Sirach 41

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
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 memory of you: to a man who has peace in his substance,
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 to a quiet man, and to him whose ways are directed properly in all things, and who still has the strength to take nourishment.
3 Fear not death's decree for you; remember, it embraces those before you, and those after.	3 O death, your judgment is good to the indigent man, and to him whose strength has diminished,
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 who is failing due to old age, and who is anxious about all things, and to the unbelieving man who has lost patience.
5 A reprobate line are the children of sinners, and witless offspring are in the homes of the wicked.	5 Do not choose to dread the judgment of death. Remember the things that occurred before you, and the things that will occur after you. This judgment is from the Lord upon all flesh.
6 Their dominion is lost to sinners' children, and reproach abides with their descendants.	6 And what will happen to you is well-pleasing to the Most High, whether in ten, or one hundred, or one thousand years.
7 Children curse their wicked father, for they suffer disgrace through him.	7 For death is no indictment of life.
8 Woe to you, O sinful men, who forsake the law of the Most High.	8 The sons of sinners, and those who pass their time in the manner of the houses of the impious, become sons of abominations.
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 The inheritance of the sons of sinners will perish, and continual disgrace will be with their offspring.
10 Whatever is of nought returns to nought, so too the godless from void to void.	10 The sons of an impious father will complain, for they are in disgrace because of him.
11 Man's body is a fleeting thing, but a virtuous name will never be annihilated.	11 Woe to you, impious men, who have abandoned the law of the Most High Lord!
12 Have a care for your name, for it will stand by you better than precious treasures in the thousands;	12 And when you are born, you will be born into a curse; and when you die, your portion will be in a curse.
13 The boon of life is for limited days, but a good name, for days without number.	13 All things that are from the earth shall return to the earth. Similarly, the impious will proceed from a curse unto perdition.
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 The grieving of men is in their body, but the name of the impious will be wiped away.
15 Before father and mother be ashamed of immorality, before master and mistress, of falsehood;	15 Have concern for your good name. For this will continue with you, more so than a thousand precious and great treasures.
16 Before prince and ruler, of flattery; before the public assembly, of crime;	16 A good life has its number of days, but a good name will continue forever.
17 Before friend and companion, of disloyalty, and of breaking an oath or agreement.	17 Sons, practice discipline peacefully. For what use is there in either concealed wisdom, or undiscovered treasure?
18 Be ashamed of theft from the people where you settle, and of stretching out your elbow when you dine;	18 Better is the man who hides his foolishness than the man who hides his wisdom.
19 Of refusing to give when asked, of defrauding another of his appointed share,	19 Yet truly, have respect for these things which proceed from my mouth.
20 Of failing to return a greeting, and of rebuffing a friend;	20 For it is not good to observe every reverence. And all things do not please all persons in their beliefs.
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 Have shame of these things: of fornication before father and mother, and of a lie before the first leader and the powerful,
22 Of using harsh words with friends, and of following up your gifts with insults;	22 of a crime before a ruler or a judge, of iniquity before a congregation or a people,
23 Of repeating what you hear, and of betraying secrets--	23 of injustice before a companion or a friend, and of the place in which you live,
24 These are the things you should rightly avoid as shameful if you would be looked upon by everyone with favor.	24 of theft, and of the truth before God, and of the covenant, of reclining to eat bread, and of deceitfulness in giving or receiving,
	25 of silence before those who greet you, of looking upon a woman of fornication, and of averting your face from a relative.
	26 You should not avert your face from your neighbor, nor should you take away a portion and not restore it.
	27 You should not stare at another man’s wife, and nor pursue his handmaid, nor approach her bed.
	28 Avoid reproachful speeches before friends, and when you give, you should not place blame.