Sirach 16

¹ Desire not a brood of worthless children, nor rejoice in wicked offspring.

² Many though they be, exult not in them if they have not the fear of the LORD.

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 Through one wise man can a city be peopled; through a clan of rebels it becomes desolate.

⁵ Many such things has my eye seen, even more than these has my ear heard.

⁶ Against a sinful band fire is enkindled, upon a godless people wrath flames out.

⁷ He forgave not the leaders of old who rebelled long ago in their might;

⁸ He spared not the neighbors of Lot whom he detested for their pride;

⁹ Nor did he spare the doomed people who were uprooted because of their sin;

¹⁰ Nor the six hundred thousand foot soldiers who perished for the impiety of their hearts.

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 Great as his mercy is his punishment; he judges men, each according to his deeds.

¹³ A criminal does not escape with his plunder; a just man's hope God does not leave unfulfilled.

¹⁴ Whoever does good has his reward, which each receives according to his deeds.

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 Behold, the heavens, the heaven of heavens, the earth and the abyss tremble at his visitation;

¹⁷ The roots of the mountains, the earth's foundations, at his mere glance, quiver and quake.

¹⁸ Of me, therefore, he will take no thought; with my ways who will concern himself?

¹⁹ If I sin, no eye will see me; if all in secret I am disloyal, who is to know?

²⁰ Who tells him of just deeds and what could I expect for doing my duty?"

²¹ Such are the thoughts of senseless men, which only the foolish knave will think.

²² Hearken to me, my son, take my advice, apply your mind to my words,

²³ While I propose measured wisdom, and impart accurate knowledge.

²⁴ When at the first God created his works and, as he made them, assigned their tasks,

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 Not one should ever crowd its neighbor, nor should they ever disobey his word.

²⁷ Then the LORD looked upon the earth, and filled it with his blessings.

²⁸ Its surface he covered with all manner of life which must return into it again.