Sirach 38

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	VULGATA
1 Hold the physician in honor, for he is essential to you, and God it was who established his profession.	1 Honora medicum propter necessitatem : etenim illum creavit Altissimus.
2 From God the doctor has his wisdom, and the king provides for his sustenance.	2 A Deo est enim omnis medela, et a rege accipiet donationem.
3 His knowledge makes the doctor distinguished, and gives him access to those in authority.	3 Disciplina medici exaltabit caput illius, et in conspectu magnatorum collaudabitur.
4 God makes the earth yield healing herbs which the prudent man should not neglect;	4 Altissimus creavit de terra medicamenta, et vir prudens non abhorrebit illa.
5 Was not the water sweetened by a twig that men might learn his power?	5 Nonne a ligno indulcata est aqua amara ?
6 He endows men with the knowledge to glory in his mighty works,	6 Ad agnitionem hominum virtus illorum : et dedit hominibus scientiam Altissimus, honorari in mirabilibus suis.
7 Through which the doctor eases pain and the druggist prepares his medicines;	7 In his curans mitigabit dolorem : et unguentarius faciet pigmenta suavitatis, et unctiones conficiet sanitatis : et non consummabuntur opera ejus.
8 Thus God's creative work continues without cease in its efficacy on the surface of the earth.	8 Pax enim Dei super faciem terræ.
9 My son, when you are ill, delay not, but pray to God, who will heal you:	9 Fili, in tua infirmitate ne despicias teipsum : sed ora Dominum, et ipse curabit te.
10 Flee wickedness; let your hands be just, cleanse your heart of every sin;	10 Averte a delicto, et dirige manus, et ab omni delicto munda cor tuum.
11 Offer your sweet-smelling oblation and petition, a rich offering according to your means.	11 Da suavitatem et memoriam similaginis, et impingua oblationem, et da locum medico :
12 Then give the doctor his place lest he leave; for you need him too.	12 etenim illum Dominus creavit, et non discedat a te, quia opera ejus sunt necessaria.
13 There are times that give him an advantage,	13 Est enim tempus quando in manus illorum incurras :
14 and he too beseeches God That his diagnosis may be correct and his treatment bring about a cure.	14 ipsi vero Dominum deprecabuntur, ut dirigat requiem eorum, et sanitatem, propter conversationem illorum.
15 He who is a sinner toward his Maker will be defiant toward the doctor.	15 Qui delinquit in conspectu ejus qui fecit eum, incidet in manus medici.
16 My son, shed tears for one who is dead with wailing and bitter lament; As is only proper, prepare the body, absent not yourself from his burial:	16 Fili, in mortuum produc lacrimas, et quasi dira passus incipe plorare : et secundum judicium contege corpus illius, et non despicias sepulturam illius.
17 Weeping bitterly, mourning fully, pay your tribute of sorrow, as he deserves,	17 Propter delaturam autem amare fer luctum illius uno die, et consolare propter tristitiam :
18 One or two days, to prevent gossip; then compose yourself after your grief,	18 et fac luctum secundum meritum ejus uno die, vel duobus, propter detractionem :
19 For grief can bring on an extremity and heartache destroy one's health.	19 a tristitia enim festinat mors, et cooperit virtutem, et tristitia cordis flectit cervicem.
20 Turn not your thoughts to him again; cease to recall him; think rather of the end.	20 In abductione permanet tristitia, et substantia inopis secundum cor ejus.
21 Recall him not, for there is no hope of his return; it will not help him, but will do you harm.	21 Ne dederis in tristitia cor tuum, sed repelle eam a te, et memento novissimorum.
22 Remember that his fate will also be yours; for him it was yesterday, for you today.	22 Noli oblivisci, neque enim est conversio : et huic nihil proderis, et teipsum pessimabis.
23 With the departed dead, let memory fade; rally your courage, once the soul has left.	23 Memor esto judicii mei : sic enim erit et tuum : mihi heri, et tibi hodie.
24 The scribe's profession increases his wisdom; whoever is free from toil can become a wise man.	24 In requie mortui requiescere fac memoriam ejus, et consolare illum in exitu spiritus sui.
25 How can he become learned who guides the plow, who thrills in wielding the goad like a lance, Who guides the ox and urges on the bullock, and whose every concern is for cattle?	25 Sapientia scribæ in tempore vacuitatis, et qui minoratur actu sapientiam percipiet, qua sapientia replebitur.
26 His care is for plowing furrows, and he keeps a watch on the beasts in the stalls.	26 Qui tenet aratrum, et qui gloriatur in jaculo, stimulo boves agitat, et conversatur in operibus eorum, et enarratio ejus in filiis taurorum.
27 So with every engraver and designer who, laboring night and day, Fashions carved seals, and whose concern is to vary the pattern. His care is to produce a vivid impression, and he keeps watch till he finishes his design.	27 Cor suum dabit ad versandos sulcos, et vigilia ejus in sagina vaccarum.
28 So with the smith standing near his anvil, forging crude iron. The heat from the fire sears his flesh, yet he toils away in the furnace heat. The clang of the hammer deafens his ears, His eyes are fixed on the tool he is shaping. His care is to finish his work, and he keeps watch till he perfects it in detail.	28 Sic omnis faber et architectus, qui noctem tamquam diem transigit : qui sculpit signacula sculptilia, et assiduitas ejus variat picturam : cor suum dabit in similitudinem picturæ, et vigilia sua perficiet opus.
29 So with the potter sitting at his labor, revolving the wheel with his feet. He is always concerned for his products, and turns them out in quantity.	29 Sic faber ferrarius sedens juxta incudem, et considerans opus ferri : vapor ignis uret carnes ejus, et in calore fornacis concertatur.
30 With his hands he molds the clay, and with his feet softens it. His care is for proper coloring, and he keeps watch on the fire of his kiln.	30 Vox mallei innovat aurem ejus, et contra similitudinem vasis oculus ejus.
31 All these men are skilled with their hands, each one an expert at his own task;	31 Cor suum dabit in consummationem operum, et vigilia sua ornabit in perfectionem.
32 Without them no city could be lived in, and wherever they stay, they need not hunger.	32 Sic figulus sedens ad opus suum, convertens pedibus suis rotam, qui in sollicitudine positus est semper propter opus suum, et in numero est omnis operatio ejus.
33 They do not occupy the judge's bench, nor are they prominent in the assembly; They set forth no decisions or judgments, nor are they found among the rulers;	33 In brachio suo formabit lutum, et ante pedes suos curvabit virtutem suam.
34 Yet they maintain God's ancient handiwork, and their concern is for exercise of their skill.	34 Cor suum dabit ut consummet linitionem, et vigilia sua mundabit fornacem.
	35 Omnes hi in manibus suis speraverunt, et unusquisque in arte sua sapiens est.
	36 Sine his omnibus non ædificatur civitas,
	37 et non inhabitabunt, nec inambulabunt, et in ecclesiam non transilient.
	38 Super sellam judicis non sedebunt, et testamentum judicii non intelligent, neque palam facient disciplinam et judicium, et in parabolis non invenientur :
	39 sed creaturam ævi confirmabunt : et deprecatio illorum in operatione artis, accomodantes animam suam, et conquirentes in lege Altissimi.