Sirach 16 (DRA)

← Sirach 15 Sirach Sirach 17 →
v1

Rejoice not in ungodly children, if they be multiplied: neither be delighted in them, if the fear of God be not with them.

v2

Trust not to their life, and respect not their labours.

v3

For better is one that feareth God, than a thousand ungodly children.

v4

And it is better to die without children, than to leave ungodly children.

v5

By one that is wise a country shall be inhabited, the tribe of the ungodly shall become desolate.

v6

Many such things hath my eyes seen, and greater things than these my ear hath heard.

v7

In the congregation of sinners a fire shall be kindled, and in an unbelieving nation wrath shall dame out.

v8

The ancient giants did not obtain pardon for their sins, who were destroyed trusting to their own strength:

v9

And he spared not the place where Lot sojourned, but abhorred them for the pride of their word.

v10

He had not pity on them, destroying the whole nation that extolled themselves in their sins.

v11

So did he with the six hundred thousand footmen, who were gathered together in the hardness of their heart: and if one had been stiffnecked, it is a wonder if he had escaped unpunished:

v12

For mercy and wrath are with him. He is mighty to forgive, and to pour out indignation:

v13

According as his mercy is, so his correction judgeth a man according to his works.

v14

The sinner shall not escape in his rapines, and the patience of him that sheweth mercy shall not be put off.

v15

All mercy shall make a place for every man according to the merit of his works, and according to the wisdom of his sojournment.

v16

Say not: I shall be hidden from God. and who shall remember me from on high?

v17

In such a multitude I shall not be known: for what is my soul in such an immense creation?

v18

Behold the heaven, and the heavens of heavens, the deep, and all the earth, and the things that are in them, shall be moved in his sight,

v19

The mountains also, and the hills, and the foundations of the earth: when God shall look upon them, they shall be shaken with trembling.

v20

And in all these things the heart is senseless: and every heart is understood by him:

v21

And his ways who shall understand, and the storm, which no eye of man see?

v22

For many of his works are hidden: hut the works of his justice who shall declare? or who shall endure? for the testament is far from some, and the examination of all is in the end.

v23

He that wanteth understanding thinketh vain things: and the foolish, and erring man, thinketh foolish things.

v24

Hearken to me, my son, and learn the discipline of understanding, and attend to my words in thy heart.

v25

And I will shew forth good doctrine in equity, and will seek to declare wisdom: and attend to my words in thy heart, whilst with equity of spirit I tell thee the virtues that God hath put upon his works from the beginning, and I shew forth in truth his knowledge.

v26

The works of God are done in judgment from the beginning, and from the making of them he distinguished their parts, and their beginnings in their generations.

v27

He beautified their works for ever, they have neither hungered, nor laboured, and they have not ceased from their works.

v28

Nor shall any of them straiten his neighbour at any time.

v29

Be not thou incredulous to his word.

v30

After this God looked upon the earth, and filled it with his goods.

v31

The soul of every living thing hath shewn forth before the face thereof, and into it they return again.

← Sirach 15 Sirach Sirach 17 →