Sirach · King James Version (with Apocrypha)
Sirach 14 King James Version (with Apocrypha)
1 Blessed is the man that hath not slipped with his mouth, and is not pricked with the multitude of sins.
1 Blessed is the man who has not slipped with his mouth, and doesn’t suffer from sorrow for sins.
2 Blessed is he whose conscience hath not condemned him, and who is not fallen from his hope in the Lord.
2 Blessed is he whose soul does not condemn him, and who has not given up hope.
3 Riches are not comely for a niggard: and what should an envious man do with money?
3 Riches are not appropriate for a stingy person. What would a miser do with money?
4 He that gathereth by defrauding his own soul gathereth for others, that shall spend his goods riotously.
4 He who gathers by denying himself gathers for others. Others will revel in his goods.
5 He that is evil to himself, to whom will he be good? he shall not take pleasure in his goods.
5 If one is mean to himself, to whom will he be good? He won’t enjoy his possessions.
6 There is none worse than he that envieth himself; and this is a recompence of his wickedness.
6 There is none more evil than he who is grudging to himself. This is a punishment for his wickedness.
7 And if he doeth good, he doeth it unwillingly; and at the last he will declare his wickedness.
7 Even if he does good, he does it in forgetfulness. In the end, he reveals his wickedness.
8 The envious man hath a wicked eye; he turneth away his face, and despiseth men.
8 A miser is evil. He turns away and disregards souls.
9 A covetous man’s eye is not satisfied with his portion; and the iniquity of the wicked drieth up his soul.
9 A covetous man’s eye is not satisfied with his portion. Wicked injustice dries up his soul.
10 A wicked eye envieth [his] bread, and he is a niggard at his table.
10 A miser begrudges bread, and it is lacking at his table.
11 My son, according to thy ability do good to thyself, and give the Lord his due offering.
11 My son, according to what you have, treat yourself well, and bring worthy offerings to the Lord.
12 Remember that death will not be long in coming, and that the covenant of the grave is not shewed unto thee.
12 Remember that death will not wait, and that the covenant of Hades hasn’t been shown to you.
13 Do good unto thy friend before thou die, and according to thy ability stretch out thy hand and give to him.
13 Do good to your friends before you die. According to your ability, reach out and give to them.
14 Defraud not thyself of the good day, and let not the part of a good desire overpass thee.
14 Don’t deprive yourself of a good day. Don’t let your share of a desired good pass you by.
15 Shalt thou not leave thy travails unto another? and thy labours to be divided by lot?
15 Won’t you leave your labors to another, and your toils be divided by lot?
16 Give, and take, and sanctify thy soul; for there is no seeking of dainties in the grave.
16 Give, take, and treat yourself well, because there is no seeking of luxury in Hades.
17 All flesh waxeth old as a garment: for the covenant from the beginning is, Thou shalt die the death.
17 All flesh grows old like a garment, for the covenant from the beginning is, “You must die!”
18 As of the green leaves on a thick tree, some fall, and some grow; so is the generation of flesh and blood, one cometh to an end, and another is born.
18 Like the leaves flourishing on a thick tree, some it sheds, and some grow, so also are the generations of flesh and blood: one comes to an end and another is born.
19 Every work rotteth and consumeth away, and the worker thereof shall go withal.
19 Every work rots and falls away, and its builder will depart with it.
20 Blessed is the man that doth meditate good things in wisdom, and that reasoneth of holy things by his understanding.
20 Blessed is the man who meditates on wisdom, and who reasons by his understanding.
21 He that considereth her ways in his heart shall also have understanding in her secrets.
21 He who considers her ways in his heart will also have knowledge of her secrets.
22 Go after her as one that traceth, and lie in wait in her ways.
22 Go after her like a hunter, and lie in wait in her paths.
23 He that prieth in at her windows shall also hearken at her doors.
23 He who peers in at her windows will also listen at her doors.
24 He that doth lodge near her house shall also fasten a pin in her walls.
24 He who lodges close to her house will also fasten a nail in her walls.
25 He shall pitch his tent nigh unto her, and shall lodge in a lodging where good things are.
25 He will pitch his tent near at hand to her, and will lodge in a lodging where good things are.
26 He shall set his children under her shelter, and shall lodge under her branches.
26 He will set his children under her shelter, and will rest under her branches.
27 By her he shall be covered from heat, and in her glory shall he dwell.
27 By her he will be covered from heat, and will lodge in her glory.