1 A great occupation was created for all men, and a heavy yoke is upon the sons of Adam, from the day of their departure from their mother’s womb, even until the day of their burial into the mother of all:
2 their thoughts, and the fears of their heart, their imagined expectations, and the day of their end,
3 from him who sits upon a glorious throne, even to him who is humbled in earth and ashes,
4 from him who wears hyacinth and bears a crown, even to him who is covered with rough linen: wrath, envy, tumult, restlessness, and the fear of death, continual anger and contention.
5 And in the time of rest upon his bed, the sleep of the night changes his knowledge.
6 There is little or no rest, and sleep is taken from him, as if on a day of keeping watch.
7 He is disturbed by a vision of his heart, as if he had escaped in a day of warfare. In the time of his salvation, he rose up and wondered that there was no fear.
8 This is so with all flesh, from man even to cattle, but upon sinners it is seven times as great.
9 Add to this: death, bloodshed, contention, and the spear, oppression, famine, and affliction, and scourges.
10 All these things have been created because of iniquity, and it is due to iniquity that the great flood was made.
11 All things that are of the earth shall return to the earth, and all waters shall return to the sea.
12 All bribery and iniquity will be wiped away, but faith shall stand forever.
13 The substance of the unjust will dry up like a river, and will pass away with a noise like loud thunder in a rainstorm.
14 When he opens his hands, he will rejoice. So will transgressors pass away at the consummation.
15 The descendents of the impious will not produce many branches, for they may be compared to dirty roots at the edge of a rock.
16 The weeds, which grow above every water and beside the banks of the river, will be uprooted before all the grass.
17 Grace is like a paradise of blessings, and mercy continues for eternity.
18 The life of a worker, when content with what is sufficient, will become sweet, and in it you will find a treasure.
19 Sons, and the building of a city, will establish a name, but an immaculate wife will be ranked above these things.
20 Wine and music rejoice the heart, but the love of wisdom is above them both.
21 The flute and the psaltery make a sweet melody, but a pleasant word is above them both.
22 Your eye desires elegance and beauty, but verdant fields are above these things.
23 A friend and a companion meet one another in time, but above them both is a wife with her husband.
24 Brothers are a help in time of tribulation, but mercy will liberate, more so than they will.
25 Gold and silver provide a firm position for the feet, but well-spoken counsel is above them both.
26 Ability and strength lift up the heart, but the fear of the Lord is above these things.
27 There is no loss in the fear of the Lord, and it has no need to ask for assistance.
28 The fear of the Lord is like a paradise of blessings, and they have covered it above all glory.
29 Son, in your lifetime you should not be indigent, for it is better to die than to be destitute.
30 The life of him who looks to another man’s table should not be thought of as a way of life. For he feeds his life with another man’s food.
31 But a disciplined and well-taught man will take care of himself.
32 Scarcity will seem sweet to the mouth of the imprudent, but a fire will burn in his belly.
Versículos relacionados com Ecclesiasticus, 40:
Ecclesiastical 40 talks about the nature of life and how things are cyclical. The author reflects on the brevity of life and the importance of taking advantage of time in the best way possible. Below are five verses related to the topics covered in this chapter:
Proverbs 27:1: "Do not glories of tomorrow, because you do not know what it will bring." This verse talks about the uncertainty of the future and how we cannot be sure of what will happen. This relates to the Ecclesiastical Message 40 about how life is brief and cyclic.
Psalm 90:12: "Teach us to tell our days in such a way that we reach wise hearts." This verse talks about the importance of taking advantage of time and being wise in how to use it. This relates to the Ecclesiastical Message 40 on how we should enjoy time in the best way possible.
James 4:14: "However, you do not know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a steam that appears for a little, and soon fades." This verse talks about the brevity of life and how we cannot be sure of what will happen. This relates to the Ecclesiastical Message 40 about how life is brief and cyclic.
Job 14:1-2: "The man, born of a woman, lives a short time and is full of restlessness. She is born like the flower and withered; runs away as the shadow and does not remain." This verse talks about the brevity of life and how full of uncertainties it is. This relates to the Ecclesiastical Message 40 on how we should enjoy time in the best way possible.
Ephesians 5:15-16: "Therefore, wisely see it like walking, not foolish, but as wise, redeeming time, because the days are evil." This verse talks about the importance of being wise in how we use the time we have. This relates to the Ecclesiastical Message 40 on how we should enjoy time in the best way possible.
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