Sirach · Revised Version with Apocrypha
Sirach 14 Revised Version with Apocrypha
1 Blessed is the man that hath not slipped with his mouth, And is not pricked with sorrow for 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 soul doth not condemn him, And who is not fallen from his hope.
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 taking ] from his own soul gathereth for others; And others shall revel in his goods.
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? And he shall not rejoice in his possessions.
5 If one is mean to himself, to whom will he be good? He won’t enjoy his possessions.
6 There is none more evil than he that envieth himself; And this is a recompense of his wickedness.
6 There is none more evil than he who is grudging to himself. This is a punishment for his wickedness.
7 Even if he doeth good, he doeth it in forgetfulness; And at the last he sheweth forth his wickedness.
7 Even if he does good, he does it in forgetfulness. In the end, he reveals his wickedness.
8 Evil is he that envieth with his eye, Turning away the face, and despising the souls [of 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 wicked injustice drieth up his soul.
9 A covetous man’s eye is not satisfied with his portion. Wicked injustice dries up his soul.
10 An evil eye is grudging of bread, And he is miserly at his table
10 A miser begrudges bread, and it is lacking at his table.
11 My son, according as thou hast, do well unto thyself, And bring offerings unto the Lord worthily.
11 My son, according to what you have, treat yourself well, and bring worthy offerings to the Lord.
12 Remember that death will not tarry, 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 well 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 a good day; And let not the portion of a good desire pass thee by.
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 labours unto another? And thy toils 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 beguile thy soul; For there is no seeking of luxury 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 leaves flourishing on a thick tree, Some it sheddeth, and some it maketh to grow; So also of the generations 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 falleth away, And the worker thereof shall depart with it.
19 Every work rots and falls away, and its builder will depart with it.
20 Blessed is the man that shall meditate in wisdom, And that shall discourse 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 knowledge in her secrets.
21 He who considers her ways in his heart will also have knowledge of her secrets.
22 Go forth after her as one that tracketh, 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 lodgeth close to her house Shall also fasten a nail 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 at hand to 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 rest 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 shall lodge in her glory.
27 By her he will be covered from heat, and will lodge in her glory.