Sirach 14

DOUAI-RHEIMS	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Blessed is the man that hath not slipped by a word out of his mouth, and is not pricked with the remorse of sin.	1 Happy the man whose mouth brings him no grief, who is not stung by remorse for sin.
2 Happy is he that hath had no sadness of his mind, and who is not fallen from his hope.	2 Happy the man whose conscience does not reproach him, who has not lost hope.
3 Riches are not comely for a covetous man and a niggard, and what should an envious man do with gold?	3 Wealth ill becomes the mean man; and to the miser, of what use is gold?
4 He that gathereth together by wronging his own soul, gathereth for others, and another will squander away his goods in rioting.	4 What he denies himself he collects for others, and in his possessions a stranger will revel.
5 He that is evil to himself, to whom will he be good? and he shall not take pleasure in his goods.	5 To whom will he be generous who is stingy with himself and does not enjoy what is his own?
6 There is none worse than he that envieth himself, and this 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 do good, he doth it ignorantly, and unwillingly: and at the last he discovereth his wickedness.	7 If ever he is generous, it is by mistake; and in the end he displays his greed.
8 The eye of the envious is wicked: and he turneth away his face, and despiseth his own soul.	8 In the miser's opinion his share is too small;
9 The eye of the covetous man is insatiable in his portion of iniquity: he will not be satisfied till he consume his own soul, drying it up.	9 he refuses his neighbor and brings ruin on himself.
10 An evil eye is towards evil things: and he shall not have his fill of bread, but shall be needy and pensive at his own table.	10 The miser's eye is rapacious for bread, but on his own table he sets it stale.
11 My son, if thou have any thing, do good to thyself, and offer to God worthy offerings.	11 My son, use freely whatever you have and enjoy it as best you can;
12 Remember that death is not slow, and that the covenant of hell hath been shewn to thee: for the covenant of this world shall surely die.	12 Remember that death does not tarry, nor have you been told the grave's appointed time.
13 Do good to thy friend before thou die, and according to thy ability, stretching out thy hand give to the poor.	13 Before you die, be good to your friend, and give him a share in what you possess.
14 Defraud not thyself of the good day, and let not the part of a good gift overpass thee.	14 Deprive not yourself of present good things, let no choice portion escape you.
15 Shalt thou not leave to others to divide by lot thy sorrows and labours?	15 Will you not leave your riches to others, and your earnings to be divided by lot?
16 Give and take, and justify thy soul.	16 Give, take, and treat yourself well, for in the nether world there are no joys to seek.
17 Before thy death work justice: for in hell there is no finding food.	17 All flesh grows old, like a garment; the age-old law is: All must die.
18 All flesh shall fade as grass, and as the leaf that springeth out on 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 grow, and some fall off: so is the generation of flesh and blood, one cometh to an end, and another is born.	19 All man's works will perish in decay, and his handiwork will follow after him.
20 Every work that is corruptible shall fail in the end: and the worker thereof shall go with it.	20 Happy the man who meditates on wisdom, and reflects on knowledge;
21 And every excellent work shall be justified: and the worker thereof shall be honoured therein.	21 Who ponders her ways in his heart, and understands her paths;
22 Blessed is the man that shall continue in wisdom, and that shall meditate in his justice, and in his mind shall think of the all seeing eye of God.	22 Who pursues her like a scout, and lies in wait at her entry way;
23 He that considereth her ways in his heart, and hath understanding in her secrets, who goeth after her as one that traceth, and stayeth in her ways:	23 Who peeps through her windows, and listens at her doors;
24 He who looketh in at her windows, and hearkeneth at her door:	24 Who encamps near her house, and fastens his tent pegs next to her walls;
25 He that lodgeth near her house, and fastening a pin in her walls shall set up his tent nigh unto her, where good things shall rest in his lodging for ever.	25 Who pitches his tent beside her, and lives as her welcome neighbor;
26 He shall set his children under her shelter, and shall lodge under her branches:	26 Who builds his nest in her leafage, and lodges in her branches;
27 He shall be protected under her covering from the heat, and shall rest in her glory.	27 Who takes shelter with her from the heat, and dwells in her home.