Sirach 14

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Blessed is the man who has not slipped because of a word from his mouth, and who has not been stung by grief because of an offense.	1 Happy the man whose mouth brings him no grief, who is not stung by remorse for sin.
2 Happy is he who does not have sadness in his mind, and who has not fallen away from his hope.	2 Happy the man whose conscience does not reproach him, who has not lost hope.
3 Substance is senseless for a greedy and stingy man. And what would a spiteful man do with gold?	3 Wealth ill becomes the mean man; and to the miser, of what use is gold?
4 Whoever acquires unjustly, according to his own mind, gathers for others. For another will spend his goods lavishly.	4 What he denies himself he collects for others, and in his possessions a stranger will revel.
5 Whoever is wicked to himself, to whom will he be good? For he will not take enjoyment in his own goods.	5 To whom will he be generous who is stingy with himself and does not enjoy what is his own?
6 Whoever has ill will toward himself, nothing is more worthless than he is. But such is the reward of his wickedness.	6 None is more stingy than he who is stingy with himself; he punishes his own miserliness.
7 And if he does good, he does it ignorantly and unwillingly. And in the very end, he realizes his own malice.	7 If ever he is generous, it is by mistake; and in the end he displays his greed.
8 The eye of the spiteful man is wicked, and he averts his face and despises his own soul.	8 In the miser's opinion his share is too small;
9 The eye of the greedy man is insatiable in his portion of iniquity. He will not be satisfied until he has consumed his own soul, withering it away.	9 he refuses his neighbor and brings ruin on himself.
10 An evil eye is directed at evil things. And he will not be satisfied by bread; instead, he will be needy and grieving at his own table.	10 The miser's eye is rapacious for bread, but on his own table he sets it stale.
11 Son, if you have anything, do good to yourself, and offer worthy oblations to God.	11 My son, use freely whatever you have and enjoy it as best you can;
12 Remember that death has not been delayed, and that the covenant of the grave has been revealed to you. For the covenant of this world will pass away in death.	12 Remember that death does not tarry, nor have you been told the grave's appointed time.
13 Do good to your friend before you die. And according to your ability, extend your hand and give to the poor.	13 Before you die, be good to your friend, and give him a share in what you possess.
14 Do not cheat yourself out of a good day, and do not let the smallest good gift pass you by.	14 Deprive not yourself of present good things, let no choice portion escape you.
15 Should you not leave it to others to divide your sorrows and labors by lot?	15 Will you not leave your riches to others, and your earnings to be divided by lot?
16 Give, and receive, and justify your soul.	16 Give, take, and treat yourself well, for in the nether world there are no joys to seek.
17 Before your passing, accomplish justice. For in death, there is no food to be found.	17 All flesh grows old, like a garment; the age-old law is: All must die.
18 All flesh grows old like the grass, and like the foliage that springs forth from a green tree.	18 As with the leaves that grow on a vigorous tree: one falls off and another sprouts-- So with the generations of flesh and blood: one dies and another is born.
19 Some spring up, and others fall away. Such is the generation of flesh and blood. One is finished, and another is born.	19 All man's works will perish in decay, and his handiwork will follow after him.
20 Every corruptible work will fail in the end. And its worker will go with it.	20 Happy the man who meditates on wisdom, and reflects on knowledge;
21 But every excellent work will be justified. And whoever worked it will be honored by it.	21 Who ponders her ways in his heart, and understands her paths;
22 Blessed is the man who will abide in wisdom, and who will meditate on her righteousness, and who, in his mind, will consider the circumspection of God.	22 Who pursues her like a scout, and lies in wait at her entry way;
23 He considers her ways in his heart, and he finds understanding in her secrets. He goes after her like an investigator, and he is constant in her ways.	23 Who peeps through her windows, and listens at her doors;
24 He gazes through her windows, and he listens at her door.	24 Who encamps near her house, and fastens his tent pegs next to her walls;
25 He rests next to her house, and, fastening a peg in her walls, he sets up his cottage by her hands. And so, good things will find rest in his cottage as time passes.	25 Who pitches his tent beside her, and lives as her welcome neighbor;
26 He will station his sons under her covering, and he will abide under her branches.	26 Who builds his nest in her leafage, and lodges in her branches;
27 He will be protected by her covering from the heat, and he will rest in her glory.	27 Who takes shelter with her from the heat, and dwells in her home.