Sirach 41

DOUAI-RHEIMS	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 The children will complain of an ungodly father, because for his sake they are in reproach.	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 dummy verses inserted by amos	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 dummy verses inserted by amos	3 Fear not death's decree for you; remember, it embraces those before you, and those after.
4 dummy verses inserted by amos	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 dummy verses inserted by amos	5 A reprobate line are the children of sinners, and witless offspring are in the homes of the wicked.
6 dummy verses inserted by amos	6 Their dominion is lost to sinners' children, and reproach abides with their descendants.
7 dummy verses inserted by amos	7 Children curse their wicked father, for they suffer disgrace through him.
8 dummy verses inserted by amos	8 Woe to you, O sinful men, who forsake the law of the Most High.
9 dummy verses inserted by amos	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 dummy verses inserted by amos	10 Whatever is of nought returns to nought, so too the godless from void to void.
11 Woe to you, ungodly men, who have forsaken the law of the most high Lord.	11 Man's body is a fleeting thing, but a virtuous name will never be annihilated.
12 And if you be born, you shall be born in malediction: and if you die, in malediction shall be your portion.	12 Have a care for your name, for it will stand by you better than precious treasures in the thousands;
13 All things that are of the earth, shall return into the earth: so the ungodly shall from malediction to destruction.	13 The boon of life is for limited days, but a good name, for days without number.
14 The mourning of men is about their body, but the name of the ungodly shall be blotted out.	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 Take care of a good name: for this shall continue with thee, more than a thousand treasures precious and great.	15 Before father and mother be ashamed of immorality, before master and mistress, of falsehood;
16 A good life hath its number of days: but a good name shall continue for ever.	16 Before prince and ruler, of flattery; before the public assembly, of crime;
17 My children, keep discipline in peace: for wisdom that is hid, and a treasure that is not seen, what profit is there in them both?	17 Before friend and companion, of disloyalty, and of breaking an oath or agreement.
18 Better is the man that hideth his folly, then the man that hideth his wisdom.	18 Be ashamed of theft from the people where you settle, and of stretching out your elbow when you dine;
19 Wherefore have a shame of these things I am now going to speak of.	19 Of refusing to give when asked, of defrauding another of his appointed share,
20 For it is not good to keep all shamefacedness: and all things do not please all men in opinion.	20 Of failing to return a greeting, and of rebuffing a friend;
21 Be ashamed of fornication before father and mother: and of a lie before a governor and a man in power:	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 an offence before a prince, and a judge: of iniquity before a congregation and a people:	22 Of using harsh words with friends, and of following up your gifts with insults;
23 Of injustice before a companion and friend: and in regard to the place where thou dwellest,	23 Of repeating what you hear, and of betraying secrets--
24 Of theft, and of the truth of God, and the covenant: of leaning with thy elbow over meat, and of deceit in giving and taking:	24 These are the things you should rightly avoid as shameful if you would be looked upon by everyone with favor.
25 Of silence before them that salute thee: of looking upon a harlot: and of turning away thy face from thy kinsman.
26 Turn not sway thy face from thy neighbour, and of taking away a portion and not restoring.
27 Gaze not upon another man's wife, and be not inquisitive after his handmaid, and approach not her bed.
28 Be ashamed of upbraiding speeches before friends: and after thou hast given, upbraid not.