Sirach · Catholic Public Domain Version
Sirach 42 Catholic Public Domain Version
Notes on this text (3)
- Esther and Daniel are the Vulgate books (Esther 1–16 with the Greek additions as chapters 10:4–16; Daniel 1–14 with the Song of the Three, Susanna and Bel). Baruch 6 is the Letter of Jeremiah.
- The translator's footnotes, cross-references, chapter summaries and book introductions in the CrossWire module are not shown.
- No imprimatur; single translator.
1 You should not repeat a claim heard from the revealing of a hidden word. And then, truly, you will be without shame, and you will find favor in the sight of all men. You should not accept the reputation of someone, so that you would sin, nor should you be confounded in any of the following things:
1 Don’t be ashamed of these things, and don’t sin to save face:
2 in the law of the Most High and his covenant, or by giving a judgment to justify the impious;
2 of the law of the Most High and his covenant, of judgment to do justice to the ungodly,
3 in a word among companions and fellow travelers, or by distributing the inheritance of friends;
3 of reckoning with a partner and with travellers, of a gift from the inheritance of friends,
4 in the fairness of scales and weights, or in acquiring much or little;
4 of exactness of scales and weights, of getting much or little,
5 by the corruption of buying and negotiating, or in the ample discipline of children, or in causing the side of a wicked servant to bleed.
5 of bargaining dealing with merchants, of frequent correction of children, and of making the back of an evil slave to bleed.
6 A seal is good over a wicked wife.
6 A seal is good where an evil wife is. Where there are many hands, lock things up.
7 Where there are many hands, seal and deliver all things by number and weight; and truly, give and receive everything in writing.
7 Whatever you hand over, let it be by number and weight. In giving and receiving, let all be in writing.
8 You should not have shame in correcting the senseless, the foolish, and those youths who would judge their elders. And so shall you be well-instructed in all things and well-approved in the sight of all the living.
8 Don’t be ashamed to instruct the unwise and foolish, and one of extreme old age who contends with those who are young. So you will be well instructed indeed and approved in the sight of every living man.
9 The vigilance of a father for his daughter is hidden, and his concern for her takes away his sleep. For perhaps, in her adolescence, she might be brought into adulthood. Or when she lives with her husband, she might become hateful.
9 A daughter is a secret cause of wakefulness to a father. Care for her takes away sleep— in her youth, lest she pass the flower of her age; when she is married, lest she should be hated;
10 In her virginity, she might be defiled, and then she may be found to be pregnant in her father’s house. Or perhaps, when she lives with her husband, she might stray, or at least become barren.
10 in her virginity, lest she should be defiled and be with child in her father’s house; when she has a husband, lest she should transgress; and when she is married, lest she should be barren.
11 Keep a close watch over a self-indulgent daughter. Otherwise, at some time, she might bring you into disgrace before your enemies, and into disrepute in the city, and into reproach among the people, and so she may confound you before the multitude of the people.
11 Keep a strict watch over a headstrong daughter, lest she make you a laughingstock to your enemies, a byword in the city and notorious among the people, and shame you in public.
12 She should not choose to gaze upon the beauty of every man, and she should not choose to spend her time in the midst of married women.
12 Don’t gaze at every beautiful body. Don’t sit in the midst of women.
13 For a moth goes forth from garments, and iniquity over a man goes forth from a woman.
13 For from garments comes a moth, and from a woman comes a woman’s wickedness.
14 Yet iniquity over a man is better for her than if a married woman, seeking to benefit her, instead leads her into confusion and disgrace.
14 Better is the wickedness of a man than a pleasant woman, a woman who puts you to shame and disgrace.
15 And now, I will remember the works of the Lord, and I will announce what I have seen. The words of the Lord are in his works.
15 I will make mention now of the works of the Lord, and will declare the things that I have seen. The Lord’s works are in his words.
16 The sun illuminates and considers all things, and its work shows the fullness of the glory of the Lord.
16 The sun that gives light looks at all things. The Lord’s work is full of his glory.
17 Has not the Lord caused the holy ones to describe all his miracles, which the all-powerful Lord has firmly established in his glory?
17 The Lord has not given power to the saints to declare all his marvelous works, which the Almighty Lord firmly settled, that the universe might be established in his glory.
18 He has examined the abyss and the hearts of men. And he has considered their astuteness.
18 He searches out the deep and the heart. He has understanding of their secrets. For the Most High knows all knowledge. He sees the signs of the world.
19 For the Lord comprehends all knowledge, and he has gazed upon the signs of the times: announcing the things of the past, as well as the things of the future, and revealing the traces of hidden things.
19 He declares the things that are past and the things that shall be, and reveals the traces of hidden things.
20 No thought passes by him unnoticed, and no word can conceal itself from him.
20 No thought escapes him. There is not a word hidden from him.
21 He has adorned the magnificent works of his wisdom. He is before eternity and even unto eternity. And nothing can be added,
21 He has ordered the mighty works of his wisdom. He is from everlasting to everlasting. Nothing has been added to them, nor diminished from them. He had no need of any counselor.
22 and nothing can be taken away. And he has no need of any counselor.
22 How desirable are all his works! One may see this even in a spark.
23 O how desirable are all his works! And all that we consider is but a spark.
23 All these things live and remain forever in all manner of uses. They are all obedient.
24 All these works exist, and they remain in the present age, and they all obey him in every purpose.
24 All things are in pairs, one opposite the other. He has made nothing imperfect.
25 All things are two-fold, one facing another, and he has not made anything to be lacking.
25 One thing establishes the good things of another. Who could ever see enough of his glory?
26 He has confirmed each thing as good. And who would tire of beholding his glory?
26 Not in this translation