Sirach 18
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1HE that liueth for euer,* made all things together: the Lord who onelie is iust, and there is none other but he, [and he remaineth a victorious King for euer.] 2He ordereth the worlde with the power of his hand, and all things obey his wil: for he gouerneth all things by his power, and deuideth the holie things from the prophane. 3To whome hathe he giuen power to expresse his workes? who wil seke out the grounde of his noble actes? 4Who shal declare the power of his greatnes? or who wil take vpon him to tell out his mercie? 5As for the wonderous workes of the Lord, there may nothing be taken from them, nether can anie thing be put vnto them, nether may the grounde of them be founde out. 6But when a man hathe done his best, he must beginne againe, and when he thinketh to come to an end, he must go againe to his labour. 7¶What is man? whereto serueth he? what good or euil can he do? 8*If the nomber of a mans daies be an hundreth yere, it is muche: and no man hathe certeine knowledge of his death. 9As droppes of raine are vnto the sea, and as a grauel stone is in comparison of the sand, so are a thousand yeres to the dayes euerlasting. 10Therefore is [God] pacient with them, and powreth out his mercie vpon them. 11He sawe & perceiued, that [the arrogancie of their heart, and their ruine was euil: therefore heaped he vp his mercie vpon them, and shewed them the way of righteousnes.] 12The mercie that a man hathe, reacheth to his neighbour: but the mercie of the Lord is vpon all flesh: he chasteneth, and nurtureth, & teacheth, & bringeth backe, as a shepherd his flocke. 13He hathe mercie of them that receiue discipline, and that diligently seke after his iudgements. 14¶My sonne, when thou doest good, reproue not: and whatsoeuer thou giuest, vse no discomfortable wordes. 15Shal not the dewe aswage the heat? so is a worde better then a gift. 16Lo, is not a worde better then a good gift? but a gracious man giueth them bothe. 17A foole wil reproche churlishly, and a gift of the enuious putteth out the eyes. 18[Get thee righteousnes before thou come to iudgement:] learne before thou speake, and vse physike or euer thou be sicke. 19*Examine thy self, before thou be iudged, & in the day of the visitacion thou shalt finde mercie. 20Humble thy self before thou be sicke, & whiles thou maiest yet sinne, shewe thy conuersion. 21Let nothing let thee to pay thy vowe in time, and differre not vnto death to be reformed: [for the rewarde of God endureth for euer.] 22Before thou praiest, prepare thy self, and be not as one that tempteth the Lord. 23Thinke vpon the *wrath, that shalbe at the end, and the houre of vengeance, when he shal turne away his face. 24*When thou hast ynough, remember the time of hunger: and when thou art riche, thinke vpon pouertie and nede. 25From the morning vntil the euening the time is changed, and all suche things are sone done before the Lord. 26A wise man feareth in all things, and in the daies of transgression he kepeth him self from sinne: but the foole doeth not obserue the time. 27¶Euerie wise man knoweth wisdome, & knowledge, and praiseth him that findeth her. 28They that haue vnderstanding, deale wisely in wordes: [they vnderstand the trueth and righteousnes,] and powre out with modestie graue sentences for mans life. 29The chief autoritie of speaking is of the Lord alone: for a mortal man hathe but a dead heart. 30¶*Followe not thy lustes, but turne thee from thine owne appetites. 31For if thou giuest thy soule her desires, it shal make thine enemies that enuie thee, to laugh thee to scorne. 32Take not thy pleasure in great volupteousnes, and intangle not thy self with suche companie. 33Become not a begger by making bankets of that that thou hast borowed, and so leaue nothing in thy purse: els thou shuldest sclanderously lie in waite for thine owne life.
Chapters in Sirach