Ecclesiasticus, 18

1. He that liveth for ever Hath created all things in general.

1. He who lives forever created all without exception.

2. The Lord only is righteous, and there is none other but he,

2. The Lord alone will be found righteous.

3. Who governeth the world with the palm of his hand, and all things obey his will: for he is the King of all, by his power dividing holy things among them from profane.

3.

4. To whom hath he given power to declare his works? and who shall find out his noble acts?

4. He has made no one powerful enough to proclaim his works; who then, will reveal his marvels?

5. Who shall number the strength of his majesty? and who shall also tell out his mercies?

5. Who can calculate the power of his majesty and relate his great goodness?

6. As for the wondrous works of the Lord, there may nothing be taken from them, neither may any thing be put unto them, neither can the ground of them be found out.

6. Nothing can be added to him or taken away; no one can fathom the wonders of the Lord.

7. When a man hath done, then he beginneth; and when he leaveth off, then he shall be doubtful.

7. When man thinks he has finished, then he is only beginning and when he stops he is puzzled by it all.

8. What is man, and whereto serveth he? what is his good, and what is his evil?

8. What is man? What is his purpose? What is the good in him and what the bad?

9. The number of a man's days at the most are an hundred years.

9. Take the length of his life: a hundred years is long.

10. As a drop of water unto the sea, and a gravelstone in comparison of the sand; so are a thousand years to the days of eternity.

10. Like a drop of water from the sea, a grain of sand, such are his few years compared with eternity.

11. Therefore is God patient with them, and poureth forth his mercy upon them.

11. For this reason, the Lord has patience with them and pours out his mercy on them.

12. He saw and perceived their end to be evil; therefore he multiplied his compassion.

12. He sees and realizes how miserable their end is and so he heaps his forgiveness upon them.

13. The mercy of man is toward his neighbour; but the mercy of the Lord is upon all flesh: he reproveth, and nurtureth, and teacheth and bringeth again, as a shepherd his flock.

13. Man's mercy is for his neighbor but the compassion of the Lord reaches all people; he rebukes, corrects, teaches and brings back his flock like a shepherd.

14. He hath mercy on them that receive discipline, and that diligently seek after his judgments.

14. He takes pity on those who accept correction and eagerly seek his will.

15. My son, blemish not thy good deeds, neither use uncomfortable words when thou givest any thing.

15. My son, do not mix your favors with unkind remarks or your gifts with bitter words.

16. Shall not the dew asswage the heat? so is a word better than a gift.

16. Does not dew temper the heat? So, too, a kind word is much better than a gift.

17. Lo, is not a word better than a gift? but both are with a gracious man.

17. The gift is not as valuable as the words which accompany it, but a generous man brings both.

18. A fool will upbraid churlishly, and a gift of the envious consumeth the eyes.

18. The fool intends to please but insults, a grudging man's gift makes the eyes smart.

19. Learn before thou speak, and use physick or ever thou be sick.

19. Find out the facts before you speak; look after yourself before you become ill.

20. Before judgment examine thyself, and in the day of visitation thou shalt find mercy.

20. Examine yourself before judgment comes and, on the day of God's visitation, you will be forgiven.

21. Humble thyself before thou be sick, and in the time of sins shew repentance.

21. Humble yourself before you become ill and show repentance for your sins.

22. Let nothing hinder thee to pay thy vow in due time, and defer not until death to be justified.

22. Let nothing prevent you from fulfilling your vow on time; do not wait until death to put things in order.

23. Before thou prayest, prepare thyself; and be not as one that tempteth the Lord.

23. Prepare yourself before praying and do not be one of those who tempt the Lord.

24. Think upon the wrath that shall be at the end, and the time of vengeance, when he shall turn away his face.

24. Keep in mind the justice of the last days; God will turn his face from you on the day of vengeance.

25. When thou hast enough, remember the time of hunger: and when thou art rich, think upon poverty and need.

25. When you experience abundance, remember the days of famine; when you enjoy riches, think of poverty and misery.

26. From the morning until the evening the time is changed, and all things are soon done before the Lord.

26. Time slips by between morning and evening, all things pass quickly before the Lord.

27. A wise man will fear in every thing, and in the day of sinning he will beware of offence: but a fool will not observe time.

27. The prudent man is cautious in everything; when sin abounds he will keep away from wrongdoing.

28. Every man of understanding knoweth wisdom, and will give praise unto him that found her.

28. Every sensible man recognizes wisdom and respects those who obtain her.

29. They that were of understanding in sayings became also wise themselves, and poured forth exquisite parables.

29. Those who speak sensibly are wise, and marvelous sayings flow from them.

30. Go not after thy lusts, but refrain thyself from thine appetites.

30. Do not let your passions rule you and restrain your desires.

31. If thou givest thy soul the desires that please her, she will make thee a laughingstock to thine enemies that malign thee.

31. If you satisfy your lusts you will make yourself the laughingstock of your enemies.

32. Take not pleasure in much good cheer, neither be tied to the expence thereof.

32. Do not take pleasure in great luxury, lest you become impoverished by its expense.

33. Be not made a beggar by banqueting upon borrowing, when thou hast nothing in thy purse: for thou shalt lie in wait for thine own life, and be talked on.

33. Do not impoverish yourself by feasting on credit when you have nothing in your pocket.