Ecclesiasticus 41

VULGATA	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 O mors, quam amara est memoria tua homini pacem habenti in substantiis suis :	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 viro quieto, et cujus viæ directæ sunt in omnibus, et adhuc valenti accipere cibum !	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 O mors, bonum est judicium tuum homini indigenti, et qui minoratur viribus,	3 Fear not death's decree for you; remember, it embraces those before you, and those after.
4 defecto ætate, et cui de omnibus cura est, et incredibili, qui perdit patientiam !	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 Noli metuere judicium mortis : memento quæ ante te fuerunt, et quæ superventura sunt tibi : hoc judicium a Domino omni carni.	5 A reprobate line are the children of sinners, and witless offspring are in the homes of the wicked.
6 Et quid superveniet tibi in beneplacito Altissimi ? sive decem, sive centum, sive mille anni :	6 Their dominion is lost to sinners' children, and reproach abides with their descendants.
7 non est enim in inferno accusatio vitæ.	7 Children curse their wicked father, for they suffer disgrace through him.
8 Filii abominationum fiunt filii peccatorum, et qui conversantur secus domos impiorum.	8 Woe to you, O sinful men, who forsake the law of the Most High.
9 Filiorum peccatorum periet hæreditas, et cum semine illorum assiduitas opprobrii.	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 De patre impio queruntur filii, quoniam propter illum sunt in opprobrio.	10 Whatever is of nought returns to nought, so too the godless from void to void.
11 Væ vobis, viri impii, qui dereliquistis legem Domini Altissimi !	11 Man's body is a fleeting thing, but a virtuous name will never be annihilated.
12 Et si nati fueritis, in maledictione nascemini : et si mortui fueritis, in maledictione erit pars vestra.	12 Have a care for your name, for it will stand by you better than precious treasures in the thousands;
13 Omnia quæ de terra sunt in terram convertentur : sic impii a maledicto in perditionem.	13 The boon of life is for limited days, but a good name, for days without number.
14 Luctus hominum in corpore ipsorum : nomen autem impiorum delebitur.	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 Curam habe de bono nomine : hoc enim magis permanebit tibi quam mille thesauri pretiosi et magni.	15 Before father and mother be ashamed of immorality, before master and mistress, of falsehood;
16 Bonæ vitæ numerus dierum : bonum autem nomen permanebit in ævum.	16 Before prince and ruler, of flattery; before the public assembly, of crime;
17 Disciplinam in pace conservate, filii : sapientia enim abscondita, et thesaurus invisus, quæ utilitas in utrisque ?	17 Before friend and companion, of disloyalty, and of breaking an oath or agreement.
18 Melior est homo qui abscondit stultitiam suam, quam homo qui abscondit sapientiam suam.	18 Be ashamed of theft from the people where you settle, and of stretching out your elbow when you dine;
19 Verumtamen reveremini in his quæ procedunt de ore meo :	19 Of refusing to give when asked, of defrauding another of his appointed share,
20 non est enim bonum omnem reverentiam observare, et non omnia omnibus bene placent in fide.	20 Of failing to return a greeting, and of rebuffing a friend;
21 Erubescite a patre et a matre de fornicatione : et a præsidente et a potente de mendacio :	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 a principe et a judice de delicto : a synagoga et plebe de iniquitate :	22 Of using harsh words with friends, and of following up your gifts with insults;
23 a socio et amico de injustitia, et de loco in quo habitas :	23 Of repeating what you hear, and of betraying secrets--
24 de furto, de veritate Dei, et testamento : de discubitu in panibus, et ab obfuscatione dati et accepti :	24 These are the things you should rightly avoid as shameful if you would be looked upon by everyone with favor.
25 a salutantibus de silentio, a respectu mulieris fornicariæ, et ab aversione vultus cognati.
26 Ne avertas faciem a proximo tuo, et ab auferendo partem et non restituendo.
27 Ne respicias mulierem alieni viri, et ne scruteris ancillam ejus, neque steteris ad lectum ejus.
28 Ab amicis de sermonibus improperii : et cum dederis, ne improperes.