The Bible, Douay Rheims, Book 26: Ecclesiasticus

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35:3. And to depart from injustice, is to offer a propitiatory sacrifice
for injustices, and a begging of pardon for sins.

35:4. He shall return thanks, that offereth fine flour: and he that doth
mercy, offereth sacrifice.

35:5. To depart from iniquity is that which pleaseth the Lord, and to
depart from injustice, is an entreaty for sins.

35:6. Thou shalt not appear empty in the sight of the Lord.

35:7. For all these things are to be done because of the commandment of
God.

35:8. The oblation of the just maketh the altar fat, and is an odour of
sweetness in the sight of the most High.

35:9. The sacrifice of the just is acceptable, and the Lord will not
forget the memorial thereof.

35:10. Give glory to God with a good heart: and diminish not the
firstfruits of thy hands.

35:11. In every gift shew a cheerful countenance, and sanctify thy
tithes with joy.

35:12. Give to the most High according to what he hath given to thee,
and with a good eye do according to the ability of thy hands:

35:13. For the Lord maketh recompense, and will give thee seven times as
much.

35:14. Do not offer wicked gifts, for such he will not receive.

35:15. And look not upon an unjust sacrifice, for the Lord is judge, and
there is not with him respect of person.

35:16. The Lord will not accept any person against a poor man, and he
will hear the prayer of him that is wronged.

35:17. He will not despise the prayers of the fatherless: nor the widow,
when she poureth out her complaint.

35:18. Do not the widow's tears run down the cheek, and her cry against
him that causeth them to fall?

35:19. For from the cheek they go up even to heaven, and the Lord that
heareth will not be delighted with them.

35:20. He that adoreth God with joy, shall be accepted, and his prayer
shall approach even to the clouds.

35:21. The prayer of him that humbleth himself, shall pierce the clouds:
and till it come nigh he will not be comforted: and he will not depart
till the most High behold.

35:22. And the Lord will not be slack, but will judge for the just, and
will do judgment: and the Almighty will not have patience with them,
that he may crush their back:

35:23. And he will repay vengeance to the Gentiles, till he have taken
away the multitude of the proud, and broken the sceptres of the unjust,

35:24. Till he have rendered to men according to their deeds: and
according to the works of Adam, and according to his presumption,

35:25. Till he have judged the cause of his people, and he shall delight
the just with his mercy.

35:26. The mercy of God is beautiful in the time of affliction, as a
cloud of rain in the time of drought.

Ecclesiasticus Chapter 36

A prayer for the church of God. Of a good heart, and a good wife.

36:1. Have mercy upon us, O God of all, and behold us, and shew us the
light of thy mercies:

36:2. And send thy fear upon the nations, that have not sought after
thee: that they may know that there is no God beside thee, and that they
may shew forth thy wonders.

36:3. Lift up thy hand over the strange nations, that they may see thy
power.

36:4. For as thou hast been sanctified in us in their sight, so thou
shalt be magnified among them in our presence,

36:5. That they may know thee, as we also have known thee, that there is
no God beside thee, O Lord.

36:6. Renew thy signs, and work new miracles.

36:7. Glorify thy hand, and thy right arm.

36:8. Raise up indignation, and pour out wrath.

36:9. Take away the adversary, and crush the enemy.

36:10. Hasten the time, and remember the end, that they may declare thy
wonderful works.

36:11. Let him that escapeth be consumed by the rage of the fire: and
let them perish that oppress thy people.

36:12. Crush the head of the princes of the enemies that say: There is
no other beside us.

36:13. Gather together all the tribes of Jacob: that they may know that
there no God besides thee, and may declare thy great works: and thou
shalt inherit them as from the beginning.

36:14. Have mercy on thy people, upon whom thy name is invoked: and upon
Israel, whom thou hast raised up to be thy firstborn.

36:15. Have mercy on Jerusalem, the city which thou hast sanctified, the
city of thy rest.

36:16. Fill Sion with thy unspeakable words, and thy people with thy
glory.

36:17. Give testimony to them that are thy creatures from the beginning,
and raise up the prophecies which the former prophets spoke in thy name.

36:18. Reward them that patiently wait for thee, that thy prophets may
be found faithful: and hear the prayers of thy servants,

36:19. According to the blessing of Aaron over thy people, and direct us
into the way of justice, and let all know that dwell upon the earth,
that thou art God the beholder of all ages.

36:20. The belly will devour all meat, yet one is better than another.

36:21. The palate tasteth venison and the wise heart false speeches.

36:22. A perverse heart will cause grief, and a man of experience will
resist it.

36:23. A woman will receive every man: yet one daughter is better than
another.

A woman will receive every man... That is, any man that her parents
propose to her to marry, though she does not like him, but marries in
obedience to her parents, who make the choice for her.

36:24. The beauty of a woman cheereth the countenance of her husband,
and a man desireth nothing more.

36:25. If she have a tongue that can cure, and likewise mitigate and
shew mercy: her husband is not like other men.

36:26. He that possesseth a good wife, beginneth a possession: she is a
help like to himself, and a pillar of rest.

36:27. Where there is no hedge, the possession shall be spoiled: and
where there is no wife, he mourneth that is in want.

36:28. Who will trust him that hath no rest, and that lodgeth
wheresoever the night taketh him, as a robber well appointed, that
skippeth from city to city.

Ecclesiasticus Chapter 37

Of the choice of friends and counsellors.

37:1. Every friend will say: I also am his friend: but there is a
friend, that is only a friend in name. Is not this a grief even to
death?

37:2. But a companion and a friend shall be turned to an enemy.

37:3. O wicked presumption, whence camest thou to cover the earth with
thy malice, and deceitfulness?

37:4. There is a companion who rejoiceth with his friend in his joys,
but in the time of trouble, he will be against him.

37:5. There is a companion who condoleth with his friend for his belly's
sake, and he will take up a shield against the enemy.

37:6. Forget not thy friend in thy mind, and be not unmindful of him in
thy riches.

37:7. Consult not with him that layeth a snare for thee, and hide thy
counsel from them that envy thee.

37:8. Every counsellor giveth out counsel, but there is one that is a
counsellor for himself.

37:9. Beware of a counsellor. And know before what need he hath: for he
will devise to his own mind:

37:10. Lest he thrust a stake into the ground, and say to thee:

37:11. Thy way is good; and then stand on the other side to see what
shall befall thee.

37:12. Treat not with a man without religion concerning holiness, nor
with an unjust man concerning justice, nor with a woman touching her of
whom she is jealous, nor with a coward concerning war, nor with a
merchant about traffic, nor with a buyer of selling, nor with an envious
man of giving thanks,

37:13. Nor with the ungodly of piety, nor with the dishonest of honesty,
nor with the field laborer of every work,

37:14. Nor with him that worketh by the year of the finishing of the
year, nor with an idle servant of much business: give no heed to these
in any matter of counsel.

37:15. But be continually with a holy man, whomsoever thou shalt know to
observe the fear of God,

37:16. Whose soul is according to thy own soul: and who, when thou shalt
stumble in the dark, will be sorry for thee.

37:17. And establish within thyself a heart of good counsel: for there
is no other thing of more worth to thee than it.

37:18. The soul of a holy man discovereth sometimes true things, more
than seven watchmen that sit in a high place to watch.

37:19. But above all these things pray to the most High, that he may
direct thy way in truth.

37:20. In all thy works let the true word go before thee, and steady
counsel before every action.

37:21. A wicked word shall change the heart: out of which four manner of
things arise, good and evil, life and death: and the tongue is
continually the ruler of them. There is a man that is subtle and a
teacher of many, and yet is unprofitable to his own soul.

37:22. A skilful man hath taught many, and is sweet to his own soul.

37:23. He that speaketh sophistically, is hateful: he shall be destitute
of every thing.

37:24. Grace is not given him from the Lord: for he is deprived of all
wisdom.

37:25. There is a wise man that is wise to his own soul: and the fruit
of his understanding is commendable.

37:26. A wise man instructeth his own people, and the fruits of his
understanding are faithful.

37:27. A wise man shall be filled with blessings, and they that see
shall praise him.

37:28. The life of a man is in the number of his days: but the days of
Israel are innumerable.

37:29. A wise man shall inherit honour among his people, and his name
shall live for ever.

37:30. My son, prove thy soul in thy life: and if it be wicked, give it
no power:

37:31. For all things are not expedient for all, and every kind pleaseth
not every soul.

37:32. Be not greedy in any feasting, and pour not out thyself upon any
meat:

37:33. For in many meats there will be sickness, and greediness will
turn to choler.

37:34. By surfeiting many have perished, but he that is temperate, shall
prolong life.

Ecclesiasticus Chapter 38

Of physicians and medicines: what is to be done in sickness, and how we
are to mourn for the dead. Of the employments of labourers and
artificers.

38:1. Honour the physician for the need thou hast of him: for the most
High hath created him.

38:2. For all healing is from God, and he shall receive gifts of the
king.

38:3. The skill of the physician shall lift up his head, and in the
sight of great men he shall be praised.

38:4. The most High hath created medicines out of the earth, and a wise
man will not abhor them.

38:5. Was not bitter water made sweet with wood?

38:6. The virtue of these things is come to the knowledge of men, and
the most High hath given knowledge to men, that he may be honoured in
his wonders.

38:7. By these he shall cure and shall allay their pains, and of these
the apothecary shall make sweet confections, and shall make up ointments
of health, and of his works there shall be no end.

38:8. For the peace of God is over all the face of the earth.

38:9. My son, in thy sickness neglect not thyself, but pray to the Lord,
and he shall heal thee.

38:10. Turn away from sin and order thy hands aright, and cleanse thy
heart from all offence.

38:11. Give a sweet savour, and a memorial of fine flour, and make a fat
offering, and then give place to the physician.

38:12. For the Lord created him: and let him not depart from thee, for
his works are necessary.

38:13. For there is a time when thou must fall into their hands:

38:14. And they shall beseech the Lord, that he would prosper what they
give for ease and remedy, for their conversation.

38:15. He that sinneth in the sight of his Maker, shall fall into the
hands of the physician.

38:16. My son, shed tears over the dead, and begin to lament as if thou
hadst suffered some great harm, and according to judgment cover his
body, and neglect not his burial.

38:17. And for fear of being ill spoken of weep bitterly for a day, and
then comfort thyself in thy sadness.

38:18. And make mourning for him according to his merit for a day, or
two, for fear of detraction.

38:19. For of sadness cometh death, and it overwhelmeth the strength,
and the sorrow of the heart boweth down the neck.

38:20. In withdrawing aside sorrow remaineth: and the substance of the
poor is according to his heart.

38:21. Give not up thy heart to sadness, but drive it from thee: and
remember the latter end.

38:22. Forget it not: for there is no returning, and thou shalt do him
no good, and shalt hurt thyself.

38:23. Remember my judgment: for thine also shall be so: yesterday for
me, and to day for thee.

38:24. When the dead is at rest, let his remembrance rest, and comfort
him in the departing of his spirit.

38:25. The wisdom of a scribe cometh by his time of leisure: and he that
is less in action, shall receive wisdom.

A scribe... That is, a doctor of the law, or, a learned man.

38:26. With what wisdom shall he be furnished that holdeth the plough,
and that glorieth in the goad, that driveth the oxen therewith, and is
occupied in their labours, and his whole talk is about the offspring of
bulls?

38:27. He shall give his mind to turn up furrows, and his care is to
give the kine fodder.

38:28. So every craftsman and workmaster that laboureth night and day,
he who maketh graven seals, and by his continual diligence varieth the
figure: he shall give his mind to the resemblance of the picture, and by
his watching shall finish the work.

38:29. So doth the smith sitting by the anvil and considering the iron
work. The vapour of the fire wasteth his flesh, and he fighteth with the
heat of the furnace.

38:30. The noise of the hammer is always in his ears, and his eye is
upon the pattern of the vessel he maketh.

38:31. He setteth his mind to finish his work, and his watching to
polish them to perfection.

38:32. So doth the potter sitting at his work, turning the wheel about
with his feet, who is always carefully set to his work, and maketh all
his work by number:

38:33. He fashioneth the clay with his arm, and boweth down his strength
before his feet:

38:34. He shall give his mind to finish the glazing, and his watching to
make clean the furnace.

38:35. All these trust to their hands, and every one is wise in his own
art.

38:36. Without these a city is not built.

38:37. And they shall not dwell, nor walk about therein, and they shall
not go up into the assembly.

38:38. Upon the judges' seat they shall not sit, and the ordinance of
judgment they shall not understand, neither shall they declare
discipline and judgment, and they shall not be found where parables are
spoken:

38:39. But they shall strengthen the state of the world, and their
prayer shall be in the work of their craft, applying their soul, and
searching in the law of the most High.

Ecclesiasticus Chapter 39

The exercises of the wise man. The Lord is to be glorified for his
works.

39:1. The wise man will seek out the wisdom of all the ancients, and
will be occupied in the prophets.

39:2. He will keep the sayings of renowned men, and will enter withal
into the subtilties of parables.

39:3. He will search out the hidden meanings of proverbs, and will be
conversant in the secrets of parables.

39:4. He shall serve among great men, and appear before the governor.

39:5. He shall pass into strange countries: for he shall try good and
evil among men.

39:6. He will give his heart to resort early to the Lord that made him,
and he will pray in the sight of the most High.

39:7. He will open his mouth in prayer, and will make supplication for
his sins.

39:8. For if it shall please the great Lord, he will fill him with the
spirit of understanding:

39:9. And he will pour forth the words of his wisdom as showers, and in
his prayer he will confess to the Lord.

39:10. And he shall direct his counsel, and his knowledge, and in his
secrets shall he meditate.

39:11. He shall shew forth the discipline he hath learned, and shall
glory in the law of the covenant of the Lord.

39:12. Many shall praise his wisdom, and it shall never be forgotten.

39:13. The memory of him shall not depart away, and his name shall be in
request from generation to generation.

39:14. Nations shall declare his wisdom, and the church shall shew forth
his praise.

39:15. If he continue, he shall leave a name above a thousand: and if he
rest, it shall be to his advantage.

39:16. I will yet meditate that I may declare: for I am filled as with a
holy transport.

39:17. By a voice he saith: Hear me, ye divine offspring, and bud forth
as the rose planted by the brooks of waters.

Ye divine offspring... He speaks to the children of Israel, the people
of God: whom he exhorts to bud forth and flourish with virtue.

39:18. Give ye a sweet odour as frankincense.

39:19. Send forth flowers, as the lily, and yield a smell, and bring
forth leaves in grace, and praise with canticles, and bless the Lord in
his works.

39:20. Magnify his name, and give glory to him with the voice of your
lips, and with the canticles of your mouths, and with harps, and in
praising him, you shall say in this manner:

39:21. All the works of the Lord are exceeding good.

39:22. At his word the waters stood as a heap: and at the words of his
mouth the receptacles of waters:

39:23. For at his commandment favour is shewn, and there is no
diminishing of his salvation.

39:24. The works of all flesh are before him, and there is nothing hid
from his eyes.

39:25. He seeth from eternity to eternity, and there is nothing
wonderful before him.

39:26. There is no saying: What is this, or what is that? for all things
shall be sought in their time.

39:27. His blessing hath overflowed like a river.

39:28. And as a flood hath watered the earth; so shall his wrath inherit
the nations, that have not sought after him.

39:29. Even as he turned the waters into a dry land, and the earth was
made dry: and his ways were made plain for their journey: so to sinners
they are stumblingblocks in his wrath.

39:30. Good things were created for the good from the beginning, so for
the wicked, good and evil things.

39:31. The principal things necessary for the life of men, are water,
fire, and iron, salt, milk, and bread of flour, and honey, and the
cluster of the grape, and oil, and clothing.

39:32. All these things shall be for good to the holy, so to the sinners
and the ungodly they shall be turned into evil.

39:33. There are spirits that are created for vengeance, and in their
fury they lay on grievous torments.

39:34. In the time of destruction they shall pour out their force: and
they shall appease the wrath of him that made them.

39:35. Fire, hail, famine, and death, all these were created for
vengeance.

39:36. The teeth of beasts, and scorpions, and serpents, and the sword
taking vengeance upon the ungodly unto destruction.

39:37. In his commandments they shall feast, and they shall be ready
upon earth when need is, and when their time is come they shall not
transgress his word.

39:38. Therefore from the beginning I was resolved, and I have
meditated, and thought on these things and left them in writing,

39:39. All the works of the Lord are good, and he will furnish every
work in due time.

39:40. It is not to be said: This is worse than that: for all shall be
well approved in their time.

39:41. Now therefore with the whole heart and mouth praise ye him, and
bless the name of the Lord.

Ecclesiasticus Chapter 40

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

40:1. Great labour is created for all men, and a heavy yoke is upon the
children of Adam from the day of their coming out of their mother's
womb, until the day of their burial into the mother of all.

40:2. Their thoughts, and fears of the heart, their imagination of
things to come, and the day of their end:

40:3. From him that sitteth on a glorious throne, unto him that is
humbled in earth and ashes:

40:4. From him that weareth purple, and beareth the crown, even to him
that is covered with rough linen: wrath, envy, trouble, unquietness, and
the fear of death, continual anger, and strife,

40:5. And in the time of rest upon his bed, the sleep of the night
changeth his knowledge.

40:6. A little and as nothing is his rest, and afterward in sleep, as in
the day of keeping watch.

40:7. He is troubled in the vision of his heart, as if he had escaped in
the day of battle. In the time of his safety he rose up, and wondereth
that there is no fear.

40:8. Such things happen to all flesh, from man even to beast, and upon
sinners are sevenfold more.

40:9. Moreover, death, and bloodshed, strife, and sword, oppressions,
famine, and affliction, and scourges:

40:10. All these things are created for the wicked, and for their sakes
came the flood.

40:11. All things that are of the earth, shall return to the earth
again, and all waters shall return to the sea.

40:12. All bribery, and injustice shall be blotted out, and fidelity
shall stand for ever.

40:13. The riches of the unjust shall be dried up like a river, and
shall pass away with a noise like a great thunder in rain.

40:14. While he openeth his hands he shall rejoice: but transgressors
shall pine away in the end.

40:15. The offspring of the ungodly shall not bring forth many branches,
and make a noise as unclean roots upon the top of a rock.

40:16. The weed growing over every water, and at the bank of the river,
shall be pulled up before all grass.

40:17. Grace is like a paradise in blessings, and mercy remaineth for
ever.

40:18. The life of a laborer that is content with what he hath, shall be
sweet, and in it thou shalt find a treasure.

40:19. Children, and the building of a city shall establish a name, but
a blameless wife shall be counted above them both.

40:20. Wine and music rejoice the heart, but the love of wisdom is above
them both.

40:21. The flute and the psaltery make a sweet melody, but a pleasant
tongue is above them both.

40:22. Thy eye desireth favour and beauty, but more than these green
sown fields.

40:23. A friend and companion meeting together in season, but above them
both is a wife with her husband.

40:24. Brethren are a help in the time of trouble, but mercy shall
deliver more than they.

40:25. Gold and silver make the feet stand sure: but wise counsel is
above them both.

40:26. Riches and strength lift up the heart: but above these is the
fear of the Lord.

40:27. There is no want in the fear of the Lord, and it needeth not to
seek for help.

40:28. The fear of the Lord is like a paradise of blessing, and they
have covered it above all glory.

40:29. My son, in thy lifetime be not indigent: for it is better to die
than to want.

40:30. The life of him that looketh toward another man's table is not to
be counted a life: for he feedeth his soul with another man's meat.

40:31. But a man, well instructed and taught, will look to himself.

40:32. Begging will be sweet in the mouth of the unwise, but in his
belly there shall burn a fire.

Ecclesiasticus Chapter 41

Of the remembrance of death: of an evil and of a good name: of what
things we ought to be ashamed.

41:1. O death, how bitter is the remembrance of thee to a man that hath
peace in his possessions!

41:2. To a man that is at rest, and whose ways are prosperous in all
things, and that is yet able to take meat!

41:3. O death thy sentence is welcome to the man that is in need, and to
him whose strength faileth:

41:4. Who is in a decrepit age, and that is in care about all things,
and to the distrustful that loseth patience!

41:5. Fear not the sentence of death. Remember what things have been
before thee, and what shall come after thee: this sentence is from the
Lord upon all flesh.

41:6. And what shall come upon thee by the good pleasure of the most
High? whether ten, or a hundred, or a thousand years.

41:7. For among the dead there is no accusing of life.

41:8. The children of sinners become children of abominations, and they
that converse near the houses of the ungodly.

41:9. The inheritance of the children of sinners shall perish, and with
their posterity shall be a perpetual reproach.

41:10. The children will complain of an ungodly father, because for his
sake they are in reproach.

41:11. Woe to you, ungodly men, who have forsaken the law of the most
high Lord.

41:12. And if you be born, you shall be born in malediction: and if you
die, in malediction shall be your portion.

41:13. All things that are of the earth, shall return into the earth: so
the ungodly shall from malediction to destruction.

41:14. The mourning of men is about their body, but the name of the
ungodly shall be blotted out.

41:15. Take care of a good name: for this shall continue with thee, more
than a thousand treasures precious and great.

41:16. A good life hath its number of days: but a good name shall
continue for ever.

41:17. My children, keep discipline in peace: for wisdom that is hid,
and a treasure that is not seen, what profit is there in them both?

41:18. Better is the man that hideth his folly, than the man that hideth
his wisdom.

41:19. Wherefore have a shame of these things I am now going to speak
of.

Have a shame, etc... That is to say, be ashamed of doing any of these
things, which I am now going to mention; for though sometimes
shamefacedness is not to be indulged: yet it is often good and
necessary: as in the following cases.

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