The Bible, Douay Rheims, Book 26: Ecclesiasticus
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14:26. He shall set his children under her shelter, and shall lodge
under her branches:
14:27. He shall be protected under her covering from the heat, and shall
rest in her glory.
Ecclesiasticus Chapter 15
Wisdom embraceth them that fear God. God is not the author of sin.
15:1. He that feareth God, will do good: and he that possesseth justice,
shall lay hold on her,
15:2. And she will meet him as an honourable mother, and will receive
him as a wife married of a virgin.
15:3. With the bread of life and understanding, she shall feed him, and
give him the water of wholesome wisdom to drink: and she shall be made
strong in him, and he shall not be moved.
15:4. And she shall hold him fast, and he shall not be confounded: and
she shall exalt him among his neighbours.
15:5. And in the midst of the church she shall open his mouth, and shall
fill him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding, and shall clothe
him with a robe of glory.
15:6. She shall heap upon him a treasure of joy and gladness, and shall
cause him to inherit an everlasting name.
15:7. But foolish men shall not obtain her, and wise men shall meet her,
foolish men shall not see her: for she is far from pride and deceit.
15:8. Lying men shall be mindful of her: but men that speak truth shall
be found with her, and shall advance, even till they come to the sight
of God.
15:9. Praise is not seemly in the mouth of a sinner:
15:10. For wisdom came forth from God: for praise shall be with the
wisdom of God, and shall abound in a faithful mouth, and the sovereign
Lord will give praise unto it.
15:11. Say not: It is through God, that she is not with me: for do not
thou the things that he hateth.
15:12. Say not: He hath caused me to err: for he hath no need of wicked
men.
15:13. The Lord hateth all abomination of error, and they that fear him
shall not love it.
15:14. God made man from the beginning, and left him in the hand of his
own counsel.
15:15. He added his commandments and precepts.
15:16. If thou wilt keep the commandments and perform acceptable
fidelity for ever, they shall preserve thee.
15:17. He hath set water and fire before thee: stretch forth thy hand to
which thou wilt.
15:18. Before man is life and death, good and evil, that which he shall
choose shall be given him:
15:19. For the wisdom of God is great, and he is strong in power, seeing
all men without ceasing.
15:20. The eyes of the Lord are towards them that fear him, and he
knoweth al the work of man.
15:21. He hath commanded no man to do wickedly, and he hath given no man
license to sin;
15:22. For he desireth not a multitude of faithless and unprofitable
children.
Ecclesiasticus Chapter 16
It is better to have none than many wicked children. Of the justice and
mercy of God. His ways are unsearchable.
16:1. Rejoice not in ungodly children, if they be multiplied: neither be
delighted in them, if the fear of God be not with them.
16:2. Trust not to their life, and respect not their labours.
16:3. For better is one that feareth God, than a thousand ungodly
children.
16:4. And it is better to die without children, than to leave ungodly
children.
16:5. By one that is wise a country shall be inhabited, the tribe of the
ungodly shall become desolate.
16:6. Many such things hath my eyes seen, and greater things than these
my ear hath heard.
16:7. In the congregation of sinners a fire shall be kindled, and in an
unbelieving nation wrath shall flame out.
16:8. The ancient giants did not obtain pardon for their sins, who were
destroyed trusting to their own strength:
16:9. And he spared not the place where Lot sojourned, but abhorred them
for the pride of their word.
16:10. He had not pity on them, destroying the whole nation that
extolled themselves in their sins.
16:11. So did he with the six hundred thousand footmen, who were
gathered together in the hardness of their heart: and if one had been
stiffnecked, it is a wonder if he had escaped unpunished:
Six hundred thousand footmen, etc... Viz., the children of Israel, whom
he sentenced to die in the wilderness. Num. 14.
16:12. For mercy and wrath are with him. He is mighty to forgive, and to
pour out indignation:
16:13. According as his mercy is, so his correction judgeth a man
according to his works.
16:14. The sinner shall not escape in his rapines, and the patience of
him that sheweth mercy shall not be put off.
16:15. All mercy shall make a place for every man according to the merit
of his works, and according to the wisdom of his sojournment.
16:16. Say not: I shall be hidden from God, and who shall remember me
from on high?
16:17. In such a multitude I shall not be known: for what is my soul in
such an immense creation?
16:18. Behold the heaven, and the heavens of heavens, the deep, and all
the earth, and the things that are in them, shall be moved in his sight,
16:19. The mountains also, and the hills, and the foundations of the
earth: when God shall look upon them, they shall be shaken with
trembling.
16:20. And in all these things the heart is senseless: and every heart
is understood by him.
16:21. And his ways who shall understand, and the storm, which no eye of
man shall see?
16:22. For many of his works are hidden, but the works of his justice
who shall declare? or who shall endure? for the testament is far from
some, and the examination of all is in the end.
16:23. He that wanteth understanding thinketh vain things, and the
foolish, and erring man, thinketh foolish things.
16:24. Hearken to me, my son, and learn the discipline of understanding,
and attend to my words in thy heart.
16:25. And I will shew forth good doctrine in equity, and will seek to
declare wisdom: and attend to my words in thy heart, whilst with equity
of spirit I tell thee the virtues that God hath put upon his works from
the beginning, and I shew forth in truth his knowledge.
16:26. The works of God are done in judgment from the beginning, and
from the making of them he distinguished their parts, and their
beginnings in their generations.
16:27. He beautified their works for ever, they have neither hungered,
nor laboured, and they have not ceased from their works.
16:28. Nor shall any of them straiten his neighbour at any time.
16:29. Be not thou incredulous to his word.
16:30. After this God looked upon the earth, and filled it with his
goods.
16:31. The soul of every living thing hath shewn forth before the face
thereof, and into it they return again.
Shewn forth... Viz., the glory and power of God upon the earth.
Ecclesiasticus Chapter 17
The creation and favour of God to man. An exhortation to turn to God.
17:1. God created man of the earth, and made him after his own image.
17:2. And he turned him into it again, and clothed him with strength
according to himself.
17:3. He gave him the number of his days and time, and gave him power
over all things that are upon the earth.
17:4. He put the fear of him upon all flesh, and he had dominion over
beasts and fowls.
17:5. He created of him a helpmate like to himself, he gave them
counsel, and a tongue, and eyes, and ears, and a heart to devise: and he
filled them with the knowledge of understanding.
17:6. He created in them the science of the spirit, he fired their heart
with wisdom, and shewed them both good and evil.
17:7. He set his eye upon their hearts to shew them the greatness of his
works:
17:8. That they might praise the name which he hath sanctified: and
glory in his wondrous act that they might declare the glorious things of
his works.
17:9. Moreover he gave them instructions, and the law of life for an
inheritance.
17:10. He made an everlasting covenant with them, and he shewed them his
justice and judgments.
17:11. And their eye saw the majesty of his glory, and their ears heard
his glorious voice, and he said to them: Beware of all iniquity.
Their eye saw, etc... Viz., when he gave the law on mount Sinai.
17:12. And he gave to every one of them commandment concerning his
neighbour.
17:13. Their ways are always before him, they are not hidden from his
eyes.
17:14. Over every nation he set a ruler.
17:15. And Israel was made the manifest portion of God.
17:16. And all their works are as the sun in the sight of God: and his
eyes are continually upon their ways.
17:17. Their covenants were not hid by their iniquity, and all their
iniquities are in the sight of God.
17:18. The alms of a man is as a signet with him, and shall preserve the
grace of a man as the apple of the eye:
17:19. And afterward he shall rise up, and shall render them their
reward, to every one upon their own head, and shall turn them down into
the bowels of the earth.
17:20. But to the penitent he hath given the way of justice, and he hath
strengthened them that were fainting in patience, and hath appointed to
them the lot of truth.
17:21. Turn to the Lord, and forsake thy sins:
17:22. Make thy prayer before the face of the Lord, and offend less.
Offend less... Minue offendicula. That is, remove sins and the occasions
of sins.
17:23. Return to the Lord, and turn away from thy injustice, and greatly
hate abomination.
17:24. And know the justices and judgments of God, and stand firm in the
lot set before thee, and in prayer to the most high God.
17:25. Go to the side of the holy age, with them that live and give
praise to God.
Go to the side, etc... Fly from the side of Satan and sin, and join with
the holy ones, that follow God and godliness.
17:26. Tarry not in the error of the ungodly, give glory before death.
Praise perisheth from the dead as nothing.
17:27. Give thanks whilst thou art living, whilst thou art alive and in
health thou shalt give thanks, and shalt praise God, and shalt glory in
his mercies.
17:28. How great is the mercy of the Lord, and his forgiveness to them
that turn to him!
17:29. For all things cannot be in men, because the son of man is not
immortal, and they are delighted with the vanity of evil.
17:30. What is brighter than the sun; yet it shall be eclipsed. Or what
is more wicked than that which flesh and blood hath invented? and this
shall be reproved.
17:31. He beholdeth the power of the height of heaven: and all men are
earth and ashes.
Ecclesiasticus Chapter 18
God's works are wonderful: we must serve him, and not our lusts.
18:1. He that liveth for ever created all things together. God only
shall be justified, and he remaineth an invincible king for ever.
18:2. Who is able to declare his works?
18:3. For who shall search out his glorious acts?
18:4. And who shall show forth the power of his majesty? or who shall be
able to declare his mercy?
18:5. Nothing may be taken away, nor added, neither is it possible to
find out the glorious works of God.
18:6. When a man hath done, then shall he begin: and when he leaveth
off, he shall be at a loss.
Then shall he begin... God is so great and incomprehensible, that when
man has done all that he can to find out his greatness and boundless
perfections, he is still to begin: for what he has found out, is but a
mere nothing in comparison with his infinity.
18:7. What is man, and what is his grace? and what is his good, or what
is his evil?
18:8. The number of the days of men at the most are a hundred years, as
a drop of water of the sea are they esteemed: and as a pebble of the
sand, so are a few years compared to eternity.
18:9. Therefore God is patient in them, and poureth forth his mercy upon
them.
18:10. He hath seen the presumption of their heart that it is wicked,
and hath known their end that it is evil.
18:11. Therefore hath he filled up his mercy in their favour, and hath
shewn them the way of justice.
18:12. The compassion of man is toward his neighbour: but the mercy of
God is upon all flesh.
18:13. He hath mercy, and teacheth, and correcteth, as a shepherd doth
his flock.
18:14. He hath mercy on him that receiveth the discipline of mercy, and
that maketh haste in his judgments.
18:15. My son, in thy good deeds, make no complaint, and when thou
givest any thing, add not grief by an evil word.
18:16. Shall not the dew assuage the heat? so also the good word is
better than the gift.
18:17. Lo, is not a word better than a gift? but both are with a
justified man.
18:18. A fool will upbraid bitterly: and a gift of one ill taught
consumeth the eyes.
18:19. Before judgment prepare thee justice, and learn before thou
speak.
18:20. Before sickness take a medicine, and before judgment examine
thyself, and thou shalt find mercy in the sight of God.
18:21. Humble thyself before thou art sick, and in the time of sickness
shew thy conversation.
18:22. Let nothing hinder thee from praying always, and be not afraid to
be justified even to death: for the reward of God continueth for ever.
18:23. Before prayer prepare thy soul: and be not as a man that tempteth
God.
18:24. Remember the wrath that shall be at the last day, and the time of
repaying when he shall turn away his face.
18:25. Remember poverty in the time of abundance, and the necessities of
poverty in the day of riches.
18:26. From the morning until the evening the time shall be changed, and
all these are swift in the eyes of God.
18:27. A wise man will fear in every thing, and in the days of sins will
beware of sloth.
18:28. Every man of understanding knoweth wisdom, and will give praise
to him that findeth her.
18:29. They that were of good understanding in words, have also done
wisely themselves: and have understood truth and justice, and have
poured forth proverbs and judgments.
18:30. Go not after thy lusts, but turn away from thy own will.
18:31. If thou give to thy soul her desires, she will make thee a joy to
thy enemies.
18:32. Take no pleasure in riotous assemblies, be they ever so small:
for their concertation is continual.
18:33. Make not thyself poor by borrowing to contribute to feasts when
thou hast nothing in thy purse: for thou shalt be an enemy to thy own
life.
Ecclesiasticus Chapter 19
Admonition against sundry vices.
19:1. A workman that is a drunkard shall not be rich: and he that
contemneth small things, shall fall by little and little.
19:2. Wine and women make wise men fall off, and shall rebuke the
prudent:
19:3. And he that joineth himself to harlots, will be wicked.
Rottenness and worms shall inherit him, and he shall be lifted up for a
greater example, and his soul shall be taken away out of the number.
19:4. He that is hasty to give credit, is light of heart, and shall be
lessened: and he that sinneth against his own soul, shall be despised.
19:5. He that rejoiceth in iniquity, shall be censured, and he that
hateth chastisement, shall have less life: and he that hateth babbling,
extinguisheth evil.
19:6. He that sinneth against his own soul, shall repent: and he that is
delighted with wickedness, shall be condemned.
19:7. Rehearse not again a wicked and harsh word, and thou shalt not
fare the worse.
19:8. Tell not thy mind to friend or foe: and if there be a sin with
thee, disclose it not.
19:9. For he will hearken to thee, and will watch thee, and as it were
defending thy sin he will hate thee, and so will he be with thee always.
19:10. Hast thou heard a word against thy neighbour? let it die within
thee, trusting that it will not burst thee.
19:11. At the hearing of a word the fool is in travail, as a woman
groaning in the bringing forth a child.
19:12. As an arrow that sticketh in a man's thigh: so is a word in the
heart of a fool.
19:13. Reprove a friend, lest he may not have understood, and say: I did
it not: or if he did it, that he may do it no more.
19:14. Reprove thy neighbour, for it may be he hath not said it: and if
he hath said it, that he may not say it again.
19:15. Admonish thy friend: for there is often a fault committed.
19:16. And believe not every word. There is one, that slippeth with the
tongue, but not from his heart.
19:17. For who is there that hath not offended with his tongue?
Admonish thy neighbour before thou threaten him.
19:18. And give place to the fear of the most High: for the fear of God
is all wisdom, and therein is to fear God, and the disposition of the
law is in all wisdom.
19:19. But the learning of wickedness is not wisdom: and the device of
sinners is not prudence.
19:20. There is a subtle wickedness, and the same is detestable: and
there is a man that is foolish, wanting in wisdom.
19:21. Better is a man that hath less wisdom, and wanteth understanding,
with the fear of God, than he that aboundeth in understanding, and
transgresseth the law of the most High.
19:22. There is an exquisite subtilty, and the same is unjust.
19:23. And there is one that uttereth an exact word telling the truth.
There is one that humbleth himself wickedly, and his interior is full of
deceit:
19:24. And there is one that submitteth himself exceedingly with a great
lowliness: and there is one that casteth down his countenance, and
maketh as if he did not see that which is unknown:
19:25. And if he be hindered from sinning for want of power, if he shall
find opportunity to do evil, he will do it.
19:26. A man is known by his look, and a wise man, when thou meetest
him, is known by his countenance.
19:27. The attire of the body, and the laughter of the teeth, and the
gait of the man, shew what he is.
19:28. There is a lying rebuke in the anger of an injurious man: and
there is a judgment that is not allowed to be good: and there is one
that holdeth his peace, he is wise.
Ecclesiasticus Chapter 20
Rules with regard to correction, discretion, and avoiding lies.
20:1. How much better is it to reprove, than to be angry, and not to
hinder him that confesseth in prayer.
20:2. The lust of an eunuch shall deflour a young maiden:
20:3. So is he that by violence executeth of the unwise.
20:4. How good is it, when thou art reproved, to shew repentance! for
so thou shalt escape wilful sin.
20:5. There is one that holdeth his peace, that is found wise: and there
is another that is hateful, that is bold in speech.
20:6. There is one that holdeth his peace, because he knoweth not what
to say: and there is another that holdeth his peace, knowing the proper
time.
20:7. A wise man will hold his peace till he see opportunity: but a
babbler, and a fool, will regard no time.
20:8. He that useth many words shall hurt his own soul: and he that
taketh authority to himself unjustly shall be hated.
20:9. There is success in evil things to a man without discipline, and
there is a finding that turneth to loss.
20:10. There is a gift that is not profitable: and there is a gift, the
recompense of which is double.
20:11. There is an abasement because of glory: and there is one that
shall lift up his head from a low estate.
20:12. There is that buyeth much for a small price, and restoreth the
same sevenfold.
20:13. A man wise in words shall make himself beloved: but the graces of
fools shall be poured out.
20:14. The gift of the fool shall do thee no good: for his eyes are
sevenfold.
20:15. He will give a few things, and upbraid much: and the opening of
his mouth is the kindling of a fire.
20:16. To day a man lendeth, and to morrow he asketh it again: such a
man as this is hateful.
20:17. A fool shall have no friend, and there shall be no thanks for his
good deeds.
20:18. For they that eat his bread, are of a false tongue. How often,
and how many will laugh him to scorn!
20:19. For he doth not distribute with right understanding that which
was to be had: in like manner also that which was not to be had.
20:20. The slipping of a false tongue is as one that falleth on the
pavement: so the fall of the wicked shall come speedily.
20:21. A man without grace is as a vain fable, it shall be continually
in the mouth of the unwise.
20:22. A parable coming out of a fool's mouth shall be rejected: for he
doth not speak it in due season.
20:23. There is that is hindered from sinning through want, and in his
rest he shall be pricked.
20:24. There is that will destroy his own soul through shamefacedness,
and by occasion of an unwise person he will destroy it: and by respect
of person he will destroy himself.
20:25. There is that for bashfulness promiseth to his friend, and maketh
him his enemy for nothing.
20:26. A lie is a foul blot in a man, and yet it will be continually in
the mouth of men without discipline.
20:27. A thief is better than a man that is always lying: but both of
them shall inherit destruction.
20:28. The manners of lying men are without honour: and their confusion
is with them without ceasing.
20:29. A wise man shall advance himself with his words, and a prudent
man shall please the great ones.
20:30. He that tilleth his land shall make a high heap of corn: and he
that worketh justice shall be exalted: and he that pleaseth great men
shall escape iniquity.
20:31. Presents and gifts blind the eyes of judges, and make them dumb
in the mouth, so that they cannot correct.
20:32. O Wisdom that is hid, and treasure that is not seen: what profit
is there in them both?
20:33. Better is he that hideth his folly, than the man that hideth his
wisdom.
Ecclesiasticus Chapter 21
Cautions against sin in general, and some sins in particular.
21:1. My son, hast thou sinned? do so no more: but for thy former sins
also pray that they may be forgiven thee.
21:2. Flee from sins as from the face of a serpent: for if thou comest
near them, they will take hold of thee.
21:3. The teeth thereof are the teeth of a lion, killing the souls of
men.
21:4. All iniquity is like a two-edged sword, there is no remedy for the
wound thereof.
21:5. Injuries and wrongs will waste riches: and the house that is very
rich shall be brought to nothing by pride: so the substance of the proud
shall be rooted out.
21:6. The prayer out of the mouth of the poor shall reach the ears of
God, and judgment shall come for him speedily.
21:7. He that hateth to be reproved walketh in the trace of a sinner:
and he that feareth God will turn to his own heart.
21:8. He that is mighty by a bold tongue is known afar off, but a wise
man knoweth to slip by him.
21:9. He that buildeth his house at other men's charges, is as he that
gathereth himself stones to build in the winter.
21:10. The congregation of sinners is like tow heaped together, and the
end of them is a flame of fire.
21:11. The way of sinners is made plain with stones, and in their end is
hell, and darkness, and pains.
21:12. He that keepeth justice shall get the understanding thereof.
21:13. The perfection of the fear of God is wisdom and understanding.
21:14. He that is not wise in good, will not be taught.
21:15. But there is a wisdom that aboundeth in evil: and there is no
understanding where there is bitterness.
21:16. The knowledge of a wise man shall abound like a flood, and his
counsel continueth like a fountain of life.
21:17. The heart of a fool is like a broken vessel, and no wisdom at all
shall it hold.
21:18. A man of sense will praise every wise word he shall hear, and
will apply it to himself: the luxurious man hath heard it, and it shall
displease him, and he will cast it behind his back.
21:19. The talking of a fool is like a burden in the way: but in the
lips of the wise, grace shall be found.
21:20. The mouth of the prudent is sought after in the church, and they
will think upon his words in their hearts.
21:21. As a house that is destroyed, so is wisdom to a fool: and the
knowledge of the unwise is as words without sense.
21:22. Doctrine to a fool is as fetters on the feet, and like manacles
on the right hand.
21:23. A fool lifteth up his voice in laughter: but a wise man will
scarce laugh low to himself.
21:24. Learning to the prudent is as an ornament of gold, and like a
bracelet upon his right arm.
21:25. The foot of a fool is soon in his neighbour's house: but a man of
experience will be abashed at the person of the mighty.
21:26. A fool will peep through the window into the house: but he that
is well taught will stand without.
21:27. It is the folly of a man to hearken at the door: and a wise man
will be grieved with the disgrace.
21:28. The lips of the unwise will be telling foolish things: but the
words of the wise shall be weighed in a balance.
21:29. The heart of fools is in their mouth: and the mouth of wise men
is in their heart.
21:30. While the ungodly curseth the devil, he curseth his own soul.
While the ungodly, etc... He condemneth and curseth himself: inasmuch as
by sin he takes part with the devil, and is, as it were, his member and
subject.
21:31. The talebearer shall defile his own soul, and shall be hated by
all: and he that shall abide with him shall be hateful: the silent and
wise man shall be honoured.
Ecclesiasticus Chapter 22
Wise sayings on divers subjects.
22:1. The sluggard is pelted with a dirty stone, and all men will speak
of his disgrace.
22:2. The sluggard is pelted with the dung of oxen: and every one that
toucheth him will shake his hands.
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