Sirach 38

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	NEW JERUSALEM
1 Honor the physician because of necessity, and because the Most High created him.	1 Treat the doctor with the honour that is his due, in consideration of his services; for he too has beencreated by the Lord.
2 For all healing is from God, and so he will receive gifts from the King.	2 Healing itself comes from the Most High, like a gift received from a king.
3 The expertise of the physician will lift up his head, and in the sight of great men, he will be praised.	3 The doctor's learning keeps his head high, and the great regard him with awe.
4 The Most High has created medicines from the earth, and a prudent man will not abhor them.	4 The Lord has brought forth medicinal herbs from the ground, and no one sensible wil despise them.
5 Was not bitter water made sweet with wood?	5 Did not a piece of wood once sweeten the water, thus giving proof of its power?
6 The benefits of these things is recognized by men, and the Most High has given this knowledge to men, so that he may be honored in his wonders.	6 He has also given some people knowledge, so that they may draw credit from his mighty works.
7 By these things, he will cure or mitigate their suffering, and the pharmacist will make soothing ointments, and he will form healing medicines, and there will be no end to his works.	7 He uses these for healing and relieving pain; the druggist makes up a mixture from them.
8 For the peace of God is upon the surface of the earth.	8 Thus, there is no end to his activities; thanks to him, well-being exists throughout the world.
9 Son, in your infirmity, you should not neglect yourself, but pray to the Lord, and he will cure you.	9 My child, when you are il , do not rebel, but pray to the Lord and he wil heal you.
10 Turn away from sin, and direct your hands, and cleanse your heart from every offense.	10 Renounce your faults, keep your hands unsoiled, and cleanse your heart from al sin.
11 Give a sweet offering, and a memorial of fine flour, and fatten your oblation, but also give a place to the physician.	11 Offer incense and a memorial of fine flour, make as rich an offering as you can afford.
12 For the Lord created him. And so, do not let him depart from you, for his works are necessary.	12 Then let the doctor take over -- the Lord created him too -- do not let him leave you, for you need him.
13 For there is a time when you may fall into their hands.	13 There are times when good health depends on doctors.
14 Truly, they will beseech the Lord, so that he may direct their treatments and cures, for the sake of their way of life.	14 For they, in their turn, wil pray the Lord to grant them the grace to relieve and to heal, and so prolongyour life.
15 He who sins in the sight of the One who made him will fall into the hands of the physician.	15 Whoever sins in the eyes of his Maker, let such a one come under the care of the doctor!
16 Son, shed tears over the dead, and begin to weep, as if you had suffered dreadfully. And according to judgment, cover his body, and you should not neglect his burial.	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.
17 And though you will sink down into bitterness, bear his mourning for one day, and then be consoled in your sadness.	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;
18 And carry out his mourning, according to his merit, for one or two days because of this loss.	18 for grief can lead to death, a grief-stricken heart loses al energy.
19 Yet sadness hastens death and overwhelms strength, and the sorrow of the heart bows down the neck.	19 In affliction sorrow persists, a life of grief is hard to bear.
20 When one is taken away, sorrow remains. But the resources of a destitute man is found in his heart.	20 Do not abandon your heart to grief, drive it away, bear your own end in mind.
21 You should not give your heart over to sadness, but push it away from you. And remember the very end.	21 Do not forget, there is no coming back; you cannot help the dead, and you will harm yourself.
22 Do not be willing to forget this; for there is no turning back. Otherwise, it will not benefit you, and you will cause great harm to yourself.	22 'Remember my doom, since it will be yours too; I yesterday, you today!'
23 Call to mind my judgment. For so shall it be for you also. Yesterday is mine, and today is yours.	23 Once the dead are laid to rest, let their memory rest, do not fret for them, once their spirit departs.
24 When the deceased is at rest, let his memory rest also. And console him at the departure of his spirit.	24 Leisure gives the scribe the chance to acquire wisdom; a man with few commitments can grow wise.
25 The wisdom of a scribe is found in his time of leisure. So whoever has less to do will gain wisdom.	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,
26 With what wisdom will someone be filled who holds the plow, and who boasts of the cattle prod that drives the oxen forward, and who is occupied in these labors, and whose only conversation is about the offspring of bulls?	26 his thoughts absorbed in the furrows he traces and his long evenings spent in fattening heifers?
27 He will give his mind over to the plowing of furrows, and his vigilance to the fattening of the cows.	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.
28 Similarly, every craftsman and artisan, who crafts in the night as well as in the day, who sculpts graven seals, and who, by his diligence, varies the image, will give his mind over to the likeness of the image. And he will complete the work by his vigilance.	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.
29 The blacksmith, sitting by his anvil and considering a work of iron, is similar. The steam from the fire singes his flesh, and he struggles against the heat of the furnace.	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;
30 The voice of the hammer is ever in his ears, and his eye is upon the pattern of the ironwork.	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.
31 He gives his heart to the completion of his work, and his vigilance adorns it to perfection.	31 Al these people rely on their hands and each is skilled at his own craft.
32 The potter, sitting at his work and turning the wheel with his feet, is similar. He has settled into a continual concern for his work, and there is a rhythm in all that he does.	32 A town could not be inhabited without them, there would be no settling, no travel ing.
33 He forms the clay with his arm, and he bends his strength over his feet.	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.
34 He will give his heart over to the completion of the glazing, and his vigilance to the cleansing of the furnace.	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.
35 All these persons trust in their own hands, and each one is wise in his own art.
36 Without these persons, a city is not built.
37 But they will neither inhabit nor walk around in the city. And they will not go across to the church.
38 They will not sit upon the seats of judges, and they will not understand a decree of judgment. And they will not make clear discipline and judgment, and they will not be found to understand parables.
39 But they will strengthen the state of the world, and their prayer will be in their artistic works, applying their soul, and searching the law of the Most High.