Sirach 41

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
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!	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.
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!	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.
3 Do not dread death's sentence; remember those who came before you and those who wil come after.	3 Fear not death's decree for you; remember, it embraces those before you, and those 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.	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.
5 Hateful brats, such are the children of sinners, who foregather in the haunts of the godless.	5 A reprobate line are the children of sinners, and witless offspring are in the homes of the wicked.
6 The inheritance of sinners' children is doomed to perish, their posterity wil endure lasting reproach.	6 Their dominion is lost to sinners' children, and reproach abides with their descendants.
7 A godless father wil be blamed by his children for the reproach he has brought on them.	7 Children curse their wicked father, for they suffer disgrace through him.
8 A bad outlook for you, godless people, who have forsaken the Law of God Most High.	8 Woe to you, O sinful men, who forsake the law of the Most High.
9 When you were born, you were born to be accursed, and when you die, that curse wil be your portion.	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.
10 Al that comes from the earth returns to the earth, so too the wicked proceed from curse to destruction.	10 Whatever is of nought returns to nought, so too the godless from void to void.
11 Mourning concerns only the bodies of the dead, but the worthless name of sinners wil be blotted out.	11 Man's body is a fleeting thing, but a virtuous name will never be annihilated.
12 Be careful of your reputation, for it wil last you longer than a thousand great hoards of gold.	12 Have a care for your name, for it will stand by you better than precious treasures in the thousands;
13 A good life lasts a certain number of days, but a good reputation lasts for ever.	13 The boon of life is for limited days, but a good name, for days without number.
14 Keep my instructions and be at peace, my children. Wisdom hidden away and treasure undisplayed,what use is either of these?	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:
15 Better someone who hides his fol y than one who hides his wisdom.	15 Before father and mother be ashamed of immorality, before master and mistress, of falsehood;
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 .	16 Before prince and ruler, of flattery; before the public assembly, of crime;
17 Be ashamed, before father and mother, of depraved behaviour, and before prince or potentate oftel ing lies;	17 Before friend and companion, of disloyalty, and of breaking an oath or agreement.
18 of wrong-doing before judge or magistrate, and of impiety before the assembly of the people;	18 Be ashamed of theft from the people where you settle, and of stretching out your elbow when you dine;
19 of sharp practice before your companion and your friend, and of theft before the neighbourhood youlive in.	19 Of refusing to give when asked, of defrauding another of his appointed share,
20 Before the truth and covenant of God, be ashamed of leaning elbows on the table,	20 Of failing to return a greeting, and of rebuffing a friend;
21 of being ungracious when giving or receiving, of ignoring those who greet you,	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;
22 of gazing at a loose woman, of repulsing your fellow-countryman,	22 Of using harsh words with friends, and of following up your gifts with insults;
23 of misappropriating another's portion or gift, of paying court to another man's wife,	23 Of repeating what you hear, and of betraying secrets--
24 of making advances to his servant-girl -- do not go near her bed-	24 These are the things you should rightly avoid as shameful if you would be looked upon by everyone with favor.
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.