Sirach 16

KING JAMES BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Desire not a multitude of unprofitable children, neither delight in ungodly sons.	1 You should not rejoice in impious children, if they are successful; nor should you take delight in them, if the fear of God is not in them.
2 Though they multiply, rejoice not in them, except the fear of the Lord be with them.	2 You should not approve of their life, nor should you look with favor on their labors.
3 Trust not thou in their life, neither respect their multitude: for one that is just is better than a thousand; and better it is to die without children, than to have them that are ungodly.	3 For one child who fears God is better than one thousand impious children.
4 For by one that hath understanding shall the city be replenished: but the kindred of the wicked shall speedily become desolate.	4 And it is better to die without children, than to leave behind impious children.
5 Many such things have I seen with mine eyes, and mine ear hath heard greater things than these.	5 By means one person with understanding, a country will be inhabited. The tribe of the impious will become desolate.
6 In the congregation of the ungodly shall a fire be kindled; and in a rebellious nation wrath is set on fire.	6 Many such things my eyes have seen, and greater things than these my ear has heard.
7 He was not pacified toward the old giants, who fell away in the strength of their foolishness.	7 In the synagogue of sinners, a fire will blaze forth; and amid an unbelieving people, wrath will flare up.
8 Neither spared he the place where Lot sojourned, but abhorred them for their pride.	8 The giants of antiquity did not obtain pardon for their sins; they were destroyed by trusting in their own abilities.
9 He pitied not the people of perdition, who were taken away in their sins:	9 And he did not spare the place of Lot’s sojourn, and he abhorred them because of the arrogance of their words.
10 Nor the six hundred thousand footmen, who were gathered together in the hardness of their hearts.	10 He did not take pity on them, destroying an entire people, who even extolled themselves concerning their sins.
11 And if there be one stiffnecked among the people, it is marvel if he escape unpunished: for mercy and wrath are with him; he is mighty to forgive, and to pour out displeasure.	11 And this was so with six hundred thousand men, who were gathered together in the hardness of their hearts. And if even a single obstinate person had escaped unpunished, it would be a wonder.
12 As his mercy is great, so is his correction also: he judgeth a man according to his works	12 For mercy and wrath are with him. He is powerful in forgiveness, and he pours forth wrath.
13 The sinner shall not escape with his spoils: and the patience of the godly shall not be frustrate.	13 As is his mercy, so also is his correction; he judges a man according to his works.
14 Make way for every work of mercy: for every man shall find according to his works.	14 The sinner, in his violations, will not escape; but the patience of the One who shows mercy will not be diminished.
15 The Lord hardened Pharaoh, that he should not know him, that his powerful works might be known to the world.	15 Every mercy will make a place for each man, according to the merit of his works, and according to the understanding of his sojourn.
16 His mercy is manifest to every creature; and he hath separated his light from the darkness with an adamant.	16 You should not say: “I am hidden from God,” or, “Who, from on high, will take note of me?”
17 Say not thou, I will hide myself from the Lord: shall any remember me from above? I shall not be remembered among so many people: for what is my soul among such an infinite number of creatures?	17 or, “Among a great number of people, I will not be noticed. For what is my soul amid such an immense creation?”
18 Behold, the heaven, and the heaven of heavens, the deep, and the earth, and all that therein is, shall be moved when he shall visit.	18 Behold: the heavens, and the heaven of the heavens, the abyss, and the entire earth, and the things that are within these, will be shaken by his gaze,
19 The mountains also and foundations of the earth be shaken with trembling, when the Lord looketh upon them.	19 together with mountains and hills, and the foundations of the earth. When God casts his gaze upon them, they will be struck with trembling.
20 No heart can think upon these things worthily: and who is able to conceive his ways?	20 And concerning all these things, the heart is without understanding; but every heart is understood by him.
21 It is a tempest which no man can see: for the most part of his works are hid.	21 And who will understand his ways, or the tempest, which no eye of man will see?
22 Who can declare the works of his justice? or who can endure them? for his covenant is afar off, and the trial of all things is in the end.	22 For many of his works are concealed. But who will announce the works of his justice? Or who will endure them? For the testament is far from some persons, and the examination of each thing is in its end.
23 He that wanteth understanding will think upon vain things: and a foolish man erring imagineth follies.	23 Whoever diminishes the heart, thinks empty thoughts. For the imprudent and erring man thinks up foolishness.
24 by son, hearken unto me, and learn knowledge, and mark my words with thy heart.	24 Listen to me, son, and learn the discipline of understanding, and attend to my words in your heart.
25 I will shew forth doctrine in weight, and declare his knowledge exactly.	25 And I will speak with equity about discipline, and I will strive to announce wisdom. So attend to my words in your heart, and I will speak with equity of spirit, about the virtues that God has set within his works from the beginning, and I will announce his knowledge in truth.
26 The works of the Lord are done in judgment from the beginning: and from the time he made them he disposed the parts thereof.	26 With the judgment of God, his works have been done from the beginning; and from their institution, he himself distinguished their parts and set their beginnings, in their kinds.
27 He garnished his works for ever, and in his hand are the chief of them unto all generations: they neither labour, nor are weary, nor cease from their works.	27 He has beautified their works unto eternity. They have neither hungered, nor labored, and they have not ceased from their works.
28 None of them hindereth another, and they shall never disobey his word.	28 Neither will any one of them cause anguish to his neighbor, forever.
29 After this the Lord looked upon the earth, and filled it with his blessings.	29 You should not be incredulous at his word.
30 With all manner of living things hath he covered the face thereof; and they shall return into it again.	30 Afterward, God looked with favor upon the earth, and he filled it with his goodness.
	31 The soul of every living thing brought word from before his face, and their return again is to him.