Sirach (Ecclesiasticus), Chapter 33

¹There shall no evil happen unto him that feareth the Lord; but in temptation even again he will deliver him. ²A wise man hateth not the law; but he that is an hypocrite therein is as a ship in a storm. ³A man of understanding trusteth in the law; and the law is faithful unto him, as an oracle. ⁴Prepare what to say, and so thou shalt be heard: and bind up instruction, and then make answer. ⁵The heart of the foolish is like a cartwheel; and his thoughts are like a rolling axletree. ⁶A stallion horse is as a mocking friend, he neigheth under every one that sitteth upon him. ⁷Why doth one day excel another, when as all the light of every day in the year is of the sun? ⁸By the knowledge of the Lord they were distinguished: and he altered seasons and feasts.

⁹Some of them hath he made high days, and hallowed them, and some of them hath he made ordinary days. ¹⁰And all men are from the ground, and Adam was created of earth: ¹¹In much knowledge the Lord hath divided them, and made their ways diverse. ¹²Some of them hath he blessed and exalted and some of them he sanctified, and set near himself: but some of them hath he cursed and brought low, and turned out of their places. ¹³As the clay is in the potter’s hand, to fashion it at his pleasure: so man is in the hand of him that made him, to render to them as liketh him best. ¹⁴Good is set against evil, and life against death: so is the godly against the sinner, and the sinner against the godly. ¹⁵So look upon all the works of the most High; and there are two and two, one against another. ¹⁶I awaked up last of all, as one that gathereth after the grapegatherers: by the blessing of the Lord I profited, and tred my winepress like a gatherer of grapes.

¹⁷Consider that I laboured not for myself only, but for all them that seek learning. ¹⁸Hear me, O ye great men of the people, and hearken with your ears, ye rulers of the congregation. ¹⁹Give not thy son and wife, thy brother and friend, power over thee while thou livest, and give not thy goods to another: lest it repent thee, and thou intreat for the same again. ²⁰As long as thou livest and hast breath in thee, give not thyself over to any. ²¹For better it is that thy children should seek to thee, than that thou shouldest stand to their courtesy. ²²In all thy works keep to thyself the preeminence; leave not a stain in thine honour. ²³At the time when thou shalt end thy days, and finish thy life, distribute thine inheritance. ²⁴Fodder, a wand, and burdens, are for the ass; and bread, correction, and work, for a servant.

²⁵If thou set thy servant to labour, thou shalt find rest: but if thou let him go idle, he shall seek liberty. ²⁶A yoke and a collar do bow the neck: so are tortures and torments for an evil servant. ²⁷Send him to labour, that he be not idle; for idleness teacheth much evil. ²⁸Set him to work, as is fit for him: if he be not obedient, put on more heavy fetters. ²⁹But be not excessive toward any; and without discretion do nothing. ³⁰If thou have a servant, let him be unto thee as thyself, because thou hast bought him with a price. ³¹If thou have a servant, entreat him as a brother: for thou hast need of him, as of thine own soul: if thou entreat him evil, and he run from thee, which way wilt thou go to seek him?