Sirach 42

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 But of these things be not ashamed, lest you sin through human respect:	1 You should not repeat a claim heard from the revealing of a hidden word. And then, truly, you will be without shame, and you will find favor in the sight of all men. You should not accept the reputation of someone, so that you would sin, nor should you be confounded in any of the following things:
2 Of the law of the Most High and his precepts, or of the sentence to be passed upon the sinful;	2 in the law of the Most High and his covenant, or by giving a judgment to justify the impious;
3 Of sharing the expenses of a business or a journey, or of dividing an inheritance or property;	3 in a word among companions and fellow travelers, or by distributing the inheritance of friends;
4 Of accuracy of scales and balances, or of tested measures and weights;	4 in the fairness of scales and weights, or in acquiring much or little;
5 Of acquiring much or little, or of bargaining in dealing with a merchant; Of constant training of children, or of beating the sides of a disloyal servant;	5 by the corruption of buying and negotiating, or in the ample discipline of children, or in causing the side of a wicked servant to bleed.
6 Of a seal to keep an erring wife at home, or of a lock placed where there are many hands;	6 A seal is good over a wicked wife.
7 Of numbering every deposit, or of recording all that is given or received;	7 Where there are many hands, seal and deliver all things by number and weight; and truly, give and receive everything in writing.
8 Of chastisement of the silly and the foolish, or of the aged and infirm answering for wanton conduct. Thus you will be truly cautious and recognized by all men as discreet.	8 You should not have shame in correcting the senseless, the foolish, and those youths who would judge their elders. And so shall you be well-instructed in all things and well-approved in the sight of all the living.
9 A daughter is a treasure that keeps her father wakeful, and worry over her drives away rest: Lest she pass her prime unmarried, or when she is married, lest she be disliked;	9 The vigilance of a father for his daughter is hidden, and his concern for her takes away his sleep. For perhaps, in her adolescence, she might be brought into adulthood. Or when she lives with her husband, she might become hateful.
10 While unmarried, lest she be seduced, or, as a wife, lest she prove unfaithful; Lest she conceive in her father's home, or be sterile in that of her husband.	10 In her virginity, she might be defiled, and then she may be found to be pregnant in her father’s house. Or perhaps, when she lives with her husband, she might stray, or at least become barren.
11 Keep a close watch on your daughter, lest she make you the sport of your enemies, A byword in the city, a reproach among the people, an object of derision in public gatherings. See that there is no lattice in her room, no place that overlooks the approaches to the house.	11 Keep a close watch over a self-indulgent daughter. Otherwise, at some time, she might bring you into disgrace before your enemies, and into disrepute in the city, and into reproach among the people, and so she may confound you before the multitude of the people.
12 Let her not parade her charms before men, or spend her time with married women;	12 She should not choose to gaze upon the beauty of every man, and she should not choose to spend her time in the midst of married women.
13 For just as moths come from garments, so harm to women comes from women:	13 For a moth goes forth from garments, and iniquity over a man goes forth from a woman.
14 Better a man's harshness than a woman's indulgence, and a frightened daughter than any disgrace.	14 Yet iniquity over a man is better for her than if a married woman, seeking to benefit her, instead leads her into confusion and disgrace.
15 Now will I recall God's works; what I have seen, I will describe. At God's word were his works brought into being; they do his will as he has ordained for them.	15 And now, I will remember the works of the Lord, and I will announce what I have seen. The words of the Lord are in his works.
16 As the rising sun is clear to all, so the glory of the LORD fills all his works;	16 The sun illuminates and considers all things, and its work shows the fullness of the glory of the Lord.
17 Yet even God's holy ones must fail in recounting the wonders of the LORD, Though God has given these, his hosts, the strength to stand firm before his glory.	17 Has not the Lord caused the holy ones to describe all his miracles, which the all-powerful Lord has firmly established in his glory?
18 He plumbs the depths and penetrates the heart; their innermost being he understands. The Most High possesses all knowledge, and sees from of old the things that are to come:	18 He has examined the abyss and the hearts of men. And he has considered their astuteness.
19 He makes known the past and the future, and reveals the deepest secrets.	19 For the Lord comprehends all knowledge, and he has gazed upon the signs of the times: announcing the things of the past, as well as the things of the future, and revealing the traces of hidden things.
20 No understanding does he lack; no single thing escapes him.	20 No thought passes by him unnoticed, and no word can conceal itself from him.
21 Perennial is his almighty wisdom; he is from all eternity one and the same,	21 He has adorned the magnificent works of his wisdom. He is before eternity and even unto eternity. And nothing can be added,
22 With nothing added, nothing taken away; no need of a counselor for him!	22 and nothing can be taken away. And he has no need of any counselor.
23 How beautiful are all his works! even to the spark and the fleeting vision!	23 O how desirable are all his works! And all that we consider is but a spark.
24 The universe lives and abides forever; to meet each need, each creature is preserved.	24 All these works exist, and they remain in the present age, and they all obey him in every purpose.
25 All of them differ, one from another, yet none of them has he made in vain, For each in turn, as it comes, is good; can one ever see enough of their splendor?	25 All things are two-fold, one facing another, and he has not made anything to be lacking.
	26 He has confirmed each thing as good. And who would tire of beholding his glory?