The Bible, Douay Rheims, Book 26: Ecclesiasticus
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Unknown >> The Bible, Douay Rheims, Book 26: Ecclesiasticus
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8 This eBook was produced by David Widger [widger@cecomet.net]
from etext #1581 prepared by Dennis McCarthy, Atlanta, Georgia
and Tad Book, student, Pontifical North American College, Rome.
THE HOLY BIBLE
Translated from the Latin Vulgate
Diligently Compared with the Hebrew, Greek,
and Other Editions in Divers Languages
THE OLD TESTAMENT
First Published by the English College at Douay
A.D. 1609 & 1610
and
THE NEW TESTAMENT
First Published by the English College at Rheims
A.D. 1582
With Annotations
The Whole Revised and Diligently Compared with
the Latin Vulgate by Bishop Richard Challoner
A.D. 1749-1752
ECCLESIASTICUS
This Book is so called from a Greek word that signifies a preacher:
because, like an excellent preacher, it gives admirable lessons of all
virtues. The author was Jesus the son of Sirach of Jerusalem, who
flourished about two hundred years before Christ. As it was written
after the time of Esdras, it is not in the Jewish canon; but is received
as canonical and divine by the Catholic Church, instructed by
apostolical tradition, and directed by the spirit of God. It was first
written in the Hebrew, but afterwards translated into Greek, by another
Jesus, the grandson of the author, whose prologue to this book is the
following:
THE PROLOGUE
The knowledge of many and great things hath been shewn us by the law,
and the prophets, and others that have followed them: for which things
Israel is to be commended for doctrine and wisdom, because not only they
that speak must needs be skilful, but strangers also, both speaking and
writing, may by their means become most learned. My grandfather Jesus,
after he had much given himself to a diligent reading of the law, and
the prophets, and other books, that were delivered to us from our
fathers, had a mind also to write something himself, pertaining to
doctrine and wisdom; that such as are desirous to learn, and are made
knowing in these things, may be more and more attentive in mind, and be
strengthened to live according to the law. I entreat you therefore to
come with benevolence, and to read with attention, and to pardon us for
those things wherein we may seem, while we follow the image of wisdom,
to come short in the composition of words; for the Hebrew words have not
the same force in them when translated into another tongue. And not only
these, but the law also itself, and the prophets, and the rest of the
books, have no small difference, when they are spoken in their own
language. For in the eight and thirtieth year coming into Egypt, when
Ptolemy Evergetes was king, and continuing there a long time, I found
there books left, of no small nor contemptible learning. Therefore I
thought it good, and necessary for me to bestow some diligence and
labour to interpret this book; and with much watching and study in some
space of time, I brought the book to an end, and set it forth for the
service of them that are willing to apply their mind, and to learn how
they ought to conduct themselves, who purpose to lead their life
according to the law of the Lord.
Ecclesiasticus Chapter 1
All wisdom is from God, and is given to them that fear and love God.
1:1. All wisdom is from the Lord God, and hath been always with him, and
is before all time.
1:2. Who hath numbered the sand of the sea, and the drops of rain, and
the days of the world? Who hath measured the height of heaven, and the
breadth of the earth, and the depth of the abyss?
1:3. Who hath searched out the wisdom of God that goeth before all
things?
1:4. Wisdom hath been created before all things, and the understanding
of prudence from everlasting.
1:5. The word of God on high is the fountain of wisdom, and her ways are
everlasting commandments.
1:6. To whom hath the root of wisdom been revealed, and who hath known
her wise counsels?
1:7. To whom hath the discipline of wisdom been revealed and made
manifest? and who hath understood the multiplicity of her steps?
1:8. There is one most high Creator Almighty, and a powerful king, and
greatly to be feared, who sitteth upon his throne, and is the God of
dominion.
1:9. He created her in the Holy Ghost, and saw her, and numbered her,
and measured her.
1:10. And he poured her out upon all his works, and upon all flesh
according to his gift, and hath given her to them that love him.
1:11. The fear of the Lord is honour, and glory, and gladness, and a
crown of joy.
1:12. The fear of the Lord shall delight the heart, and shall give joy,
and gladness, and length of days.
1:13. With him that feareth the Lord, it shall go well in the latter
end, and in the day of his death he shall be blessed.
1:14. The love of God is honourable wisdom.
1:15. And they to whom she shall shew herself love her by the sight, and
by the knowledge of her great works.
1:16. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and was created
with the faithful in the womb, it walketh with chosen women, and is
known with the just and faithful.
1:17. The fear of the Lord is the religiousness of knowledge.
1:18. Religiousness shall keep and justify the heart, it shall give joy
and gladness.
1:19. It shall go well with him that feareth the Lord, and in the days
of his end he shall be blessed.
1:20. To fear God is the fulness of wisdom, and fulness is from the
fruits thereof.
1:21. She shall fill all her house with her increase, and the
storehouses with her treasures.
1:22. The fear of the Lord is a crown of wisdom, filling up peace and
the fruit of salvation:
1:23. And it hath seen, and numbered her: but both are the gifts of God.
1:24. Wisdom shall distribute knowledge, and understanding of prudence:
and exalteth the glory of them that hold her.
1:25. The root of wisdom is to fear the Lord: and the branches thereof
are long-lived.
1:26. In the treasures of wisdom is understanding, and religiousness of
knowledge: but to sinners wisdom is an abomination.
1:27. The fear of the Lord driveth out sin:
1:28. For he that is without fear, cannot be justified: for the wrath of
his high spirits is his ruin.
1:29. A patient man shall bear for a time, and afterwards joy shall be
restored to him.
1:30. A good understanding will hide his words for a time, and the lips
of many shall declare his wisdom.
1:31. In the treasures of wisdom is the signification of discipline:
1:32. But the worship of God is an abomination to a sinner.
1:33. Son, if thou desire wisdom, keep justice, and God will give her to
thee.
1:34. For the fear of the Lord is wisdom and discipline: and that which
is agreeable to him,
1:35. Is faith, and meekness: and he will fill up his treasures.
1:36. Be not incredulous to the fear of the Lord: and come not to him
with a double heart.
1:37. Be not a hypocrite in the sight of men, and let not thy lips be a
stumblingblock to thee.
1:38. Watch over them, lest thou fall, and bring dishonour upon thy
soul,
1:39. And God discover thy secrets, and cast thee down in the midst of
the congregation.
1:40. Because thou camest to the Lord wickedly, and thy heart is full of
guile and deceit.
Ecclesiasticus Chapter 2
God's servants must look for temptations: and must arm themselves with
patience and confidence in God.
2:1. Son, when thou comest to the service of God, stand in justice and
in fear, and prepare thy soul for temptation.
2:2. Humble thy heart, and endure: incline thy ear, and receive the
words of understanding: and make not haste in the time of clouds.
2:3. Wait on God with patience: join thyself to God, and endure, that
thy life may be increased in the latter end.
2:4. Take all that shall be brought upon thee: and in thy sorrow endure,
and in thy humiliation keep patience.
2:5. For gold and silver are tried in the fire, but acceptable men in
the furnace of humiliation.
2:6. Believe God, and he will recover thee: and direct thy way, and
trust in him. Keep his fear, and grow old therein.
2:7. Ye that fear the Lord, wait for his mercy: and go not aside from
him lest ye fall.
2:8. Ye that fear the Lord, believe him: and your reward shall not be
made void.
2:9. Ye that fear the Lord hope in him, and mercy shall come to you for
your delight.
2:10. Ye that fear the Lord, love him, and your hearts shall be
enlightened.
2:11. My children behold the generations of men: and know ye that no one
hath hoped in the Lord, and hath been confounded.
2:12. For who hath continued in his commandment, and hath been forsaken?
or who hath called upon him, and he despised him?
2:13. For God is compassionate and merciful, and will forgive sins in
the day of tribulation: and he is a protector to all that seek him in
truth.
2:14. Woe to them that are of a double heart and to wicked lips, and to
the hands that do evil, and to the sinner that goeth on the earth two
ways.
2:15. Woe to them that are fainthearted, who believe not God: and
therefore they shall not be protected by him.
2:16. Woe to them that have lost patience, and that have forsaken the
right ways, and have gone aside into crooked ways.
2:17. And what will they do, when the Lord shall begin to examine?
2:18. They that fear the Lord, will not be incredulous to his word: and
they that love him, will keep his way.
2:19. They that fear the Lord, will seek after the things that are well
pleasing to him: and they that love him, shall be filled with his law.
2:20. They that fear the Lord, will prepare their hearts, and in his
sight will sanctify their souls,
2:21. They that fear the Lord, keep his commandments, and will have
patience even until his visitation,
2:22. Saying: If we do not penance, we shall fall into the hands of the
Lord, and not into the hands of men.
2:23. For according to his greatness, so also is his mercy with him.
Ecclesiasticus Chapter 3
Lessons concerning the honour of parents, and humility, and avoiding
curiosity.
3:1. The sons of wisdom are the church of the just: and their
generation, obedience and love.
3:2. Children, hear the judgment of your father, and so do that you may
be saved.
3:3. For God hath made the father honourable to the children: and
seeking the judgment of the mothers, hath confirmed it upon the
children.
3:4. He that loveth God, shall obtain pardon for his sins by prayer, and
shall refrain himself from them, and shall be heard in the prayer of
days.
3:5. And he that honoureth his mother is as one that layeth up a
treasure.
3:6. He that honoureth his father shall have joy in his own children,
and in the day of his prayer he shall be heard.
3:7. He that honoureth his father shall enjoy a long life: and he that
obeyeth the father, shall be a comfort to his mother.
3:8. He that feareth the Lord, honoureth his parents, and will serve
them as his masters that brought him into the world.
3:9. Honour thy father, in work and word, and all patience,
3:10. That a blessing may come upon thee from him, and his blessing may
remain in the latter end.
3:11. The father's blessing establisheth the houses of the children: but
the mother's curse rooteth up the foundation.
3:12. Glory not in the dishonour of thy father: for his shame is no
glory to thee.
3:13. For the glory of a man is from the honour of his father, and a
father without honour is the disgrace of the son.
3:14. Son, support the old age of thy father, and grieve him not in his
life;
3:15. And if his understanding fail, have patience with him, and despise
him not when thou art in thy strength: for the relieving of the father
shall not be forgotten.
3:16. For good shall be repaid to thee for the sin of thy mother.
3:17. And in justice thou shalt be built up, and in the day of
affliction thou shalt be remembered: and thy sins shall melt away as the
ice in the fair warm weather.
3:18. Of what an evil fame is he that forsaketh his father: and he is
cursed of God that angereth his mother.
3:19. My son, do thy works in meekness, and thou shalt be beloved above
the glory of men.
3:20. The greater thou art, the more humble thyself in all things, and
thou shalt find grace before God:
3:21. For great is the power of God alone, and he is honoured by the
humble.
3:22. Seek not the things that are too high for thee, and search not
into things above thy ability: but the things that God hath commanded
thee, think on them always, and in many of his works be not curious.
3:23. For it is not necessary for thee to see with thy eyes those things
that are hid.
3:24. In unnecessary matters be not over curious, and in many of his
works thou shalt not be inquisitive.
3:25. For many things are shewn to thee above the understanding of men.
3:26. And the suspicion of them hath deceived many, and hath detained
their minds in vanity.
3:27. A hard heart shall fear evil at the last: and he that loveth
danger shall perish in it.
3:28. A heart that goeth two ways shall not have success, and the
perverse of heart shall be scandalized therein.
3:29. A wicked heart shall be laden with sorrows, and the sinner will
add sin to sin.
3:30. The congregation of the proud shall not be healed: for the plant
of wickedness shall take root in them, and it shall not be perceived.
3:31. The heart of the wise is understood in wisdom, and a good ear will
hear wisdom with all desire.
3:32. A wise heart, and which hath understanding, will abstain from
sins, and in the works of justice shall have success.
3:33. Water quencheth a flaming fire, and alms resisteth sins:
3:34. And God provideth for him that sheweth favour: he remembereth him
afterwards, and in the time of his fall he shall find a sure stay.
Ecclesiasticus Chapter 4
An exhortation to works of mercy, and to the love of wisdom.
4:1. Son, defraud not the poor of alms, and turn not away thy eyes from
the poor.
4:2. Despise not the hungry soul: and provoke not the poor in his want.
4:3. Afflict not the heart of the needy, and defer not to gibe to him
that is in distress.
4:4. Reject not the petition of the afflicted: and turn not away thy
face from the needy.
4:5. Turn not away thy eyes from the poor for fear of anger: and leave
not to them that ask of thee to curse thee behind thy back.
4:6. For the prayer of him that curseth thee in the bitterness of his
soul, shall be heard, for he that made him will hear him.
4:7. Make thyself affable to the congregation of the poor, and humble
thy soul to the ancient, and bow thy head to a great man.
4:8. Bow down thy ear cheerfully to the poor, and pay what thou owest,
and answer him peaceable words with mildness.
4:9. Deliver him that suffereth wrong out of the hand of the proud: and
be not fainthearted in thy soul.
4:10. In judging be merciful to the fatherless as a father, and as a
husband to their mother.
4:11. And thou shalt be as the obedient son of the most High, and he
will have mercy on thee more than a mother.
4:12. Wisdom inspireth life into her children, and protecteth them that
seek after her, and will go before them in the way of justice.
4:13. And he that loveth her, loveth life: and they that watch for her,
shall embrace her sweetness.
4:14. They that hold her fast, shall inherit life: and whithersoever she
entereth, God will give a blessing.
4:15. They that serve her, shall be servants to the holy one: and God
loveth them that love her.
4:16. He that hearkeneth to her, shall judge nations: and he that
looketh upon her, shall remain secure.
4:17. If he trust to her, he shall inherit her, and his generation shall
be in assurance.
4:18. For she walketh with him in temptation, and at the first she
chooseth him.
In temptation, etc... The meaning is, that before wisdom will choose any
for her favourite, she will try them by leading them through
contradictions, afflictions, and temptations, the usual noviceship of
the children of God.
4:19. She will bring upon him fear and dread and trial: and she will
scourge him with the affliction of her discipline, till she try him by
her laws, and trust his soul.
4:20. Then she will strengthen him, and make a straight way to him, and
give him joy,
4:21. And will disclose her secrets to him, and will heap upon him
treasures of knowledge and understanding of justice.
4:22. But if he go astray, she will forsake him, and deliver him into
the hands of his enemy.
4:23. Son, observe the time, and fly from evil.
4:24. For thy soul be not ashamed to say the truth.
4:25. For there is a shame that bringeth sin, and there is a shame that
bringeth glory and grace.
4:26. Accept no person against thy own person, nor against thy soul a
lie.
4:27. Reverence not thy neighbour in his fall:
4:28. And refrain not to speak in the time of salvation. Hide not thy
wisdom in her beauty.
4:29. For by the tongue wisdom is discerned: and understanding, and
knowledge, and learning by the word of the wise, and steadfastness in
the works of justice.
4:30. In nowise speak against the truth, but be ashamed of the lie of
thy ignorance.
4:31. Be not ashamed to confess thy sins, but submit not thyself to
every man for sin.
4:32. Resist not against the face of the mighty, and do not strive
against the stream of the river.
4:33. Strive for justice for thy soul, and even unto death fight for
justice, and God will overthrow thy enemies for thee.
4:34. Be not hasty in thy tongue: and slack and remiss in thy works.
4:35. Be not as a lion in thy house, terrifying them of thy household,
and oppressing them that are under thee.
4:36. Let not thy hand be stretched out to receive, and shut when thou
shouldst give.
Ecclesiasticus Chapter 5
We must not presume of our wealth or strength: nor of the mercy of God,
to go on in sin: we must be steadfast in virtue and truth.
5:1. Set not thy heart upon unjust possessions, and say not: I have
enough to live on: for it shall be of no service in the time of
vengeance and darkness.
5:2. Follow not in thy strength the desires of thy heart:
5:3. And say not: How mighty am I? and who shall bring me under for my
deeds? for God will surely take revenge.
5:4. Say not: I have sinned, and what harm hath befallen me? for the
most High is a patient rewarder.
5:5. Be not without fear about sin forgiven, and add not sin upon sin:
5:6. And say not: The mercy of the Lord is great, he will have mercy on
the multitude of my sins.
5:7. For mercy and wrath quickly come from him, and his wrath looketh
upon sinners.
5:8. Delay not to be converted to the Lord, and defer it not from day to
day.
5:9. For his wrath shall come on a sudden, and in the time of vengeance
he will destroy thee.
5:10. Be not anxious for goods unjustly gotten: for they shall not
profit thee in the day of calamity and revenge.
5:11. Winnow not with every wind, and go not into every way: for so is
every sinner proved by a double tongue.
5:12. Be steadfast in the way of the Lord, and in the truth of thy
judgment, and in knowledge, and let the word of peace and justice keep
with thee.
5:13. Be meek to hear the word, that thou mayst understand: and return a
true answer with wisdom.
5:14. If thou have understanding, answer thy neighbour: but if not, let
thy hand be upon thy mouth, lest thou be surprised in an unskilful word,
and be confounded.
5:15. Honour and glory is in the word of the wise, but the tongue of the
fool is his ruin.
5:16. Be not called a whisperer, and be not taken in thy tongue, and
confounded.
5:17. For confusion and repentance is upon a thief, and an evil mark of
disgrace upon the double tongued, but to the whisperer hatred, and
enmity, and reproach.
5:18. Justify alike the small and the great.
Ecclesiasticus Chapter 6
Of true and false friends: and of the of the fruits of wisdom.
6:1. Instead of a friend become not an enemy to thy neighbour: for an
evil man shall inherit reproach and shame, so shall every sinner that is
envious and double tongued.
6:2. Extol not thyself in the thoughts of thy soul like a bull: lest thy
strength be quashed by folly,
6:3. And it eat up thy leaves, and destroy thy fruit, and thou be left
as a dry tree in the wilderness.
6:4. For a wicked soul shall destroy him that hath it, and maketh him to
be a joy to his enemies, and shall lead him into the lot of the wicked.
6:5. A sweet word multiplieth friends, and appeaseth enemies, and a
gracious tongue in a good man aboundeth.
6:6. Be in peace with many, but let one of a thousand be thy counsellor.
6:7. If thou wouldst get a friend, try him before thou takest him, and
do not credit him easily.
6:8. For there is a friend for his own occasion, and he will not abide
in the day of thy trouble.
6:9. And there is a friend that turneth to enmity; and there is a friend
that will disclose hatred and strife and reproaches.
6:10. And there is a friend a companion at the table, and he will not
abide in the day of distress.
6:11. A friend if he continue steadfast, shall be to thee as thyself,
and shall act with confidence among them of thy household.
6:12. If he humble himself before thee, and hide himself from thy face,
thou shalt have unanimous friendship for good.
6:13. Separate thyself from thy enemies, and take heed of thy friends.
6:14. A faithful friend is a strong defence: and he that hath found him,
hath found a treasure.
6:15. Nothing can be compared to a faithful friend, and no weight of
gold and silver is able to countervail the goodness of his fidelity.
6:16. A faithful friend is the medicine of life and immortality: and
they that fear the Lord, shall find him.
6:17. He that feareth God, shall likewise have good friendship: because
according to him shall his friend be.
6:18. My son, from thy youth up receive instruction, and even to thy
grey hairs thou shalt find wisdom.
6:19. Come to her as one that plougheth, and soweth, and wait for her
good fruits:
6:20. For in working about her thou shalt labour a little, and shalt
quickly eat of her fruits.
6:21. How very unpleasant is wisdom to the unlearned, and the unwise
will not continue with her.
6:22. She shall be to them as a mighty stone of trial, and they will
cast her from them before it be long.
6:23. For the wisdom of doctrine is according to her name, and she is
not manifest unto many, but with them to whom she is known, she
continueth even to the sight of God.
6:24. Give ear, my son, and take wise counsel, and cast not away my
advice.
6:25. Put thy feet into her fetters, and thy neck into her chains:
6:26. Bow down thy shoulder, and bear her, and be not grieved with her
bands.
6:27. Come to her with all thy mind, and keep her ways with all thy
power.
6:28. Search for her, and she shall be made known to thee, and when thou
hast gotten her, let her not go:
6:29. For in the latter end thou shalt find rest in her, and she shall
be turned to thy joy.
6:30. Then shall her fetters be a strong defence for thee, and a firm
foundation, and her chain a robe of glory:
6:31. For in her is the beauty of life, and her bands are a healthful
binding.
6:32. Thou shalt put her on as a robe of glory, and thou shalt set her
upon thee as a crown of joy.
6:33. My son, if thou wilt attend to me, thou shalt learn: and if thou
wilt apply thy mind, thou shalt be wise.
6:34. If thou wilt incline thy ear, thou shalt receive instruction: and
if thou love to hear, thou shalt be wise.
6:35. Stand in the multitude of ancients that are wise, and join thyself
from thy heart to their wisdom, that thou mayst hear every discourse of
God, and the sayings of praise may not escape thee.
6:36. And if thou see a man of understanding, go to him early in the
morning, and let thy foot wear the steps of his doors.
6:37. Let thy thoughts be upon the precepts of God, and meditate
continually on his commandments: and he will give thee a heart, and the
desire of wisdom shall be given to thee.
Ecclesiasticus Chapter 7
Religious and moral duties.
7:1. Do no evils, and no evils shall lay hold of thee.
7:2. Depart from the unjust, and evils shall depart from thee.
7:3. My son, sow not evils in the furrows of injustice, and thou shalt
not reap them sevenfold.
7:4. Seek not of the Lord a preeminence, nor of the king the seat of
honour.
7:5. Justify not thyself before God, for he knoweth the heart: and
desire not to appear wise before the king.
7:6. Seek not to be made a judge, unless thou have strength enough to
extirpate iniquities: lest thou fear the person of the powerful, and lay
a stumblingblock for thy integrity.
7:7. Offend not against the multitude of a city, neither cast thyself in
upon the people,
7:8. Nor bind sin to sin: for even in one thou shalt not be unpunished.
7:9. Be not fainthearted in thy mind:
7:10. Neglect not to pray, and to give alms.
7:11. Say not: God will have respect to the multitude of my gifts, and
when I offer to the most high God, he will accept my offerings.
7:12. Laugh no man to scorn in the bitterness of his soul: for there is
one that humbleth and exalteth, God who seeth all.
7:13. Devise not a lie against thy brother: neither do the like against
thy friend.
7:14. Be not willing to make any manner of lie: for the custom thereof
is not good.
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