Sirach 41 Clementine Vulgate
1 [O mors, quam amara est memoria tua homini pacem habenti in substantiis suis:
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 viro quieto, et cujus viæ directæ sunt in omnibus, et adhuc valenti accipere cibum !
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 O mors, bonum est judicium tuum homini indigenti, et qui minoratur viribus,
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 defecto ætate, et cui de omnibus cura est, et incredibili, qui perdit patientiam !
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 Noli metuere judicium mortis: memento quæ ante te fuerunt, et quæ superventura sunt tibi: hoc judicium a Domino omni carni.
5 The children of sinners are abominable children and they frequent the dwellings of the ungodly.
6 Et quid superveniet tibi in beneplacito Altissimi? sive decem, sive centum, sive mille anni:
6 The inheritance of sinners’ children will perish and with their posterity will be a perpetual disgrace.
7 non est enim in inferno accusatio vitæ.]
7 Children will complain of an ungodly father, because they suffer disgrace because of him.
8 [Filii abominationum fiunt filii peccatorum, et qui conversantur secus domos impiorum.
8 Woe to you, ungodly men, who have forsaken the law of the Most High God!
9 Filiorum peccatorum periet hæreditas, et cum semine illorum assiduitas opprobrii.
9 If you are born, you will be born to a curse. If you die, a curse will be your portion.
10 De patre impio queruntur filii, quoniam propter illum sunt in opprobrio.
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 Væ vobis, viri impii, qui dereliquistis legem Domini Altissimi !
11 The mourning of men is about their bodies; but the evil name of sinners will be blotted out.
12 Et si nati fueritis, in maledictione nascemini: et si mortui fueritis, in maledictione erit pars vestra.
12 Have regard for your name, for it continues with you longer than a thousand great treasures of gold.
13 Omnia quæ de terra sunt in terram convertentur: sic impii a maledicto in perditionem.
13 A good life has its number of days, but a good name continues forever.
14 Luctus hominum in corpore ipsorum: nomen autem impiorum delebitur.
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 Curam habe de bono nomine: hoc enim magis permanebit tibi quam mille thesauri pretiosi et magni.
15 Better is a man who hides his foolishness than a man who hides his wisdom.
16 Bonæ vitæ numerus dierum: bonum autem nomen permanebit in ævum.]
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 [Disciplinam in pace conservate, filii: sapientia enim abscondita, et thesaurus invisus, quæ utilitas in utrisque?
17 Be ashamed of sexual immorality before father and mother, of a lie before a prince and a mighty man,
18 Melior est homo qui abscondit stultitiam suam, quam homo qui abscondit sapientiam suam.
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 Verumtamen reveremini in his quæ procedunt de ore meo:
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 non est enim bonum omnem reverentiam observare, et non omnia omnibus bene placent in fide.
20 of silence before those who greet you, of looking at a woman who is a prostitute,
21 Erubescite a patre et a matre de fornicatione: et a præsidente et a potente de mendacio:
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 a principe et a judice de delicto: a synagoga et plebe de iniquitate:
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 a socio et amico de injustitia, et de loco in quo habitas:
23 of repeating and speaking what you have heard, and of revealing of secrets.
24 de furto, de veritate Dei, et testamento: de discubitu in panibus, et ab obfuscatione dati et accepti:
24 So you will be ashamed of the right things and find favor in the sight of every man.
25 a salutantibus de silentio, a respectu mulieris fornicariæ, et ab aversione vultus cognati.
25 Not in this translation
26 Ne avertas faciem a proximo tuo, et ab auferendo partem et non restituendo.
26 Not in this translation
27 Ne respicias mulierem alieni viri, et ne scruteris ancillam ejus, neque steteris ad lectum ejus.
27 Not in this translation
28 Ab amicis de sermonibus improperii: et cum dederis, ne improperes.]
28 Not in this translation