40:15 The word ‘sonant’ can refer to either the making of a noise, or to a description or expression of something using the spoken word. In this case, the progeny of the impious are spoken of as being like dirty roots, rather than fruitful leafy branches.(Conte)

The miseries of the life of man are relieved by the grace of God and his fear.

Great travail is created for every man. A heavy yoke is upon the sons of Adam, from the day of their coming forth from their mother’s womb, until the day for their burial in the mother of all things.

The expectation of things to come, and the day of death, trouble their thoughts, and cause fear in their hearts.

From him who sits on a throne of glory, even to him who is humbled in earth and ashes,

from him who wears purple and a crown, even to him who is clothed in burlap,

there is wrath, jealousy, trouble, unrest, fear of death, anger, and strife. In the time of rest upon his bed, his night sleep changes his knowledge.

He gets little or no rest, and afterward in his sleep, as in a day of keeping watch, he is troubled in the vision of his heart, as one who has escaped from the front of battle.

In the very time of his deliverance, he awakens, and marvels that the fear is nothing.

To all creatures, human and animal, and upon sinners sevenfold more,

come death, bloodshed, strife, sword, calamities, famine, suffering, and plague.

All these things were created for the wicked, and because of them the flood came.

All things that are of the earth turn to the earth again. All things that are of the waters return into the sea.

All bribery and injustice will be blotted out. Good faith will stand forever.

The goods of the unjust will be dried up like a river, and like a great thunder in rain will go off in noise.

In opening his hands, a man will be made glad; so lawbreakers will utterly fail.

The children of the ungodly won’t grow many branches, and are as unhealthy roots on a sheer rock.

The reeds by every water or river bank will be plucked up before all grass.

Kindness is like a garden of blessings. Almsgiving endures forever.

The life of one who labors and is content will be made sweet. He who finds a treasure is better than both.

Children and the building of a city establish a name. A blameless wife is better than both.

Wine and music rejoice the heart. The love of wisdom is better than both.

The pipe and the lute make pleasant melody. A pleasant tongue is better than both.

Your eye desires grace and beauty, but the green shoots of grain more than both.

A friend and a companion is always welcome, and a wife with her husband is better than both.

Relatives and helpers are for a time of affliction, but almsgiving rescues better than both.

Gold and silver will make the foot stand sure, and counsel is esteemed better than both.

Riches and strength will lift up the heart. The fear of the Lord is better than both. There is nothing lacking in the fear of the Lord. In it, there is no need to seek help.

The fear of the Lord is like a garden of blessing and covers a man more than any glory.

My son, don’t lead a beggar’s life. It is better to die than to beg.

A man who looks to the table of another, his life is not to be considered a life. He will pollute his soul with another person’s food, but a wise and well-instructed person will beware of that.

Begging will be sweet in the mouth of the shameless, but it kindles a fire in his belly.