Sirach

¹ Desire not a multitude of unprofitable children, Neither delight in ungodly sons.

² If they multiply, delight not in them, Except the fear of the Lord be with them.

³ Trust not thou in their life, Neither rely on their condition: For one is better than a thousand; And to die childless than to have ungodly children.

⁴ For from one that hath understanding shall a city be peopled; But a race of wicked men shall be made desolate.

⁵ Many such things have I seen with mine eyes; And mine ear hath heard mightier things than these.

⁶ In the congregation of sinners shall a fire be kindled; And in a disobedient nation wrath is kindled.

⁷ He was not pacified toward the giants of old time, Who revolted in their strength.

⁸ He spared not those with whom Lot sojourned, Whom he abhorred for their pride.

⁹ He pitied not the people of perdition, Who were taken away in their sins.

¹⁰ And in like manner the six hundred thousand footmen, Who were gathered together in the hardness of their hearts.

¹¹ Even if there be one stiffnecked person, It is marvel if he shall be unpunished: For mercy and wrath are with him; He is mighty to forgive, and he poureth out wrath.

¹² As his mercy is great, so is his correction also: He judgeth a man according to his works.

¹³ The sinner shall not escape with his plunder; And the patience of the godly shall not be frustrate.

¹⁴ He will make room for every work of mercy; Each man shall find according to his works.

¹⁷ Say not thou, I shall be hidden from the Lord; And who shall remember me from on high? I shall not be known among so many people; For what is my soul in a boundless creation?

¹⁸ Behold, the heaven, and the heaven of heavens, The deep, and the earth, shall be moved when he shall visit.

¹⁹ The mountains and the foundations of the earth together Are shaken with trembling, when he looketh upon them.

²⁰ And no heart shall think upon these things: And who shall conceive his ways?

²¹ And there is a tempest which no man shall see; Yea, the more part of his works are hid.

²² Who shall declare the works of his righteousness? Or who shall endure them? For his covenant is afar off.

²³ He that is wanting in understanding thinketh upon these things; And an unwise and erring man thinketh follies.

²⁴ My son, hearken unto me, and learn knowledge, And give heed to my words with thy heart.

²⁵ I will shew forth instruction by weight, And declare knowledge exactly.

²⁶ In the judgement of the Lord are his works from the beginning; And from the making of them he disposed the parts thereof.

²⁷ He garnished his works for ever, And the beginnings of them unto their generations: They neither hunger, nor are weary, And they cease not from their works.

²⁸ No one thrusteth aside his neighbour; And they shall never disobey his word.

²⁹ After this also the Lord looked upon the earth, And filled it with his blessings.

³⁰ All manner of living things covered the face thereof; And into it is their return.