Sirach 38

DOUAI-RHEIMS	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Honour the physician for the need thou hast of him: for the most High hath created him.	1 Hold the physician in honor, for he is essential to you, and God it was who established his profession.
2 For all healing is from God, and he shall receive gifts of the king.	2 From God the doctor has his wisdom, and the king provides for his sustenance.
3 The skill of the physician shall lift up his head, and in the sight of great men he shall be praised.	3 His knowledge makes the doctor distinguished, and gives him access to those in authority.
4 The most High hath created medicines out of the earth, and a wise man will not abhor them.	4 God makes the earth yield healing herbs which the prudent man should not neglect;
5 Was not bitter water made sweet with wood?	5 Was not the water sweetened by a twig that men might learn his power?
6 The virtue of these things is come to the knowledge of men, and the meet High hath given knowledge to men, that he may be honoured in his wonders.	6 He endows men with the knowledge to glory in his mighty works,
7 By these he shall cure and shall allay their pains, and of these the apothecary shall make sweet confections, and shall make up ointments of health, and of his works there shall be no end.	7 Through which the doctor eases pain and the druggist prepares his medicines;
8 For the peace of God is over all the face of the earth.	8 Thus God's creative work continues without cease in its efficacy on the surface of the earth.
9 My son, in thy sickness neglect not thyself, but pray to the Lord, and he shall heal thee.	9 My son, when you are ill, delay not, but pray to God, who will heal you:
10 Turn away from sin and order thy hands aright, and cleanse thy heart from all offence.	10 Flee wickedness; let your hands be just, cleanse your heart of every sin;
11 Give a sweet savour, and a memorial of fine flour, and make a fat offering, and then give place to the physician.	11 Offer your sweet-smelling oblation and petition, a rich offering according to your means.
12 For the Lord created him: and let him not depart from thee, for his works are necessary.	12 Then give the doctor his place lest he leave; for you need him too.
13 For there is a time when thou must fall into their hands:	13 There are times that give him an advantage,
14 And they shall beseech the Lord, that he would prosper what they give for ease and remedy, for their conversation.	14 and he too beseeches God That his diagnosis may be correct and his treatment bring about a cure.
15 He that sinneth in the sight of his Maker, shall fall into the hands of the physician.	15 He who is a sinner toward his Maker will be defiant toward the doctor.
16 My son, shed tears over the dead, and begin to lament as if thou hadst suffered some great harm, and according to judgment cover his body, and neglect not his burial.	16 My son, shed tears for one who is dead with wailing and bitter lament; As is only proper, prepare the body, absent not yourself from his burial:
17 And for fear of being ill spoken of weep bitterly for a, day, and then comfort thyself in thy sadness.	17 Weeping bitterly, mourning fully, pay your tribute of sorrow, as he deserves,
18 And make mourning for him according to his merit for a day, or two, for fear of detraction.	18 One or two days, to prevent gossip; then compose yourself after your grief,
19 For of sadness cometh death, and it overwhelmeth the strength, and the sorrow of the heart boweth down the neck.	19 For grief can bring on an extremity and heartache destroy one's health.
20 In withdrawing aside sorrow remaineth: and the substance of the poor is according to his heart.	20 Turn not your thoughts to him again; cease to recall him; think rather of the end.
21 Give not up thy heart to sadness, but drive it from thee: and remember the latter end.	21 Recall him not, for there is no hope of his return; it will not help him, but will do you harm.
22 Forget it not: for there is no returning, and thou shalt do him no good, and shalt hurt thyself.	22 Remember that his fate will also be yours; for him it was yesterday, for you today.
23 Remember my judgment: for also shall be so: yesterday for me, and to day for thee.	23 With the departed dead, let memory fade; rally your courage, once the soul has left.
24 When the dead is at rest, let his remembrance rest, and comfort him in the departing of his spirit.	24 The scribe's profession increases his wisdom; whoever is free from toil can become a wise man.
25 The wisdom of a scribe cometh by his time of leisure: and he that is less in action, shall receive wisdom.	25 How can he become learned who guides the plow, who thrills in wielding the goad like a lance, Who guides the ox and urges on the bullock, and whose every concern is for cattle?
26 With what wisdom shall he be furnished that holdeth the plough, and that glorieth in the goad, that driveth the oxen therewith, and is occupied in their labours, and his whole talk is about the offspring of bulls?	26 His care is for plowing furrows, and he keeps a watch on the beasts in the stalls.
27 He shall give his mind to turn up furrows, and his care is to give the kine fodder.	27 So with every engraver and designer who, laboring night and day, Fashions carved seals, and whose concern is to vary the pattern. His care is to produce a vivid impression, and he keeps watch till he finishes his design.
28 So every craftsman and workmaster that laboureth night and day, he who maketh graven seals, and by his continual diligence varieth the figure: he shall give his mind to the resemblance of the picture, and by his watching shall finish the work.	28 So with the smith standing near his anvil, forging crude iron. The heat from the fire sears his flesh, yet he toils away in the furnace heat. The clang of the hammer deafens his ears, His eyes are fixed on the tool he is shaping. His care is to finish his work, and he keeps watch till he perfects it in detail.
29 So doth the smith sitting by the anvil and considering the iron work. The vapour of the fire wasteth his flesh, and he fighteth with the heat of the furnace.	29 So with the potter sitting at his labor, revolving the wheel with his feet. He is always concerned for his products, and turns them out in quantity.
30 The noise of the hammer is always in his ears, and his eye is upon the pat tern of the vessel he maketh.	30 With his hands he molds the clay, and with his feet softens it. His care is for proper coloring, and he keeps watch on the fire of his kiln.
31 He setteth his mind to finish his work, and his watching to polish them, to perfection.	31 All these men are skilled with their hands, each one an expert at his own task;
32 So doth the potter sitting at his work, turning the wheel about with his feet, who is always carefully set to his work, and maketh all his work by number:	32 Without them no city could be lived in, and wherever they stay, they need not hunger.
33 He fashioneth the clay with his arm, and boweth down his strength before his feet:	33 They do not occupy the judge's bench, nor are they prominent in the assembly; They set forth no decisions or judgments, nor are they found among the rulers;
34 He shall give his mind to finish the glazing, and his watching to make clean the furnace.	34 Yet they maintain God's ancient handiwork, and their concern is for exercise of their skill.
35 All these trust to their hands, and every one is wise in his own art.
36 Without these a city is not built.
37 And they shall not dwell, nor walk about therein, and they shall not go up into the assembly.
38 Upon the judges' seat they shall not sit, and the ordinance of judgment they shall not understand, neither shall they declare discipline and judgment, and they shall not be found where parables are spoken:
39 But they shall strengthen the state of the world, and their prayer shall be in the work of their craft, applying their soul, and searching in the law of the most High.