Sirach 16

DOUAI-RHEIMS	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Rejoice not in ungodly children, if they be multiplied: neither be delighted in them, if the fear of God be not with them.	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 Trust not to their life, and respect not their labours.	2 You should not approve of their life, nor should you look with favor on their labors.
3 For better is one that feareth God, than a thousand ungodly children.	3 For one child who fears God is better than one thousand impious children.
4 And it is better to die without children, than to leave ungodly children.	4 And it is better to die without children, than to leave behind impious children.
5 By one that is wise a country shall be inhabited, the tribe of the ungodly shall become desolate.	5 By means one person with understanding, a country will be inhabited. The tribe of the impious will become desolate.
6 Many such things hath my eyes seen, and greater things than these my ear hath heard.	6 Many such things my eyes have seen, and greater things than these my ear has heard.
7 In the congregation of sinners a fire shall be kindled, and in an unbelieving nation wrath shall dame out.	7 In the synagogue of sinners, a fire will blaze forth; and amid an unbelieving people, wrath will flare up.
8 The ancient giants did not obtain pardon for their sine, who were destroyed trusting to their own strength:	8 The giants of antiquity did not obtain pardon for their sins; they were destroyed by trusting in their own abilities.
9 And he spared not the place where Lot sojourned, but abhorred them for the pride of their word.	9 And he did not spare the place of Lot’s sojourn, and he abhorred them because of the arrogance of their words.
10 He had not pity on them, destroying the whole nation that extolled themselves in their sine.	10 He did not take pity on them, destroying an entire people, who even extolled themselves concerning their sins.
11 So did he with the six hundred thousand footmen, who were gathered together in the hardness of their heart: and if one had been stiffnecked, it is a wonder if he had escaped unpunished:	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 For mercy and wrath are with him. He is mighty to forgive, and to pour out indignation:	12 For mercy and wrath are with him. He is powerful in forgiveness, and he pours forth wrath.
13 According as his mercy is, so his correction judgeth a man according to his works.	13 As is his mercy, so also is his correction; he judges a man according to his works.
14 The sinner shall not escape in his rapines, and the patience of him that sheweth mercy shall not be put off.	14 The sinner, in his violations, will not escape; but the patience of the One who shows mercy will not be diminished.
15 All mercy shall make a place for every man according to the merit of his works, and according to the wisdom of his sojournment.	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 Say not: I shall be hidden from God. and who shall remember me from on high?	16 You should not say: “I am hidden from God,” or, “Who, from on high, will take note of me?”
17 In such a multitude I shall not be known: for what is my soul in such an immense creation?	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 heavens of heavens, the deep, and all the earth, and the things that are in them, shall be moved in his sight,	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 the hills, end the foundations of the earth: when God shall look upon them, they shall be shaken with trembling.	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 And in all these things the heart is senseless: and every heart is understood by him:	20 And concerning all these things, the heart is without understanding; but every heart is understood by him.
21 And his ways who shall understand, and the storm, which no eye of man see?	21 And who will understand his ways, or the tempest, which no eye of man will see?
22 For many of his works are hidden: hut the works of his justice who shall declare? or who shall endure? for the testament is far from some, and the examination of all 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 thinketh vain things: and the foolish, and erring man, thinketh foolish things.	23 Whoever diminishes the heart, thinks empty thoughts. For the imprudent and erring man thinks up foolishness.
24 Hearken to me, my son, and learn the discipline of understanding, and attend to my words in thy heart.	24 Listen to me, son, and learn the discipline of understanding, and attend to my words in your heart.
25 And I will shew forth good doctrine in equity, and will seek to declare wisdom: and attend to my words in thy heart, whilst with equity of spirit I tell thee the virtues that God hath put upon his works from the beginning, and I shew forth in truth his knowledge.	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 God are done in judgment from the beginning, and from the making of them he distinguished their parts, and their beginnings in their generations.	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 beautified their works for ever, they have neither hungered, nor laboured, and they have not ceased 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 Nor shall any of them straiten his neighbour at any time.	28 Neither will any one of them cause anguish to his neighbor, forever.
29 Be not thou incredulous to his word.	29 You should not be incredulous at his word.
30 After this God looked upon the earth, and filled it with his goods.	30 Afterward, God looked with favor upon the earth, and he filled it with his goodness.
31 The soul of every living thing hath shewn forth before the face thereof, and into it they return again.	31 The soul of every living thing brought word from before his face, and their return again is to him.