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Wisdom of Jesus Son of Sirach


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Sir.16

[1] Do not desire a multitude of useless children,
nor rejoice in ungodly sons.
[2] If they multiply , do not rejoice in them,
unless the fear of the Lord is in them.
[3] Do not trust in their survival,
and do not rely on their multitude;
for one is better than a thousand,
and to die childless is better than to have ungodly children.
[4] For through one man of understanding a city
will be filled with people,
but through a tribe of lawless men it will be made desolate.
[5] Many such things my eye has seen,
and my ear has heard things more striking than these.

[6] In an assembly of sinners a fire will be kindled,
and in a disobedient nation wrath was kindled.
[7] He was not propitiated for the ancient giants
who revolted in their might.
[8] He did not spare the neighbors of Lot,
whom he loathed on account of their insolence.
[9] He showed no pity for a nation devoted to destruction,
for those destroyed in their sins;
[10] nor for the six hundred thousand men on foot,
who rebelliously assembled in their stubbornness.
[11] Even if there is only one stiff-necked person,
it will be a wonder if he remains unpunished.
For mercy and wrath are with the Lord;
he is mighty to forgive, and he pours out wrath.
[12] As great as his mercy, so great is also his reproof;
he judges a man according to his deeds.
[13] The sinner will not escape with his plunder,
and the patience of the godly will not be frustrated.
[14] He will make room for every act of mercy;
every one will receive in accordance with his deeds.

[17] Do not say, "I shall be hidden from the Lord,
and who from on high will remember me?
Among so many people I shall not be known,
for what is my soul in the boundless creation?
[18] Behold, heaven and the highest heaven,
the abyss and the earth, will tremble at his visitation.
[19] The mountains also and the foundations of the earth
shake with trembling when he looks upon them.
[20] And no mind will reflect on this.
Who will ponder his ways?
[21] Like a tempest which no man can see,
so most of his works are concealed.
[22] Who will announce his acts of justice?
Or who will await them? For the covenant is far off."
[23] This is what one devoid of understanding thinks;
a senseless and misguided man thinks foolishly.

[24] Listen to me, my son, and acquire knowledge,
and pay close attention to my words.
[25] I will impart instruction by weight,
and declare knowledge accurately.

[26] The works of the Lord have existed from the beginning by his
creation, and when he made them, he determined their divisions.
[27] He arranged his works in an eternal order,
and their dominion for all generations;
they neither hunger nor grow weary,
and they do not cease from their labors.
[28] They do not crowd one another aside,
and they will never disobey his word.
[29] After this the Lord looked upon the earth,
and filled it with his good things;
[30] with all kinds of living beings he covered its surface,
and to it they return.


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