Sirach · King James Version (with Apocrypha)
Sirach 41 King James Version (with Apocrypha)
1 O death, how bitter is the remembrance of thee to a man that liveth at rest in his possessions, unto the man that hath nothing to vex him, and that hath prosperity in all things: yea, unto him that is yet able to receive meat!
1 O death, how bitter is the memory of you to a man who is at peace in his possessions, to the man who has nothing to distract him and has prosperity in all things, and who still has strength to enjoy food!
2 O death, acceptable is thy sentence unto the needy, and unto him whose strength faileth, that is now in the last age, and is vexed with all things, and to him that despaireth, and hath lost patience!
2 O death, your sentence is acceptable to a man who is needy and who fails in strength, who is in extreme old age, is distracted about all things, is perverse, and has lost patience!
3 Fear not the sentence of death, remember them that have been before thee, and that come after; for this is the sentence of the Lord over all flesh.
3 Don’t be afraid of the sentence of death. Remember those who have been before you and who come after. This is the sentence from the Lord over all flesh.
4 And why art thou against the pleasure of the most High? there is no inquisition in the grave, whether thou have lived ten, or an hundred, or a thousand years.
4 And why do you refuse when it is the good pleasure of the Most High? Whether life lasts ten, or a hundred, or a thousand years, there is no inquiry about life in Hades.
5 The children of sinners are abominable children, and they that are conversant in the dwelling of the ungodly.
5 The children of sinners are abominable children and they frequent the dwellings of the ungodly.
6 The inheritance of sinners’ children shall perish, and their posterity shall have a perpetual reproach.
6 The inheritance of sinners’ children will perish and with their posterity will be a perpetual disgrace.
7 The children will complain of an ungodly father, because they shall be reproached for his sake.
7 Children will complain of an ungodly father, because they suffer disgrace because of him.
8 Woe be unto you, ungodly men, which have forsaken the law of the most high God! for if ye increase, it shall be to your destruction:
8 Woe to you, ungodly men, who have forsaken the law of the Most High God!
9 And if ye be born, ye shall be born to a curse: and if ye die, a curse shall be your portion.
9 If you are born, you will be born to a curse. If you die, a curse will be your portion.
10 All that are of the earth shall turn to earth again: so the ungodly shall go from a curse to destruction.
10 All things that are of the earth will go back to the earth; so the ungodly will go from a curse to perdition.
11 The mourning of men is about their bodies: but an ill name of sinners shall be blotted out.
11 The mourning of men is about their bodies; but the evil name of sinners will be blotted out.
12 Have regard to thy name; for that shall continue with thee above a thousand great treasures of gold.
12 Have regard for your name, for it continues with you longer than a thousand great treasures of gold.
13 A good life hath but few days: but a good name endureth for ever.
13 A good life has its number of days, but a good name continues forever.
14 My children, keep discipline in peace: for wisdom that is hid, and a treasure that is not seen, what profit is in them both?
14 My children, follow instruction in peace. But wisdom that is hidden and a treasure that is not seen, what benefit is in them both?
15 A man that hideth his foolishness is better than a man that hideth his wisdom.
15 Better is a man who hides his foolishness than a man who hides his wisdom.
16 Therefore be shamefaced according to my word: for it is not good to retain all shamefacedness; neither is it altogether approved in every thing.
16 Therefore show respect for my words; for it is not good to retain every kind of shame. Not everything is approved by all in good faith.
17 Be ashamed of whoredom before father and mother: and of a lie before a prince and a mighty man;
17 Be ashamed of sexual immorality before father and mother, of a lie before a prince and a mighty man,
18 Of an offence before a judge and ruler; of iniquity before a congregation and people; of unjust dealing before thy partner and friend;
18 of an offense before a judge and ruler, of iniquity before the congregation and the people, of unjust dealing before a partner and friend,
19 And of theft in regard of the place where thou sojournest, and in regard of the truth of God and his covenant; and to lean with thine elbow upon the meat; and of scorning to give and take;
19 and of theft in the place where you sojourn. Be ashamed in regard of the truth of God and his covenant, of leaning on your elbow at dinner, of contemptuous behavior in the matter of giving and taking,
20 And of silence before them that salute thee; and to look upon an harlot;
20 of silence before those who greet you, of looking at a woman who is a prostitute,
21 And to turn away thy face from thy kinsman; or to take away a portion or a gift; or to gaze upon another man’s wife.
21 of turning away your face from a kinsman, of taking away a portion or a gift, of gazing at a woman who has a husband,
22 Or to be overbusy with his maid, and come not near her bed; or of upbraiding speeches before friends; and after thou hast given, upbraid not;
22 of meddling with his maid—and don’t come near her bed, of abusive speech to friends—and after you have given, don’t insult,
23 Or of iterating and speaking again that which thou hast heard; and of revealing of secrets.
23 of repeating and speaking what you have heard, and of revealing of secrets.
24 So shalt thou be truly shamefaced and find favour before all men.
24 So you will be ashamed of the right things and find favor in the sight of every man.