Ecclesiasticus, 42

1. Of these things be not thou ashamed, and accept no person to sin thereby:

1. But do not let yourself be led astray by any of the things that follow.

2. Of the law of the most High, and his covenant; and of judgment to justify the ungodly;

2. Do not be ashamed of the law of the Most High and his covenant, of judging even the wicked fairly,

3. Of reckoning with thy partners and travellers; or of the gift of the heritage of friends;

3. of keeping accounts with a traveling companion, and of sharing your inheritance with friends,

4. Of exactness of balance and weights; or of getting much or little;

4. of checking weights and scales,

5. And of merchants' indifferent selling; of much correction of children; and to make the side of an evil servant to bleed.

5. of making a profit whether small or great, of bargaining with traders, and of being strict with children, of severe corporal punishment for a servant who deserves it.

6. Sure keeping is good, where an evil wife is; and shut up, where many hands are.

6. With a prying wife or when many people are around, it is wise to make use of seal and lock!

7. Deliver all things in number and weight; and put all in writing that thou givest out, or receivest in.

7. For deposits it is essential to reckon by number and weight and keep a written record of what you give and receive.

8. Be not ashamed to inform the unwise and foolish, and the extreme aged that contendeth with those that are young: thus shalt thou be truly learned, and approved of all men living.

8. Do not be ashamed of correcting someone who is foolish or stupid or an old man who has become childish. Doing that, you prove that you are a well-educated person and you will be generally respected.

9. The father waketh for the daughter, when no man knoweth; and the care for her taketh away sleep: when she is young, lest she pass away the flower of her age; and being married, lest she should be hated:

9. A daughter causes her father hidden worries; anxiety on her account keeps him awake: Is she young? She may not marry. Is she married? She may be disliked;

10. In her virginity, lest she should be defiled and gotten with child in her father's house; and having an husband, lest she should misbehave herself; and when she is married, lest she should be barren.

10. Is she a virgin? She may be seduced and become pregnant in her father's house! Is she married? She may be unfaithful or unable to have children!

11. Keep a sure watch over a shameless daughter, lest she make thee a laughingstock to thine enemies, and a byword in the city, and a reproach among the people, and make thee ashamed before the multitude.

11. Your daughter is unruly? Watch her well, or she may make you a laughingstock to your enemies, the talk of the town and a public disgrace.

12. Behold not every body's beauty, and sit not in the midst of women.

12. Do not be taken by human beauty and do not sit down in the company of women;

13. For from garments cometh a moth, and from women wickedness.

13. for just as a moth comes out of a garment, woman's wickedness comes out of a woman.

14. Better is the churlishness of a man than a courteous woman, a woman, I say, which bringeth shame and reproach.

14. Better a man's wickedness than a woman's kindness; women bring shame and disgrace.

15. I will now remember the works of the Lord, and declare the things that I have seen: In the words of the Lord are his works.

15. Now I Shall remind you of the works of The Lord and relate what I have seen. The Lord's works depend on his word, and creation obeys his will.

16. The sun that giveth light looketh upon all things, and the work thereof is full of the glory of the Lord.

16. The sun shines on everything and the work of the Lord is filled with his glory.

17. The Lord hath not given power to the saints to declare all his marvellous works, which the Almighty Lord firmly settled, that whatsoever is might be established for his glory.

17. Not even to his holy ones has the Lord given full knowledge of all his marvelous works. The Lord, Master of the universe, has ordained that all should stand firm in his glory.

18. He seeketh out the deep, and the heart, and considereth their crafty devices: for the Lord knoweth all that may be known, and he beholdeth the signs of the world.

18. He penetrates both the depth of the abyss and the human heart and knows their secrets. For the Most High has full knowledge and ordains the signs of the heavens.

19. He declareth the things that are past, and for to come, and revealeth the steps of hidden things.

19. He knows the past and foretells the future and reveals the traces of the world's mysteries.

20. No thought escapeth him, neither any word is hidden from him.

20. No thought escapes him, no word is hidden from him.

21. He hath garnished the excellent works of his wisdom, and he is from everlasting to everlasting: unto him may nothing be added, neither can he be diminished, and he hath no need of any counsellor.

21. He has ordered the marvelous works of his wisdom, from ever and for ever. Nothing can be added, nothing can be taken away and he has no need of counsel.

22. Oh how desirable are all his works! and that a man may see even to a spark.

22. All his works are beautiful, even to the smallest spark of light.

23. All these things live and remain for ever for all uses, and they are all obedient.

23. All this lives and endures forever: all is useful and obedient to his will.

24. All things are double one against another: and he hath made nothing imperfect.

24. All things are in pairs, one opposite the other, and nothing he makes is in any way deficient.

25. One thing establisheth the good or another: and who shall be filled with beholding his glory?

25. One thing emphasizes the excellence of the other; who could ever weary of admiring his glory?