Sirach 14

¹ Happy the man whose mouth brings him no grief, who is not stung by remorse for sin.

² Happy the man whose conscience does not reproach him, who has not lost hope.

³ Wealth ill becomes the mean man; and to the miser, of what use is gold?

⁴ What he denies himself he collects for others, and in his possessions a stranger will revel.

⁵ To whom will he be generous who is stingy with himself and does not enjoy what is his own?

⁶ None is more stingy than he who is stingy with himself; he punishes his own miserliness.

⁷ If ever he is generous, it is by mistake; and in the end he displays his greed.

⁸ In the miser's opinion his share is too small;

⁹ he refuses his neighbor and brings ruin on himself.

¹⁰ The miser's eye is rapacious for bread, but on his own table he sets it stale.

¹¹ My son, use freely whatever you have and enjoy it as best you can;

¹² Remember that death does not tarry, nor have you been told the grave's appointed time.

¹³ Before you die, be good to your friend, and give him a share in what you possess.

¹⁴ Deprive not yourself of present good things, let no choice portion escape you.

¹⁵ Will you not leave your riches to others, and your earnings to be divided by lot?

¹⁶ Give, take, and treat yourself well, for in the nether world there are no joys to seek.

¹⁷ All flesh grows old, like a garment; the age-old law is: All must die.

¹⁸ As with the leaves that grow on a vigorous tree: one falls off and another sprouts-- So with the generations of flesh and blood: one dies and another is born.

¹⁹ All man's works will perish in decay, and his handiwork will follow after him.

²⁰ Happy the man who meditates on wisdom, and reflects on knowledge;

²¹ Who ponders her ways in his heart, and understands her paths;

²² Who pursues her like a scout, and lies in wait at her entry way;

²³ Who peeps through her windows, and listens at her doors;

²⁴ Who encamps near her house, and fastens his tent pegs next to her walls;

²⁵ Who pitches his tent beside her, and lives as her welcome neighbor;

²⁶ Who builds his nest in her leafage, and lodges in her branches;

²⁷ Who takes shelter with her from the heat, and dwells in her home.