Sirach 33

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 No evil wil befal one who fears the Lord, such a one will be rescued even in the ordeal.	1 No evils will befall one who fears the Lord. Instead, God will preserve him during temptation and will free him from evils.
2 No one who hates the Law is wise, one who is hypocritical about it is like a storm-tossed ship.	2 A wise man does not hate the commandments and the justices, and so he will not be thrown about violently, like a ship in a storm.
3 An intelligent person will put faith in the Law, for such a one the Law is as dependable as a prophecy.	3 A man of understanding puts his faith in the law of God, and so the law is faithful to him.
4 Prepare what you have to say and you will get a hearing, marshal your information before you answer.	4 Whoever would resolve a dispute will prepare a word, and so, having prayed, he will be heard. And he will observe discipline, and then he will respond.
5 The feelings of a fool are like a cart-wheel, a fool's thought revolves like a turning axle.	5 The heart of a fool is like the wheel of a cart. And his thoughts are like a turning axel.
6 A rutting stal ion is like a sarcastic friend; he neighs, whoever rides him.	6 A friend who is a whisperer is like an untamed horse: he neighs under anyone who sits upon him.
7 Why is one day better than another, though the sun gives the same daylight throughout the year?	7 Why does day follow after day, and light follow after light, and year follow after year, in accord with the sun?
8 They have been differentiated in the mind of the Lord, who has diversified the seasons and feasts;	8 By the knowledge of the Lord, they were arranged, after the sun was made, in keeping with his command.
9 some he has made more important and has hal owed, others he has made ordinary days.	9 And so, the seasons changed, with their feast days. And according to them, they celebrated the feast days, in their hour.
10 Human beings come from the ground, Adam himself was formed out of earth;	10 Some of them, God exalted and magnified. And some of them, he set amid the ordinary days. And all men are from the ground, and from the earth, from which Adam was created.
11 in the fullness of his wisdom the Lord has made distinctions between them, and diversified theirconditions.	11 With a mulititude of disciplines, the Lord has distinguished them and diversified their ways.
12 Some of them he has blessed, hal owing and setting them near him; others he has cursed andhumiliated by degrading them from their positions.	12 Some of them, he has blessed and exalted. And some of them he has sanctified and placed close to himself. And some of them, he has cursed and brought low, and he has turned them from their station.
13 Like clay in the hands of the potter to mould as it pleases him, so are human beings in the hands oftheir Maker to reward as he judges right.	13 Just as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so as to form and to shape it,
14 Opposite evil stands good, opposite death, life; so too opposite the devout stands the sinner.	14 so are all his ways in accord with his dispensation, and so is man in the hand of the One who made him. And he will repay him according to his judgment.
15 Contemplate al the works of the Most High, you wil find they go in pairs, by opposites.	15 Good is against evil, and life is against death; so also is a sinner against a just man. And so should you consider all the works of the Most High: two and two, and one against another.
16 Although the last to come, I have kept my eyes open like a man picking up what the grape-pickershave left.	16 And I awakened at the very end, and I was like one who gathers grapes after the grape-gatherers.
17 By the blessing of the Lord I have come in first, and like a true grape-picker have fil ed my winepress.	17 I, too, have hoped in the blessing of God. And I have filled the winepress like one who gathers grapes.
18 And note, I have not been working merely for myself, but for al who seek instruction.	18 Consider how I have not labored for myself alone, but for all who are seeking discipline.
19 Listen to me, important public figures, presidents of the assembly, give ear!	19 Listen to me, you great ones, with all the peoples. And incline your ears, you rulers of the Church.
20 Neither to son nor wife, brother nor friend, give power over yourself during your own lifetime. And donot give your property to anyone else, in case you regret it and have to ask for it back.	20 You should not give authority over yourself to a son or wife, to a brother or friend, in your life. And you should not give your estate to another, lest perhaps you may regret it, and then you would be begging for the same.
21 As long as you live and there is breath in your body, do not yield power over yourself to anyone;	21 While you are still living and breathing, let no one among all flesh change you.
22 better for your children to come begging to you, than for you to have to go begging to them.	22 For it is better if your children petition you, than if you look toward the hands of your children.
23 In al you do be the master, and leave a reputation unstained.	23 In all your works, be pre-eminent.
24 The day your life draws to a close, at the hour of death, then distribute your heritage.	24 You should not allow a blemish upon your glory. On the day of the consummation of the days of your life, at the time of your passing, distribute your inheritance.
25 Fodder, the stick and burdens for a donkey, bread, discipline and work for a slave.	25 Fodder and a rod and a burden are for a donkey; bread and discipline and work are for a servant.
26 Work your slave hard, and you wil have peace of mind, leave his hands idle, and he wil be asking forhis freedom.	26 He works under discipline, and he seeks rest. Allow his hands to be idle, and he seeks liberty.
27 Yoke and harness wil bow the neck, for a bad servant, torments and the rack.	27 The yoke and the strap bend a stiff neck, and continual labors bend a servant.
28 Set him to work, so that he will not be idle; idleness teaches every kind of mischief.	28 Torture and chains are for a malevolent servant; send him to work, so that he may not be idle.
29 Keep him at his duties, where he should be, if he is disobedient, clap him in irons.	29 For idleness has taught much evil.
30 But do not be over-exacting with anyone, and do nothing contrary to justice.	30 Appoint him to a task. For this is fitting for him. And if he will not be obedient, bend him with chains. But you should do no more than any flesh can bear. Truly, you should do nothing grievous without judgment.
31 You have only one slave? Treat him like yourself, since you have acquired him with blood.	31 If you have a faithful servant, let him be to you like your own soul. Treat him like a brother. For you have obtained him by the blood of your soul.
32 You have only one slave? Treat him as a brother, since you need him as you need yourself.	32 If you harm him unjustly, he will turn away and flee.
33 If you ill-treat him and he runs away, which way wil you go to look for him?	33 And then, when he lifts himself up and departs, you will not know whom to ask, or in what way to seek him.