Sirach 16

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
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.	1 Desire not a brood of worthless children, nor rejoice in wicked offspring.
2 You should not approve of their life, nor should you look with favor on their labors.	2 Many though they be, exult not in them if they have not the fear of the LORD.
3 For one child who fears God is better than one thousand impious children.	3 Count not on their length of life, have no hope in their future. For one can be better than a thousand; rather die childless than have godless children!
4 And it is better to die without children, than to leave behind impious children.	4 Through one wise man can a city be peopled; through a clan of rebels it becomes desolate.
5 By means one person with understanding, a country will be inhabited. The tribe of the impious will become desolate.	5 Many such things has my eye seen, even more than these has my ear heard.
6 Many such things my eyes have seen, and greater things than these my ear has heard.	6 Against a sinful band fire is enkindled, upon a godless people wrath flames out.
7 In the synagogue of sinners, a fire will blaze forth; and amid an unbelieving people, wrath will flare up.	7 He forgave not the leaders of old who rebelled long ago in their might;
8 The giants of antiquity did not obtain pardon for their sins; they were destroyed by trusting in their own abilities.	8 He spared not the neighbors of Lot whom he detested for their pride;
9 And he did not spare the place of Lot’s sojourn, and he abhorred them because of the arrogance of their words.	9 Nor did he spare the doomed people who were uprooted because of their sin;
10 He did not take pity on them, destroying an entire people, who even extolled themselves concerning their sins.	10 Nor the six hundred thousand foot soldiers who perished for the impiety of their hearts.
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.	11 And had there been but one stiffnecked man, it were a wonder had he gone unpunished. For mercy and anger alike are with him who remits and forgives, though on the wicked alights his wrath.
12 For mercy and wrath are with him. He is powerful in forgiveness, and he pours forth wrath.	12 Great as his mercy is his punishment; he judges men, each according to his deeds.
13 As is his mercy, so also is his correction; he judges a man according to his works.	13 A criminal does not escape with his plunder; a just man's hope God does not leave unfulfilled.
14 The sinner, in his violations, will not escape; but the patience of the One who shows mercy will not be diminished.	14 Whoever does good has his reward, which each receives according to his deeds.
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.	15 Say not: "I am hidden from God; in heaven who remembers me? Among so many people I cannot be known; what am I in the world of spirits?
16 You should not say: “I am hidden from God,” or, “Who, from on high, will take note of me?”	16 Behold, the heavens, the heaven of heavens, the earth and the abyss tremble at his visitation;
17 or, “Among a great number of people, I will not be noticed. For what is my soul amid such an immense creation?”	17 The roots of the mountains, the earth's foundations, at his mere glance, quiver and quake.
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,	18 Of me, therefore, he will take no thought; with my ways who will concern himself?
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.	19 If I sin, no eye will see me; if all in secret I am disloyal, who is to know?
20 And concerning all these things, the heart is without understanding; but every heart is understood by him.	20 Who tells him of just deeds and what could I expect for doing my duty?"
21 And who will understand his ways, or the tempest, which no eye of man will see?	21 Such are the thoughts of senseless men, which only the foolish knave will think.
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.	22 Hearken to me, my son, take my advice, apply your mind to my words,
23 Whoever diminishes the heart, thinks empty thoughts. For the imprudent and erring man thinks up foolishness.	23 While I propose measured wisdom, and impart accurate knowledge.
24 Listen to me, son, and learn the discipline of understanding, and attend to my words in your heart.	24 When at the first God created his works and, as he made them, assigned their tasks,
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.	25 He ordered for all time what they were to do and their domains from generation to generation. They were not to hunger, nor grow weary, nor ever cease from their tasks.
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.	26 Not one should ever crowd its neighbor, nor should they ever disobey his word.
27 He has beautified their works unto eternity. They have neither hungered, nor labored, and they have not ceased from their works.	27 Then the LORD looked upon the earth, and filled it with his blessings.
28 Neither will any one of them cause anguish to his neighbor, forever.	28 Its surface he covered with all manner of life which must return into it again.
29 You should not be incredulous at his word.
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.