The Bible, Douay Rheims, Book 26: Ecclesiasticus

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28:5. He that is but flesh, nourisheth anger, and doth he ask
forgiveness of God? who shall obtain pardon for his sins?

28:6. Remember thy last things, and let enmity cease:

28:7. For corruption and death hang over in his commandments.

In his commandments... Supply the sentence out of the Greek thus:
Remember corruption and death, and abide in the commandments.

28:8. Remember the fear of God, and be not angry with thy neighbour.

28:9. Remember the covenant of the most High, and overlook the ignorance
of thy neighbour.

28:10. Refrain from strife, and thou shalt diminish thy sins.

28:11. For a passionate man kindleth strife, and a sinful man will
trouble his friends, and bring in debate in the midst of them that are
at peace.

28:12. For as the wood of the forest is, so the fire burneth, and as a
man's strength is, so shall his anger be, and according to his riches he
shall increase his anger.

28:13. A hasty contention kindleth a fire and a hasty quarrel sheddeth
blood and a tongue that beareth witness bringeth death.

28:14. If thou blow the spark, it shall burn as a fire: and if thou spit
upon it, it shall be quenched: both come out of the mouth.

28:15. The whisperer and the double tongue is accursed: for he hath
troubled many that were at peace.

28:16. The tongue of a third person hath disquieted many, and scattered
them from nation to nation.

28:17. It hath destroyed the strong cities of the rich, and hath
overthrown the houses of great men.

28:18. It hath cut in pieces the forces of people, and undone strong
nations.

28:19. The tongue of a third person hath cast out valiant women, and
deprived them of their labours.

28:20. He that hearkeneth to it, shall never have rest, neither shall he
have a friend in whom he may repose.

28:21. The stroke of a whip maketh a blue mark: but the stroke of the
tongue will break the bones.

28:22. Many have fallen by the edge of the sword, but not so many as
have perished by their own tongue.

28:23. Blessed is he that is defended from a wicked tongue, that hath
not passed into the wrath thereof, and that hath not drawn the yoke
thereof, and hath not been bound in its bands.

28:24. For its yoke is a yoke of iron: and its bands are bands of brass.

28:25. The death thereof is a most evil death: and hell is preferable to
it.

28:26. Its continuance shall not be for a long time, but it shall
possess the ways of the unjust: and the just shall not be burnt with its
flame.

28:27. They that forsake God shall fall into it, and it shall burn in
them, and shall not be quenched, and it shall be sent upon them as a
lion, and as a leopard it shall tear them.

28:28. Hedge in thy ears with thorns, hear not a wicked tongue, and make
doors and bars to thy mouth.

28:29. Melt down thy gold and silver, and make a balance for thy words,
and a just bridle for thy mouth:

28:30. And take heed lest thou slip with thy tongue, and fall in the
sight of thy enemies who lie in wait for thee, and thy fall be incurable
unto death.

Ecclesiasticus Chapter 29

Of charity in lending money, and justice in repaying. Of alms, and of
being surety.

29:1. He that sheweth mercy, lendeth to his neighbour: and he that is
stronger in hand, keepeth the commandments.

And he that is stronger in hand... That is, he that is hearty and
bountiful in lending to his neighbour in his necessity.

29:2. Lend to thy neighbour in the time of his need, and pay thou thy
neighbour again in due time.

29:3. Keep thy word, and deal faithfully with him: and thou shalt always
find that which is necessary for thee.

29:4. Many have looked upon a thing lent as a thing found, and have
given trouble to them that helped them.

29:5. Till they receive, they kiss the hands of the lender, and in
promises they humble their voice:

29:6. But when they should repay, they will ask time, and will return
tedious and murmuring words, and will complain of the time:

29:7. And if he be able to pay, he will stand off, he will scarce pay
one half, and will count it as if he had found it:

29:8. But if not, he will defraud him of his money, and he shall get him
for an enemy without cause.

29:9. And he will pay him with reproaches and curses, and instead of
honour and good turn will repay him injuries.

29:10. Many have refused to lend, not out of wickedness, but they were
afraid to be defrauded without cause.

29:11. But yet towards the poor be thou more hearty, and delay not to
shew him mercy.

29:12. Help the poor because of the commandment: and send him not away
empty handed because of his poverty.

29:13. Lose thy money for thy brother and thy friend: and hide it not
under a stone to be lost.

29:14. Place thy treasure in the commandments of the most High, and it
shall bring thee more profit than gold.

29:15. Shut up alms in the heart of the poor, and it shall obtain help
for thee against all evil.

29:16. Better than the shield of the mighty, and better than the spear:

29:17. It shall fight for thee against thy enemy.

29:18. A good man is surety for his neighbour: and he that hath lost
shame, will leave him to himself.

29:19. Forget not the kindness of thy surety: for he hath given his life
for thee.

29:20. The sinner and the unclean fleeth from his surety.

29:21. A sinner attributeth to himself the goods of his surety: and he
that is of an unthankful mind will leave him that delivered him.

29:22. A man is surety for his neighbour: and when he hath lost all
shame, he shall forsake him.

29:23. Evil suretyship hath undone many of good estate, and hath tossed
them as a wave of the sea.

29:24. It hath made powerful men to go from place to place round about,
and they have wandered in strange countries.

29:25. A sinner that transgresseth the commandment of the Lord, shall
fall into an evil suretyship: and he that undertaketh many things, shall
fall into judgment.

29:26. Recover thy neighbour according to thy power, and take heed to
thyself that thou fall not.

29:27. The chief thing for man's life is water and bread, and clothing,
and a house to cover shame.

29:28. Better is the poor man's fare under a roof of boards, than
sumptuous cheer abroad in another man's house.

29:29. Be contented with little instead of much, and thou shalt not hear
the reproach of going abroad.

29:30. It is a miserable life to go as a guest from house to house: for
where a man is a stranger, he shall not deal confidently, nor open his
mouth.

29:31. He shall entertain and feed, and give drink to the unthankful,
and moreover he shall hear bitter words.

29:32. Go, stranger, and furnish the table, and give others to eat what
thou hast in thy hand.

29:33. Give place to the honourable presence of my friends: for I want
my house, my brother being to be lodged with me.

29:34. These things are grievous to a man of understanding: the
upbraiding of houseroom, and the reproaching of the lender.

Ecclesiasticus Chapter 30

Of correction of children. Health is better than wealth. Excessive grief
is hurtful.

30:1. He that loveth his son, frequently chastiseth him, that he may
rejoice in his latter end, and not grope after the doors of his
neighbours.

30:2. He that instructeth his son shall be praised in him, and shall
glory in him in the midst of them of his household.

30:3. He that teacheth his son, maketh his enemy jealous, and in the
midst of his friends he shall glory in him.

30:4. His father is dead, and he is as if he were not dead: for he hath
left one behind him that is like himself.

30:5. While he lived he saw and rejoiced in him: and when he died he was
not sorrowful, neither was he confounded before his enemies.

30:6. For he left behind him a defender of his house against his
enemies, and one that will requite kindness to his friends.

30:7. For the souls of his sons he shall bind up his wounds, and at
every cry his bowels shall be troubled.

30:8. A horse not broken becometh stubborn, and a child left to himself
will become headstrong.

30:9. Give thy son his way, and he shall make thee afraid: play with
him, and he shall make thee sorrowful.

30:10. Laugh not with him, lest thou have sorrow, and at the last thy
teeth be set on edge.

30:11. Give him not liberty in his youth, and wink not at his devices.

30:12. Bow down his neck while he is young, and beat his sides while he
is a child, lest he grow stubborn, and regard thee not, and so be a
sorrow of heart to thee.

30:13. Instruct thy son, and labour about him, lest his lewd behaviour
be an offence to thee.

30:14. Better is a poor man who is sound, and strong of constitution,
than a rich man who is weak and afflicted with evils.

30:15. Health of the soul in holiness of justice, is better than all
gold and silver: and a sound body, than immense revenues.

30:16. There is no riches above the riches of the health of the body:
and there is no pleasure above the joy of the heart.

30:17. Better is death than a bitter life, and everlasting rest, than
continual sickness.

30:18. Good things that are hidden in a mouth that is shut, are as
messes of meat set about a grave.

30:19. What good shall an offering do to an idol? for it can neither
eat, nor smell:

30:20. So is he that is persecuted by the Lord, bearing the reward of
his iniquity:

30:21. He seeth with his eyes, and groaneth, as an eunuch embracing a
virgin, and sighing.

30:22. Give not up thy soul to sadness, and afflict not thyself in thy
own counsel.

30:23. The joyfulness of the heart, is the life of a man, and a never
failing treasure of holiness: and the joy of a man is length of life.

30:24. Have pity on thy own soul, pleasing God, and contain thyself:
gather up thy heart in his holiness: and drive away sadness far from
thee.

30:25. For sadness hath killed many, and there is no profit in it.

30:26. Envy and anger shorten a man's days, and pensiveness will bring
old age before the time.

30:27. A cheerful and good heart is always feasting: for his banquets
are prepared with diligence.

Ecclesiasticus Chapter 31

Of the desire of riches, and of moderation in eating and drinking.

31:1. Watching for riches consumeth the flesh, and the thought thereof
driveth away sleep.

31:2. The thinking beforehand turneth away the understanding, and a
grievous sickness maketh the soul sober.

31:3. The rich man hath laboured in gathering riches together, and when
he resteth he shall be filled with his goods.

31:4. The poor man hath laboured in his low way of life, and in the end
he is still poor.

31:5. He that loveth gold, shall not be justified: and he that followeth
after corruption, shall be filled with it.

31:6. Many have been brought to fall for gold, and the beauty thereof
hath been their ruin.

31:7. Gold is a stumblingblock to them that sacrifice to it: woe to them
that eagerly follow after it, and every fool shall perish by it.

31:8. Blessed is the rich man that is found without blemish: and that
hath not gone after gold, nor put his trust in money nor in treasures.

31:9. Who is he, and we will praise him? for he hath done wonderful
things in his life.

31:10. Who hath been tried thereby, and made perfect, he shall have
glory everlasting. He that could have transgressed, and hath not
transgressed: and could do evil things, and hath not done them:

31:11. Therefore are his goods established in the Lord, and all the
church of the saints shall declare his alms.

31:12. Art thou set at a great table? be not the first to open thy mouth
upon it.

31:13. Say not: There are many things which are upon it.

31:14. Remember that a wicked eye is evil.

31:15. What is created more wicked than an eye? therefore shall it weep
over all the face when it shall see.

31:16. Stretch not out thy hand first, lest being disgraced with envy
thou be put to confusion.

31:17. Be not hasty in a feast.

31:18. Judge of the disposition of thy neighbour by thyself.

31:19. Use as a frugal man the things that are set before thee: lest if
thou eatest much, thou be hated.

31:20. Leave off first, for manners' sake: and exceed not, lest thou
offend.

31:21. And if thou sittest among many, reach not thy hand out first of
all, and be not the first to ask for drink.

31:22. How sufficient is a little wine for a man well taught, and in
sleeping thou shalt not be uneasy with it, and thou shalt feel no pain.

31:23. Watching, and choler, and gripes, are with an intemperate man:

31:24. Sound and wholesome sleep with a moderate man: he shall sleep
till morning, and his soul shall be delighted with him.

31:25. And if thou hast been forced to eat much, arise, go out, and
vomit: and it shall refresh thee, and thou shalt not bring sickness upon
thy body.

31:26. Hear me, my son, and despise me not: and in the end thou shalt
find my words.

31:27. In all thy works be quick, and no infirmity shall come to thee.

31:28. The lips of many shall bless him that is liberal of his bread,
and the testimony of his truth is faithful.

31:29. Against him that is niggardly of his bread, the city will murmur,
and the testimony of his niggardliness is true.

31:30. Challenge not them that love wine: for wine hath destroyed very
many.

31:31. Fire trieth hard iron: so wine drunk to excess shall rebuke the
hearts of the proud.

31:32. Wine taken with sobriety is equal life to men: if thou drink it
moderately, thou shalt be sober.

31:33. What is his life, who is diminished with wine?

31:34. What taketh away life? death.

31:35. Wine was created from the beginning to make men joyful, and not
to make them drunk.

31:36. Wine drunken with moderation is the joy of the soul and the
heart.

31:37. Sober drinking is health to soul and body.

31:38. Wine drunken with excess raiseth quarrels, and wrath, and many
ruins.

31:39. Wine drunken with excess is bitterness of the soul.

31:40. The heat of drunkenness is the stumblingblock of the fool,
lessening strength and causing wounds.

31:41. Rebuke not thy neighbour in a banquet of wine: and despise him
not in his mirth.

31:42. Speak not to him words of reproach: and press him not in
demanding again.

Ecclesiasticus Chapter 32

Lessons for superiors and inferiors. Advantages of fearing God, and
doing nothing without counsel.

32:1. Have they made thee ruler? be not lifted up: be among them as one
of them.

32:2. Have care of them, and so sit down, and when thou hast acquitted
thyself of all thy charge, take thy place:

32:3. That thou mayst rejoice for them, and receive a crown as an
ornament of grace, and get the honour of the contribution.

32:4. Speak, thou that art elder: for it becometh thee,

32:5. To speak the first word with careful knowledge, and hinder not
music.

32:6. Where there is no hearing, pour not out words, and be not lifted
up out of season with thy wisdom.

32:7. A concert of music in a banquet of wine is as a carbuncle set in
gold.

32:8. As a signet of an emerald in a work of gold: so is the melody of
music with pleasant and moderate wine.

32:9. Hear in silence, and for thy reverence good grace shall come to
thee.

32:10. Young man, scarcely speak in thy own cause.

32:11. If thou be asked twice, let thy answer be short.

32:12. In many things be as if thou wert ignorant, and hear in silence
and withal seeking.

32:13. In the company of great men take not upon thee: and when the
ancients are present, speak not much.

32:14. Before a storm goeth lightning: and before shamefacedness goeth
favour: and for thy reverence good grace shall come to thee.

32:15. And at the time of rising be not slack: but be first to run home
to thy house, and there withdraw thyself, and there take thy pastime.

32:16. And do what thou hast a mind, but not in sin or proud speech.

32:17. And for all these things bless the Lord, that made thee, and that
replenisheth thee with all his good things.

32:18. He that feareth the Lord, will receive his discipline: and they
that will seek him early, shall find a blessing.

32:19. He that seeketh the law, shall be filled with it: and he that
dealeth deceitfully, shall meet with a stumblingblock therein.

32:20. They that fear the Lord, shall find just judgment, and shall
kindle justice as a light.

32:21. A sinful man will flee reproof, and will find an excuse according
to his will.

32:22. A man of counsel will not neglect understanding, a strange and
proud man will not dread fear:

32:23. Even after he hath done with fear without counsel, he shall be
controlled by the things of his own seeking.

32:24. My son, do thou nothing without counsel, and thou shalt not
repent when thou hast done.

32:25. Go not in the way of ruin, and thou shalt not stumble against the
stones: trust not thyself to a rugged way, lest thou set a
stumblingblock to thy soul.

32:26. And beware of thy own children, and take heed of them of thy
household.

32:27. In every work of thine regard thy soul in faith: for this is the
keeping of the commandments.

In faith... That is, follow sincerely thy soul in her faith and
conscience.

32:28. He that believeth God, taketh heed to the commandments: and he
that trusteth in him, shall fare never the worse.

Ecclesiasticus Chapter 33

The fear of God is the best security. Times and men are in the hands of
God. Take care of thyself as long as thou livest, and look to thy
servants.

33:1. No evils shall happen to him that feareth the Lord, but in
temptation God will keep him and deliver him from evils.

33:2. A wise man hateth not the commandments and justices, and he shall
not be dashed in pieces as a ship in a storm.

33:3. A man of understanding is faithful to the law of God, and the law
is faithful to him.

33:4. He that cleareth up a question, shall prepare what to say, and so
having prayed he shall be heard, and shall keep discipline, and then he
shall answer.

33:5. The heart of a fool is as a wheel of a cart: and his thoughts are
like a rolling axletree.

33:6. A friend that is a mocker, is like a stallion horse: he neigheth
under every one that sitteth upon him.

33:7. Why doth one day excel another, and one light another, and one
year another year, when all come of the sun?

33:8. By the knowledge of the Lord they were distinguished, the sun
being made, and keeping his commandment.

33:9. And he ordered the seasons, and holidays of them, and in them they
celebrated festivals at an hour.

33:10. Some of them God made high and great days, and some of them he
put in the number of ordinary days. And all men are from the ground, and
out of the earth, from whence Adam was created.

33:11. With much knowledge the Lord hath divided them and diversified
their ways.

33:12. Some of them hath he blessed, and exalted: and some of them hath
he sanctified, and set near himself: and some of them hath he cursed and
brought low, and turned them from their station.

33:13. As the potter's clay is in his hand, to fashion and order it:

33:14. All his ways are according to his ordering: so man is in the hand
of him that made him, and he will render to him according to his
judgment.

33:15. Good is set against evil, and life against death: so also is the
sinner against a just man. And so look upon all the works of the most
High. Two and two, and one against another.

33:16. And I awaked last of all, and as one that gathereth after the
grapegatherers.

33:17. In the blessing of God I also have hoped: and as one that
gathereth grapes, have I filled the winepress.

33:18. See that I have not laboured for myself only, but for all that
seek discipline.

33:19. Hear me, ye great men, and all ye people, and hearken with your
ears, ye rulers of the church.

33:20. Give not to son or wife, brother or friend, power over thee while
thou livest; and give not thy estate to another, lest thou repent, and
thou entreat for the same.

33:21. As long as thou livest, and hast breath in thee, let no man
change thee.

Change thee... That is, so as to have this power over thee.

33:22. For it is better that thy children should ask of thee, than that
thou look toward the hands of thy children.

33:23. In all thy works keep the pre-eminence.

The pre-eminence... That is, be master in thy own house, and part not
with thy authority.

33:24. Let no stain sully thy glory. In the time when thou shalt end the
days of thy life, and in the time of thy decease, distribute thy
inheritance.

33:25. Fodder, and a wand, and a burden are for an ass: bread, and
correction, and work for a slave.

33:26. He worketh under correction, and seeketh to rest: let his hands
be idle, and he seeketh liberty.

33:27. The yoke and the thong bend a stiff neck, and continual labours
bow a slave.

33:28. Torture and fetters are for a malicious slave: send him to work,
that he be not idle:

33:29. For idleness hath taught much evil.

33:30. Set him to work: for so it is fit for him. And if he be not
obedient, bring him down with fetters, but be not excessive towards any
one, and do no grievous thing without judgment.

33:31. If thou have a faithful servant, let him be to thee as thy own
soul: treat him as a brother: because in the blood of thy soul thou hast
gotten him.

33:32. If thou hurt him unjustly, he will run away:

33:33. And if he rise up and depart, thou knowest not whom to ask, and
in what way to seek him.

Ecclesiasticus Chapter 34

The vanity of dreams. The advantage of experience, and of the fear of
God.

34:1. The hopes of a man that is void of understanding are vain and
deceitful: and dreams lift up fools.

34:2. The man that giveth heed to lying visions, is like to him that
catcheth at a shadow, and followeth after the wind.

34:3. The vision of dreams is the resemblance of one thing to another:
as when a man's likeness is before the face of a man.

34:4. What can be made clean by the unclean? and what truth can come
from that which is false?

34:5. Deceitful divinations and lying omens and the dreams of evildoers,
are vanity:

34:6. And the heart fancieth as that of a woman in travail: except it be
a vision sent forth from the most High, set not thy heart upon them.

34:7. For dreams have deceived many, and they have failed that put their
trust in them.

34:8. The word of the law shall be fulfilled without a lie, and wisdom
shall be made plain in the mouth of the faithful.

34:9. What doth he know, that hath not been tried? A man that hath much
experience, shall think of many things: and he that hath learned many
things, shall shew forth understanding.

34:10. He that hath no experience, knoweth little: and he that hath been
experienced in many things, multiplieth prudence.

34:11. He that hath not been tried, what manner of things doth he know?
he that hath been surprised, shall abound with subtlety.

34:12. I have seen many things by travelling, and many customs of
things.

34:13. Sometimes I have been in danger of death for these things, and I
have been delivered by the grace of God.

34:14. The spirit of those that fear God, is sought after, and by his
regard shall be blessed.

34:15. For their hope is on him that saveth them, and the eyes of God
are upon them that love him.

34:16. He that feareth the Lord shall tremble at nothing, and shall not
be afraid: for he is his hope.

34:17. The soul of him that feareth the Lord is blessed.

34:18. To whom doth he look, and who is his strength?

34:19. The eyes of the Lord are upon them that fear him, he is their
powerful protector, and strong stay, a defence from the heat, and a
cover from the sun at noon,

34:20. A preservation from stumbling, and a help from falling: he
raiseth up the soul, and enlighteneth the eyes, and giveth health, and
life, and blessing.

34:21. The offering of him that sacrificeth of a thing wrongfully
gotten, is stained, and the mockeries of the unjust are not acceptable.

34:22. The Lord is only for them that wait upon him in the way of truth
and justice.

34:23. The most High approveth not the gifts of the wicked: neither hath
he respect to the oblations of the unjust, nor will he be pacified for
sins by the multitude of their sacrifices.

34:24. He that offereth sacrifice of the goods of the poor, is as one
that sacrificeth the son in the presence of his father.

34:25. The bread of the needy, is the life of the poor: he that
defraudeth them thereof, is a man of blood.

34:26. He that taketh away the bread gotten by sweat, is like him that
killeth his neighbour.

34:27. He that sheddeth blood, and he that defraudeth the laborer of his
hire, are brothers.

34:28. When one buildeth up, and another pulleth down: what profit have
they but the labour?

34:29. When one prayeth, and another curseth: whose voice will God hear?

34:30. He that washeth himself after touching the dead, if he toucheth
him again, what doth his washing avail?

34:31. So a man that fasteth for his sins, and doth the same again, what
doth his humbling himself profit him? who will hear his prayer?

Ecclesiasticus Chapter 35

What sacrifices are pleasing to God.

35:1. He that keepeth the law, multiplieth offerings.

35:2. It is a wholesome sacrifice to take heed to the commandments, and
to depart from all iniquity.

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