Sirach 41

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	NEW JERUSALEM
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 it is to remember you for someone peaceful y living with his possessions, forsomeone with no worries and everything going wel and who can still enjoy his food!
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, your sentence is welcome to one in want, whose strength is failing, to one worn out with ageand a thousand worries, resentful and impatient!
3 Fear not death's decree for you; remember, it embraces those before you, and those after.	3 Do not dread death's sentence; remember those who came before you and those who wil come after.
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 This is the sentence passed on al living creatures by the Lord, so why object to what seems good tothe Most High? Whether your life lasts ten or a hundred or a thousand years, its length wil not be held againstyou in Sheol.
5 A reprobate line are the children of sinners, and witless offspring are in the homes of the wicked.	5 Hateful brats, such are the children of sinners, who foregather in the haunts of the godless.
6 Their dominion is lost to sinners' children, and reproach abides with their descendants.	6 The inheritance of sinners' children is doomed to perish, their posterity wil endure lasting reproach.
7 Children curse their wicked father, for they suffer disgrace through him.	7 A godless father wil be blamed by his children for the reproach he has brought on them.
8 Woe to you, O sinful men, who forsake the law of the Most High.	8 A bad outlook for you, godless people, who have forsaken the Law of God Most High.
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 When you were born, you were born to be accursed, and when you die, that curse wil be your portion.
10 Whatever is of nought returns to nought, so too the godless from void to void.	10 Al that comes from the earth returns to the earth, so too the wicked proceed from curse to destruction.
11 Man's body is a fleeting thing, but a virtuous name will never be annihilated.	11 Mourning concerns only the bodies of the dead, but the worthless name of sinners wil be blotted out.
12 Have a care for your name, for it will stand by you better than precious treasures in the thousands;	12 Be careful of your reputation, for it wil last you longer than a thousand great hoards of gold.
13 The boon of life is for limited days, but a good name, for days without number.	13 A good life lasts a certain number of days, but a good reputation lasts 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 Keep my instructions and be at peace, my children. Wisdom hidden away and treasure undisplayed,what use is either of these?
15 Before father and mother be ashamed of immorality, before master and mistress, of falsehood;	15 Better someone who hides his fol y than one who hides his wisdom.
16 Before prince and ruler, of flattery; before the public assembly, of crime;	16 Preserve a sense of shame in the fol owing matters, for not every kind of shame is right to harbour,nor is every situation correctly appraised by al .
17 Before friend and companion, of disloyalty, and of breaking an oath or agreement.	17 Be ashamed, before father and mother, of depraved behaviour, and before prince or potentate oftel ing lies;
18 Be ashamed of theft from the people where you settle, and of stretching out your elbow when you dine;	18 of wrong-doing before judge or magistrate, and of impiety before the assembly of the people;
19 Of refusing to give when asked, of defrauding another of his appointed share,	19 of sharp practice before your companion and your friend, and of theft before the neighbourhood youlive in.
20 Of failing to return a greeting, and of rebuffing a friend;	20 Before the truth and covenant of God, be ashamed of leaning elbows on the table,
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 of being ungracious when giving or receiving, of ignoring those who greet you,
22 Of using harsh words with friends, and of following up your gifts with insults;	22 of gazing at a loose woman, of repulsing your fellow-countryman,
23 Of repeating what you hear, and of betraying secrets--	23 of misappropriating another's portion or gift, of paying court to another man's wife,
24 These are the things you should rightly avoid as shameful if you would be looked upon by everyone with favor.	24 of making advances to his servant-girl -- do not go near her bed-
	25 of saying disagreeable things to friends -- do not fol ow up a gift with a taunt-
	26 of repeating everything you hear and of betraying confidences.
	27 Then you wil know what true shame is, and you wil find yourself in everyone's graces.