Sirach 40

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
1 A great anxiety has God allotted, and a heavy yoke, to the sons of men; From the day one leaves his mother's womb to the day he returns to the mother of all the living,	1 Much labor was created for every man, and a heavy yoke is upon the sons of Adam, from the day they come forth from their mother's womb till the day they return to the mother of all.
2 His thoughts, the fear in his heart, and his troubled forebodings till the day he dies--	2 Their perplexities and fear of heart-- their anxious thought is the day of death,
3 Whether he sits on a lofty throne or grovels in dust and ashes,	3 from the man who sits on a splendid throne to the one who is humbled in dust and ashes,
4 Whether he bears a splendid crown or is wrapped in the coarsest of cloaks--	4 from the man who wears purple and a crown to the one who is clothed in burlap;
5 Are of wrath and envy, trouble and dread, terror of death, fury and strife. Even when he lies on his bed to rest, his cares at night disturb his sleep.	5 there is anger and envy and trouble and unrest, and fear of death, and fury and strife. And when one rests upon his bed, his sleep at night confuses his mind.
6 So short is his rest it seems like none, till in his dreams he struggles as he did by day, Terrified by what his mind's eye sees, like a fugitive being pursued;	6 He gets little or no rest, and afterward in his sleep, as though he were on watch, he is troubled by the visions of his mind like one who has escaped from the battle-front;
7 As he reaches safety, he wakes up astonished that there was nothing to fear.	7 at the moment of his rescue he wakes up, and wonders that his fear came to nothing.
8 So it is with all flesh, with man and with beast, but for sinners seven times more.	8 With all flesh, both man and beast, and upon sinners seven times more,
9 Plague and bloodshed, wrath and the sword, plunder and ruin, famine and death:	9 are death and bloodshed and strife and sword, calamities, famine and affliction and plague.
10 For the wicked, these were created evil, and it is they who bring on destruction.	10 All these were created for the wicked, and on their account the flood came.
11 All that is of earth returns to earth, and what is from above returns above.	11 All things that are from the earth turn back to the earth, and what is from the waters returns to the sea.
12 All that comes from bribes or injustice will be wiped out, but loyalty remains for ages.	12 All bribery and injustice will be blotted out, but good faith will stand for ever.
13 Wealth out of wickedness is like a wadi in spate: like a mighty stream with lightning and thunder,	13 The wealth of the unjust will dry up like a torrent, and crash like a loud clap of thunder in a rain.
14 Which, in its rising, rolls along the stones, but suddenly, once and for all, comes to an end.	14 A generous man will be made glad; likewise transgressors will utterly fail.
15 The offshoot of violence will not flourish, for the root of the godless is on sheer rock;	15 The children of the ungodly will not put forth many branches; they are unhealthy roots upon sheer rock.
16 Or they are like reeds on the riverbank, withered before all other plants;	16 The reeds by any water or river bank will be plucked up before any grass.
17 But goodness will never be cut off, and justice endures forever. Wealth or wages can make life sweet, but better than either is finding a treasure.	17 Kindness is like a garden of blessings, and almsgiving endures for ever.
18 A child or a city will preserve one's name, but better than either, attaining wisdom.	18 Life is sweet for the self-reliant and the worker, but he who finds treasure is better off than both.
19 Sheepfolds and orchards bring flourishing health; but better than either, a devoted wife;	19 Children and the building of a city establish a man's name, but a blameless wife is accounted better than both.
20 Wine and music delight the soul, but better than either, conjugal love.	20 Wine and music gladden the heart, but the love of wisdom is better than both.
21 The flute and the harp offer sweet melody, but better than either, a voice that is true.	21 The flute and the harp make pleasant melody, but a pleasant voice is better than both.
22 Charm and beauty delight the eye, but better than either, the flowers of the field.	22 The eye desires grace and beauty, but the green shoots of grain more than both.
23 A friend, a neighbor, are timely guides, but better than either, a prudent wife.	23 A friend or a companion never meets one amiss, but a wife with her husband is better than both.
24 A brother, a helper, for times of stress; but better than either, charity that rescues.	24 Brothers and help are for a time of trouble, but almsgiving rescues better than both.
25 Gold and silver make one's way secure, but better than either, sound judgment.	25 Gold and silver make the foot stand sure, but good counsel is esteemed more than both.
26 Wealth and vigor build up confidence, but better than either, fear of God. Fear of the LORD leaves nothing wanting; he who has it need seek no other support:	26 Riches and strength lift up the heart, but the fear of the Lord is better than both. There is no loss in the fear of the Lord, and with it there is no need to seek for help.
27 The fear of God is a paradise of blessings; its canopy, all that is glorious.	27 The fear of the Lord is like a garden of blessing, and covers a man better than any glory.
28 My son, live not the life of a beggar, better to die than to beg;	28 My son, do not lead the life of a beggar; it is better to die than to beg.
29 When one has to look to another's table, his life is not really a life. His neighbor's delicacies bring revulsion of spirit to one who understands inward feelings:	29 When a man looks to the table of another, his existence cannot be considered as life. He pollutes himself with another man's food, but a man who is intelligent and well instructed guards against that.
30 In the mouth of the shameless man begging is sweet, but within him it burns like fire.	30 In the mouth of the shameless begging is sweet, but in his stomach a fire is kindled.