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Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 41

Read in parallel →

1 O death, how bitter is the memory of you to a man who is at peace in his possessions,

2 O death, your sentence is acceptable to a man who is needy and who fails in strength,

3 Don’t be afraid of the sentence of death.

4 And why do you refuse when it is the good pleasure of the Most High?

5 The children of sinners are abominable children

6 The inheritance of sinners’ children will perish

7 Children will complain of an ungodly father,

8 Woe to you, ungodly men,

9 If you are born, you will be born to a curse.

10 All things that are of the earth will go back to the earth;

11 The mourning of men is about their bodies;

12 Have regard for your name,

13 A good life has its number of days,

14 My children, follow instruction in peace.

15 Better is a man who hides his foolishness

16 Therefore show respect for my words;

17 Be ashamed of sexual immorality before father and mother,

18 of an offence before a judge and ruler,

19 and of theft in the place where you sojourn.

20 of silence before those who greet you,

21 of turning away your face from a kinsman,

22 of meddling with his maid—and don’t come near her bed,

23 of repeating and speaking what you have heard,

24 So you will be ashamed of the right things