Sirach 14

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Blessed is anyone who has not sinned in speech and who needs feel no remorse for sins.	1 Happy the man whose mouth brings him no grief, who is not stung by remorse for sin.
2 Blessed is anyone whose conscience brings no reproach and who has never given up hope.	2 Happy the man whose conscience does not reproach him, who has not lost hope.
3 Wealth is not the right thing for the niggardly, and what use are possessions to the covetous?	3 Wealth ill becomes the mean man; and to the miser, of what use is gold?
4 Whoever hoards by stinting himself is hoarding for others, and others wil live sumptuously on hisriches.	4 What he denies himself he collects for others, and in his possessions a stranger will revel.
5 If someone is mean to himself, whom does he benefit? he does not even enjoy what is his own.	5 To whom will he be generous who is stingy with himself and does not enjoy what is his own?
6 No one is meaner than the person who is mean to himself, this is how his wickedness repays him.	6 None is more stingy than he who is stingy with himself; he punishes his own miserliness.
7 If he does any good, he does it unintentional y, and in the end he himself reveals his wickedness.	7 If ever he is generous, it is by mistake; and in the end he displays his greed.
8 Wicked the person who has an envious eye, averting his face, and careless of others' lives.	8 In the miser's opinion his share is too small;
9 The eye of the grasping is not content with what he has, greed shrivels up the soul.	9 he refuses his neighbor and brings ruin on himself.
10 The miser is grudging of bread, there is famine at his table.	10 The miser's eye is rapacious for bread, but on his own table he sets it stale.
11 My child, treat yourself as wel as you can afford, and bring worthy offerings to the Lord.	11 My son, use freely whatever you have and enjoy it as best you can;
12 Remember that death wil not delay, and that you have never seen Sheol's contract.	12 Remember that death does not tarry, nor have you been told the grave's appointed time.
13 Be kind to your friend before you die, treat him as generously as you can afford.	13 Before you die, be good to your friend, and give him a share in what you possess.
14 Do not refuse yourself the good things of today, do not let your share of what is lawfully desired passyou by.	14 Deprive not yourself of present good things, let no choice portion escape you.
15 Wil you not have to leave your fortune to another, and the fruit of your labour to be divided by lot?	15 Will you not leave your riches to others, and your earnings to be divided by lot?
16 Give and receive, enjoy yourself -- there are no pleasures to be found in Sheol.	16 Give, take, and treat yourself well, for in the nether world there are no joys to seek.
17 Like clothes, every body wil wear out, the age -- old law is, 'Everyone must die.'	17 All flesh grows old, like a garment; the age-old law is: All must die.
18 Like foliage growing on a bushy tree, some leaves fal ing, others growing, so are the generations offlesh and blood: one dies, another is born.	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 Every achievement rots away and perishes, and with it goes its author.	19 All man's works will perish in decay, and his handiwork will follow after him.
20 Blessed is anyone who meditates on wisdom, and reasons with intelligence,	20 Happy the man who meditates on wisdom, and reflects on knowledge;
21 who studies her ways in his heart, and ponders her secrets.	21 Who ponders her ways in his heart, and understands her paths;
22 He pursues her like a hunter, and lies in wait by her path;	22 Who pursues her like a scout, and lies in wait at her entry way;
23 he peeps in at her windows, and listens at her doors;	23 Who peeps through her windows, and listens at her doors;
24 he lodges close to her house, and fixes his peg in her wal s;	24 Who encamps near her house, and fastens his tent pegs next to her walls;
25 he pitches his tent at her side, and lodges in an excel ent lodging;	25 Who pitches his tent beside her, and lives as her welcome neighbor;
26 he sets his children in her shade, and camps beneath her branches;	26 Who builds his nest in her leafage, and lodges in her branches;
27 he is sheltered by her from the heat, and in her glory he makes his home.	27 Who takes shelter with her from the heat, and dwells in her home.