Ecclesiasticus, 42
1. The following things you should not be ashamed of, and do not sin from fear of what others think:
1. O death, how bitter is the reminder of you to one who lives at peace among his possessions, to a man without distractions, who is prosperous in everything, and who still has the vigor to enjoy his food!
2. of the Law of the Most High or of the covenant, of a verdict that acquits the godless,
2. O death, how welcome is your sentence to one who is in need and is failing in strength, very old and distracted over everything; to one who is contrary, and has lost his patience!
3. of keeping accounts with a travelling companion, of settling property on your friends,
3. Do not fear the sentence of death; remember your former days and the end of life; this is the decree from the Lord for all flesh,
4. of being accurate over scales and weights, of making small and large profits,
4. and how can you reject the good pleasure of the Most High? Whether life is for ten or a hundred or a thousand years, there is no inquiry about it in Hades.
5. of gaining from commercial transactions, of disciplining your children strictly, of lashing a wicked slave till you draw blood.
5. The children of sinners are abominable children, and they frequent the haunts of the ungodly.
6. With an interfering wife, it is as well to use your seal, and where there are many hands, lock things up.
6. The inheritance of the children of sinners will perish, and on their posterity will be a perpetual reproach.
7. Whatever stores you issue, do it by number and weight, spendings and takings, put everything in writing.
7. Children will blame an ungodly father, for they suffer reproach because of him.
8. Do not be ashamed to correct a stupid person or a fool, or an old dotard who bickers with young people. Then you will show yourself really educated and win the approval of everyone.
8. Woe to you, ungodly men, who have forsaken the law of the Most High God!
9. Unknown to her, a daughter keeps her father awake, the worry she gives him drives away his sleep: in her youth, in case she never marries, married, in case she should be disliked,
9. When you are born, you are born to a curse; and when you die, a curse is your lot.
10. as a virgin, in case she should be defiled and found with child in her father's house, having a husband, in case she goes astray, married, in case she should be sterile!
10. Whatever is from the dust returns to dust; so the ungodly go from curse to destruction.
11. Your daughter is headstrong? Keep a sharp look-out that she does not make you the laughing-stock of your enemies, the talk of the town, the object of common gossip, and put you to public shame.
11. The mourning of men is about their bodies, but the evil name of sinners will be blotted out.
12. Do not stare at any man for his good looks, do not sit down with women;
12. Have regard for your name, since it will remain for you longer than a thousand great stores of gold.
13. for moth comes out of clothes, and woman's spite out of woman.
13. The days of a good life are numbered, but a good name endures for ever.
14. Better a man's spite than a woman's kindness: women give rise to shame and reproach.
14. My children, observe instruction and be at peace; hidden wisdom and unseen treasure, what advantage is there in either of them?
15. Next, I shall remind you of the works of the Lord, and tell of what I have seen. By the words of the Lord his works come into being and all creation obeys his will.
15. Better is the man who hides his folly than the man who hides his wisdom.
16. The shining sun looks down on all things, and the work of the Lord is full of his glory.
16. Therefore show respect for my words: For it is good to retain every kind of shame, and not everything is confidently esteemed by every one.
17. The Lord has not granted the Holy Ones the power to tell of all his marvels which the Almighty Lord has solidly constructed for the universe to stand firm in his glory.
17. Be ashamed of immorality, before your father or mother; and of a lie, before a prince or a ruler;
18. He has fathomed both the abyss and the human heart and seen into their devious ways; for the Most High knows all there is to know and sees the signs of the times.
18. of a transgression, before a judge or magistrate; and of iniquity, before a congregation or the people; of unjust dealing, before your partner or friend;
19. He declares what is past and what will be, and reveals the trend of hidden things.
19. and of theft, in the place where you live. Be ashamed before the truth of God and his covenant. Be ashamed of selfish behavior at meals, of surliness in receiving and giving,
20. Not a thought escapes him, not a single word is hidden from him.
20. and of silence, before those who greet you; of looking at a woman who is a harlot,
21. He has embellished the magnificent works of his wisdom, he is from everlasting to everlasting, nothing can be added to him, nothing taken away, he needs no one's advice.
21. and of rejecting the appeal of a kinsman; of taking away some one's portion or gift, and of gazing at another man's wife;
22. How lovely, all his works, how dazzling to the eye!
22. of meddling with his maidservant -- and do not approach her bed; of abusive words, before friends -- and do not upbraid after making a gift;
23. They all live and last for ever, and, whatever the circumstances, all obey.
23. of repeating and telling what you hear, and of revealing secrets. Then you will show proper shame, and will find favor with every man.
24. All things go in pairs, by opposites, he has not made anything imperfect:
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25. one thing complements the excellence of another. Who could ever grow tired of gazing at his glory?
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