Sirach 41

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, 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 Do not dread death's sentence; remember those who came before you and those who wil come after.

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 Hateful brats, such are the children of sinners, who foregather in the haunts of the godless.

⁶ The inheritance of sinners' children is doomed to perish, their posterity wil endure lasting reproach.

⁷ A godless father wil be blamed by his children for the reproach he has brought on them.

⁸ A bad outlook for you, godless people, who have forsaken the Law of God Most High.

⁹ When you were born, you were born to be accursed, and when you die, that curse wil be your portion.

¹⁰ Al that comes from the earth returns to the earth, so too the wicked proceed from curse to destruction.

¹¹ Mourning concerns only the bodies of the dead, but the worthless name of sinners wil be blotted out.

¹² Be careful of your reputation, for it wil last you longer than a thousand great hoards of gold.

¹³ A good life lasts a certain number of days, but a good reputation lasts for ever.

¹⁴ Keep my instructions and be at peace, my children. Wisdom hidden away and treasure undisplayed,what use is either of these?

¹⁵ Better someone who hides his fol y than one who hides his wisdom.

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 Be ashamed, before father and mother, of depraved behaviour, and before prince or potentate oftel ing lies;

¹⁸ of wrong-doing before judge or magistrate, and of impiety before the assembly of the people;

¹⁹ of sharp practice before your companion and your friend, and of theft before the neighbourhood youlive in.

²⁰ Before the truth and covenant of God, be ashamed of leaning elbows on the table,

²¹ of being ungracious when giving or receiving, of ignoring those who greet you,

²² of gazing at a loose woman, of repulsing your fellow-countryman,

²³ of misappropriating another's portion or gift, of paying court to another man's wife,

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.