8.

Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thy hear, and in thy sight of thine eyes: but know thou that for all 9. these things God will bring thee into judgment. Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh; for youth and the prime of life are vanity. 1

10.

Remember also thy Creator in the days of thy youth, or ever the evil days come, and the years draw nigh, when thou shalt 11. say, I have no pleasure in them; or ever the sun, and the light, and the moon, and the stars, be darkened, and the clouds 12. return after the rain: in the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong ones shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened, and the doors shall be 13. shut in the street; when the sound of the grinding is low, and one shall rise up at the voice of a bird, and all the daughters 14. of music shall be brought low; yea, thou shalt be afraid of that which is high, and terrors shall be in the way; because a man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets: 15. or ever the silver cord be snapped asunder, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the 16. wheel broken at the cistern; and the dust return to the earth as it was, and the spirit return unto God who gave it. Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; all is vanity. And further, because the the people knowledge; yea, 19. set in order many proverbs. acceptable words, and that words of truth.

17.

18.

20.

Preacher was wise, he still taught he pondered, and sought out, and The Preacher sought to find out which was written uprightly, even

The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails well fastened are the words of the collectors of sentences, which are given 21. from one shepherd. And furthermore, my son, be admonished; of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

22.

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. 23. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil.

SELECTIONS FROM

ECCLESIASTICUS;

OR, WISDOM OF BEN SIRACH,

About 190-180, B. C. E.

(The book of "Proverbs of Jeshuah ben Sirach" belongs to the so-called apocryphal writings having been excluded from the sacred canon; it equals however in ethical and religious value the best productions of the wisdom literature; and forms, therefore, an indispensible link in the history of Jewish ethics.)

I.

1. ALL WISDOM cometh from the LORD, and is with him forever. 2. Who can number the sand of the sea, and the drops of rain, and the days of eternity?

3. Who can find out the height of heaven, and the breadth of the earth, and the deep, and wisdom?

4. Wisdom hath been created before all things, and the understanding of prudence from everlasting.

5. The fear of the LORD is a crown of wisdom, making peace and perfect health to flourish; both which are the gifts of God: and it enlargeth their rejoicing that love him.

6. My son, if thou come to serve the LORD, prepare thy soul for discipline.

7. Set thy heart aright, and constantly endure, and make not haste in time of trouble.

8. Cleave unto Him, and depart not away, that thou mayest be increased at thy last end.

9. Whatsoever is brought upon thee, take cheerfully, and be patient when thou art changed to a low estate.

10. For gold is tried in the fire, and acceptable men in the furnace of

adversity.

11. Look at the generations of old, and see; did any ever trust in the LORD, and was confounded? or did any abide in his fear, and was forsaken ?

12. Woe be to fearful hearts, and faint hands, and the sinner that goeth two ways!

13. Woe unto you that have lost patience! and what will ye do when your LORD shall visit you ?

14. Honor thy father and mother both in word and deed, that a blessing may come upon thee from them; for the blessing of the parents establisheth the houses of children.

15. He that honoreth his father shall have a long life; and he that is obedient unto the LORD shall be a comfort to his mother. 16. He that feareth the LORD will honor his father, and will do service unto his parents, as to his masters.

17. My son, help thy father in his age, and grieve him not as long as he liveth.

18. And if his understanding fail, have patience with him; and despise him not when thou art in thy full strength.

19. My son, go on with thy business in meekness; so shalt thou be beloved of him that is approved.

20. The greater thou art, the more humble thyself, and thou shalt find favour before the LORD.

21. Seek not out the things that are too hard for thee, neither search the things that are above thy strength.

22. Be not curious in unnecessary matters; for more things are shown unto thee than men understand.

23. For many are deceived by their own vain opinion;

suspicion hath overthrown their judgment.

and an evil

24. Without eyes thou shalt want light; profess not the knowledge therefore that thou hast not.

25. A stubborn heart shall fare evil at the last; and he that loveth danger shall perish therein.

26. An obstinate heart shall be laden with sorrows; and the wicked man shall heap sin upon sin.

27. The proud man is not healed by his punishment, for the plant of wickedness hath taken root in him.

II.

1. My son, defraud not the poor of his living, and make not the needy eyes to wait long.

2. Make not a hungry soul sorrowful; neither provoke a man in

his distress.

3. Add not more trouble to a heart that is vexed; and defer not to give to him that is in need.

4. Let it not grieve thee to bow down thine ear to the poor, and give him a friendly answer with meekness.

5. Deliver him that suffereth wrong from the hand of the oppressor: and be not faint-hearted when thou sittest in judgment. 6. Be as a father unto the fatherless, and instead of a husband unto their mother: so shalt thou be as a son of the Most High, and he shall love thee more than thy mother doth. 7. Observe the opportunity to do good, and beware of evil; and be not ashamed when it concerneth thy soul.

8. For there is a shame that bringeth sin; and there is a shame which is glory and grace.

9. Accept no person against thy soul, and let not the reverence of any man cause the to fall.

10. And refrain not to speak, when there is occasion to do good, and hide not thy wisdom in her beauty.

11. In no wise speak against the truth; but be abashed of the error of thine ignorance; be not ashamed to confess thine errors. 12. Make not thyself an underling to a foolish man; neither accept the person of the mighty.

13. Strive for the truth unto death, and the LORD shall fight for thee. 14. Be not hasty in thy tongue, and in thy deeds slack and remiss.

15. Be not as a lion in thy house, nor frantic among thy servants. 16. Let not thy hand be stretched out to receive, and shut when thou shouldest give.

17. Say not, I have sinned, and what harm hath happened unto me? for the LORD is long suffering, he will in no wise let thee go.

18. Winnow not with every wind, and go not into every way for so doth the sinner that hath a double tongue.

19. Be steadfast in thy understanding; and let thy word be the

same.

20. Be swift to hear; and let thy life be sincere; and with patience give answer.

21. If thou hast understanding, answer thy neighbour; if not, lay thy hand upon thy mouth.

22. Honour and shame is in talk: and the tongue of man is his

fall.

23. Be not called a whisperer, and lie not in wait with thy tongue: for a foul shame is upon the thief, and an evil condemnation upon the double tongue.

24. Be not ignorant of anything in a great matter or a small.

III.

1. INSTEAD of a friend become not an enemy; for thereby thou shalt inherit an ill name, shame, and reproach.

2. Be in peace with many: nevertheless have but one counsellor of a thousand.

3. If thou wouldest get a friend, prove him first, and be not hasty to credit him.

4. Separate thyself from thine enemies, and take heed of thy friends. 5. A faithful friend is a strong defence: and he that hath found such a one hath found a treasure.

6. Whoso feareth the LORD shall direct his friendship aright: for as he is, so shall his neighbour be also.

7. My son, gather instruction from thy youth up so shalt thou find wisdom till thine old age.

8. Come unto her as one that plougheth and soweth, and wait for her good fruits; for thou shalt not toil much in labouring about her, but thou shalt eat of her fruit right soon.

9. She is very unpleasant to the unlearned: he that is without understanding will not remain with her.

10. Search, and seek, and she shall be made known unto thee: and when thou hast got hold of her, let her not go.

11. For at the last thou shalt find her rest, and that shall be turned to thy joy.

12. Then shall her fetters be a strong defence for thee, and her chains a robe of glory.

13. My son, sow not upon the furrows of unrighteousness, and thou shalt not reap them sevenfold.

14. Say not, God will look upon the multitude of my oblations, and when I offer to the Most High God, he will accept it. 15. Laugh no man to scorn in the bitterness of his soul: for there there is One which humbleth and exalteth.

16. Use not to make any manner of lie: for the custom thereof is not good.

17. Use not many words in a multitude of elders, and make not much babbling when thou prayest.

18. Hate not laborious work, neither husbandry, which the Most High hath ordained.

19. Number not thyself among the multitude of sinners, but remember that wrath will not tarry long.

20. Change not a friend for any good by no means; neither a faithful brother for the gold of Ophir.

21. Forego not a wise and good woman: for her grace is above gold. 22. Whereas thy servant worketh truly, treat him not evil, nor the hireling that bestoweth himself wholly for thee.