Sirach 41

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	KING JAMES BIBLE
1 O death! how bitter the thought of you for the man at peace amid his possessions, For the man unruffled and always successful, who still can enjoy life's pleasures.	1 O death, how bitter is the remembrance of thee to a man that liveth at rest in his possessions, unto the man that hath nothing to vex him, and that hath prosperity in all things: yea, unto him that is yet able to receive meat!
2 O death! how welcome your sentence to the weak man of failing strength, Tottering and always rebuffed, with no more sight, with vanished hope.	2 O death, acceptable is thy sentence unto the needy, and unto him whose strength faileth, that is now in the last age, and is vexed with all things, and to him that despaireth, and hath lost patience!
3 Fear not death's decree for you; remember, it embraces those before you, and those after.	3 Fear not the sentence of death, remember them that have been before thee, and that come after; for this is the sentence of the Lord over all flesh.
4 Thus God has ordained for all flesh; why then should you reject the will of the Most High? Whether one has lived a thousand years, a hundred, or ten, in the nether world he has no claim on life.	4 And why art thou against the pleasure of the most High? there is no inquisition in the grave, whether thou have lived ten, or an hundred, or a thousand years.
5 A reprobate line are the children of sinners, and witless offspring are in the homes of the wicked.	5 The children of sinners are abominable children, and they that are conversant in the dwelling of the ungodly.
6 Their dominion is lost to sinners' children, and reproach abides with their descendants.	6 The inheritance of sinners' children shall perish, and their posterity shall have a perpetual reproach.
7 Children curse their wicked father, for they suffer disgrace through him.	7 The children will complain of an ungodly father, because they shall be reproached for his sake.
8 Woe to you, O sinful men, who forsake the law of the Most High.	8 Woe be unto you, ungodly men, which have forsaken the law of the most high God! for if ye increase, it shall be to your destruction:
9 If you have children, calamity will seize them; you will beget them only for groaning. When you stumble, there is lasting joy; at death, you become a curse.	9 And if ye be born, ye shall be born to a curse: and if ye die, a curse shall be your portion.
10 Whatever is of nought returns to nought, so too the godless from void to void.	10 All that are of the earth shall turn to earth again: so the ungodly shall go from a curse to destruction.
11 Man's body is a fleeting thing, but a virtuous name will never be annihilated.	11 The mourning of men is about their bodies: but an ill name of sinners shall be blotted out.
12 Have a care for your name, for it will stand by you better than precious treasures in the thousands;	12 Have regard to thy name; for that shall continue with thee above a thousand great treasures of gold.
13 The boon of life is for limited days, but a good name, for days without number.	13 A good life hath but few days: but a good name endureth for ever.
14 My children, heed my instruction about shame; judge of disgrace only according to my rules, For it is not always well to be ashamed, nor is it always the proper thing to blush:	14 My children, keep discipline in peace: for wisdom that is hid, and a treasure that is not seen, what profit is in them both?
15 Before father and mother be ashamed of immorality, before master and mistress, of falsehood;	15 A man that hideth his foolishness is better than a man that hideth his wisdom.
16 Before prince and ruler, of flattery; before the public assembly, of crime;	16 Therefore be shamefaced according to my word: for it is not good to retain all shamefacedness; neither is it altogether approved in every thing.
17 Before friend and companion, of disloyalty, and of breaking an oath or agreement.	17 Be ashamed of whoredom before father and mother: and of a lie before a prince and a mighty man;
18 Be ashamed of theft from the people where you settle, and of stretching out your elbow when you dine;	18 Of an offence before a judge and ruler; of iniquity before a congregation and people; of unjust dealing before thy partner and friend;
19 Of refusing to give when asked, of defrauding another of his appointed share,	19 And of theft in regard of the place where thou sojournest, and in regard of the truth of God and his covenant; and to lean with thine elbow upon the meat; and of scorning to give and take;
20 Of failing to return a greeting, and of rebuffing a friend;	20 And of silence before them that salute thee; and to look upon an harlot;
21 Of gazing at a married woman, and of entertaining thoughts about another's wife; Of trifling with a servant girl you have, and of violating her couch;	21 And to turn away thy face from thy kinsman; or to take away a portion or a gift; or to gaze upon another man's wife.
22 Of using harsh words with friends, and of following up your gifts with insults;	22 Or to be overbusy with his maid, and come not near her bed; or of upbraiding speeches before friends; and after thou hast given, upbraid not;
23 Of repeating what you hear, and of betraying secrets--
24 These are the things you should rightly avoid as shameful if you would be looked upon by everyone with favor.