Sirach 33

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	NEW JERUSALEM
1 No evils will befall one who fears the Lord. Instead, God will preserve him during temptation and will free him from evils.	1 No evil wil befal one who fears the Lord, such a one will be rescued even in the ordeal.
2 A wise man does not hate the commandments and the justices, and so he will not be thrown about violently, like a ship in a storm.	2 No one who hates the Law is wise, one who is hypocritical about it is like a storm-tossed ship.
3 A man of understanding puts his faith in the law of God, and so the law is faithful to him.	3 An intelligent person will put faith in the Law, for such a one the Law is as dependable as a prophecy.
4 Whoever would resolve a dispute will prepare a word, and so, having prayed, he will be heard. And he will observe discipline, and then he will respond.	4 Prepare what you have to say and you will get a hearing, marshal your information before you answer.
5 The heart of a fool is like the wheel of a cart. And his thoughts are like a turning axel.	5 The feelings of a fool are like a cart-wheel, a fool's thought revolves like a turning axle.
6 A friend who is a whisperer is like an untamed horse: he neighs under anyone who sits upon him.	6 A rutting stal ion is like a sarcastic friend; he neighs, whoever rides him.
7 Why does day follow after day, and light follow after light, and year follow after year, in accord with the sun?	7 Why is one day better than another, though the sun gives the same daylight throughout the year?
8 By the knowledge of the Lord, they were arranged, after the sun was made, in keeping with his command.	8 They have been differentiated in the mind of the Lord, who has diversified the seasons and feasts;
9 And so, the seasons changed, with their feast days. And according to them, they celebrated the feast days, in their hour.	9 some he has made more important and has hal owed, others he has made ordinary days.
10 Some of them, God exalted and magnified. And some of them, he set amid the ordinary days. And all men are from the ground, and from the earth, from which Adam was created.	10 Human beings come from the ground, Adam himself was formed out of earth;
11 With a mulititude of disciplines, the Lord has distinguished them and diversified their ways.	11 in the fullness of his wisdom the Lord has made distinctions between them, and diversified theirconditions.
12 Some of them, he has blessed and exalted. And some of them he has sanctified and placed close to himself. And some of them, he has cursed and brought low, and he has turned them from their station.	12 Some of them he has blessed, hal owing and setting them near him; others he has cursed andhumiliated by degrading them from their positions.
13 Just as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so as to form and to shape it,	13 Like clay in the hands of the potter to mould as it pleases him, so are human beings in the hands oftheir Maker to reward as he judges right.
14 so are all his ways in accord with his dispensation, and so is man in the hand of the One who made him. And he will repay him according to his judgment.	14 Opposite evil stands good, opposite death, life; so too opposite the devout stands the sinner.
15 Good is against evil, and life is against death; so also is a sinner against a just man. And so should you consider all the works of the Most High: two and two, and one against another.	15 Contemplate al the works of the Most High, you wil find they go in pairs, by opposites.
16 And I awakened at the very end, and I was like one who gathers grapes after the grape-gatherers.	16 Although the last to come, I have kept my eyes open like a man picking up what the grape-pickershave left.
17 I, too, have hoped in the blessing of God. And I have filled the winepress like one who gathers grapes.	17 By the blessing of the Lord I have come in first, and like a true grape-picker have fil ed my winepress.
18 Consider how I have not labored for myself alone, but for all who are seeking discipline.	18 And note, I have not been working merely for myself, but for al who seek instruction.
19 Listen to me, you great ones, with all the peoples. And incline your ears, you rulers of the Church.	19 Listen to me, important public figures, presidents of the assembly, give ear!
20 You should not give authority over yourself to a son or wife, to a brother or friend, in your life. And you should not give your estate to another, lest perhaps you may regret it, and then you would be begging for the same.	20 Neither to son nor wife, brother nor friend, give power over yourself during your own lifetime. And donot give your property to anyone else, in case you regret it and have to ask for it back.
21 While you are still living and breathing, let no one among all flesh change you.	21 As long as you live and there is breath in your body, do not yield power over yourself to anyone;
22 For it is better if your children petition you, than if you look toward the hands of your children.	22 better for your children to come begging to you, than for you to have to go begging to them.
23 In all your works, be pre-eminent.	23 In al you do be the master, and leave a reputation unstained.
24 You should not allow a blemish upon your glory. On the day of the consummation of the days of your life, at the time of your passing, distribute your inheritance.	24 The day your life draws to a close, at the hour of death, then distribute your heritage.
25 Fodder and a rod and a burden are for a donkey; bread and discipline and work are for a servant.	25 Fodder, the stick and burdens for a donkey, bread, discipline and work for a slave.
26 He works under discipline, and he seeks rest. Allow his hands to be idle, and he seeks liberty.	26 Work your slave hard, and you wil have peace of mind, leave his hands idle, and he wil be asking forhis freedom.
27 The yoke and the strap bend a stiff neck, and continual labors bend a servant.	27 Yoke and harness wil bow the neck, for a bad servant, torments and the rack.
28 Torture and chains are for a malevolent servant; send him to work, so that he may not be idle.	28 Set him to work, so that he will not be idle; idleness teaches every kind of mischief.
29 For idleness has taught much evil.	29 Keep him at his duties, where he should be, if he is disobedient, clap him in irons.
30 Appoint him to a task. For this is fitting for him. And if he will not be obedient, bend him with chains. But you should do no more than any flesh can bear. Truly, you should do nothing grievous without judgment.	30 But do not be over-exacting with anyone, and do nothing contrary to justice.
31 If you have a faithful servant, let him be to you like your own soul. Treat him like a brother. For you have obtained him by the blood of your soul.	31 You have only one slave? Treat him like yourself, since you have acquired him with blood.
32 If you harm him unjustly, he will turn away and flee.	32 You have only one slave? Treat him as a brother, since you need him as you need yourself.
33 And then, when he lifts himself up and departs, you will not know whom to ask, or in what way to seek him.	33 If you ill-treat him and he runs away, which way wil you go to look for him?