Sirach 38

NEW JERUSALEM	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 Treat the doctor with the honour that is his due, in consideration of his services; for he too has beencreated by the Lord.	1 Honour the physician for the need thou hast of him: for the most High hath created him.
2 Healing itself comes from the Most High, like a gift received from a king.	2 For all healing is from God, and he shall receive gifts of the king.
3 The doctor's learning keeps his head high, and the great regard him with awe.	3 The skill of the physician shall lift up his head, and in the sight of great men he shall be praised.
4 The Lord has brought forth medicinal herbs from the ground, and no one sensible wil despise them.	4 The most High hath created medicines out of the earth, and a wise man will not abhor them.
5 Did not a piece of wood once sweeten the water, thus giving proof of its power?	5 Was not bitter water made sweet with wood?
6 He has also given some people knowledge, so that they may draw credit from his mighty works.	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.
7 He uses these for healing and relieving pain; the druggist makes up a mixture from them.	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.
8 Thus, there is no end to his activities; thanks to him, well-being exists throughout the world.	8 For the peace of God is over all the face of the earth.
9 My child, when you are il , do not rebel, but pray to the Lord and he wil heal you.	9 My son, in thy sickness neglect not thyself, but pray to the Lord, and he shall heal thee.
10 Renounce your faults, keep your hands unsoiled, and cleanse your heart from al sin.	10 Turn away from sin and order thy hands aright, and cleanse thy heart from all offence.
11 Offer incense and a memorial of fine flour, make as rich an offering as you can afford.	11 Give a sweet savour, and a memorial of fine flour, and make a fat offering, and then give place to the physician.
12 Then let the doctor take over -- the Lord created him too -- do not let him leave you, for you need him.	12 For the Lord created him: and let him not depart from thee, for his works are necessary.
13 There are times when good health depends on doctors.	13 For there is a time when thou must fall into their hands:
14 For they, in their turn, wil pray the Lord to grant them the grace to relieve and to heal, and so prolongyour life.	14 And they shall beseech the Lord, that he would prosper what they give for ease and remedy, for their conversation.
15 Whoever sins in the eyes of his Maker, let such a one come under the care of the doctor!	15 He that sinneth in the sight of his Maker, shall fall into the hands of the physician.
16 My child, shed tears over the dead, lament for the dead to show your sorrow, then bury the body withdue ceremony and do not fail to honour the grave.	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.
17 Weep bitterly, beat your breast, observe the mourning the dead deserves for a day or two, to avoidcensorious comment, and then be comforted in your sorrow;	17 And for fear of being ill spoken of weep bitterly for a, day, and then comfort thyself in thy sadness.
18 for grief can lead to death, a grief-stricken heart loses al energy.	18 And make mourning for him according to his merit for a day, or two, for fear of detraction.
19 In affliction sorrow persists, a life of grief is hard to bear.	19 For of sadness cometh death, and it overwhelmeth the strength, and the sorrow of the heart boweth down the neck.
20 Do not abandon your heart to grief, drive it away, bear your own end in mind.	20 In withdrawing aside sorrow remaineth: and the substance of the poor is according to his heart.
21 Do not forget, there is no coming back; you cannot help the dead, and you will harm yourself.	21 Give not up thy heart to sadness, but drive it from thee: and remember the latter end.
22 'Remember my doom, since it will be yours too; I yesterday, you today!'	22 Forget it not: for there is no returning, and thou shalt do him no good, and shalt hurt thyself.
23 Once the dead are laid to rest, let their memory rest, do not fret for them, once their spirit departs.	23 Remember my judgment: for also shall be so: yesterday for me, and to day for thee.
24 Leisure gives the scribe the chance to acquire wisdom; a man with few commitments can grow wise.	24 When the dead is at rest, let his remembrance rest, and comfort him in the departing of his spirit.
25 How can the ploughman become wise, whose sole ambition is to wield the goad, driving his oxen,engrossed in their work, his conversation limited to bul ocks,	25 The wisdom of a scribe cometh by his time of leisure: and he that is less in action, shall receive wisdom.
26 his thoughts absorbed in the furrows he traces and his long evenings spent in fattening heifers?	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?
27 Similarly with al workmen and craftsmen, toiling day and night; those who engrave seals, for evertrying to think of a new design, concentrating on catching a good likeness and staying up late to get the workdone.	27 He shall give his mind to turn up furrows, and his care is to give the kine fodder.
28 Similarly with the blacksmith sitting by his anvil; he considers what to do with the pig-iron, the breath ofthe fire scorches his skin, as he contends with the heat of the furnace; the noise of the hammer deafens him, hiseyes are fixed on the pattern; he concentrates on getting the job done wel and stays up late to apply thefinishing touches.	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.
29 Similarly with the potter, sitting at his work, turning the wheel with his feet; constantly on the alert overhis work, each flick of the finger premeditated;	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.
30 he pummels the clay with his arm, and with his feet he kneads it; he concentrates on applying theglaze right and stays up late to clean the kiln.	30 The noise of the hammer is always in his ears, and his eye is upon the pat tern of the vessel he maketh.
31 Al these people rely on their hands and each is skilled at his own craft.	31 He setteth his mind to finish his work, and his watching to polish them, to perfection.
32 A town could not be inhabited without them, there would be no settling, no travel ing.	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:
33 But you wil not find them in the parliament, they do not hold high rank in the assembly. They do not siton the judicial bench, and they do not meditate on the Law.	33 He fashioneth the clay with his arm, and boweth down his strength before his feet:
34 They are not remarkable for their culture or judgement, nor are they found frequenting thephilosophers. They sustain the structure of the world, and their prayer is concerned with their trade.	34 He shall give his mind to finish the glazing, and his watching to make clean the furnace.
	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.